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Health & Wellbeing

Recent reports indicate increasing health challenges among seniors and families in Sonoma County, driven in part by financial strain and social isolation. Sandy Loam seeks to address these issues through thoughtfully designed programs grounded in agriculture and nature, fostering connection, belonging and overall wellbeing. By reconnecting individuals to their agricultural heritage, we draw on the restorative power of the land itself, food and community. We take a holistic social-ecological approach and recognize that human health is deeply interconnected with the health of our food systems and natural environments.

In 2026, we are reaffirming our commitment to community wellbeing and are seeking to expand the scope of our offerings to include the areas listed below. Please stay tuned for details.

Nutrition Programs: The nutrition-themed programs will connect community members directly to the land, showcasing the full cycle of sustainable food production from planting and harvesting to cooking and sharing meals together. The programs promote ecological awareness, healthy eating and community connection. Programs will be facilitated by experts in nutrition and health and will prioritize culturally-informed recommendations.

Family Wellbeing: These programs will be designed to support early childhood development, family connection, and meaningful access to outdoor experiences for a range of family needs and abilities. For example, an Infant & Caregiver Group Play will serve families with infants and toddlers, offering age-appropriate exploration of the natural world through guided activities such as garden play, animal visits, sensory discovery, and simple planting projects. Infant feeding specialists, maternal health specialists and experts in other related disciplines will guide the programs’ implementation.

Wellbeing for Seniors: Sandy Loam envisions working with community partners and experts on aging to implement programs for seniors that promote physical, cognitive, social and emotional wellbeing. By offering culturally-informed programs, we will strive to serve the diverse backgrounds, traditions and experiences of older adults. Program content may include nature-based movement, therapeutic arts and farm-to-table experiences. Regardless of formal implementation, older adults will continue to be included in existing Ranch programs with concerted efforts made to improve access to the Ranch.