spring action at the gill tract

Occupy the Farm announces Spring action
When: Saturday, May 11th at noon
Where: Albany City Hall – corner of San Pablo and Marin

On May 11th, farmers, students and concerned Albany citizens will re-establish the Gill Tract as a productive urban farm, putting the public land to public use. Last week, UC Berkeley announced that it will proceed with plans to pave over and build on this historic farmland. Despite 15 years of local resistance, the university continues to push for a chain grocery store and commercial retail space on the Gill Tract, highlighting the urgent need for community action.

In April 2012, the organization Occupy the Farm planted a publicly-accessible farm on the Gill Tract, winning temporary protection for a portion of the land. This most recent development proposal makes it clear that the Tract is still under threat.

urban ag land access

via Little City Gardens.  A public hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.  CA greenhorns, take action!

Access to land is a crucial issue for small scale farming, both urban and rural, and as we’ve previously talked about here, insecure land tenure has been one of the biggest obstacles we’ve come across in our three years of operating this farm. Running a successful, financially sound business has been particularly challenging without a reliable long term lease, as it has greatly limited the kind of investment we can safely make, both physically (in the form of long term perennial crops, thorough irrigation setup, and necessary infrastructure like hoop houses and cold storage) as well as personally (how we are able to commit to and shape our lives around this project). Because the land we farm is currently owned by a developer, we never quite know when our month-to-month lease will be terminated, or when our rent will suddenly spike in order to more adequately cover the owner’s rising costs. Also, in our particular case, the property we’re using is ill-suited for development due to it’s irregular orientation (a long, narrow lot surrounded on three sides by backyards) and a very high water table. Unfortunately, these factors are negligible when it comes to the property’s market value, and the property taxes are exorbitant. It’s hard to imagine commercial farms thriving in cities, providing food at prices comparable to their rural counterparts, when urban land is exclusively and without exception valued in terms of its potential real estate.

Full story, including how to take action, here: http://www.littlecitygardens.com/2013/04/land-tenure-legislation/

vegetable breeding intensive

Register by email at basil@ecologycenter.org $50, worktrade & student discounts are available, pay with check or paypal (use donation button on the right)

Fred Hempel is an organic farmer and plant breeder at Baia Nicchia farm. He breeds tomatoes squash, peppers, & mustard. He sells his own & Ethiopian vegetable varieties through Artisan Seeds. He has released multiple tomato varieties that are sold through partnerships with wholesale producers and seed companies. The course will cover:

• Planning and Tools for Data Assessment:  gather materials; preliminary experiments; prioritize important traits for plant selection
• Seed Saving and Introduction to Reproductive Biology (inbreeding, outcrossing, vegetative propagation, ect.)
• Principles of Selection: what to look out for in order to get the results you want, recognizing mutations, natural crossing between garden neighbors, and line variation b) Selection for, or against, recognized traits
• Introduction to Cross-pollination, and How to create your own Hybrid
• An analysis of Hybrids
• Post-hybrid selection for new open-pollinated varieties.  Selection and data organization
• Politics of Seed: Intellectual property, distribution issues and return-on-investment:  Implications for the use of varieties in breeding, and for paying for your breeding activities.

https://www.facebook.com/events/434638103284072/

rancher to rancher

California greenhorns! If you’re interested in ranching, check this out:

five upcoming fibershed classes!

The mission of Fibershed is to change the way we clothe ourselves by supporting the creation of local textile cultures that enhance ecological balance, and utilize regional agriculture while strengthening local economies and communities.

Community Felting Project: The Fibershed Yurt Cover

• When: April 20-21, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Where: a private farm in Lagunitas, CA with group camping at Samuel P Taylor State Park
• Cost: $60 per person, includes felting instruction and camping
• Instructors: Katharine Jolda and Amber Bieg for large-scale wet felting; Heidi Harris for needle felting
• Registration: To reserve your place, email fibershed@gmail.com and you will be sent a Paypal payment request. Limited to 14 participants.

Join us for a 2-day community felting event and workshop at a beautiful farm in Lagunitas! Fibershed is making a felted cover for our signature yurt (which will be constructed at our Yurt Building Workshop taking place June 29-30 in Petaluma).

