Jewish community farms use farming, gardening, and food as a way to teach about Jewish tradition and heritage, build Jewish identity and community, and make the world a more just and sustainable place.
Coastal Roots Farm is a living Jewish farm, making practices that are thousands of years old relevant lessons for today. These practices inform how we grow produce, share belongings, treat neighbors, observe the passing of time, celebrate and improve, care for plants and animals, and create a vibrant, welcoming community. All of this makes Coastal Roots Farm a Jewish farm for everyone.
The Farm hosts two Jewish agricultural festivals during the year, our Tu B'Shvat Food Forest Festival (Winter) and Sukkot Harvest Festival (Fall). Click here to view our events page for upcoming festivals!
JEWISH TRADITIONS
We are inspired by ancient Jewish traditions that connect people to community, food, the land, and social justice.
- Bal Taschit: Ethical consumption
- Shmita: Honoring natural cycles of the earth
- Peah: Lining the corners of one’s field with food for the stranger and poor
- Kayamut: Ecological sustainability
- Ma’aser: Reserving at least one-tenth of one’s agricultural produce for the poor
- K’vod Briut: The dignity of all creations
- Hachnasat Orchim: Welcoming guests
- Haganat Ovdim: Fair treatment of those who work the fields
- Tsa’ar Ba’alei Chaim: Kind, humane treatment of animals
- Tikkun Olam: Healing the world
These traditions and values are as meaningful and relevant today as they have been over thousands of years, and are often reflected in modern agricultural practices. They are also the basis of our deep commitment to the principles of food justice including access to fresh, healthy, affordable, and culturally-appropriate food for all; fair treatment of workers; responsible land stewardship; and compassionate treatment of animals.
At Coastal Roots Farm, we are proud to be part of a national movement of Jewish Community Farming and part of a Field Building Initiative which integrates Jewish experiential education with agriculture. Its purpose is to cultivate community, promote environmental sustainability and food justice, foster opportunities for meaningful spiritual engagement and personal growth, and strengthen Jewish life. Click here to visit the Jewish Community Farming website.
Below are links to other Jewish community farms across North America:
Abundance Farm
Adamah/Isabella Freedman Center
Beantown Jewish Gardens
Eden Village Camp
Ekar Farm
Grow Torah
Jewish Farm School
Milk and Honey Farm
Pearlstone
Pushing the Envelope Farm
Shalom Institute
Shoresh Farm
Urban Adamah