ATTRA - Voices from the Field

This episode of Voices from the Field is a the second part of a discussion between Ben Thomas of California Alliance of Family Farms, Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento, California, and Vince Caguin of the Natomas, California, Unified School District.

The conversation begins with Vince asking Hope and Vince what inspires them to be involved in farm-to-school markets.

In the first part of the discussion, Hope and Vince talk about ways the relationship between Fiery Ginger Farm and the school district has evolved and how the farm set about maintaining school sales through the COVID 19 pandemic.

The link to that discussion is in the notes accompanying this podcast.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services.

Related ATTRA Resources:
Schools and COVID
Farm to School Sales: Profiles of Ranches Making it Work
Food Hubs and School Sales
Accessing USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

This episode is a the first part of a discussion between Ben Thomas of California Alliance of Family Farms, Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farm in West Sacramento, California, and Vince Caguin of the Natomas, California, Unified School District. Hope and Vince discuss how the relationship between Fiery Ginger Farm and the school district has evolved and how the farm set about maintaining school sales through the COVID 19 pandemic. Let's listen.

This is a panel discussion in the Bringing the Farm to School pilot facilitator workshop. In this panel, Ben Thomas of CA Alliance of Family Farms talks with Hope Sippola of Fiery Ginger Farms and Vince Caguin, of Natomas Unified School District to ask them about how their relationship has evolved and how Fiery Ginger is trying to maintain school sales through the pandemic.

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

In this episode, Andrew Coggins, director of NCAT's Rocky Mountain West Regional Office in Butte, Montana, talks with Cora Helm, owner and operator of LC Compost Solutions. The business, located near Helena, Montana, includes what is called "mortality composting," which Cora sees as method for organic waste reduction and a sustainable alternative to land-filling, burial, and cremation for livestock and other deceased animal companions.

Related ATTRA Resources
Soils and Compost

Other Resources
LC Compost Solutions

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Multiple income streams can help farmers creatively expand their on-farm business. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Justin Duncan talks with Edward Morgan, Jr., about how he did just that with by turning a new beekeeping operation into an agritourism experience. 

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast

Related ATTRA Resources:

Beekeeping for Beginners

Agritourism for Beginners

Roots to Revenue: Making Agritourism Work for Your Farm

Other Resources

Bean's Bees and Honey

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Jenileigh Harris, a National Farm to School Network program associate, talks with Alma Maquitico from Anthony Youth Farm in southern New Mexico.

Anthony Youth Farm is a small organic farm that provides farming and training opportunities for rural and low-income youth and sells its products to schools through a purchasing cooperative program facilitated by the New Mexico Public Education Department.

Jenileigh and Alma talk about Alma's experience working with organizations and entities across the state to collaboratively develop state-run programs that reduce school market access barriers for small producers of color.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services." 

Related ATTRA Resources
Farm to School: Profiles of Ranches Making it Work
Farm to School Aquaponics Program
Local Food Systems

Other Resources:
Anthony Youth Farm
USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
USDA Foods in Schools
National Farm to School Network

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly via email at [email protected].

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Lacy Stephens of the National Farm to School Network talks with Alicia Ellingsworth of the Kansas City Food Hub and KC Farm School.  Alicia shares the benefits, opportunities, and strategies for successful school sales from the perspective of a food hub operator and also shares insight on the benefits of selling through a food hub from the perspective of the producer. She also talks about the unique relationship between KC Food Hub and KC Farm School that opens up the world of food and farming to children and the community.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services." 

Related ATTRA Resources
Farm to School: Profiles of Ranches Making it Work
Farm to School Aquaponics Program
Local Food Systems

Other Resources:
The Kansas City Food Hub
USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
USDA Foods in Schools
National Farm to School Network

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly via email at [email protected].

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Lacy Stephens of the National Farm to School Network talks with Joseph Martinez of Arizona Microgreens, based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Arizona Microgreens produce organically-grown microgreens – like micro salad mixes, micro kale, and pea shoots – for restaurants, farmers markets, schools, and hospitals throughout Arizona.

