Sustainable Solano, Inc.

What Sustainable Solano, Inc. does

Sustainable Solano is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 as Benicia Community Gardens and rebranded to Sustainable Solano in May 2016 to reflect its broadened scope across Solano County, California. The organization operates a portfolio of community-based programs spanning four core pillars: Green Infrastructure (Solano Sustainable Backyards, Solano Gardens, Resilient Neighborhoods, HOA Projects, Benicia Community Gardens, Urban Forest), Local Food (CSA, farmers markets, Bounty of the County, Medically Tailored Meals, Solano Local Food System Alliance), Community Resilience (Air Quality, Youth Air Protectors, Flood Resilience), and Workforce Development (youth leadership, Permaculture Design Certificate training).

The underlying "technology" is operational rather than digital, built on permaculture design principles, sustainable landscaping practices, greywater and rainwater systems, food forest installations, and regenerative agriculture. The platform is delivered through 50+ demonstration food forests across Solano County cities (Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon, Rio Vista, Suisun City), 81 installed sustainable gardens, and direct community programming. Notable technical components include laundry-to-landscape greywater systems, swales for groundwater recharge, mixed-canopy urban forest installations, and the Resilient Neighborhoods framework for neighborhood-scale retrofits.

The revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a mid-sized community nonprofit: government and foundation grants (Solano County Water Agency, California Air Resources Board, California ReLeaf, PG&E Foundation, Magic Cabinet, Solano Community Foundation, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation), individual donations (including through the 1% for the Planet Environmental Partner designation effective 2025), pay-as-you-go program fees ($20 per cooking class), and event fundraising (annual Bounty of the County). The organization operates with a core staff of approximately six people plus a Board of Directors and a network of volunteers and fellows, led by Founding Executive Director Elena Karoulina and Co-Executive Director Allison Nagel.

Name

Sustainable Solano, Inc.

Legal name

Sustainable Solano

Website

https://sustainablesolano.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sustainable Solano is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating since 1999 in Solano County, California, delivering community-based programs in regenerative landscaping, local food systems, climate resilience, and youth sustainability education through demonstration gardens, workshops, grants, and government partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sustainability Programs

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Landscaping Services (561730), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (1132), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), Xeriscape & Drought-Tolerant Landscape Design/Install (HSAIABAF), Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting (AFAMACAL), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

Keywords

• Permaculture landscaping
• Community gardens
• Local food systems
• Sustainability education
• Resilient neighborhoods

Headquarters

HQ city

Benicia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization relies on donations from community members, including partnerships with 1% for the Planet and individual donors.
2. Grant Funding: Funded by government agencies including Solano County Water Agency, Solano Public Health, California Air Resources Board, California ReLeaf, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and foundations such as Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation Foundation and Magic Cabinet.
3. Program Fees: Cooking classes and workshops at $20 per class; some programs offered free or at subsidized rates for community benefit.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual Bounty of the County farm-to-table celebration and fundraiser, with ticket sales and sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sustainable Solano is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community-based programs supporting regenerative landscaping, local food systems, and community resilience across Solano County, California. Core offerings include permaculture demonstration food forest installations with greywater and rainwater systems, community gardens, resilient neighborhood retrofits, CSA programs, cooking classes, Medically Tailored Meals, Youth Air Protectors stewardship, and Permaculture Design Certificate education, delivered through hands-on workshops, demonstration sites, and community partnerships.

