Community Alliance with Family Farmers

San Diego County Food Vision 2030
2023-10-19 | California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido, CA, 92025, United States
Join CAFF’s Policy Co-Director Jamie Fanous at the 3rd Annual Gathering of the San Diego County Food Vision 2030. Sessions will cover current issues in our region, as well as speak to the theme of kinship. We’re looking forward to unpacking what it means to transform ourselves and our systems with our relations as our guide.

2023 Central Coast Farmer Gathering
2023-10-18 15:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Santa Ynez Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado Ave, Los Olivos, CA, 93441, United States
Aspiring and current farmers, ranchers, and food producers are invited to celebrate policy wins informed by you over the last two years. Contribute thought leadership on policies for 2024 and beyond, while learning about program resources from the county and state. The intention of this event is to provide a space for convening conversations around how you can directly affect policy and systems change, while at the same time learning about resources and opportunities available to you. The last hour will feature a networking dinner with refreshments.
Los agricultores, ganaderos y productores de alimentos aspirantes y actuales están invitados a celebrar los logros políticos informados por usted durante los últimos dos años. Contribuya con liderazgo intelectual sobre políticas para 2024 y más allá, mientras aprende sobre los recursos del programa del condado y el estado. La intención de este evento es brindar un espacio para convocar conversaciones sobre cómo usted puede afectar directamente el cambio de políticas y sistemas, y al mismo tiempo aprender sobre los recursos y oportunidades disponibles para usted. La última hora contará con una cena networking con refrigerio.

Butte County Farmer Advocacy Gathering
2023-10-12 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Burns Blossom Farm, 435 W 16th St, Chico, CA, 95928, United States
Join us to be part of a special farmer gathering at Burns Blossom Farm! This gathering will be a valuable opportunity to connect with fellow farmers, land stewards, and food leaders to discuss both success and barriers the agricultural community faces. During this event, we will share updates on 2023 policy successes for small farms and discuss 2024 policy priorities. Some important topics for discussion may include but are not limited to land access, food hubs, farm cooperatives, climate resilience, and water resources. Feedback from this event and similar gatherings across the state will shape CAFF’s policy agenda for the year ahead, guiding our advocacy efforts in Sacramento and beyond, and ensuring that we’re fighting for what matters most to you.
Free light dinner and beverages are included and pre-registration is encouraged to ensure enough food is prepared.
RSVP HERE

North Coast Grower Advocacy Gathering
2023-10-11 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Harvest Hub, 5720 West End Road, Bldg. 2, Ste.1, Arcata, CA, 95521, United States
Join us to be a part of a special convening to discuss this year’s advocacy successes, and future policies and programs at the local and state level that can support food, fiber, and flower farmers here on the North Coast. This event will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow farmers, land stewards, and food leaders to discuss both success and barriers the agricultural community faces. Some important topics for discussion may include but are not limited to, land access, food hubs, farm cooperatives, and water resources. Free light dinner is included and pre-registration is encouraged to ensure enough food is prepared.
Hosted by: North Coast Growers’ Association(NCGA), Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), the North Coast Agricultural Collaborative, and the Humboldt Food Policy Council
Featuring special guests: Jamie Fanous, Policy Director and Michelle Wyler, Farm to Market Director at CAFF for a discussion and listening session about exciting happenings at the State level regarding upcoming policy directions.

South Bay Urban Grower Gathering
2023-10-10 16:00 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Veggielution Community Farm, 647 South King Road, San Jose, CA, 95116, United States
Join us to be a part of a special convening to discuss this year’s advocacy successes, and future policies and programs at the local and state level that can support food, fiber, and flower farmers here in the greater South Bay area. This event will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow farmers, land stewards, and food leaders to discuss both success and barriers the agricultural community faces. Some important topics for discussion may include but are not limited to, land access, food hubs, farm cooperatives, and water resources. Free light dinner is included and pre-registration is encouraged to ensure enough food is prepared.
Hosted by: Veggielution & Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)

Hoes Down Harvest Festival 2023
2023-10-07 11:00 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Full Belly Farm, 16090 County Road 43, Guinda, CA, 95637, United States
The Hoes Down Harvest Festival is dedicated to honoring and promoting the knowledge of agricultural arts and sustainable rural living through inspiration and education. Our goals extend beyond the weekend of fun and education. For over 30 years, the Hoes Down has generated valuable resources for local and statewide organizations working on projects which benefit sustainable agriculture and rural communities.
The 2023 Hoes Down program includes:

