In 2020, as the pandemic disrupted daily life and food systems across California, Sheena did not plan on starting a nonprofit. What began as helping friends sell kale during a time of uncertainty slowly grew into what is now Tera Farm, a nonprofit rooted in connection, education, and supporting local farmers.
Tera Farm was created almost by accident. In 2019, Sheena was involved with Nishica Farms, where a local apple orchard was being set up. When COVID hit in 2020, many small farmers faced challenges selling their produce and navigating certifications. Sheena stepped in to help friends who were struggling, sending emails to her community with photos and stories so people could see who was growing their food. At the time, she did not expect it to last. But the response was clear. People wanted real food and they wanted to know the farmers behind it.
Today, Tera Farm is a nonprofit where one hundred percent of the profits go directly to farmers. The mission is simple and powerful: to connect the community to local produce and make local food easier and more accessible.
What Tera Farm Does
Tera Farm works to bring the farm to the community in ways that are thoughtful and sustainable. Through its volunteer-run model, people can order locally grown produce online and pick it up at neighborhood locations. These local pickup sites help reduce the carbon footprint while keeping food distribution personal and community-centered.
Beyond food access, Tera Farm focuses on storytelling and education. Weekly emails and updates share photos and stories from the farm so people can better understand what goes into growing food and who is doing the work. This approach helps build appreciation for real food and the labor behind it.
Farm Visits Designed for Learning
One of the most meaningful parts of Tera Farm’s work is its educational farm visits. Sheena organizes structured farm tours that are designed around what each school or group wants to learn. These visits go beyond a simple walk through the fields.
One school visited the farm while reading Esperanza Rising, and the tour was created to reflect the themes of the book. Another school wanted to focus on science, using the farm as a living classroom to learn about soil, plants, and ecosystems. Sheena works closely with teachers to design experiences that support classroom learning while giving students a hands-on connection to agriculture.
Students learn where their food comes from, what it takes to grow it, and why supporting local farmers matters. They also get the opportunity to harvest produce and understand the value of food by paying cash for what they pick.
Education at the Center
Sheena’s background as a classroom teacher shapes everything Tera Farm does. She understands how powerful experiential learning can be, especially for children who may not otherwise have access to farms or agricultural spaces. Her goal is to help students see food not as something that simply appears in stores, but as something grown by people in their own communities.
Tera Farm is especially interested in partnering with more schools that want to bring food education to life. Whether the focus is science, literature, nutrition, or sustainability, Sheena can tailor farm visits to meet those goals.
Growing Connection Through Food
At its heart, Tera Farm is about making local food personal. It is about farmers being seen, communities feeling connected, and children learning early on what it means to grow and care for food. What started as a small act of helping friends during a difficult time has grown into a nonprofit that continues to strengthen the relationship between farms, families, and classrooms.
For schools interested in farm tours or educators looking to bring food education outside the classroom, Tera Farm offers an opportunity to learn directly from the land and the people who steward it.