Wildfire and Agriculture Media

In this episode, we travel to First Rain Farm in Nevada County, where Tim Van Wagner is integrating a number of effective wildfire preparation methods on his property, as well as those of his neighbors and surrounding community. By combining targeted ecological grazing and prescribed burns, Tim is able to rehabilitate overgrown forests in the foothills to productive foraging systems that support greater biodiversity, sequester more carbon, and improve soil health and water quality in the region- all while also reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECORDING or find it on Apple Music and Spotify!

Show Notes:

• First Rain Farm Website: https://www.firstrainfarm.com/ 
• John Jeavons: https://johnjeavons.org/ 
• Nourishing Traditions: https://nourishingtraditions.com/ 
• California Prescribed Burn Association: https://calpba.org/ 
• UC ANR Fire Resources and Information: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/ 
• Brittleness Scale: https://savoryinstitute.teachable.com/courses/896826/lectures/16507356  
• Land Management Regimes of Nevada County: https://www.ncrcd.org/resources-and-links/knowledge-base/agriculture-resources/ 
  Ruminant Digestive System: https://extension.umn.edu/dairy-nutrition/ruminant-digestive-system 
• Fuel Moisture: http://stream1.cmatc.cn/pub/comet/FireWeather/S290Unit10FuelMoisture/comet/fire/s290/unit10/print.htm#page_1.0.0 
• Smoke Exposure and Safety: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/wildfire/worker-protection-from-wildfire-smoke.html  
• SB 926- Rx Burn Liability Fund: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB926 
• CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program: http://caff.org/wildfire-resilience-program/

Production Team:

• Podcast hosted by Amber Schat- Wildfire Resilience Specialist at CAFF
• Audio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald 
• Music by Blue Dot Sessions
• Release Date: 12/14/2022

In this episode we connect with Beth Reynolds of The Goat Girls, a woman owned and operated contract grazing operation located on California’s Central Coast to learn about her successes and challenges with long term viability of the targeted grazing industry, especially as it relates to fire preparedness and fuels management. 

Over the last decade, California has experienced the most dangerous, destructive, and environmentally hazardous wildfires in the history of the state. Prescribed grazing is a versatile and ecologically-based wildfire mitigation strategy with scientifically proven benefits to our environment, soil, and greenhouse gas reduction goals. Prescribed grazing complements other vegetation management practices through the reduction of fuel loads and implementation in areas where controlled burns are considered too risky or not appropriate for the ecosystem.

Later in the episode, we join Senator Monique Limón on a tour of a grazing operation in Ojai Valley, who represents District 19 in Santa Barbara County. She authored Senate Bill 675 and introduced it in February of this year in order to enhance wildfire mitigation efforts by expanding statewide prescribed grazing efforts. 

Click HERE for the recording, or find it on Apply Music and Spotify!

SHOW NOTES:

• The Goat Girls
• Cal Poly Sheep Unit
• SB 675
• AB 297
• Paso Robles- Salinas River Vegetation Management Project
• CEQA and grazing resources
• Prescribed Herbivory White paper from the Rangeland Management Advisory Committee
• Regional Water Quality Control Board and Grazing tips
• Upper Salinas- Las Tablas Resources Conservation District