Local Spotlight: Petaluma Bounty Farm

I started volunteering at Bounty Farm, a local community farm managed by Petaluma Bounty, an organization committed to building food security through access, education, engagement, and empowerment.

As a proud Petaluman, I was incredibly excited to learn more about farm management and reconnect with my roots in Petaluma while supporting local farming efforts. I discovered Petaluma Bounty through my research of Bay Area organizations focused on education and empowerment with active volunteer opportunities. As a passionate “foodie,” I have dedicated a lot of time to learning about food justice and most importantly, how that is tied to race and power. You can learn more about Bay Area organizations addressing racial justice through food in my previous post.

Over the past few weeks, I have never felt closer to my food and community, which has been extremely healing for me especially during COVID-19. This is mainly due to the fact that I was welcomed with open arms (and six feet of distance, of course) by the Farm Manager, Reyna, who provides educational insight and support on all the farm’s functions. Bounty Farm is located on 3-acres of land in Petaluma, an unexpected fruit and vegetable oasis outside the historic downtown. The farm itself offers an array of educational opportunities like internships, summer teen programs, service learning projects, job training programs, and much more. Most importantly, the majority of produce grown goes to low-income families and seniors in the community who otherwise would not have easy access to healthy food.

Bounty Farm harvested its first crop in 2008 and currently produces over 12,000 pounds of sustainably grown produce. Through the produce grown on the farm, Petaluma Bounty is able to offer Bounty CSA Bags, a weekly Bounty Farm Stand, and a food gleaning program known as Bounty Hunters. Through the CSA bags and farm stand, Bounty Farm ensures that all their produce is accessible and provides discounts for CalFresh customers and those with limited income.

Most of my volunteer work involves harvesting and preparing the vegetables for the CSA bags and weekly farm stand, which is every Thursday. I have cut and bunched kale, I have cut and cleaned basil, I have picked strawberries, I learned what and how to trellis tomatoes, I have weeded vegetables, and I have even wheelbarrowed manure (see all pictures below!). No task is too small for me and I have learned so much this summer. I’m excited to continue learning and connecting with my food through harvesting and cooking.

Currently, Petaluma Bounty, FEED Sonoma, Singing Frogs Farm, and Sonoma Family Meal are raising funds for their Bounty Sponsor-A-Box Initiative created to meet the increased demand for food security during COVID-19 and ensure access to fresh, locally grown produce for individuals with limited income. You can donate today.

I weeded rows of cucumbers on my first day.

Rows of kale, basil, cilantro, lettuce, and other herbs and veggies.

I cut rows of basil, which was sold at the farm stand.

My basket of freshly cut basil. It smelled so good! I cleaned and bunched the basil in the watering shed afterward.

This area has several varieties of kale and squash.

I cut and bunched the kale, which was sold at the farm stand.

Fun fact: a ripe strawberry isn’t dependent on size but rather their color. The redder the strawberry, the better it is to eat!

I picked strawberries with some help from other volunteers. Our baskets were sold at the farm stand.

These strawberries are so sweet and delicious!

Moving some manure! This was an arm workout.

I worked on trellising the tomatoes. A trellis is a framework that supports fruit trees or climbing plants.

Little sprouts were starting to show!