Ricky Wheeler and his sister attended the Redwood Adventist Academy, a K-12 school in Santa Rosa. Now as an adult, Wheeler and his brother-in-law, Joby Oft, run the diversified four acre What’s Up Farm at the school site. The idea for a farm at the school was suggested early on at the Academy, but finding a committed group of volunteers to manage it had always been a challenge. When Wheeler and Oft came to the school administrators with their farm proposal, the school welcomed them as members of the community.
As a farmer who was raised Seventh Day Adventist, Wheeler practices his values of land stewardship and growing healthful food for a plant-based diet. He adds that many Seventh Day Adventists are vegetarian or vegan for health-reasons. The partnership between the school and farm is a harmonious one, which benefits both parties in unique ways. By providing space for local farmers to grow food and a family business, the Redwood Adventist Academy is supporting the local economy and a farmer that uses environmentally sound growing practices. What’s Up Farm uses no synthetic fertilizers or herbicides, uses compost for fertility, and plants organic seeds. The farm, in turn, benefits from access to affordable land, a renewable one year lease, and well water, which is included in the lease agreement. This is a model that several faith communities in Sonoma and Marin Counties have engaged in.
Wheeler feels fortunate to be a part of a community that supports sustainable agriculture and local farmers. “It’s amazing to be here in the community. Here, anything is possible.” What’s Up Farm is a beautiful example of what is possible when the faith and farming community unite on common ground. Wheeler hopes to extend the relationship with the school to include curriculum development and experiential learning opportunities for high school students. He wants to develop an organic production class with after school lab for three hours similar to that of industrial arts classes that are taken for elective credit. In addition, the Farm will be hosting the school’s annual Farm to Table benefit dinner fundraiser in fall and will provide the farm fresh food for the event. Now that summer is in full swing, the What’s Up Farm farm-stand is open for extended hours. Stop by the farm-stand at 385 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa and support your local farmers!