Live music all day
Local and delicious organic food options (see the full menu here!)
Workshops: Learn about organic fruit trees, grass-fed beef, cow milking, herbs and flowers, pest control, sheep shearing, small farm equipment and more… some workshops available in Spanish!
Scheduled walking tours of Full Belly Farm
Children’s area with crafts, games, and more
Farmers and Crafts Market with local vendors of handmade gifts
Silent auction with unique items from local farms and artisans

To purchase tickets, go to the Hoes Down website: https://eco-farm.org/hoes-down-harvest-festival/2023/tickets

BIFS: Marketing Direct to Consumer and Communicating your Farm’s Ecological Farming Practices
2023-10-05 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Tenderly Rooted Farm, CA, United States
Come join Community Alliance with Family Farms at Tenderly Rooted (Biggs, CA) to learn from owner Kaben Kramer about building out a Direct to Consumer (DTC) market for your valued product. Topics to be covered include working out the logistics of DTC (branding, barcoding, shipping, legal requirements, etc.) to help enable your product to reach your customer base. Focusing on marketing your ecological farming practices, Cassi Crowley of NicNut Farms will also be joining us to give her talk on climate smart farming and the how-to’s on building resilience on your farm. Both will have booths set up for attendees to see packing, cross-selling, merchandising, and the like for their respective products. In addition, Grace Perry, CAFF’s Organic Certification Specialist, will provide information about organic transition/certification resources.
Directions: We recommend using the following GPS coordinates rather than entering the street address listed above when using Google Maps: 39°23’23.9″N 121°38’04.1″W
Written directions forthcoming.

North Bay Farmer Listening Session 2023
2023-10-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | FEED Cooperative, 5400 Old Redwood Hwy N., Petaluma, CA, 94954, United States
Every year CAFF invites farmers to join us for a casual conversation about your biggest challenges, concerns, and ideas to improve our food and agricultural system and better support your farm. Feedback from this event and similar gatherings across the state will shape CAFF’s policy agenda for the year ahead, guiding our advocacy efforts to make sure that we’re fighting for what matters most to you.
Food and beverages provided.
This event is free and open to farmers and anyone professionally working in agriculture.
No policy experience required; just honest feedback and genuine stories from the field.
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You can also share your perspective through CAFF’s online survey here.
Learn more about CAFF’s policy positions, past and present, here.

Yolano Regional Farmer Gathering
2023-10-04 16:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Lockewood Acres, 7781 Locke Rd, Vacaville, CA, 95688, United States
Join us to be a part of a special farmer gathering at Lockewood Acres! This event will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow farmers, land stewards, and food leaders to discuss both success and barriers the agricultural community faces. During this event, we will share updates on 2023 policy successes for small farms and discuss 2024 policy priorities. Some important topics for discussion may include but are not limited to, sustainable pest management, land access, food hubs, farm cooperatives, and water resources.
Free light dinner and beverages are included and pre-registration is encouraged to ensure enough food is prepared.

CAFF x Los Angeles Growers Alliance Fall 2023 Gathering
2023-09-23 10:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Avenue 33 Farms, 264 E 33rd Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90031, United States
Join us in our next Urban Grower Alliance Gathering as we center this space to bridge the gap between FSA (Farm Service Agency) and LA based urban farmers to establish programs, incentives, and technical support for the greater urban agriculture community. Our program is not exclusive to urban growers although we are intentional about holding space for farmers and emerging growers of all capacities in LA County. This is part of a collaborative effort between Farm Service Agency (FSA), Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC), Sustainable Economic Enterprise of Los Angeles (SEE-LA), & Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

CAFF x The Inland Empire Fall 2023 Gathering
2023-09-20 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Ecological Agriculture Training Cultural Center, 3954 Old Hammer Rd, Norco, CA, 92860, United States
(Espańol abajo)
Join CAFF and fellow farmers for food, drinks, and conversation about current resources opportunities and programs supporting urban growers. Come ready to collaborate and be a part of building a stronger network of agriculturalist in the Inland Empire with our host partners Ecological Agriculture Training Center, Growing Roots, Riverside Food Systems Alliance and the Riverside Food Hub. Spanish translation will be provided
+ Free Food & Drinks!
Únase a CAFF y a otros agricultores para disfrutar de alimentos, bebidas y conversar sobre oportunidades de recursos y programas que apoyan a los productores urbanos. Prepárese para colaborar y ser parte de la construcción de una red más sólida de agricultores en Inland Empire con nuestros socios Ecological Agriculture Training Center, Growing Roots, Riverside Food Systems Alliance y Riverside Food Hub. Se proporcionará traducción al español.
+ ¡Comida y bebidas gratis!

AAFC Watermelon Celebration : Food, Family, Fun on the Farm
2023-09-16 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | AAFC Demonstration Farm, 7160 W California Ave, Fresno, CA, 93706, United States
This event will offer an opportunity CELEBRATE BLACK FARMERS and African American Farming heritage and culture along with the harvest and bounty that they will be reaping at that time. In addition to celebrating we hope to allow farmers the opportunity to tell their stories and share knowledge and experience with one another and the community. There will also be an opportunity for everyone in attendance to buy local produce from Black Farmers including fresh fruit and vegetables as well as eggs.
AAFC is currently engaged in a planning process to envision the future of both the organization and its programming and is prioritizing the community in Fresno – that means YOU – in this planning process.
We hope this event will allow AAFC to share its history/herstory as well as where the organization is at currently (its existing projects/programs) and also for you to provide feedback on this as well as what you envision for how you would like to engage with AAFC, their beginner farmer training program as well as the demonstration farm site.
This event is being hosted by the African American Farmers of California and is the second of a series of events that are part of our California Department of Food and Agriculture Beginner Farmer and Farm Worker Training Program Planning Grant (link).
For more info please email : rasheed [at] caff.org

Webinar: GO-Biz CA Small Agricultural Business Drought & Storms/Flood Relief Grant Program
2023-09-14 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Webinar
The California Small Agricultural Business Drought & Flood Relief Grant Program aims to provide relief to small agricultural businesses that experienced a decline in annual gross receipts or gross profits due to drought or flood conditions.
CAFF is serving as a contracted Technical Assistance Provider to help interested applicants apply to the program. We will review the application eligibility, technology requirements, applications steps, and required documentation. There will be time allotted for Q&A. A complete agenda will be sent in advance to registered participants.
Please make sure to check the eligibility criteria in advance on the program website (select Drought or Flood as there are differences), and come prepared with your questions.
https://cadroughtfloodrelief.com/
This event is hosted in English and will be recorded. Every effort will be made to ensure that the recording is translated for the addition of Spanish subtitles later and will live on the CAFFFlix Youtube page during the open enrollment period (August 31-Oct 31).
If you or someone you know needs Spanish TA, please share the contact information below:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Si usted o alguien que conoce necesita asistencia técnica en español, comparta la información de contacto a continuación:
Asistencia Técnica en español:
Stephanie Stevens
(Pronombres: ella)
Gerente Senior de Programas, Negocios e Innovación
Línea directa (831) 271-5076
Email: stephanie@cafarmlink.org
Californiafarmlink.org

Tessa Salzman (ella)
Contratista con CAFF
¿Has sido afectado por una inundación o una sequía? Solicita ayuda aquí.
(707) 845-5846 (WhatsApp, mensajes, llamadas)

Reko Rings Basics: Online Farm Sales (webinar)
2020-05-27 16:00 - 17:00 UTC | Webinar
Are you a farmer interested in online sales but overwhelmed by the choices and expense of e-commerce? Join a webinar to learn about REKO – a free, simple direct-to-customer sales model managed through a closed Facebook group. You’ll hear from three farmers using this model during COVID-19. Get insights, tips, resources and ask questions for starting your own REKO ring.
AGENDA
• What is REKO? A quick intro and demo by Linda Easton (CA)
• Getting Started: Lessons from REKO Denver by Traci Mitchell (CO)
• Gaining Momentum: Lessons from REKO Ozaukee by Vanessa M. Quiñones (WI)
• Going Solo: Adapting REKO for a single farm by Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou (CA)
• Presenter Q&A moderated by Sara Bernal, Center for Land Based Learning (CA)
• **OPTIONAL** Post-webinar Q&A continuation with fellow participants moderated by Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Registration here for the webinar
For questions or comments, please contact Michelle Wyler at michelle@caff.org

Farming During COVID: A Webinar Series on Adapting to Crisis
2020-04-01 16:00 - 17:30 UTC | Webinar
Join us for a free webinar series designed to help California family farmers and ranchers adapt, stay informed and keep our local food system going strong. Learn from fellow producers and from experts about the challenges facing our farms as well as strategies to stay in business, keep our crews safe and employed, and to continue growing healthy food for our communities, come what may.

WEEK ONE: MARKET INSTABILITY, CREATIVE SOLUTIONS

We’re kicking off this series by digging into the quickly shifting food marketplace, from restaurant closures to a surge in CSA sign-ups to the latest tools for online ordering, delivery and e-commerce.
This series will be crafted based on your feedback, questions and interest. Please fill out the short survey below to register for this webinar.

Agrarian Lovers Ball
2020-02-29 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | Cuesta College North County Campus, 2800 Buena Vista Dr., Paso Robles, CA, 93446, United States
Live Music!
Local Food!
The annual California Farm Champions Awards Ceremony!
Join us for our annual celebration of California Family Farms, featuring an evening of music, dancing, drinks, a farm-fresh feast and our awards ceremony where every year our community recognizes farmers and food system advocates from across California who are contributing to a stronger local food economy, promoting food justice and empowering a new generation of agrarians.
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Taste of the Trail
2020-02-28 17:00 - 18:30 UTC | Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles, CA, 93446, United States
Join us for a Taste of the Trail, hosted by the SLO Co Farm Trail on Friday February 28th from 5 – 6:30pm at Studio’s on the Park in historic downtown Paso Robles.

Gather with Small Farm Conference goers to mix, mingle and share what you’ve learned while enjoying sips and bites from the SLO Co Farm Trail, featuring local farms, ranches and artisan food makers.

Continue your conversations around the art gallery or over dinner at one of the many fantastic downtown restaurants within walking distance of Studio’s on the Park.

Free and open to registered Conference Attendees. RSVP required. Space limited.

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Studios on the Park is a nonprofit open studios art center in the heart of historic downtown Paso Robles featuring six studios with 15 working artists, four galleries and a fine craft and fine art gift store.

FARMstead andthe SLO Co Farm Trail is as a way to promote locally grown & locally made products through pop-up workshops; getting people out to the farms, ranches & production facilities where our food is being grown & made.

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Science & the Transformation of Agriculture
2020-02-27 19:30 - 21:30 UTC | San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Re-imagining Agriculture with Regenerative Principles and Independent, Farmer-driven Research
Featuring Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, Blue Dasher Farm & the Ecdysis Foundation
In an increasingly complex and inter-related world, systemic challenges, such as climate change, can be daunting. Fortunately, nature–itself a highly complex web of relationships–holds answers. Likewise, farmers, those who actually tend nature, often develop valuable insights working within the complexity of agriculture. Cultivating a more resilient, regenerative agriculture will require a deeper awareness of and appreciation for lessons of the “field” and those who work it.
This lecture will explore the role of cutting-edge science in addressing problems faced by farmers, ranchers and bee keepers through applied ecological research, guided citizen science, innovative partnerships and peer-to-peer learning.
About the Speaker: Dr. Lundgren is an agroecologist and entomologist, Director of the ECDYSIS Foundation, and CEO for Blue Dasher Farm. Lundgren’s research and education programs focus on assessing the ecological risk of pest management strategies and developing long-term solutions for regenerative food systems.
Suggested donation of $5 to $10 at the door. First come, first serve.
Brought you by Cal Poly Center for Sustainability
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This talk is a pre-conference special event leading up to the 32nd annual California Small Farm Conference. To learn more about the full conference, taking place the following days, Feb 28 & 29 in Paso Robles, please visit http://www.casmallfarmconference.com

