Santa Barbara County Food Action Network is committed to sharing resources to support efforts during COVID-19. If you have a resource that should be listed here, please contact us.
Blueprints
Edible Santa Barbara
Magazine celebrating the abundance of local food and wine throughout Santa Barbara County.
Santa Barbara Carbon Farming Compost Study
A partnership of local and state groups identifying local interest in carbon farming, conducting carbon farm plans, and monitoring several field trials in Santa Barbara County – including one of only 17 NRCS trials in California.
Healthy Soils Initiative
Information on the new program focused on protecting and restoring soil organic matter in California’s soils.
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Resources and information on agriculture in California. See especially farm ecosystem services database .
Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner
Information, data, and reports for Santa Barbara County producers. See especially Economic Contributions of Santa Barbara Agriculture heavily cited in the Blueprint Report.
Santa Barbara County Cooperative Extension
Information, data, and reports for Santa Barbara County producers, gardeners, and agricultural enthusiasts.
Conservation Blueprint of SBC
The Santa Barbara County Conservation Blueprint provides a common language and platform for publicly available data to support in depth conversations and informed decisions about the Santa Barbara County landscape. This collaborative project aims to describe the current landscape, natural resources, and community values about land in Santa Barbara County.
SBC Conservation Blueprint
Community Kitchens
Community Kitchens Map
The Mapping Community Kitchens in Santa Barbara County project identifies the available community kitchens across Santa Barbara County. These spaces give the community greater opportunities to conduct programs related to food security, nutrition, food waste reduction, and food-related entrepreneurial endeavors. Learn more.
Donate Food or Request Food Donations
SBC Food Rescue: Business Outreach
Beginning January 1, 2019, AB 1826 requires businesses that generate four or more cubic yards of solid waste per week to establish an organic waste recycling program.SB 1383 establishes guidelines for organic waste reduction and edible food recovery targets for businesses. Donation of surplus food is one way to comply…
COVID-19 Response Food Resources and Collaboration Information Hub
Santa Barbara County Food Rescue has created this tool to promote collaboration and to assist in identifying county-wide food related needs and resources. They are encouraging any organization supporting charitable food donation, delivery or distribution during this time to share what they are doing and where they need help.
Zoomers to Boomers
A volunteer-based, free grocery delivery service run by local high schoolers to get food to seniors or others unable to leave home.
Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels
Food assistance for elderly and disabled individuals, also seeking healthy individuals to volunteer.
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
Food assistance for those facing hunger, and a place needing healthy individuals to volunteer time.
211 Santa Barbara County
A hub of information offering multi-lingual information on food availability, health, and other resources. Call 211 or visit https://211santabarbaracounty.org
SBC Food Rescue Network
A CEC program that connects restaurants, caterers, food prepares and farms with agencies in need of prepared food, to ensure that good food goes to feed hungry people instead of going to waste. Contact Julia Blanton for more information.
Food Access
Food Access & Food Security Resources / Recursos de acceso y seguridad alimentaria
Looking for food assistance or to apply for CalFresh? Visit countyofsb.org/dss/ (or sbcdss.org) to learn about the programs and services offered by the Department, including CalFresh. The CalFresh program provides households on limited incomes with a monthly benefit to buy food. Applying is fast and easy at getcalfresh.org/. Or, contact…
Q&A – Food Access & Food Security / Preguntas y Respuestas – Aceso a Los Alimentos y Seguridad Alimentaria
Any updates on next phase of Pandemic-EBT? Maria Gardner - County Social Services: Recently, states have been granted authority, pending federal approval, to provide eligible children P-EBT food benefits for the entire 2020-21 school year. To provide P-EBT benefits for the 2020-21 school year, states must develop and submit a…
Op-ed: We Can Build a Better Food System Through Mutual Aid
Imagine if food producers and movements worked together to secure the basic needs of those fighting for a better world for everyone.
How Black Communities Are Bridging the Food Access Gap
Addressing systemic racism in U.S. agriculture has to begin with the USDA.
Fruit Tree Harvesting – Greenspot Farming
Fruit Tree Hosting – Greenspot Farming
A People’s Guide to a Regenerative Economy
#FarmersFeedtheNeed – a coordinated effort to provide food to needy Californians
Food Action Plans
The Case for State Food Action Plans
The Case for State Food Action Plans. Laboratories of Food Democracy. By Joel Berg and Joy Moses at the Center for American Progress. February 2011.
Local Foods, Local Places: Actions and Strategies for Los Angeles, California
An Action Plan for Improving Food Access in the LA Promise Zone Los Angeles, CA. November 30, 2015.
Food System Action Plan
The Sacramento region is at the heart of one of the world’s largest agricultural economies, producing food for people around the globe. Our region’s food and agriculture industry creates $3.4 billion in annual output and employs more than 37 thousand workers in the Sacramento region.
Mendocino County Food Action Plan
A Project of the Mendocino County Food Policy Council 2014.
Sonoma County Healthy & Sustainable FOOD ACTION PLAN
Status Report. AUGUST 2016. A guide to local action on food production, land and natural resource stewardship, economic development, public health, and equity in our food system
Food Justice
Food Sovereignty & Food Justice Resources / Recursos de Justicia y soberania alimentaria
Panelists and Organization Ana Rosa Rizo Centino - Food and Water Action https://www.foodandwateraction.org Daniel Parra Hensel - Santa Barbara City College https://www.sbcc.edu/environmentalhorticulture/ Teresa Romero - Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Environmental Office https://syceo.org Zulema Aleman - Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) https://causenow.org Suguet Lopez -…
SBC Food Rescue: Business Outreach
Beginning January 1, 2019, AB 1826 requires businesses that generate four or more cubic yards of solid waste per week to establish an organic waste recycling program.SB 1383 establishes guidelines for organic waste reduction and edible food recovery targets for businesses. Donation of surplus food is one way to comply…
Op-ed: How Patents Threaten Small Seed Companies
Want to See Food and Land Justice for Black Americans? Support These Groups.
