About Jan Tuttleman z”l
Jan Tuttleman was a beloved mother, friend, and philanthropist. After earning her PhD in microbiology, Jan raised two daughters, Emma and Sophie, as a single mother. She later earned an MBA from UCSD’s Rady School of Management. Jan invested deeply in the life science industry where her impact continues to benefit the lives of many.
A natural and visionary leader, Jan worked tirelessly and used her education and business savvy to advance many nonprofit organizations. Her incredible ability to bring people together to aid those in need was inspirational and awe-inspiring.
Jan founded the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation and Women Give San Diego to create awareness of the issues and needs of women and girls; provide resources for low-income women to support themselves and their families; and to empower women as funders, decision-makers, and agents for change. Jan led with her head and her heart and inspired others to do the same.
At age 56 Jan was diagnosed with brain cancer, which prompted her daughter, Emma, to study traditional medicine in search of ways to prolong Jan’s life. After Jan passed away in 2012, Emma became a professional clinical herbalist. In addition to working privately with clients, Emma teaches and writes on achieving health goals using herbs and traditional healing modalities. Emma joined the team at Coastal Roots Farm in 2020 where she distributes high quality, nutrient-dense produce at the Pay-What-You-Can Farm Stand and through monthly deliveries to the San Diego American Indian Health Center.
The Native Plant Initiative
Coastal Roots Farm is honored to work in partnership with native communities, including Campo Kumeyaay Nation, Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, San Pasqual, and Kumeyaay Community College. Each month, the Farm reaches the most marginalized, food insecure members of these groups by distributing organic, nutrient-dense food, at no cost. The Farm also provides the hands-on, technical education needed to build and maintain public gardens on tribal lands.
Through its Native Plant Initiative, the Farm will uplift native and traditional practices of medical care and land stewardship with the new Jan Tuttleman z”l Healing Garden. Emma is stewarding this project, which will feature Native California plants and serve as an educational gathering and event space. Native California plants are used for food, medicine, shelter, dye, oil, and more, and are the most sustainable species for our region and climate.
How to Support
Your support of the Native Plant initiative will allow Coastal Roots Farm to develop the Healing Garden further its service to tribal communities.
Coastal Roots Farm is grateful to the Jewish Community Foundation for establishing the Jan Tuttleman Native Plant Initiative Fund, which will uplift Jan’s philanthropic legacy, dedication to the underserved, and passion for the natural world.