Coastal Roots Farm welcomes visitors on Wednesday, Oct. 7, for a guided walk through its organic gardens, chicken coops, compost operations and Food Forest in Encinitas.

The monthly tour meets at the farm's Coffee Cart at 441 Saxony Road. The 18-acre nonprofit grows more than 80,000 pounds of organic produce each year and donates more than 75% of its harvest to community members facing food insecurity, according to the farm's event listing.

The route covers vegetable, herb and flower gardens along with educational spaces. It includes a hill and mixed terrain. The farm recommends flat shoes, a sun hat and a water bottle.

New leadership, growing mission

Kesha Dorsey, who was named chief executive officer in July after eight years with the organization, now leads a farm whose annual budget has grown from $1.5 million to more than $4 million, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

When the farm announced her appointment in July, Dorsey described the organization's mission as sitting at the intersection of land, justice, Jewish wisdom, education and community.

Board chair Michael Berlin noted in July that SNAP benefit cuts are deepening food insecurity in the communities the farm serves. Coastal Roots Farm is also a founding member of Encinitas Cares, a grassroots coalition of local nonprofits formed in 2026 to address food insecurity, homelessness and mental health needs, according to the Union-Tribune.

Each year, the farm welcomes more than 15,000 youth and adults for outdoor education, Jewish life programs and community events.

What's next

Coastal Roots Farm hosts a Farm-to-Table Dinner on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 5 to 8 p.m., featuring a menu by One Kitchen Collaborative with produce grown on-site. General tickets are $150 per person; Farm Friend tickets are $500, with $100 of each ticket tax-deductible. Details and registration are available at coastalrootsfarm.org.