HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability (HOPE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local food systems by creating a direct, transparent connection between farmers and the families they feed. We prioritize the needs of local growers, support collaborative learning, and help producers build the skills and tools needed for long‑term self‑sustainability.
We also invest in the next generation through youth agricultural entrepreneurship training, giving young people hands‑on experience in growing food, preparing what they harvest, and developing small‑business skills that open pathways into agriculture and food careers.
Through farmer training, community food access, youth education, and regenerative agriculture, HOPE works to ensure that small farmers can thrive, communities can access fresh local food, and the regional food system becomes more resilient for future generations.
HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability, founded in 2011 by Diana and Saul Padilla, began as an incubator farm created to give aspiring growers real‑world experience, essential resources, and expert guidance. It offered beginning farmers a safe place to test ideas, refine techniques, and learn the foundations of building a sustainable agricultural business.
Their vision was simple and powerful: create a place where knowledge is shared, skills are practiced, and new farmers can grow with confidence. By providing a supportive environment, HOPE ensured that emerging growers had the tools they needed to succeed in a competitive agricultural landscape.
Today, HOPE stands as a testament to that vision. The incubator farm has helped countless individuals turn their farming dreams into reality and continues to expand its efforts to build a more resilient, self‑sufficient local food system through farmer training, community food access, and regenerative agriculture.
Founder & Executive Director
Founder & Lead Trainer
Team Member
Team Member
Team Member
HOPE strengthens the local food system by supporting growers, expanding food access, and preparing the next generation of farmers.
Agro Business Development
HOPE helps beginning and small-scale growers build the knowledge, confidence, and support systems needed to grow food and run sustainable farm businesses.
Core Programs:
Food Access & Community Programs
HOPE connects families and communities with locally grown food through markets, gardens, education, and food access programs.
Core Programs:
Future Farmers Youth Development
HOPE invests in young people by teaching food growing, healthy cooking & eating, entrepreneurship skills, environmental care, and volunteer service.
Core Programs:
