Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Meyer.
Hi Julia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I credit my love of food and well-being to my mom. My earliest memory of food sovereignty is in my middle school years, when her and I would pack my lunch for school and she emphasized the importance of fueling our body with what it needs. I was always fascinated by how different everyone’s lunch choices were, and the factors that influenced them. Fast forward to high school, where I traded homemade breakfast sandwiches in exchange for a ride to class in the morning, and took pride in knowing that I contributed to someone being fed, and eating well. After considering psychology, nutrition, and a culinary path, I decided on a degree in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health at the University of Washington – a course load that encompassed all of the above, in addition to socio-economic determinants of health, which proved to be the common thread in them all. After college, I was determined to better my community through food access, and found Coastal Roots Farm, arguably the perfect place to do so. For three years, I worked as the Distribution Coordinator on the farm, operating our Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand, and weekly free offsite food distributions that afforded everyone in the community access to seasonal, local, sustainably grown produce at no cost, no questions asked. I had the opportunity to engage with people of all backgrounds and support their hardships by eliminating the worry of not being able to afford healthy food. As of this year, I’ve taken a new position on the farm and am now managing private and community events, as well as our newly opened retail enterprise – a coffee cart and garden store. Although a different department, I still feel a huge sense of purpose contributing to the CRF team in this way because I’m able to share the farm and it’s impact with the community, and invite everyone to be a part of it all and experience the impact of community welfare.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I honestly can’t say I’ve hit too many major bumps in the road on my journey, but I will say one of the biggest contributors to who I am today was the multi-cultural childhood I had as a kid. I moved countries a handful of times and was often faced with a new environment, community, and norms to adjust to. At times it was tough to feel like I had roots, and I often relied on assimilating to those around me to fit in. On the flip side, however, my international upbringing exposed me to so many different walks of life and because of that, I know that I am a more patient, understanding, and compassionate person today. At my core, I have a love for people because I know that no one person is alike and no one experience is the same – it’s this passionate vision that drives me to recognize and honor the child in us all who just wants to be a part of something, and have fun while doing so.
We’ve been impressed with Coastal Roots Farm, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Coastal Roots Farm is a nonprofit community farm and education center guided by Jewish values, where we practice organic, regenerative farming, share our harvest with those who lack access, deliver unique farm-based education, and foster inclusive spaces for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to celebrate Jewish life and catalyze a healthier, more vibrant community and a more sustainable future. What people should know is that we are open to all, and we want the community to be a part of our farm just as much as we are. We have weekly volunteering with our farmers as well as multiple opportunities to have kids involved and learning about sustainable land stewardship, growing their own food, and the outdoor world. I personally am most proud of our commitment to food access – our Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand, open on Thursdays and Sundays, sells regeneratively grown, organic, seasonal produce, and offers up to a $30 discount to anyone who might need it through an anonymous check out system, no questions asked.
My piece of the pie, however, is the events and retail sector of the farm. We offer our picturesque outdoor spaces as venue rentals, and host many community events that invite people of all ages to experience and participate in farm-to-table dinners, holiday celebrations, sustainability focused outdoor movie nights, curated mixers, earth-based workshops, and more. Most recently, we opened a coffee cart and garden store at the forefront of our property, with the intention of inviting folks to sit, sip, and stay a while to enjoy the outdoor environment and crafted beverages. We’re brewing locally roasted beans, and featuring farm-forward flavors based on what is growing and available right here on the farm throughout the seasons, and hope this new addition to the space encourages even more connection to the farm and land.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
One group I’d love to give a shoutout to is the San Diego Food System Alliance – a diverse network of leaders in San Diego committed to building a resilient, thriving food system that supports everyone involved. They host an annual conference that I like to tell people is my ‘comic con’. It’s a huge gathering of people oriented towards transforming our food system into one that is equitable and sustainability forward, and emphasizing the need for indigenous leadership in the conversations. I love it because it emphasizes the fact that there are so many people committed to bettering our food systems, in a world that often feels like the opposite, and its a big melting pot of people sharing ideas, offering advice, and brainstorming how to move forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://coastalrootsfarm.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastalrootsfarm/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coastal-roots-farm-a594172b1