Tour: Weighing Cover Cropping Options in Orchards
2020-02-27 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | San Luis Obispo, CA, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Cover crops can be an effective way to address a variety of resource concerns that impact both environmental quality and tree health. They are one of the key ways to take advantage of the orchard floor and its potential to capture carbon and nutrients, and reduce their excess loss to air and water. However, the use of cover crops is associated with some management challenges, especially in drought-prone California. The Cal Poly lemon orchard recently began a set of trials using drought tolerant cover crops and cover crop mixes as part of the 2019 CDFA Healthy Soils Program. Over the course of the project, Dr. Charlotte Decock and the project team will be monitoring soil carbon content and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as investigating the costs and tradeoffs associated with cover crop management. During the field day, Dr. Decock, Hilary Philips, and Cal Poly students will use hands-on soil testing methods to demonstrate the links between cover crops and a suite of important soil properties. The Cal Poly team will facilitate a discussion of management strategies and considerations for incorporating cover crops into an orchard system, and the possibility of combining cover crops with amendments such as mycorrhizal fungi or compost. Funding programs for these practices, both from NRCS and CDFA, will also be discussed.
FEATURING:
Charlotte Decock, Soil Scientist, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Hilary Phillips, District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS San Luis Obispo
Johnny Rosecrans, Crops Technician and Orchard Manager, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
This field day is a pre-conference special event leading up to the 32nd annual California Small Farm Conference. To learn more about the full conference, taking place Feb 28 and 29, please visit www.casmallfarmconference.com

Composting Systems: Field Day
2020-02-27 13:00 - 17:00 UTC | Cuesta College North County Campus, 2800 Buena Vista Dr., Paso Robles, CA, 93446, United States
Join us for a hands-on field day exploring composting systems for your farm, hosted at the Cuesta College north campus farm. Chris Thompson, renowned compost expert from Santa Barbara County and Delmar McComb, Blossoms Biodynamic Farm will discuss the intricacies of successful compost management for both small and large scale operations with a special discussion on the magic of vermiculture with Cristy Christie, Black Diamond Vermicompost.
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This workshop is a pre-conference special event leading up to the 32nd annual California Small Farm Conference. To register for or learn more about the full conference, taking place the following days, Feb 28 and 29, please visit http://www.casmallfarmconference.com
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Organic Seed Production
2020-02-27 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Cuesta College SLO Campus, CA-1, Associated Students Auditorium, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Take your seed growing to the next level! This intensive is designed for farmers who want to improve their seed production experience skills. Topics will include an in-depth look at the fundamental techniques of seed production, including: seed crop spacing and timing, fertility and irrigation needs, managing self-pollinating and cross-pollinating crops, organic disease management, and harvest, threshing, cleaning and handling basics. We’ll cover crop specific seed production methods across a range of crops. In addition, important information on selecting seed crops to maintaining healthy, diverse crop varieties will be covered.
This training is a pre-conference special event leading up to the 32nd annual California Small Farm Conference. To learn more about the full conference, taking place the following days, Feb 28 and 29, please visit http://www.casmallfarmconference.com

Regenerative Farm-to-School Field Day: Farro, Nude Oats, Teff, Oh My!
2020-02-27 10:00 - 14:30 UTC | City Farm San Luis Obispo, 1221 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, California, 93405, United States
Join us for a day exploring how regenerative local farming is being grown and featured in San Luis Obispo region schools on this roving, multi-location field day. Explore a unique public private partnership with farmers at SLO City Farm, a Farm to School lunch and Central Kitchen tour at Laguna Middle School, and end the day learning about Organic Ancient Grain production from a mechanical engineer-turned-farmer at Kandarian Organic Farms in Los Osos. This tour is sure to offer some of California’s most unique, innovative farming practices and systems and the practitioners bringing them to students.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Participants will be expected to drive themselves and carpooling options will be coordinated in advance. Attendees may join for any or all stops of this tour, but either way RSVP is required.

SCHEDULE:

10 – 11:30am Meet at City Farm (1221 Calle Joaquin, SLO)
Noon – 1:00pm Laguna Middle School for farm-to-school lunch. Tour of the garden and central kitchen: 11050 Los Osos Valley Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA
1:20 – 2:30 pm Tour at Kandarian Organic Farms: 1288 2nd St., Baywood, Los Osos, CA

