Community Soil Foundation

What Community Soil Foundation does

Community Soil Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Santa Rosa, California, founded in 2012 to deliver land-based education and habitat regeneration in Sonoma County. The organization operates the Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center, a six-acre site at Maddux Ranch Regional Park comprising one acre of community farm/garden and five acres of oak woodland that is publicly accessible from sunrise to sunset. Core programs include the Community Garden & Farm Program (regenerative agriculture and organic produce access via a u-pick garden and Farm Stand), Youth Education (garden-based curriculum for K-8 students), Land Stewardship (habitat restoration), and the Healthy Habitats Program launched in 2017 in response to the Tubbs Fire for watershed protection and post-fire land regeneration in the Russian River watershed.

The foundation's educational content portfolio includes the eight-episode Post-Fire Land Regeneration Video Series produced with Taproot Media beginning in 2020, covering erosion control, hillside contour assessment, and invasive species removal for fire-affected Sonoma County landowners, plus the "Lessons from the Garden" downloadable youth curriculum. The organization reports delivering over 3,000 pounds of organic produce annually to local food banks and serving nearly 400 K-8 students plus teachers and families through its school garden program.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding model: tax-deductible individual donations processed via the DonorBox platform, government and foundation grants (notably from Sonoma Clean Power and the Office of Recovery and Resiliency for the Healthy Habitats Program), in-kind contributions from local businesses including Jackson Family Wines, Sutter Health, and Sonoma County Community Foundation, and modest farm stand produce sales. The organization maintains a small core staff of approximately five employees (Farm Manager, Community Development Director, two School Garden Educators, and Grants Manager) supplemented by a board of advisors and a community volunteer base mobilized through monthly workdays.

Name

Community Soil Foundation

Legal name

Community Soil Foundation

Website

https://communitysoil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Soil Foundation is a Sonoma County, California nonprofit operating the Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center, delivering land-based K-8 education, post-fire watershed restoration, and regenerative agriculture programs to local residents, students, and fire-affected landowners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Garden & Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Landscaping Services (561730), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Vegetable & Herb Garden Installation and Maintenance (HSAIAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL), Groundskeeping, Landscaping & Snow/Ice Management (EDALALAB), Turf Care (Fertilization, Aeration & Weed/Pest Control) (IMAIAIAD)

Keywords

• Community garden education
• Land stewardship programs
• Habitat regeneration services
• Fire recovery assistance
• Organic farming education

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Rosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individual donors, both one-time and recurring, facilitated through DonorBox platform.
2. Grant Funding: Government and foundation grants supporting specific programs such as the Healthy Habitats program, fire recovery initiatives, and watershed protection efforts from agencies like Office of Recovery and Resiliency.
3. In-Kind Donations: Receipt of supplies, materials, and professional services from partner organizations including garden supplies from local businesses, farm equipment, and volunteer labor.
4. Farm Stand Sales: Affordable produce sales at on-site Farm Stand offering fresh organic produce grown at the Larkfield Community Garden to local community members.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Soil Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center, a six-acre site at Maddux Ranch Regional Park in Sonoma County, California. It delivers regenerative community gardening, K-8 garden-based education, post-fire land regeneration services, native habitat and watershed restoration through the Healthy Habitats program, and donor/volunteer-supported produce distribution to local food banks and families.

