At the end of a short road in west Petaluma that is more pothole than roadway sits Petaluma Bounty Farm, a thriving urban farm with a 20-year history. At first glance, it’s an unlikely spot for a farm, surrounded by railroad tracks, an apartment complex, and an old strip mall. In fact, it is a textbook example of an urban farm boasting tidy rows of produce, an orchard, chickens, and greenhouses on a 3-acre parcel. The farm relies on volunteers and a few part-time staffers to keep it running and to execute its many programs that reach beyond the farm to support food literacy throughout the community.
We sat down with Petaluma Bounty program director Suzi Grady to learn a bit about what’s happening and how Petaluma Bounty serves the people of Petaluma.
[Lisa Ludwigsen] Petaluma Bounty is a bustling urban farm. What programs and benefits does it offer residents?
[Suzi Grady] Petaluma Bounty’s mission is to create a thriving local food system with healthy food for everyone through collaboration, education, and promoting self-reliance. We do that in several ways.We hold ongoing volunteer days, open to all, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am to 12pm. We also invite community service groups, schools, and businesses to reach out to organize a workday and field trips.
The farm has a sliding-scale farm stand and CSA for community members on limited incomes. Our twice-a-year plant sales are a big fundraiser for us and lots of fun. The farm also serves as a gardening resource hub for free seeds, plants, tools, and compost. We also host Master Gardener workshops and promote and support food recovery.
The community farm also provides plants and produce to initiatives and institutions, including Petaluma Health Center, the Interfaith Pantry, Plants for the People, Old Elm 4C’s preschool, local school gardens, community gardens, and the five affordable housing sites within walking distance.
[LL] Why are urban farms important?
[SG] They are an entry point to the local food system. Urban growth boundaries and housing developments near downtown centers and public transportation can inadvertently distance people from their food sources. Knowing where your food comes from, what it takes to grow it, and how the people doing the work are treated are all crucial components of food literacy for consumers of all ages. Urban farms are also a natural entry point for children, youth and adults to learn about food.[LL] As you mentioned, in 2025 the organizational structure of Petaluma Bounty changed. What does the future look like for Petaluma Bounty?
[SG] In November 2025, Petaluma Bounty’s longtime fiscal sponsor Petaluma People Services Center discontinued all Bounty programs under its umbrella. What followed was an outpouring of community support that made survival possible. San Antonio Valley Ranch LLC, the agricultural arm of the Eames Institute, provided a 6-month temporary fiscal sponsorship. Stony Acres LLC, the farm’s landlord, gave us the grace and time for us to reestablish while many community members, foundations, and corporations donated to our operating funds. Currently, Petaluma Bounty is in talks with a potential long-term fiscal sponsor, and we will continue our effort to acquire the land so it stays in farming in perpetuity.[LL] What is your favorite aspect of your job?
[SG] Witnessing connections being made and community capacity expanding. Whether it’s relationships between volunteers or people connecting to this special place or local food and concepts of community health, it is those moments that keep me inspired.411
For more on Petaluma Bounty’s programs and to volunteer or donate: petalumabounty.org