For further details: visit the event page on our calendar.

volunteer opportunities at slide ranch

Always a good way to get your foot in the door…

Slide Ranch offers rewarding volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups from throughout the Bay Area. While working under the supervision of trained staff on our teaching farm and 134 acres of wild lands, volunteers contribute to Slide Ranch in a variety of ways, including working in our organic garden (weeding, pruning, prepping garden beds, planting and pest control,) composting, restoring native plants and removing invasive plants, and maintaining trails and beach access.

Slide Ranch welcomes the participation of all volunteers, aged 14 and older. For students fulfilling community service hours, corporate and community group team building or individuals who want to put a green thumb to good use, Slide Ranch provides challenging, engaging and meaningful experiences. Volunteers may schedule a one-time visit or volunteer on a regular basis as part of an ongoing project.

In addition to volunteering in our garden and on the land, volunteers can support Slide Ranch by contributing other interests, skills, and talents. Volunteers with expertise in construction and carpentry, tech or social media experience, and craftspeople, performers and artisans for special events are often needed.

Please call the Slide Ranch office at 415.381.6155 for more information and scheduling. All volunteer visits must be scheduled in advance.

rfp in california sierra foothills

The American River Conservancy is looking for farmers and/or partners to submit quality proposals to lease portions of the Historic Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Farm (aka “Gold Hill Ranch”) in the foothills of El Dorado County.  Attached you will find the official RFP and map of the areas we are seeking to lease.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The American River Conservancy, a non-profit conservation organization, seeks one or more partners to develop portions of an historic farm into a destination, agricultural tourism enterprise.   Selected partner(s) would lease farm acreage and/or buildings, make capital improvements, and operate business enterprises consistent with protecting the site’s cultural, natural and agricultural resources.   The selected partner would work with the ARC to market activities, host a variety of events, and grow agricultural products for sale.  The farmhouse, garden and barn may be suitable for an event center or restaurant.  Suitable agricultural production may include vineyards, orchards or livestock production.  Ultimately, the goal of all agricultural production on the farm is to become certified organic.

Questions or requests to tour the Wakamatsu Farm property may be directed to either Alan Ehrgott or Elena DeLacy at (530) 295-2190. Scheduled Tours of the Wakamatsu Farm Property will be held on Feb. 23, March 2nd and March 16^th from 9am-12 noon.  Additional information regarding the history of the farm may be obtained through the following URL: www.arconservancy.org/wakamatsu

PDF Link: Larger Wakamatsu Farm RFP

porkville ranch seeks swine manager

Porkville Ranch is a 2,000 acre property located in Yorkville, California. Porkville is home to the only breeding population of the Italian Cinta Senese pig outside of Italy. The mixed woodlands and oak savannah habitats found at Porkville are similar in climate and natural productivity to the Tuscan forests that have supported Cinta since the Middle Ages. Our pure bred pigs are raised humanely in an extensive forest and pasture system, and marketed as specialty whole-carcass forage fattened heritage pork, to Bay Area restaurants, trend-setting chefs and specialty butchers. The business is in early stage start up, and we are looking for an experienced outdoor swine stockperson to join this dynamic project.

job opportunity at slide ranch

Summer Teacher-in-Residence at Slide Ranch (Muir Beach, CA)

Slide Ranch Mission:
Slide Ranch teaches visitors the impact our choices have on food, health, and the environment, through hands-on activities and independent exploration of our farm and coastal wild lands.

Every bite of food connects us to the soil, sun, water, and air, and to the people who work to feed us.  Slide Ranch teaches respect and responsibility for sustaining these connections.

another fun, fishy project

this one in San Francisco bay:  http://www.seaforager.com/

We’ve got an aquaculture man coming up on Greenhorn radio soon as well.

see this documentary!

Calabria to California

The documentary was also way to explore our relationships with food and work; one more statement as to why such small-scale foods should be supported over the industrialised flattening of taste.

Lastly, the film is an expression of determination to see the completed project.  While starting a business (artisan food distribution, of course!) and relocating between three countries we filmed throughout a year and a half of seasons, then slowly but surely worked through the post-production.

