Shemesh Farms began in 2015 at the Shalom Institute in Malibu, California with a vision of creating a social enterprise that provides meaningful employment and community to adults who have diverse abilities.

Following the Woolsey Fire and the destruction of the Shalom Institute, we launched a satellite site at Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue (MJCS) in 2019.  As a community, Farm Fellows (our Shemesh Farm employees), volunteers, and staff harvest and craft spice blends, honey, and other organic products. Together we strategize product development, branding, marketing, packaging, and sales. Our farm and enterprise are built upon a foundation of sustainability, inclusion, and interconnectedness. When you volunteer, make a purchase or a donation, you help us to continue to hire more young adults with diverse abilities and support our sustainable enterprise.

Shemesh Farms is supported by a generous grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, as well as the generosity from the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Erwin Rautenberg Foundation, the Diane and Guilford Glazer Philanthropies, Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, and from individual donors and sales.