Food justice is racial justice. As the nation rises up to protest atrocities against Black people, here are some organizations working to advance Black food sovereignty.
Reckoning with Racial Justice in Farm Country
Rural communities and agriculture groups are divided over George Floyd's death and the resulting protests. As some stay silent, others express solidarity or hold rallies in support.
Op-ed: We Can Build a Better Food System Through Mutual Aid
Imagine if food producers and movements worked together to secure the basic needs of those fighting for a better world for everyone.
How Black Communities Are Bridging the Food Access Gap
Addressing systemic racism in U.S. agriculture has to begin with the USDA.
Op-ed: How Urban Agriculture Can Fight Racism in the Food System
Growing food in cities offers a powerful way to reclaim communities and change the dynamics so that people of color have wealth and power.
Julián Castro on the Goya Boycott and How to Support Communities of Color
The former presidential candidate links COVID-19’s devastation in Black and brown communities with the need for a $15 minimum wage, free school meals, and universal healthcare.
Black Lives Matter in the Food System
During the first half of 2020, the disproportionate spread of COVID-19 in communities of color and the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police have drawn into sharp focus the systemic racism present in the United States—including in our food system.
Food & Agriculture Anti-Racism Resources
#FarmersFeedtheNeed – a coordinated effort to provide food to needy Californians
Food Waste
SBC Food Rescue: Business Outreach
Beginning January 1, 2019, AB 1826 requires businesses that generate four or more cubic yards of solid waste per week to establish an organic waste recycling program.SB 1383 establishes guidelines for organic waste reduction and edible food recovery targets for businesses. Donation of surplus food is one way to comply…
Food Waste Resources During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Local Food Database
Local Farms & Local Foods Resources
Presenters Jenya Schneider, Cuyama Lamb Stephen Gliessman, Condor’s Hope / Growing the Table Initiative Julian Martinez, Barbareño Restaurant Clara Cadwell, Tutti Frutti Farms Oscar Carmona, Healing Grounds Nursery
Cuyama Lamb – Reservations available now
From grazing fire breaks in the Santa Ynez Mountains to protecting the endangered native grasslands of San Marcos Foothills, our lamb is 100% range-raised. You can feel good and eat well knowing these lambs have contributed to soil health and ecological well-being from Cuyama to the Coast. We believe this…
Fruit Tree Hosting – Greenspot Farming
Local Harvest Delivery
Local Harvest Delivery hand-selects produce from local and sustainable family farms and delivers to your door every Saturday. They deliver to Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria and Ventura. They post the contents of each week’s box on their website. You can modify your box, make an on-going No-list, add…
John Givens Farm
John Givens has been farming in Santa Barbara County for 30 years and has 12 different farm properties in cultivation throughout the area. This farm adds trace minerals from rock dust to their soil as well as compost, promoting what John believes is better soil nutrition. Because the farm is…
Finley Farms
Finley Farms in Santa Ynez offers a large variety of seasonal row crops such as lettuce, beets, tomatoes, turnips, rutabagas, fennel, and peas, as well as melons, strawberries and raspberries, to name a few. You can read more about the Finleys in the Young Farmers article from our Summer 2010 issue. Pre-packed…
Farm Cart Organics
Farm Cart Organics is a family run, organic produce delivery business. They deliver weekly to locations in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Cost: $12.25-$100 per week. Phone: 805 452-4823 E-mail: farmcartorganics.com Source: Edible Santa Barbara
The Farm Box Collective
The Farm Box Collective has grown from a single farm CSA (formerly Ellwood Canyon Farms) into a CSA collective of local organic farmers that we have worked with for several years. This ensures a diverse weekly box that supports several farms in our community. CSA’s are a critical component in…
Dare to Dream Farms
Dare 2 Dream Farms in Lompoc specializes in backyard chickens, handcrafted coops, free-range eggs, organic produce, and although they have a CSA, it is currently sold out. Check their website for updates. Website: www.dare2dreamfarms.com Source: Edible Santa Barbara
The Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens
Fairview Gardens is the oldest CSA in our area, since 1988. The 100+ year-old farm is open to the public, and members and others are welcome to take self-guided tours, and attend a variety of classes and workshops. Farm stand is open Wednesdays 2-6pm with a variety of locally grown…
Blosser Urban Garden
Blosser Urban Garden is a sustainable small-scale organic farm in Santa Maria, delivering weekly or bi-weekly produce. Cost: $21-28 per week. Multiple delivery options. Phone: 805 878-1744 E-mail: blosserurbangarden@gmail.com Website: blosserurbangarden.com Source: Edible Santa Barbara
Plow to Porch
Plow to Porch delivers fresh, seasonal organic/pesticide-free produce and a wide variety of delicious “add-ons” weekly or every other week. The produce in their boxes mirrors the seasonal availability of our local farms and varies from week to week. They source from approximately 15 different farms in order to bring…
Cropmobster Exchange
A public and crowdsourced community resilience platform for sharing resources, trading food and supplies and building relationships for stronger localized food systems. Learn more.
Open for Business Restaurant Directory
A Guide to Santa Barbara Local Food During COVID-19
Other Sites & Resources
Direct Assistance to Farmers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) offers direct assistance to farmers and ranchers in support for losses related to the pandemic. The USDA, through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), will be accepting applications from agricultural producers who have suffered losses. Applications are being accepted now until August 20, 2020. …