Thanks to the film participants, and to our friends and family for the encouragement, in all of its forms!

winter work parties

at Quail Springs

Invitation:  Extended Winter Work Party in February and March

We are looking forward to an exciting extended work party in the months of February and March to move forward several key projects at Quail Springs!

Seeking Volunteers

Come join the Quail Springs crew for a few days to several weeks for lots of fun, hard work and yummy meals and company!

When: February and March

How long: a few days to several weeks

Where:  Quail Springs in the Cuyama Valley, about 1 hour north of Ojai, near Ventucopa, in the high desert mountains

You would need to have a general interest in and ability to work mostly outside, and to tent camp or to bring your own camper.

We will offer yummy meals, good company, and the satisfaction of contributing to a great mission and permaculture vision.

Activities include: digging, planting trees, other farm work, small construction, moderate to heavy lifting, demolition, fencing, irrigation, cooking, cleaning

Specialized skill sets we’re seeking, with potential for barter or hire:  carpentry, electric, plumbing

Please contact us with volunteer interest: 

WINTER WORK PARTY INTEREST CLICK HERE!

support food entrepreneurship on Kiva Zip

a note from friend of the Greenhorns, Johnny Price, project director of Kiva Zip

Dear friends,

I’m writing to you as great innovators, entrepreneurs and organizers in the food / agriculture space, who have expressed support and interest in our Kiva Zip project.

I wanted to flag one loan in particular to you in Vallejo CA. Of his business Vallejo Gardens, Kip (the borrower) writes: “Vallejo Gardens mission is to be a beacon of restoration, creativity and good food in the historic downtown area of Vallejo, CA. Vallejo Gardens promises a commitment to a local living, thriving economy, by keeping our dollars in our beloved city and its food choices closer to home.”

https://zip.kiva.org/loans/554

Unfortunately Kip has not been getting a great deal of funding — he is currently only 20% of the way to his goal, and his loan is set to expire on February 6th. If you want to help Kip out, you can make a $25 loan to him by clicking on the link above. Any help you can give Kip in promoting his loan to your networks, e.g. through social media, would be greatly appreciated. He promises to repay you over time.

If you haven’t become a lender on Kiva Zip yet, this one would be a great one to start on!

Hope you’re enjoying your starts to 2013!

Jonny

hot saucer maker seeks farmers

Here’s a note for any interested greenhorns:

Hot Winter is an organic hot sauce that began as a food preservation project when I was in intern at Mountain Home Farm, in Orleans, CA.  Now we have shelf space at New Seasons Markets in Portland, OR, and are looking for farmers interested in growing chilis to help us expand.  Peppers must be grown using organic methods, but certification is not necessary.  Small scale farms with a diversity of crops are preferred. I am based in Portland, but can pick up orders throughout OR and CA.  I am looking for a total of about 2300 lbs of pepper, hopefully spread amongst 2-3 farms. Ideally one farm would come from somewhere in southern CA that would be able to provide an early season harvest.  Mid-late season preference is given to farms in southern OR.  l would like the following varieties (rough quantity estimates are in lbs): Santa Fe Grande (500), Poblano (900), Ho Chi Minh, yellow (400), Bulgarian Carrot (150) and Hungarian Hot Wax (350).   Seeds sown should be open-pollinated and organic.  Price paid for peppers is $3/pound. Please find us on Facebook: /hotwinterhotsuace, or at www.hotwinterhotsauce.com.  Email: shaun@hotwinterhotsauce.com. 

farm to table manager at woolman

The Farm to Table Manager is responsible for managing the Woolman Farm and Kitchen.

The Farm to Table Manager tends the Woolman Farm; two acres of organic vegetables, food forest, and orchard, and oversees the Woolman kitchen with four main goals in mind:

1.     Growing the majority of the produce served in the Woolman kitchen year round.

2.     Generating farm income to offset or exceed the costs of the Farm Program.

3.     Managing a clean, safe kitchen environment that provides delicious food for all.

4.     Providing a rich and welcoming educational experience for all who interact with the farm and kitchen.

The Farm to Table Manager is responsible for coordinating both the work and education that happens on the farm and in the kitchen; supervising interns, students and volunteers there. The Farm to Table Manager teaches intern farming and cooking classes and a student Farm to Table class.

See the full job description HERE