Product overview

Sustainable Solano is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a platform of community programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Solano Sustainable Backyards (permaculture food forest gardens), Solano Gardens (community garden support), Resilient Neighborhoods (climate adaptation), Benicia Community Gardens, Urban Forest initiatives, Local Food systems (CSA, farmers markets, cooking classes), Solano Local Food System Alliance, Bounty of the County events, Medically Tailored Meals, Air Quality programs including Youth Air Protectors, Flood Resilience, Permaculture Design Certificate courses, HOA Projects, Home-Based Food Operations education, and Seasonal Recipes. These programs work together to advance ecological regeneration, local food systems, and community resilience across Solano County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solano Sustainable Backyards A sustainable landscaping program that introduces permaculture concepts to Solano County residents through demonstration food forest gardens designed with greywater systems, rainwater capture, and community workshops.
• Solano Gardens A community garden support program that collaborates with cities, community members, and organizations to create community gardens and food forests, providing resources, educational classes, and an active directory of gardens across Solano County.
• Resilient Neighborhoods A community program that unites neighbors to collaboratively transform blocks into regenerative urban ecosystems through sustainable landscaping retrofits, food-producing landscapes, and sustainable water management practices.
• Benicia Community Gardens Community garden spaces including Swenson Garden and Avant Garden, a community orchard, and a share plot where food is grown to donate to people in need in Benicia.
• Urban Forest / Shelter Solano Urban forestry initiative that planted trees throughout Shelter Solano homeless shelter campus, creating a mixed-canopy urban forest with California native and fruit trees using secondary water sources.
• Local Food Initiative to create an environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially just local food system in Solano County through CSA programs, farm stands, cooking classes, and food system coordination.
• Solano Local Food System Alliance A coalition of stakeholders including farmers, food banks, healthcare organizations, and community members working quarterly to strengthen the local food system in Solano County.
• Bounty of the County Annual celebration event featuring local food, farms, chefs, wine and beer, including cooking classes and farm-to-table fundraisers supporting Sustainable Solano.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program connecting community members with local farmers through CSA shares, creating direct farmer-to-consumer relationships and supporting local agriculture across Solano County.
• Medically Tailored Meals Collaborative network establishing a Medically Tailored Meals system in Solano County, partnering with healthcare providers, chefs, and local farmers to deliver personalized nutrition to individuals with chronic illnesses.
• Air Quality Community empowerment initiative focused on clean air advocacy, including Youth Air Protectors stewardship programs, community action planning, and air quality monitoring with Purple Air sensors.
• Youth Air Protectors High school student internship program empowering youth to learn about air quality issues, conduct community outreach, and participate in civic processes for cleaner air in Solano County.
• Flood Resilience Community engagement program addressing flood risk from sea level rise, featuring rain gardens, nature-based solutions, and participation in the Solano Bayshore Resiliency project.
• Permaculture Design Certificate Educational course teaching permaculture design principles, leading to certification in sustainable landscape design, delivered in partnership with Vital Cycles.
• HOA Projects Sustainable landscaping projects for homeowners associations, transforming common areas with pollinator-supporting plants, rainwater capture, and healthy soil practices.
• Farmers Markets & Farm Stands Directory of local farm stands and farmers markets across Solano County, connecting residents with locally grown produce through maintained listings in partnership with Solano Land Trust.
• Home-Based Food Operations (MEHKO) Education and resources for Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations and Cottage Food Operations, helping residents start food businesses from their homes, in partnership with COOK Alliance and Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• City of BeniciacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partnership supporting community sustainability initiatives, including community gardens, sustainable landscaping projects, and community sustainability commission funding for demonstration food forests.
• Solano County Water AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of Solano Sustainable Backyard program expansion from 2016-2024, supporting countywide sustainable landscaping and water conservation initiatives.
• Solano CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-level partnership supporting public health and food system initiatives through Solano Public Health funding.
• California ReLeafcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided Social Equity Tree Planting Program grant funding for Shelter Solano urban forest project.
• Solano Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership maintaining and updating farm stands and farmers markets listings.
• Greenbelt AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on flood resilience work in Suisun City and Vallejo, including nature-based solutions community engagement.
• Food Bank of Contra Costa and SolanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in Medically Tailored Meals collaborative and local food system work.
• Heritage Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal site of first Benicia Community Garden (Swenson Garden) starting in 1999.
• Sustainability Service CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Public Education Coordinator Fellowship program.
• Solano Local Food System AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition hosted by Sustainable Solano including stakeholders committed to creating a sustainable local food system.
• COOK AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations) education program.
• Solano-Napa Small Business Development CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MEHKO program providing business development resources for home-based food operations.
• UC Cooperative ExtensionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member represented by Olivia Henry, Regional Food Systems Advisor.
• UC DavissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member represented by Kristin Kiesel, Assistant Professor of Teaching Agricultural and Resource Economics.
• Greywater ActionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting sustainable water practices education.
• Vital CyclessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing Permaculture Design Certificate training.
• Permaculture Skills CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in permaculture education and skills development.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit creating parks and protecting natural areas in cities, with significant urban forestry and climate resilience programming. Comparable to Sustainable Solano's urban forestry and green infrastructure programs but operates at much broader scale as a national incumbent.
• Greenbelt Alliance: Bay Area regional land conservation nonprofit protecting open space and advancing climate-smart growth. Already a strategic partner to Sustainable Solano on flood resilience; comparable as a broader incumbent working on regional conservation and climate adaptation with similar municipal and community engagement.

Regional players

• California FarmLink: California statewide nonprofit providing loans, land access, and business education to sustainable and beginning farmers. Comparable to Sustainable Solano's MEHKO (home-based food operations) and Solano Local Food System Alliance programs supporting small-scale food entrepreneurs across California.
• Kitchen Table Advisors: Bay Area nonprofit providing business advising and support to small sustainable farmers, with adjacent programming on equitable local food systems. Comparable to Sustainable Solano's CSA program and local food system alliance work focused on small farmer sustainability, though operating region-wide rather than county-specific.

Direct peers

• Friends of the Urban Forest: San Francisco-based nonprofit that plants and maintains street trees, runs community-led greening programs, and engages residents in urban forestry. Highly comparable to Sustainable Solano's Urban Forest Vision Solano and Resilient Neighborhoods programs in terms of urban tree planting and community-led green infrastructure delivery.
• Planting Justice: Oakland-based nonprofit creating urban food forests, providing green job training for formerly incarcerated residents, and operating permaculture demonstration sites. Comparable to Sustainable Solano on the permaculture food forest model, workforce development for vulnerable populations, and food access mission.
• The Ecology Center: Berkeley-based nonprofit focused on environmental education, sustainable food systems, and community engagement programs. Comparable to Sustainable Solano on the combination of permaculture education, community gardens, local food advocacy, and grassroots event programming in the Bay Area.
• Pie Ranch: Bay Area regenerative agriculture education farm connecting consumers, students, and farmers through CSA programs, food system events, and farm-to-table experiences. Comparable to Sustainable Solano's CSA programming, Medically Tailored Meals collaborative, and regenerative agriculture education offerings.
• Urban Tilth: Richmond, California-based nonprofit operating community gardens, urban farms, and environmental education programs serving low-income residents. Directly comparable to Sustainable Solano as a Bay Area grassroots nonprofit running gardens, food forests, and youth engagement programming at a neighborhood scale.
• Center for Land-Based Learning: West Sacramento-based nonprofit operating farm-based education, youth leadership, and urban-rural food system programs across California's Central Valley. Comparable to Sustainable Solano on youth sustainability education (Youth Air Protectors), local food system development, and demonstration farm programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sustainablesolano
• Instagraminstagram.com/sustainable_solano
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-solano

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Sustainable Solano, Inc.