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Santa Paula USD unveils three‑year farm plan to expand hands‑on agricultural learning
Summary
Director Melissa Gara presented a three‑year plan to develop the 32‑acre A‑Center farm into an instructional, revenue‑generating and community resource, with Year 1 focused on infrastructure and program design, Year 2 on expansion and career pathways, and Year 3 on financial sustainability including a potential avocado orchard.
The Santa Paula Unified School District on Wednesday presented a phased three‑year plan to transform its 32‑acre district farm into an integrated learning destination for preschool through high school students and the broader community.
Melissa Gara, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction for grades 7–12, told trustees the plan builds on existing agricultural facilities, a well‑established FFA pathway and community partnerships. "We already have significant assets in place, including this 32 acre district farm," she said, and described a year‑by‑year roadmap of facilities and programming.
Year 1 emphasizes foundational infrastructure and pilot programs: rebuilding nursery capacity and creating a districtwide pumpkin patch, developing a row‑crop and Milpa garden as an instructional space, establishing a creek interpretive trail for environmental education, and creating a "living classroom" for hands‑on science investigations. Year 2 shifts to expansion and signature programs — including a seed‑to‑sourdough project and farm‑to‑table experiences — paired with career pathway development and increased community engagement. Year 3 focuses on long‑term financial sustainability, seeking grants and revenue streams such as plant sales and a possible avocado orchard whose planting would begin in earlier years but not generate income until maturity.
Trustees raised operational questions about staffing, funding and site risks. One trustee asked whether an avocado orchard could be planted in year one rather than year three; Gara said planting would ideally begin earlier but revenue takes years to materialize. Trustees also urged the district to prioritize large‑scale projects (gym, pool) when communicating to voters and to plan for contingencies such as El Niño‑related weather, erosion and wildfire risk. Gara said a farm safety plan and advisory committee — including potential partnerships with local safety and higher‑education partners — would inform those contingencies.
The board did not take a vote on funding for the farm plan at the meeting; staff said the presentation establishes priorities and next steps for grant development, staffing consideration and partnership outreach.
