Foundations in Land Stewardship
Learning on the land, together
Class Starts May 2nd
An introduction to land-based stewardship
Join this three-month, land-based learning program in San Diego, CA for adults who want to explore what it means to be in right relationship with land, people and place through the art and practice of agriculture.
The course is designed for people exploring farming, land stewardship, food systems, or community-based land work — and for those seeking a deeper, more grounded understanding of how land-based projects actually function.
Who This Program is For:
Whether you’re actively working the land or simply wanting a deeper understanding of the food systems you’re part of, this program welcomes people from many experience levels, including:
Aspiring or early-stage farmers
Community gardeners and land-based organizers
Career-changers exploring agricultural or stewardship work
Food systems advocates
People seeking grounded, real-world agricultural education
Artists or small business owners looking to understand the language of farms
Public or nonprofit sector workers connected to land and food systems
No prior farming experience is required, though participants should be comfortable working outdoors and engaging in hands-on learning.
Our Approach to Stewardship
We believe that we have a shared responsibility to care for the places we call home. Stewardship emphasizes care, accountability, long-term thinking, and reciprocity — not ownership or control. As we navigate learning the language of the lands we reside on, we turn to our local farmers. Farmers whose work is rooted in the seasons and the soil, and who share practical, hands-on knowledge that translates directly into real-world stewardship skills.
What You’ll Learn
1. Listening to the Land
Develop the skill of observation — learning from seeds, soil, water, trees, animals, and seasonal cycles. Practice seeing the subtle patterns that inform thoughtful stewardship.
2. Systems & Structures in a Living Environment
Explore how land-based projects actually function. From production planning and partnerships to leadership and sales, we will examine how values meet real-world choices.
3. Community, Reciprocity & Care
Land stewardship is about people too. Together we explore soil health, tools, embodied labor, communication, boundaries, and conflict — and what sustainability really means for individuals and communities.
Apply Now to Join
Program Structure
📅 12 Saturdays
📅 May 2nd - August 1st (no class May 23rd or July 4th)
⏰ 9:00am - 2:00pm
The course takes place over three months and includes 12 Saturday sessions held from 9:00am–2:00pm, May 2nd - August 1st (no class May 23rd or July 4th).
Each class day typically includes:
An opening orientation and overview of the day’s focus
Farmer-led discussion and Q&A rooted in lived experience
Hands-on, land-based learning activities aligned with the host farm
A 1-hour BYO lunch
Time for reflection, questions, and connection
Tuition & Scholarships
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$1,500 – Payment plans available
Secure your spot with a $100 deposit
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We offer full scholarships in partnership with FoodShed Cooperative to support more farmers tending land in San Diego.
We strongly encourage applications from historically underserved communities, including:
Women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, people with disabilities, immigrants, students, teachers, and veterans.Priority groups include: Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers (SDFR), BIPOC beginning farmers/producers, and farmworkers.
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✅ May be for you if:
Low-income, underemployed, or receiving public assistance
Supporting others financially or with little/no disposable income
❌ May not be for you if:
Steady income and able to meet basic needs comfortably
Own property or have discretionary spending for travel, classes, or leisure
Have stable income, savings, or generational wealth
Project-Based Learning & Mentorship
In addition to group classes, participants have the option to work on a land-based project throughout the program. Projects can connect to your interests or goals — such as developing a farm or garden concept, exploring a land-connected business idea, starting a mutual aid effort, or diving deeper into a systems issue that affects your community.
Participants will receive light reflection prompts to help connect course material with their project as the program unfolds.
Each student also receives one 60-minute 1-on-1 mentorship session with one of our farm teachers.
Graduates may continue mentorship after the course for an additional fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Foundations in Land Stewardship is a land-based learning program rooted in working farms, where participants learn to be in right relationship with land, people, and place through the practice of agriculture.
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Rather than classroom instruction, the program takes place on working farms, where learning happens through observation, conversation, and hands-on experience. Participants spend the course visiting a minimum of four host farms, returning to each site multiple times to see how decisions, systems, and seasons unfold in real time.
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This program runs for three months on 12 Saturdays from May through August. Each class day is from 9am to 2pm, with a 1-hour BYO lunch.
Classes will begin on Saturday May 2nd and end on Saturday, August 1st. We will not have class on Saturday, May 23rd for Memorial Day Weekend and Saturday, July 4th for 4th of July.
The exact course dates are as follows:
May 2, May 9, May 16, May 30, June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25, Final Class on August 1
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Yes, absolutely! This course is for anyone who is actively working the land or simply wanting a deeper understanding of the food systems they are a part of. We welcome and encourage people from many experience levels to join!
(must be 18 years or older)
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Yes, we have space for up to 15 people to join this program. This program is intentionally cohort-based, relational, and immersive to foster connection and community between all who are a part of this.
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Classes will be held at local farms across San Diego County, including in Ramona, Valley Center, Escondido, Bonita, Encinitas and more. Exact farm locations to be announced as the program date gets closer.
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The full cost of this program is $1500. Payment plans are available. Preferred payment: Check or Zelle. Credit cards accepted (+2.9% on full course cost).
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Yes, we have full scholarships available through our partnership with Foodshed Cooperative. When applying, please indicate so on your application. There will be two brief follow-up questions.
We ask that scholarship students provide a $100 deposit for the program, fully refundable upon completion. Scholarship recipients must attend at least 9 classes throughout the program to receive the refund of their deposit.
