Help Save Ebby's Organic Farm
Donation protected
Mike and Lorena Iniguez have been farming in Santa Barbara County for over 40 years. They are first generation immigrants from Mexico. Mike started Ebby's Organic Farm, a small, beloved farm in Goleta, growing a wide variety of delicious organic produce like strawberries, tomatoes, melons, peas, broccoli, chard, lettuce, and more.
They have been leasing land in Ellwood Canyon for more than 15 years. A new, uncooperative landowner is demanding that they pay the water bill for the entire property, including residential housing. This is a more than 2x increase from before and would put the farm in financial jeopardy. The landowner is also demanding that Ebby's needs to expand the farm to some of the non-arable land located on the property, or they will be removed. The landowner has refused to give Ebby's a lease agreement until the water bills are paid in full. There is a family of 5 members living in Ellwood property as well as other people who have businesses in and they are not related to Ebby's farm.
This leaves Mike and Lorena no choice but to literally uproot the farm and move somewhere new. Moving during the peak summer growing season means losing thousands of dollars worth of in-ground plants. This includes 5,000 strawberry plants, and hundreds of carrots, beets, lettuces, and greens. Additionally, Ebby's famous tomato crop has not yet been planted in anticipation of being forced out of the property, putting the farm months behind. Mike estimates that the farm is going to lose 30 to 50 thousand dollars during the move.
Mike and Lorena consistently donate their produce to Food not Bombs Isla Vista, Veggie Rescue, and the Isla Vista Community Fridge. They play a big role in creating food security and sovereignty in our community! You can find them at the Santa Barbara County Farmer's Markets in Goleta, downtown SB, and Carpinteria. They also sell their produce to the Isla Vista Food Co-op.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ted B
Organizer
Goleta, CA
Ted B
Beneficiary