Santa Barbara Regenerative & Organic Farming
La Puma Farms is committed to improving the health of the soil, the planet and the people who attend our educational, care farm and touring programs. We use regenerative farming techniques, avoiding synthetic artificial chemicals and improving the nutrient density and flavor of what we grow. Regenerative farming creates a healthy microbiome for the soil, captures carbon and respects the planet, and is a practical, readily learned pathway to preventing climate-related suffering.
We share our Santa Barbara farm to inform, entertain and feed people, and regenerate resilient good health and longevity.
We’re proud to contribute to medical research and education, and public understanding of the relationship between farming, the climate, and what is on our plate. Physicians can prescribe movement and activity outdoors. Leadership organizations like the National Academy of Medicine can bring together partners like our farm to educate and collaborate.
We are thrilled to be part of the conversation.
It's Nature that Nurtures
Designed by John La Puma, the farm features 14 different “rooms” of orchards and gardens, lined with reclaimed redwood pathways and benches, and many planter beds of vegetables and herbs.
Avocado and banana grove • Rare citrus orchard • Apiary • Berry patches • Oak grove and native understory • Tropicals and exotics • Olive orchard • Culinary herb and flower gardens • Kitchen vegetable and herb garden • Chumash medicinal garden • Cider apple and Asian persimmon orchard • Heritage plum orchard • Gamay Noir vineyard
What We Farm
We farm a wild diversity of crops: fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, herbs, botanicals and edible flowers.
These include:
- Tropical fruit such as cherimoyas, mangoes, bananas, guavas and papayas.
- Culinary medicinal herbs such as lemon verbena and mugwort.
- Culinary herbs such as rosemary, allspice, curry and thyme.
- Subtropical and Mediterranean fruits such as Haas avocados, rare citrus (bergamots, etrogs, yuzus, sudachis, caviar limes).
- Figs, olives, grapes and pomegranates.
- Temperate delicious fruits such as heritage cider and pie apples, European plums and hybrid stone fruit.
- Accessory fruits such as rare persimmons, raspberries, black raspberries and blueberries.
We also feature a rich array of succulents, cacti and yucca, as well as wildlife and many native wildflowers and Chumash medicinals.
How We Farm
We farm regeneratively and organically, and use permacultural techniques as well.
We mulch heavily, rely on extensive biodiversity for insect control, aim to improve soil health and with it, human health.
We attempt to re-use, recycle and repurpose everything that can be.
We use biochar, comfrey and compost for fertility, and no-till agriculture everywhere.
We devote over 10% of our land to insectary plants and to the beneficial insects that those flowers attract.
We capture, store and re-use rainwater in innovative ways, and utilize timed drip irrigation as needed.
We utilize a unique multispecies cover crop mix for our orchards, combat climate change by reducing emissions and by drawing down and sequestering carbon and nitrogen in the soil.
