Recent Media and Press about the Foundation
June 18, 2024
“Sweet Wheel Farm in Summerland helping medically fragile residents with no pollution e-bike food deliveries” By John Palminteri - KEYT News 12
May 21, 2024
Montecito Journal “VNA Health’s 23rd Annual Mother’s Day Luncheon” By Joanne A Calitri
“Honored Mother, Leslie Person Ryan,lauded for her work as a Visionary Entrepreneur, Food Resilience Hero, and A Force of Nature. She is the CEO & Founder of the Santa Barbara Agriculture & Farm Education Foundation…VNA Health connected with her to provide food staples for a single parent who was in hospice and for her two sons. Person Ryan still provides weekly food service to the sons, who both spoke their words of thanks. “
May 16, 2024
Montecito Journal “The Giving List, Sweet Wheel Farms” By Steve Libowitz
May 12, 2024
“Judy Foreman: Honoring Visionary Women at VNA Health’s Mother’s Day Luncheon
The late Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree and entrepreneur Leslie Person Ryan recognized for community contributions and accomplishments
May 12, 2024
“VNA health celebrates Mother’s Day with a luncheon tribute to mothers and caregivers” By John Palminteri - KEYT News 12
This year the honorees included the late philanthropist Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, and also the honored mother Leslie Person Ryan who has been involved in community non profits most recently the Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation and the Sweet Wheel Farm and Farm Stand in Summerland.
Ryan said, "food is health and food is medicine and it is medicine to people with cancer, MS, and also medicine for single parent working households."
Around the area she said with their farm fresh food, "we deliver food in the same community we we grow it. It is delivered on e-bicycles by high school students. It is happening now and we have zero emissions."
January 28, 2024
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network honors Leslie Person Ryan as a Real Food Hero with the Real World Food Prize
January 28, 2024
Local Food Hero Award 2024:
Leslie Person Ryan, Sweet Wheel Summerland Farm
SB Annual Community Seed Swap
“A Celebration to Bring Seeds & People Together”
Sunday, January 28
11am-4pm
SB Community Arts Workshop- 631 Garden St. Santa Barbara
January 10, 2024
Give, Grow, Repeat “ SBAFE Delivers Sustainable Solutions to Address Food Security with help from Santa Barbara Women For Good” features founder Leslie Person Ryan on their podcast.
November 16, 2023
Noozhawk:
“Santa Barbara Agriculture & Farm Education Foundation Provides Food Security and Education to Locals in Need”
“Our greatest need is for infrastructure for the farm to plant more crops efficiently and feed more people. We look forward to expanding our infrastructure to host the greater community on the farm and role model for other communities on chemical free farming.
We need better irrigation systems, fencing to keep wild life out, delivery van for the food, infrastructure and equipment like grain storage, tractor and a commercial kitchen.”
October 16, 2023
Rachel’s Farm - Santa Barbara Premiere and Director Q&A
We attended the Santa Barbara premiere of Rachel’s Farm. Inspiring interviews with Rachel, her family, and her farm manager provided an insight into Rachel’s transformation from a state of willful ignorance about the ecological impacts of conventional agriculture to a regenerative agriculture success story. The film also explores the devastating fires and floods that struck Australia. The evening concluded with a Q&A session with Rachel, offering a deeper understanding of her efforts to restore the health of Australia’s farmland, food, and climate.
For more information about ‘Rachel’s Farm,’ visit https://theregenerators.org/rachels-farm.
October 8, 2023
Common Ground - Santa Barbara Premiere and Panel Discussion
Santa Barbara hosted the premiere screening of ‘Common Ground’ at the Marjorie Luke Theatre. The event included a thought-provoking discussion featuring our own Leslie Person Ryan. ‘Common Ground’ is a hopeful and uplifting story of the pioneers of the "Regenerative Movement.” The film explores how Americans from different walks of life, different political backgrounds, and different parts of the country share one thing in common –the very soil beneath their feet.
For more information about ‘Common Ground,’ visit https://commongroundfilm.org/.
July 27, 2023
Award Nomination by Santa Barbara Women for Good!
Exciting News! Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation has been selected as a nominee for a donation award by Santa Barbara Women for Good, shining a spotlight on our impactful work and recognizing the incredible support of our community.
“Summerland Farm is not a hobby, an eco-conceit, or a symbol – it is food security for those who need it – but is now at risk of losing its water”
January 19, 2023
Santa Barbara Women for Good Raises $9,000 for Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation!
Fall 2022
Edible Santa Barbara: Up on the Farm!
August 31, 2021
Keyt: "Pristine parcel above Summerland sold; farming wins over development”
September 1, 2021
Coastal View News: "CUSD accepts bid of $2.25 Mil for Whitney property”
August 31, 2021
Santa Barbara Independent: "Summerland Farmland to ‘Remain Green Forever’”
August 31, 2021