OJAI’S POCO FARM INVITES KIDS TO EXPLORE AGRICULTURE NATURAL CURIOSITIES G ETTING YOUR HANDS A LITTLE DIRTY when you’re young has a way of THEIR WAY, DEEPENING CONNECTION TO THE LAND AND ULTIMATELY THEMSELVES. by Dustin Beatty photographs by Clarke Tolton grounding you. There’s something primal about digging into the soil, feeling the grit under your nails, and watching life sprout from the earth — it sticks with you. Those early moments of curiosity and connection with nature can shape who you become, teaching patience, resilience, and a deep respect for the world around you. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things, like planting a seed or chasing chickens, that spark a lifelong journey rooted in purpose, growth, and care for the land. Grace Bueti Malloy of Poco Farm in Ojai, California, recalls her connection vividly. “I had a general family mythology and warm feelings toward agriculture because my uncles were some of the first certified organic farmers on the East Coast, and [Hutchins Farm] just celebrated
their 50th year,” she tells The Rooted Journal. “I grew up playing in their fields, sledding down the hill at their farm, and that just felt like a really comfortable, familiar landscape that I felt a lot of belonging to.”
Top: A student enjoys his fresh pick. Right: The garden beds are designed so even the tiniest hands can access fresh veggies. Opposite: Grace and Dan actively work on Poco Farm from teaching programs to managing the animals.
70
71
ISSUE 02
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease