ENCINITAS — Coastal Roots Farm celebrated its 10th annual Tu B’Shvat Food Forest Festival on Sunday, bringing together community members to honor the significance of trees through music, hands-on activities and cultural traditions.
Held at the farm’s Food Forest in Encinitas, the event showcased the meaning behind Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish holiday known as the New Year or Birthday of the Trees. Attendees enjoyed live music, locally sourced food and drinks, yoga, crafts and opportunities to plant and nurture the land.
“Let’s celebrate our beloved trees, one branch at a time,” the farm stated in its announcement leading up to the event.
Over 50 fruit trees were planted during the festival, funded by SDG&E, with additional support from EDCO. The farm also set up a “pop-up” farm stand in the Food Forest, offering fresh, organic produce. The farm’s regular Pay-What-You-Can Farm Stand on Saxony Road was closed during the event.
The event featured a cooking demonstration, with participants learning how to make a grain bowl with fresh produce and the seven sacred species of Tu B’Shvat, including wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
The festival also included tree pruning and trimming lessons and yoga and meditation sessions.
Younger attendees participated in a sensory zone, compost scavenger hunt and gathered snails and weeds to feed the chickens.
Coastal Roots Farm, a nonprofit Jewish community farm and education center, focuses on organic farming, food accessibility, and educational programs to build community connections and promote sustainable practices.
The farm regularly distributes fresh produce to families in need and offers various farm-based learning opportunities.