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The goal of these scholarships is to get more farmers tending land in San Diego. We strongly encourage applications from individuals and communities who have been historically and are currently underserved — including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, immigrants, students, teachers, and veterans. Priority groups include Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFR) including Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) beginning farmers/producers, BIPOC program participants and farmworkers.
This scholarship may be for you if you:
- Are low-income, underemployed, or receiving public assistance
- Are supporting others financially or have little/no disposable income
This scholarship may not be for you if you:
- Have steady income and can meet your basic needs comfortably
- Own property or have discretionary spending for travel, classes, or leisure
- Have access to stable income, savings, or generational wealth
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No farming or gardening experience is necessary to be able to sign up for this program! You must have reliable transportation to be able to attend each of the classes as they will be at various farm locations across San Diego County. More details on farm locations will be shared as we finalize them.
Participants must be 18 years or older.
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We encourage all participants to attend as many classes as they can to receive the full experience of the program. We also understand that life can happen and schedules can change. Participants are able to miss up to 3 classes throughout the program to still receive their certificate of completion at the end of the program.
*scholarship recipients must attend at least 9 classes to receive a refund of their deposit.
Meet Your Instructors
More instructors coming soon!
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Jessica Sanchez is an Earth Tender whose life’s work is rooted in the belief that the land holds the answers.
She began her path on earth tending in early 2000s as an apprentice to Barry Logan in La Milpa Orgánica which then became Stone Farms where she co-managed the project with her partner David Solomon.
Together they founded Terra Madre Gardens which has now grown and matured to Madre Sanctuary.
She has spent years weaving together her life experience into building living, breathing spaces and experiences where people reconnect with themselves, each other, nature and the divine.
Born from deep personal roots and a reverence for earth wisdom, Jessica’s journey has taken her from cultivating not just crops, but culture, healing, and belonging.
Through her multiple projects, Jessica creates space for women, families, and communities to learn, grow, and remember who they are through the act of growing food. She is a bridge between the present to the possible. She is a visionary who understands that real change begins with a strong mission and the courage to tend both.
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David runs Cardiff Tiny Farm, a small urban farm in coastal North County San Diego.
David didn’t grow up thinking much about food. Like most people, it was about taste, price, and convenience.
After spending time working in tech, he began to feel increasingly disconnected—from his work, from his food, and from the natural world. That led him to start growing food himself, first through gardening, and eventually by spending time working on farms and diving deeper into local agriculture.
Today, his work includes a weekly CSA, farm stand, wholesale partnerships, and community gatherings—all centered around helping others reconnect to their food in the same way he did, and discover the joy that comes with it.
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Cathryn “Cat” Henning is the founder and steward of BeeWorthy Farms, a certified organic flower and herb farm rooted in ecological farming, soil regeneration, and community connection. She grows cut flowers, culinary and medicinal herbs, and pollinator habitat in Southern California’s coastal climate, bringing both practical expertise and deep care for land stewardship to her teaching.
Her experience spans diverse climates and systems, including biodynamic farming in Costa Rica, regenerative grazing in Humboldt County, and nearly a decade in nonprofit agriculture — with Wild Willow Farm & Education Center and The Ecology Center. These roles shaped her commitment to community‑centered, ecologically sound farming.
With a background in water resources and engineering, Cat approaches agriculture as an integrated system shaped by water, soil, climate, and human care. She is known for her grounded, encouraging teaching style, translating complex concepts into clear, hands‑on practices for both new and emerging growers.
At Farm School, Cat mentors students in whole‑system thinking — from soil to seed to harvest — empowering them to steward land responsibly while building meaningful, resilient livelihoods.
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Ranchito Milkyway is a small organic vegetable farm located in Bonita, CA. Growing seasonal vegetables and distributing CSA-style from their on-farm farm stand, co-owners Alyssa and Christian Frutos are striving to create a space where people can connect to their food and their farmers.
At Ranchito Milkyway they use all organic methods, striving for the most regenerative practices to improve the land and promote biodiversity. These practices include using locally crafted compost, no to low-tillage, and keeping plants in the ground as much as possible. They also are proud to offering amazing fruits and veggies from other local farms at their farmstand when they don't grow it ourselves.
They hope that by creating this space, you, the eater, can build a connection that keeps you grounded, reminds you that you rely on the Earth, that your farmer cares about you, and that all will actually taste pretty good.
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Hannah Keitel is a regenerative farmer, land steward, and food systems leader with over a decade of experience advancing sustainable and equitable food systems. Her work sits at the intersection of agriculture, community, and systems change — grounded in the belief that many of the answers we seek already exist within the wisdom of the land itself.
Her path has woven through nonprofit leadership, community food systems development, and taken her all the way to rural farming communities in India and Nepal to study traditional organic agriculture, before bringing her fully into farming. Today, Hannah’s work centers on creating spaces — both physical and conversational — that reconnect people to land, food, and one another.
Hannah also hosts and produces the podcast Hands in the Soil, where she amplifies the voices and stories of land stewards from around the world and explores the deeper cultural, ecological, and human dimensions of food and farming.
Hannah brings her experience and expertise to all aspects of Farm School.
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Hernan Cavazos co-founded Solidarity Farm in 2012 and has grown diversified specialty crops, eggs and chickens for more than a decade.
In 2020, he was recognized as Climate Smart Farmer of the year.
He has mentored more than 50 aspiring farmers and provided one-on-one production troubleshooting to Foodshed’s network of farmers.
Hernan also is one of the founders of Foodshed Cooperative.
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Learn more about Black Mountain Farm
Apply For the Program Here
Not Ready to Apply?
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Questions? Contact Us!