VENUES:
City Farm San Luis Obispo is a 17-acre property surrounded by urban development, owned by the City, and managed by a non-profit under the terms of a twenty-year lease, now in its sixth year. Tour includes visits to four subtenant parcels, leased by independent organic farmers who sell to local restaurants, markets and the school district, irrigation installation half-powered by solar array, educational gardens and field kitchen which are the site of academic credit class for Continuation High School students, program for developmentally disabled young adults, regular elementary school field trips, workdays and seasonal festivals catering to the general public, and experiments with permaculture, no-till husbandry, and carbon farming.
Kandarian Farms connects people to the land through real food produced on a small, but mighty farm on the Central Coast of California. At Kandarian, they select crops for their benefit to the earth and for their nutritional, cultural and culinary value to humans. They grow plants, herbs and grains that tell rich stories. Larry Kandarian has been farming for over 25 years. From mechanical engineering to the flower seed business to sustainable, organic, Earth-friendly farming, he has an astonishing wealth of knowledge and is a passionate steward of the land.
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This training is a pre-conference special event leading up to the 32nd annual California Small Farm Conference. To learn more about the full conference, taking place the following days, Feb 28 and 29, please visit www.casmallfarmconference.com
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Los Cinco Principios de la Salud Del Suelo
2020-02-27 09:30 - 14:30 UTC | Windrose Farm, 5750 El Pharo Dr., Paso Robles, CA, 93446, United States
Los agricultores en todo el mundo operan en una era de clima incierto. Los suelos sanos y vivos pueden soportar mejor la creciente demanda que les estamos imponiendo para cultivar alimentos saludables y mantener el agua y aire limpios bajo estas imposiciones climáticas. Es importante construir y mantener la salud del suelo antes de que aparezcan los síntomas del cambio climático como son las sequías o inundaciones. Los suelos saludables pueden resistir mejor estas tensiones y en algunos casos, pueden ayudar a amortiguarlas.
Además de tener impactos beneficios para el ambiente, el manejo sustentable del suelo tiene beneficios prácticos para el agricultor. Todo esto requiere la implementación de prácticas de manejo que fortalecen el suelo como una ecología. En este día de campo, tendremos charlas sobre los principios de la salud de suelos y las prácticas que nos ayudan a mantener la ecología y salud del suelo.
Este día de campo incluirá presentaciones sobre:
los cultivos de cobertura, la integración de animales a la operación, las investigaciones sobre prácticas del mejoramiento del suelo y como estas prácticas ayudan con la eficiencia del riego.
Estas prácticas ayudarán al suelo a reciclar eficientemente el agua y los nutrientes para mantener la productividad de las plantas y los animales. El retorno de las inversiones en salud del suelo dará sus frutos año tras año tras año.
Presentando
Martin Guerena, Especialista en Agricultura Sostenible con el Centro Nacional de Tecnología Apropiada, Davis CA
Ann Baier, Especialista en Agricultura Sostenible con el Centro Nacional de Tecnología Apropiada, Davis CA
Nathan Harkleroad, Director del Programa Educativo, Asociación de Capacitación Agricultura: ALBA, Salinas CA.
Laura Murphy, Soil Scientist, Monterey County RCD
Natalie Solares, Ag Water Management Specialist, Monterey County RCD
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Esta capacitación es un evento especial previo a la conferencia que conduce a la 32nd Conferencia anual de California Small Farm. Para obtener más información sobre la conferencia completa, que tendrá lugar los días siguientes, 28 y 29 de febrero en Paso Robles, visite http://www.casmallfarmconference.com
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Tour: Small Vineyard Practices for a Hotter, Drier Climate
2020-02-27 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Tablas Creek Vineyard, 9339 Adelaida Rd, Paso Robles, California, 93446
Soil health principles lie at the core of management decisions that emphasize grape quality and long term resilience for small vineyards. These practices that aim to impart beneficial qualities to soil such as water holding capacity, infiltration, microbial activity, fertility and erosion control are becoming increasingly important in the face of the unprecedented challenges associated with climate change. Tablas Creek Vineyard is a pioneering 120-acre estate vineyard that has been addressing these challenges head-on. As a certified organic and biodynamic vineyard, they continue to refine ways to make the most of on-farm and local resources using innovative approaches to dry farming, holistic grazing management and conservation tillage practices. As part of the Cal Poly Healthy Soils Project, Tablas Creek has been participating in a three year project to investigate the links between soil building practices such as no-till and grazing of cover crops, and measures of soil carbon, water holding capacity and grape quality. During the field day, Tablas Creek vineyard managers will share lessons learned from their unique soil management strategy, Dr. Cristina Lazcano and her research team will present some of their preliminary findings, and Dr. Jean-Pierre Wolff of Wolff Vineyards and others will discuss the variety of ways small vineyards are balancing soil, water, and quality considerations in anticipation of rising peak temperatures and shrinking water supplies.

