Starting a farm on land that was used as a parking lot for decades means we have to bring in good soil to help our plants grow. We visited several soil yards and explored over a dozen options ultimately selecting a compost enriched sandy loam topsoil from Living Earth. There was a sourcing over 30 fully loaded semi-trucks worth of it to fill the fields at our new location, a meaningful budget expense but a worthwhile investment in the farm as we restart and get things off the ground.

On top of this base layer, we are spreading the upper 3 inches of magical ‘Finca Dirt’ scraped off of the old farm site before it was redeveloped. Rich in nutrients and alive with 10+ years of compost and care, you can see the difference in quality in contrast to the dark color of our soil. This priceless addition will quite literally carry forward the work and life of the old farm site as we launch production at the new location in the spring.

As a non-profit, Small Places relies in part on charitable foundations to support our work. But as a farm, we also rely on the foundations of soil and ecology, resources for which no tax status can be applied and whose assets are not measured in dollars. Growing food is a profound transformation of sunlight, water, and soil into human life and potential. During this phase of the farm’s life, we are investing in the potential of our neighborhood by investing in our soil.

If you would like to help, please consider joining our Perennial Monthly Giving Program and become part of the foundation of our new farm.

How You Can Help

A donation of just $50 provides one of these bimonthly food boxes, helping families stay nourished throughout the month. Your generosity doesn’t just provide food—it fosters community resilience, strengthens relationships, and ensures everyone has access to the resources needed to thrive.