Santa Barbara

Projects in Santa Barbara are centered upon a beautiful, retreat-like site in the San Marcos Foothills and offers several volunteer opportunities revolving around botanic study, pollinator survey work, and organic farming.

Five Loaves Farm Five Loaves Farm is a three-acre non-profit farm on the property of Santa Barbara Community Church. We use organic and sustainable farming practices as we seek to care for our creation and grow fresh fruits and vegetables. All produce grown on Five Loaves Farm is distributed to low-income families through local food distribution programs. Fresh produce is a necessary part of feeding our community and growing healthy children. Five Loaves also seeks to educate our community about local food production, issues of poverty and nutrition, and the connection between agriculture and ecology. Community involvement is encouraged and the farm hopes to be a safe place of healing and reconciliation. Five Loaves Farm is funded by grant, church, and individual donations. Our intention is to grow excellent market quality produce for families who otherwise would only have access to lower quality food. All of this is done at no cost to the recipients. The farm is fully dependent upon outside financial support. Five Loaves Farm hopes to be a model for change in our Christian community.  If you are interested in volunteering at the farm, please email Emiko, the Farm Manager at emiko.corey@arocha.org or stop by to visit us at 1001 Cieneguitas Road, Santa Barbara, 93110.

Creation Care Camp We ran two weeks of camps this past month of June. The kids prepped and planted the garden, hiked, identified plants, caught insects, watched birds, looked at the stars, tidepooled, and most importantly learned to care for this beautiful creation. We opened each day with, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,” and ended the entire week with, “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that this has come from the hand of the Lord” (Job 12:7-9). Kids came home dirty, exhausted, and filled with wonder. About 48 children grades first through eighth were lead by A Rocha volunteers and local specialists in botany, entomology, astronomy, and recycling.

Events Five Loaves Farm hosts volunteers on Mondays from 6:00-7:00pm. Please fill out a volunteer waiver (click here to download) and bring to farm when you arrive.