This field day is a pre-conference special event leading up to the 32nd annual California Small Farm Conference. To learn more about the full conference, taking place Feb 28 and 29, please visit www.casmallfarmconference.com

CA Small Farm Conference 2020
2020-02-27 - 2020-02-29 | Cuesta College North County Campus, 2800 Buena Vista Dr., Paso Robles, CA, 93446, United States
Local food, innovation, community roots and healthy soils—just a few of the things you’ll find growing on small farms all across California. Join us in February 2020 for the 32nd annual California Small Farm Conference where farmers, ranchers and local food advocates gather each year to explore hot topics in sustainable agriculture, work to bridge field and fork, sharpen their skills, network and give voice to those growing a more resilient food system from the soil up.

Farmers Market Manager Training
2020-02-27 | San Luis Obispo, CA, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
CA SMALL FARM PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT
Join the California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets at the California Small Farms Conference for a 1/2 day training, specifically by and for Farmers’ Market Managers. The training will focus on the role of market managers, best practices to enhance your market and increase your customer counts, and will provide ample space for peer-to-peer learning. This training will be useful for both new and more experienced market managers. More details in development!
Tickets to this training are sold separately from the main conference. To learn more about the CA Small Farm Conference, visit www.casmallfarmconference.org

On-Farm Fire Resilience: Online Class
2020-01-30 - 2020-03-26
A hybrid online course and network dedicated to helping you farm in the face of a future with fire.

January 30 – March 26, 2020

Do you want to better prepare your farm and community for fire-related risk, and actively plan for the future collectively?
Drawing on decades of training small-farmers amidst climate change, MESA in collaboration with CAFF | The Farmer’s Guild, bring you an interactive course that will give you the technical and theoretical toolkit needed to reduce the human, production, financial and legal risks from wildfires. Utilizing MESA’s Virtual Campus for Farmers along with CAFF’s in-person Town Hall meetings, you will garner actionable solutions, co-create fire response and prevention networks, and leave with an on-farm fire resilience plan to help you and your community face a future with fire.
Course materials are tailored to California, but all interested farmers/ranchers in other regions are welcome to apply.

EcoFarm
2020-01-22 - 2020-01-25 | Asilomar Conference Grounds, 800 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove, CA, 93950
Building upon its farmer-to-farmer education model, EcoFarm is an essential networking and educational hub for ecologically-minded farmers, ranchers, and all who work to support their success in growing a healthy food system and world.

2020 North Bay CAFF Annual Gathering
2020-01-14 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | Sebastopol Grange Hall, 6000 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
Celebrating another year of local food, sustainable agriculture and family farms! ​
An annual tradition, each January we invite our whole community to gather with local farmers and farm advocates from across the North Bay to look back on 2019, from accomplishments to tribulations to those we’ve lost along the way, all while planting seeds collectively for the 2020 season ahead. “CAFF” stands for Community Alliance with Family Farmers, so bring a friend––farmers and non-farmers alike––to learn how we can all help grow a more regenerative, just and abundant food system from the soil up.
Dinner, drinks, an update from our statewide organization, and lively stories three inspiring, local farmers.
Potluck: please bring a dish or drink to share.

Farming in the New Normal
2020-01-07 08:00 - 16:30 UTC | Ulatis Community Center, 1000 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, CA, 95688, United States
At this workshop, you will get the latest information from California researchers, government agency leaders, agriculture industry professionals and innovative farmers to:
Help you understand how climate change will affect your farming operations
Provide practical strategies for agriculture to thrive in a new climate reality
Explore opportunities and resources for implementing climate strategies on farms
Topics include:
Grazing system strategies for drought
Soil Health and climate adaptation: Rangelands
Vegetation management for wildfire preparedness
Potential for carbon sequestration in riparian restoration, and climate-adaptive restoration
Chill hours reduction impact to perennial crops
Coping with extreme weather events, such as heat
Pest management strategies for a changing climate
Soil health practices and climate adaptation: Reduced tillage
Water use efficiency: tools for optimizing water use in a drought-prone world
Soil Health practices and climate adaptation: Cover crops
