2024 Local Food Hero- Leslie Person Ryan award at 1:30pm at 16th Santa Barbara Annual Seed Swap

2024 Local Food Hero- Leslie Person Ryan award at 1:30pm at 16th Santa Barbara Annual Community Seed Swap

Leslie Person Ryan of Sweet Wheel Summerland Farm has been committed to building food resilience in her community for many years. Starting with her Sweet Wheel Farm Cart selling local, organic, in season produce & other goods, with a large percentage donated & delivered to vulnerable community members, including low income elderly, veterans, & families with children. After a cataclysmic fire & debris flow event in 2018 leaving Summerland completely isolated & without food for two weeks, Leslie determined Summerland was a “food desert” and needed its own farm to be food secure. Leslie led a phenomenally successful fundraising campaign to purchase a six-acre farm, with an intention to ultimately grow enough to feed everyone in the community, while demonstrating & educating all ages about best regenerative farming practices, including encouraging young women to consider farming. Leslie is a passionate heirloom seed advocate, known for the beautiful non-GMO multi-color corn varieties she grows on the farm.