Bees hovered around lavender and sunflowers on a quiet Thursday morning in Santa Maria, with only the sound of birds breaking the stillness. At Growing Grounds Farm, workers busily prepared for the noon opening of the farm stand, where fresh produce and cut flowers are sold.

The nonprofit farm is marking its 25th anniversary with a public celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at its farm stand at 820 W. Foster Road in Santa Maria.

Run by Transitions Mental Health Association, the three-acre farm provides paid employment and job training to adults living with mental illness, combining horticultural therapy with hands-on work experience that builds skills, social connection and confidence.

“Employment is one of the keys to self-sufficiency and really having a sense of purpose with some place to go each day,” said Michael Kaplan, community engagement director with Transitions Mental Health Association. 

Kaplan said the farm has become a meaningful part of the community during the past 25 years. While it provides produce and flowers to the public, its deeper mission is to offer a supportive environment for people managing mental health challenges — something he said many Santa Barbara County residents are still learning about.

Social Enterprise

By combining paid work with training, the farm offers participants the chance to build job skills, earn a paycheck and, for many, experience renewed dignity and purpose.

“We always have the hopes that from Growing Grounds they will move on and get a job in the greater community,” Kaplan said.

Many workers find jobs in local markets, restaurants or other service industry roles, he said, while others have pursued careers in behavioral health.

“A handful of TMHA staff members started at Growing Grounds,” Kaplan added, noting that one former participant now works for Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness.

Nature of the Work

Workers at Growing Grounds Farm help with nearly every part of the operation, from seeding and potting young plants in the greenhouse to transplanting, weeding, harvesting and arranging cut flower bouquets, according to assistant manager Keith Bartlett. They also help staff the farm stand, gaining customer service experience alongside the agricultural tasks.

Bartlett said the farm spans more than three acres and produces a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, fruits and flowers. Popular items include mixed lettuce blends, carrots, broccolini and corn. In the spring, crews focus on more than 30 tomato varieties, while fall brings persimmons, figs and, this year, a new pumpkin patch that will open for families to visit.

All of the flowers used in bouquets are grown on site, Bartlett said, including zinnias and other seasonal cut flowers. Although the farm does not grow roses, it supplements bouquets for holidays such as Valentine’s Day with its own flowers. A small citrus orchard is also under development.

Carrots are among the most labor-intensive crops, Bartlett noted, because of heavy weed and pest pressure, requiring careful hand-weeding to protect the plants.

Starting next week, the Growing Grounds farm stand will be open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Therapeutic Benefits

Kaplan said work such as potting small plants, weeding and harvesting offers a calming, meditative routine similar to the peace people find in nature. 

“It is being in nature,” Kaplan said. “It is doing tasks that are about interacting with the natural world.”

Beyond working with nature, both Kaplan and Bartlett emphasized the importance of social connection, noting that mental illness often leads people to isolate. 

Bartlett said each shift begins with a morning circle where workers and staff gather for stretches and a fun question of the day, such as what they are looking forward to that week or Bartlett’s go-to: “What’s your favorite way to eat a potato?” He said the ritual helps people feel part of a group even if they choose not to speak and can help foster community and friendship.

Among those drawn to the sense of calm and connection is Susana Rios, who was busy arranging a colorful bouquet of fresh-cut flowers on Thursday.

“It’s so wonderful. I don’t have words to describe it,” Rios said. “This is my happy place.”

Sustainability Challenges

Kaplan said funding remains one of the biggest challenges for Growing Grounds Farm. He said the program relies not only on farm stand sales but on grants and support from the county’s Behavioral Wellness Department to stay afloat.

He said Proposition 1, passed last year, will reshuffle funding and direct billions of dollars toward inpatient and outpatient treatment beds for mental health, and permanent supportive housing. Kaplan said that has raised concerns about whether smaller vocational programs such as Growing Grounds will continue to receive adequate support as priorities shift.

“That is our biggest challenge as far as juggling the intentions of running a business and also, of course, really supporting our clients,” Kaplan said. 

He added that his biggest dream is for sustainability so that the farm no longer faces the uncertainty of wondering each year how to piece together its funding.

Community and Moving Forward

For 25 years, Growing Grounds has offered more than just fresh produce and flowers, providing a tangible example of how to pair therapy and work experience. 

Kaplan hopes Saturday’s anniversary celebration will draw in new faces and raise awareness of the farm’s mission.

“I’m hoping people who have never heard of Growing Grounds come by and check it out,” Kaplan said.

The event will include tours, live music, food trucks and local vendors, and a resource fair. 

Bartlett said the celebration also will showcase an expanded selection of local goods alongside the farm’s pesticide-free produce and fresh-cut flowers.

Looking ahead, Kaplan emphasized that people can reach out directly to Growing Grounds even without an open case with the county, whether they are seeking help for themselves or a loved one.

“Sometimes you only learn about mental health services in your community when you are in crisis, when you need them and you need them yesterday,” Kaplan said. “I’m just hoping that people understand, hey, we’re here.”

For free, confidential mental health guidance or crisis support in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, TMHA’s Central Coast Hotline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 800.783.0607.  

Santa Barbara County’s official 24/7 Crisis Services Access Line can be reached at 888.868.1649.