"In hearing the voice from the land of the spirit you must develop the strong courage to bear witness to this voice..."
In the early 1990's a small group was formed to explore the potential for setting up a socially responsible community that would work together on the premise of building a site for agricultural renewal, healing and contemplative practices. This group searched for land and direction for ten years. With the sad loss of a Southern California biodynamic farm in late 1999 and the subsequent loss of biodynamic produce for many community people, the group pressed into action.
Encouragement came from many directions. The search was on for appropriate land, people and form. The chosen name for the group was the Tierra Miguel Foundation which was based on the original name for the City of San Diego…San Miguel/St. Michael…surely a guiding force in these times.
The founding Board of Trustees established Tierra Miguel Foundation on October 29, 1999. On April 7, 2000, Tierra Miguel Foundation filed Articles of Incorporation with the State of California as a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation for charitable and educational purposes. It received its 501(c) 3 federal IRS tax exemption designation August 30, 2001.
Land Conservation
In order to fulfill its mission of education and demonstration of sustainable agricultural practices, Tierra Miguel Foundation (TMF) leases 85 acres of certified organic farmland in Pauma Valley, California. The acreage was leased from the landowner, William Potter, as of September 2000.
The Foundation's goal is to purchase the property and to arrange for its conservation so that the land will be permanently preserved for agricultural use. Our goal is to secure its purchase and land conservation by September 2003. Our noteworthy partner for the land conservation program is the Fallbrook Land Conservancy. We are finalizing the funding plan for purchase and conservation by identifying interested support and funding groups. Currently these include: the County of San Diego, local community groups and private donors from California and elsewhere, government organizations such as the California Department of Conservation, California Coastal Conservancy, the United States Department of Agriculture, and interested foundations and corporations.
We are happy to report that without exception we have been received with tremendous interest and support. TMF will protect this fertile farmland from conversion to development through the land acquisition and conservation. In keeping the land in agriculture, we retain the rights to provide educational programs on the Farm, improve the quality of soil, cultivate produce through organic and other certified agricultural practices, and to distribute this highly nutritive produce to the Southern California community.
Ecological
TMF ecological activities seek to improve the quality of the soil by using compost enriched with herbal preparations. Diverse crops are planted as a means of controlling pests and as alternatives to soil-depleting pesticides. A variety of natural pest management techniques are used as alternatives to pesticides. Compost is produced using the farm's waste vegetation and safe animal waste. It is enriched with herbal preparations rather than employing synthetic fertilizers. The above noted practices have the direct ecological benefit of preserving and enriching the soil, as well as serving the educational, scientific and research objectives of TMF.
The location of the Farm abutting the San Luis Rey River means that the Farm serves as a safe corridor for wildlife. Organic farming protects fauna and flora in the area. Drip irrigation and other water conservation measures are consistently in use. Our essential farming practices encourage and are compatible with flourishing wildlife and human enterprise. The ecological, conservation and protection components of our program are necessary farm expenses and covered by income generated by the Farm and CSA and by local and government conservation grants. TMF encourages public recognition of the value of "working landscapes" to help maintain open spaces and as buffers in rapidly developing areas.
Scientific
The agricultural practices noted above are being conducted using tested scientific methods to improve the effectiveness of these organic and sustainable techniques and to make information about them available to the general public. TMF farming practices are conducted with the goal of demonstrating that organic and sustainable agricultural practices are viable and economically feasible alternatives to the current practices of monoculture, pesticide use and synthetic fertilizers that deplete the soils and rob them of vitality and nutritional value. All expenses related to scientific practices are direct farm expenses and are now being covered by the Farm and CSA income.
Research and publication
Goals are being developed for research projects carried by the Farm in conjunction with selected colleges and universities for 2004. Collaborative undertakings are being explored with area Indian Reservations and San Diego County, as well as a number of educational institutions. Currently we have a CANFit research and education grant with the Indian Health Council, Inc. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
TMF is in conversation with the University of California Extension Services and heads of the agriculture programs of several California universities and surrounding states, including the California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and the University of Arizona, to develop collaborative programs to commence in 2003-2004. The overall intention is to conduct educational and scientific research into sustainable agricultural practices.
These collaborations will involve TMF reserving one or two acres of the Farm for use by college students to conduct research into sustainable agricultural practices (such as those noted above), the multiple uses of herbs (e.g. medicinal and agricultural, as well as for food), and composting with herbal preparations to increase the nutritive value of foods. Agriculture students would work with their professors and with TMF experts to develop useful findings. The results of this applied and practical scientific research are intended to be made available for the education of the general public in a variety of ways. All research and publication expenses will be funded through cooperative grants with the participating institutions and universities
It is the policy of the Tierra Miguel Foundation not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed by or seeking employment with the Tierra Miguel Foundation on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran or any other category protected by municipal, state or federal law. This policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws and Tierra Miguel Foundation policies.