At Common Roots Farm in Santa Cruz, the work of growing food has always been about more than what comes out of the soil: it is about connection, purpose and creating opportunities for people with disabilities to contribute to their community.
Now, the farm is raising funds for a new barn that organizers say will help make those opportunities available year-round — with the next fundraiser set for Sept. 12.
The planned 44-by-84-foot timber-frame barn is envisioned as an accessible gathering and working space where people of all abilities can farm, learn new skills, socialize and participate in the life of the community. Construction began in fall 2025, with completion targeted for this fall.
For Heidi Cartan, executive director of Common Roots Farm, the project is ultimately about something bigger than the structure itself.
“The intent, what we’re saying, is that we’re building belonging with this barn,” Cartan said. “What that really means for us is addressing what’s missing for this population.”
That need becomes particularly apparent when young people with intellectual or developmental disabilities reach adulthood.
“When an individual turns 22 and has a disability, intellectual or developmental disability, the services they’ve been getting” through their school years can change dramatically, Cartan said.
Common Roots Farm wants to help fill that gap by creating a place where adults can continue to develop skills, build relationships and have meaningful roles in their community.
The farm currently serves about 80 people with disabilities each week. Participants engage in farming and gardening activities, while also contributing to the broader community through the farm’s work.
The organization grows thousands of pounds of fresh produce each year and works with a large network of volunteers. Its activities provide opportunities for people to work alongside one another rather than simply receive services, and the volunteers at Common Roots offer a weekly CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) membership that allows the community to reap the benefits of the work at Common Farms. The new barn is intended to expand those opportunities.
Without an accessible, weather-safe indoor space, much of the farm’s programming is limited during the winter months. The new facility would allow activities to continue during rain and cold weather, providing consistency at a time when outdoor farming becomes more difficult.
Accessibility is being incorporated into the design from the beginning, with features including wide, smooth pathways, roll-in work areas, adjustable tables and benches and accommodations for people with sensory needs.
The building will also provide space for washing and preparing produce, additional cold storage and areas for making bouquets. Those improvements will allow the farm to better manage its harvest while reducing waste, but the vision extends beyond farming.
The barn is planned to include opportunities for job training, internships and post-secondary education, as well as classes and workshops open to the broader community. A retail component will provide additional opportunities for participants to learn workplace skills.
There will also be space for shared meals, markets, performances, celebrations and other community gatherings.
In that sense, the barn is intended to become a bridge between Common Roots Farm and the larger Santa Cruz community.
The fundraising campaign has a $3.4 million goal, with approximately $1.6 million raised and $1.8 million still needed, according to the farm’s campaign materials. Rising construction costs have added another challenge, with the organization reporting significant increases in material costs since the project began.
For Common Roots, however, the investment is about more than constructing a building. It’s about what happens inside it.
A young person who has spent years participating in school programs can become an adult who can develop job skills, be part of a community where people know their name, and someone who has spent years being told what services are available to them can instead have a place where they can contribute. That is the meaning behind Cartan’s emphasis on belonging.
The barn represents an opportunity to make sure adulthood does not have to mean the end of meaningful community participation for people with disabilities.
Common Roots Farm is asking the community to help turn that vision into reality.
The farm is hosting a Raise the Barn fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 12, at its Santa Cruz location, 301 Golf Club Drive. The event, from 3 to 7 p.m., will feature live music, food trucks, art market, barn tours and a scavenger hunt.
Be sure to bring cash or card to purchase food, drink and craft goods, sturdy walking/dancing shoes, sun hat and a folding camp chair for seating. There are picnic tables and folding chairs on site, but organizers can’t guarantee everyone seating at all times.
To learn more about the fundraiser, including tickets, visit commonrootsfarm.org/barnfest.