Product overview

Community Soil Foundation is a non-profit organization that operates a portfolio of land-based community programs centered at the Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center. The core offerings include the Community Garden & Farm Program for regenerative agriculture, Land Stewardship for habitat restoration, Youth Education for garden-based learning, the Healthy Habitats Program for post-fire recovery, the Post-Fire Land Regeneration Video Series for educational outreach, and Lessons from the Garden for youth nature education. These programs work together to cultivate wellness in Sonoma County communities by offering land-based education, creating access to organic produce, and regenerating habitat and natural resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center A one-acre community farm and garden and five-acre oak woodland providing a gathering space at Maddux Ranch Regional Park that teaches local residents and students how to grow organic food while protecting and restoring natural habitats. Open to the public from sunrise to sunset as a u-pick garden.
• Land Stewardship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 pounds of organic produce donated annually to local food banks, families, and organizations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mark West Union School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship partnership for Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center; provides school garden education to K-8 students with curriculum tied to common core standards; hosts 350+ students annually at the garden site.
• Sonoma County Regional ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-location partnership at Maddux Ranch Regional Park where Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center is situated; provides public park access and visibility for the organization's programs.
• Sonoma Ecology CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative watershed protection partnership providing free waste containment and erosion control resources to fire-affected landowners alongside Community Soil Foundation.
• Sonoma County Conservation ActionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed protection collaborative partner providing expertise and resources for erosion control and habitat restoration in fire-affected areas.
• Russian RiverkeepermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatershed protection collaborative partner working to prevent fire debris pollution from reaching local streams in the Russian River watershed.
• Taproot MediamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVideo production partner for the Post-Fire Land Regeneration Video Series; collaborated with Community Soil Foundation since 2020 to create educational videos for Sonoma residents.
• Molsberry MarketminorOthersLocal business providing essential in-kind support including supplies and products for garden operations and community programs.
• Occidental Arts & Ecology CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing permaculture design trainings and expertise relevant to the organization's regenerative farming and gardening practices.
• School Garden Network of Sonoma CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner providing trainings, events, and tools for school garden educators and local programs; Collaborative on youth education initiatives.
• Harmony FarmminorOthersLocal farm providing essential in-kind support for garden operations.
• Blue Beagle CoffeeminorOthersLocal business providing essential in-kind support including products and services.
• Redwood Covenant ChurchminorOthersCommunity organization providing essential in-kind support for programs and operations.
• County Supervisor Mike McGuiremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitical partner who collaborated with Community Soil Foundation on the County Lands for Food Production Initiative in 2012, helping promote Maddux Ranch Regional Park as suitable public land for community food production.
• Community Soil (Business)minorOthersEdible and restorative garden design and install business co-founded by Paolo Tantarelli and Jeff Shields; provides in-kind support and expertise to the foundation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FoodCorps: National service program that connects children to healthy food through school garden programs and food education. Comparable mission and school-based delivery model to Community Soil Foundation's Youth Education program.
• Edible Schoolyard Project: Founded by Alice Waters, this nonprofit operates school garden programs and food education programs integrated with classroom curriculum. Directly comparable to Community Soil Foundation's garden-based curriculum tied to common core standards.
• Occidental Arts & Ecology Center: Sonoma County-based nonprofit that offers permaculture design training and regenerative agriculture education. Closely comparable to Community Soil Foundation's regenerative farming and gardening program; also a partner organization providing permaculture expertise.
• Common Ground: Connecticut-based nonprofit environmental education center that operates a community garden, farm, and urban environmental education programs. Comparable to Community Soil Foundation's Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center multi-functional model.
• Life Lab: California-based nonprofit that provides garden-based education to K-12 students through school garden programs and teacher training. Highly comparable to Community Soil Foundation's Youth Education program serving Mark West Unified School District.

Broad incumbents

• The Food Trust: National nonprofit focused on food access, nutrition education, and connecting communities to healthy food. Comparable mission to Community Soil Foundation's food access and organic produce donations, with broader geographic scope.
• American Community Gardening Association: National nonprofit organization supporting the community gardening movement across the U.S. Comparable to Community Soil Foundation's community garden mission, with broader reach and network-building role.

Regional players

• Sonoma Ecology Center: Sonoma County-based nonprofit focused on watershed protection and environmental education. Comparable to Community Soil Foundation's Healthy Habitats program and watershed protection work; also an active partner on the Healthy Habitats initiative.
• Petaluma Bounty: Sonoma County-based nonprofit that operates a farm and food access programs, donating produce to local families in need. Comparable to Community Soil Foundation's produce donation program delivering 3,000+ pounds of organic produce annually to food banks.

Emerging players

• Center for Ecoliteracy: California-based nonprofit advancing ecological education in schools through sustainable food systems and curriculum. Comparable to Community Soil Foundation's Youth Education mission of building ecological literacy through school-based programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/communitysoil.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/communitysoilfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/communitysoil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Soil Foundation