Joseph discusses the opportunities, challenges, and benefits of selling his produce to local schools for use in the USDA's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

This podcast is produced by the National Center for Appropriate Technology through the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, under a cooperative agreement with USDA Rural Development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

This podcast episode is one of a number of case studies featuring farmers successfully navigating school sales as part of Bringing the Farm to School, a training program developed as a cooperative agreement between NCAT, the National Farm to School Network and the USDA Food and Nutrition Services 

Related ATTRA Resources
Farm to School: Profiles of Ranches Making it Work
Farm to School Aquaponics Program
Local Food Systems

Other Resources:
Arizona Microgreens
USDA DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
USDA Foods in Schools
National Farm to School Network

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Tammy Howard directly via email at [email protected].

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

In this episode, Nina Prater, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's southeast office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, continues a discussion about electric fencing with her husband, Jeremy Prater. Jeremy is the owner and operator of Cedar Creek Farm, a sustainable diversified livestock operation in the Ozarks of Arkansas. Jeremy has used electric fencing to manage cattle, goats, hogs, and poultry.

They go into detail about the equipment itself and how to use it effectively.

In the previous episode, Nina and Jeremy discussed why electric fencing is such a useful tool in management-intensive grazing; the NRCS's cost-share program for electric fence; how to adapt existing fence; and other ways electric fencing can be used to contain and manage livestock.

The link to that podcast is in the notes below.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Nina Prater directly via email at [email protected].

Related ATTRA Resources
Electric Fencing 101. Part 1.
Managed Grazing tutorial
Fencing and Water Systems
Getting Started in Livestock. Part 2: Species Considerations
Integrating Livestock with Crops Project: Electric Fences. Sheep in and Predators Out

Other Resources:
Electric Fencing for Serious Graziers (NRCS)

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website /

In this episode, Nina Prater, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT's southeast office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks about electric fencing with her husband, Jeremy Prater. Jerry is the owner and operator of Cedar Creek Farm, a sustainable diversified livestock operation in the Ozarks of Arkansas. Jeremy has used electric fencing to manage cattle, goats, hogs, and poultry.

In this episode, Nina and Jeremy talk about why electric fencing is such a useful tool in management-intensive grazing; the NRCS's cost-share program for electric fence; how to adapt existing fence; and other ways electric fencing can be used to contain and manage livestock.

In Part 2 of Electric Fencing 101, they will go into greater detail about the equipment itself and how it works.

Related ATTRA Resources
Managed Grazing tutorial
Fencing and Water Systems
Getting Started in Livestock. Part 2: Species Considerations
Integrating Livestock with Crops Project: Electric Fences. Sheep in and Predators Out

Other Resources:
Electric Fencing for Serious Graziers (NRCS)

For more information on this topic, you can contact Nina Prater directly via email at [email protected].

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

This episode is the second in a two-part series featuring NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Kara Kroeger talking with family members Glenn, Melanie, and Linnaea Elzinga from Alderspring Ranch in Idaho. Glenn and his family raise wild, organic grass-fed beef on their remote family ranch and deliver their products to customers across the nation. In this episode, they discuss the family's innovative marketing strategies and tools.

In the first part of the series, they discuss the family dynamics they have cultivated, how each family member determines his or her role, and the effects of COVID-19, among other topics. The link to that podcast is in the notes below.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Kara Kroeger directly via email at [email protected].

Related ATTRA Resources
Alderspring Ranch, Part 1
Livestock and Pasture

Other Resources:
Alderspring Ranch
Meathacker

Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.

Please call ATTRA with any and all of your sustainable agriculture questions at 800-346-9140 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Our two dozen specialists can help you with a vast array of topics, everything from farm planning to pest management, from produce to livestock, and soils to aquaculture.

You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find our other extensive, and free, sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at NCAT/ATTRA's website.

You also can stay in touch with NCAT at its Facebook page.

Keep up with NCAT/ATTRA's SIFT farm at its website.

Also check out NCAT's Regional Offices' websites and Facebook Pages!

Southwest Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Western Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Rocky Mountain West Regional Office: Facebook

Gulf States Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Southeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook

Northeast Regional Office: Website / Facebook