Originally built by an oil company that operated there for 20 years, Cuyama experienced a shift when large agricultural businesses moved in after the oil company left in the 1970s. Today, Cuyama is known for producing a significant portion of the nation’s organic pistachios and baby carrots, but this success has come at the cost of local water supply. Over the past several decades, these businesses have depleted the local groundwater resources, resulting in water scarcity for residents and small farmers.
Blue Sky Center of Cuyama, a place-based organization dedicated to building resilient, thriving, and inclusive rural communities in the Cuyama Valley, is actively working to promote sustainable practices and restore the natural environment. Thanks to a grant from Santa Barbara County, Blue Sky Center has initiated projects such as composting programs, stormwater management systems, and victory gardens, which are home gardens meant to help increase food accessibility. These efforts aim to reduce Cuyama’s dependence on intensive agriculture and shift the focus towards sustainable, community-based practices.
The Center has partnered with Blue Sky Center to help Cuyama achieve its resilience and sustainability goals. The Center recognizes that strategies for economic and community development must be tailored to the unique needs of each community. One of the things Frances emphasized after her visit to Cuyama was the importance of understanding and respecting the local culture to effectively support the community.
“The people of Cuyama really want you to live, breathe, and be present in Cuyama. It’s a true ‘locally-led culture’” said Frances. “That’s why it’s crucial that our approach empowers local leaders and supports existing green initiatives rather than imposing outside solutions.”
Frances also highlighted how The Center can play a role in bridging critical gaps for green infrastructure projects, “We can focus on setting up systems that make the best use of available funds for green projects. For example, there’s a shortage of local contractors in Cuyama. The Center can connect the community to resources and support they’d need to implement these projects through programs like the Contractors Accelerator for Climate Resilience.”
Cuyama’s journey towards resilience is a great example of how communities can thrive through collaboration and adaptive strategies. With continued support from County of Santa Barbara, Federal, State and local organizations such as The Center, Cuyama is becoming a model of sustainable rural living.
This project is powered by the Economic Recovery Corps, an EDA supported initiative.
September 25, 2024