On Monday, March 30, 2026, an important gathering will take place in the heart of the Coachella Valley. Temalpakh Farm, an initiative of the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, is partnering with Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc.’s Rooted Relatives program to host a Community Feed and Cultural Workshop at its Education Center in Coachella.
The event brings together organic agriculture, Indigenous food traditions, and hands-on cultural learning in a way that reflects a larger mission: restoring connections to land, food, and community.
Event Details
What: A free public Community Feed and Cultural Workshop
When: Monday, March 30, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Temalpakh Farm Education Center, 1 Roberta Way, Coachella, CA 92236
Highlights Include:Visit Site
- A shared community meal featuring organic harvest and native ingredients
- A traditional leather pouch-making workshop led by artist Tony Soares
- Interactive activities such as seed bomb creation and sand art
The event is open to the public and designed to be welcoming to families, community members, and anyone interested in local agriculture or Indigenous culture.
More than a farm, a model for Indigenous-led agriculture
Temalpakh Farm is more than an agricultural site. It is a living expression of food sovereignty in action.
Operated by the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, the farm focuses on organic growing practices adapted to the Coachella Valley’s desert climate. Through careful stewardship of the land, the farm produces seasonal crops while preserving Indigenous agricultural knowledge.
Food sovereignty, a core principle guiding the farm’s work, means that communities have control over how their food is grown, distributed, and consumed. For tribal communities, this includes reclaiming traditional foods and restoring cultural practices that were disrupted over generations.
The farm’s Education Center serves as a hub for workshops, school visits, and community gatherings. Programs emphasize:
- Sustainable desert farming techniques
- Native plant cultivation
- Cultural food traditions
- Youth education and workforce development
This combination of agriculture and education strengthens both economic opportunity and community health.
Why it matters to the Coachella Valley
The Coachella Valley faces familiar challenges: food insecurity, limited access to fresh produce in some neighborhoods, and the pressures of development on agricultural land. At the same time, the region has deep farming roots and a rich Indigenous history.
Temalpakh Farm addresses both realities.
By growing organic food locally, the farm reduces reliance on long supply chains and keeps food production close to home. By centering Indigenous knowledge, it ensures that agriculture is not just about output, but about the relationship to land.
Partnerships like the one with RSBCIHI’s Rooted Relatives program also connect agriculture to health. Nutrition education, culturally relevant foods, and community meals play a direct role in improving wellness outcomes.
For local business leaders and community stakeholders, this model demonstrates how agriculture can serve multiple purposes at once: economic development, cultural preservation, environmental responsibility, and public health.
For more information about Temalpakh Farm, its programs, and its ongoing work in the Coachella Valley, visit their website at: https://www.temalpakhfarm.com/
