Leslie Person Ryan, Sweet Wheel Farm
Leslie Person Ryan, farmer and president of Sweet Wheel Farm in Summerland, is receiving CEC’s help in her capital campaign to plant hedgerows and pull in more pollinators. She’s also working on a sustainable moisture-harvesting project to extract water from the air, taking advantage of Santa Barbara’s infamous marine layer.
“CEC has been to Sweet Wheel several times, and they work with us on a climate-smart committee — they’re supporters of the farm,” she said.
Her farm is chemical free, she explained, and they use their clean, organic food to fill Summerland’s “food desert,” which she defined as an urban area with no grocery store. They also donate to families in need, delivering food to people who are “medically and financially fragile.” She wants her farm to attract pollinators year-round.
“No pollination, no food,” she said succinctly.
