Santa Barbara Community Builders (2013) | Page 46

Fairview Gardens provides about 20 adult classes and suburban homesteading programs each year, ranging from how to grow an organic garden to how to make cheese. It is one of the oldest, most vibrant, and most popular organic teaching farms in the country. “Demonstrating how we can be sustainable on a small-scale organic farm is part of our mission,” said Mark Tollefson, the articulate and energetic center three years ago. “But the truth is, we’ve flunked organic agriculture. We’re trying to change that.” The area was once a part of the largest Chumash Indian settlement on the coast, and the history of agriculture in the north Fairview area dates to 1895, when the Hollister family built the original house and began growing crops. It allegedly got its name one morning when Mrs. Hollister Tollefson grew up on a farm in Canada and worked as a wilderness survival trainer before marrying San Diego native Sharon Tollefson, the education director at the center. “Sharon is the heart and soul of our teaching mission,” he said. “Education is the key. We consider this an education center that happens to also be a farm.” He also credits Julie Beaumont, director of farm operations, and Cesar know they are most welcome here, and that this is their resource. If you have any questions on organic farming or sustainable agriculture, we will help you and give you every kind of support we can. We invite everyone to visit us. We have picnic tables all over the property, and anyone can come in and use them.” The property is also open to the public for weddings, festivals, or executive director of Fairview Gardens. “We also grow and sell organic crops at farmers’ markets, help interns and apprentices learn how to farm sustainably, and act as a community center in a variety of ways.” Tollefson sees Fairview Gardens as part of an effort to reverse current agricultural methods in the United States and around the world that he believes are unsustainable. “We’ve been talking about sustainability since the hippies first came on the scene in the late 1960s,” said Tollefson, who assumed leadership of the Santa Barbara Community Builders exclaimed over the “fair view.” Under her feet was some of the richest agricultural soil in California. At the time, citrus and walnut groves stretched to the ocean. The modern era began in the mid-1970s, when Roger Chapman, a professor of music, bought the property and named it Fairview Gardens. The land was carefully cultivated and nourished, and sunflowers flourished over the entire property. When the plants flowered, it was not unusual to see dozens of cars parked along the avenue as people stopped to photograph the stunning array. Gomez, lead field hand, for their roles in the center’s success. The nonprofit center, which is governed by nine elected board members, collects some revenue from crops, classes, and other uses of the land but must rely on public donations to meet annual costs. Although past management of the center chose a more exclusive path, Tollefson is working hard to reach out to the community and rebuild relationships. “We have a new spirit of community and new goals,” said Tollefson. “I want people in the Santa Barbara region and beyond to other functions. Education remains the focus, however, and classes are increasing. The adult Suburban Homesteading programs begin in April and include the highly popular Introduction to Beekeeping and Harvesting Honey classes. Gardening classes include Get Your Green On, which covers spring and fall gardens. A Backyard Chickens series explores the process of raising chickens for food, and a Home Made Skills series presents such classes as Wild Fermenting and Soap Making Basics. Starting in early June, the PreservSanta Barbara Community Builders