In this episode we continue the conversation on the impact of Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) in Linden, California. You’ll hear from the father and son duos of Colombini Ranch and Chinchiolo Farming Company about the impact BIOS had on the different generations of their farm, and why they continue to follow BIOS practices like cover cropping and integrated pest management. Growers elaborate on the walnut market challenges and how adaptation is crucial to the growth and future of their farms. Funding for this podcast is possible by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCAs) office’s Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) grant which is a revitalization of this original BIFS/BIOS effort featured in this podcast. 

• Read more about the field day at Chinchiolo Farms 
• Chinchiolo’s Mower Prototype 
• Chinchiolo Farming Co Instagram 
• Read more about CAFF’s revitalization of the BIOS project
• Read more about CAFF’s current BIFS project on biocontrol for spider mites
• For more background on BIOS check out Part 1

• Podcast hosted by Emma Centeno – Technical Assistance Specialist at CAFF
• Audio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald 
• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

The post The Legacy of Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) in Walnuts: Part 2 appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

The Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) project has brought together growers, scientists, farm advisors, and pest control advisors with the goal of implementing farm practices to reduce dependence on chemical inputs.  In this episode we head down to the Northern San Joaquin region to interview early BIOS collaborating growers, Chris and Christy Locke, and PCA, Jeannine Lowrimore, who started participating in the BIOS program in the 90s to give a bit more specific detail. You will hear about the impact that BIOS has had on walnut farming systems, why collaborating growers continue to follow those farming practices, and how it has been helping walnut growers persist through challenging economic times. We were funded for this podcast by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis (OPCAs) office’s Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) grant which is a revitalization of this original BIFS/BIOS effort featured in this podcast.

Read the Archives!

• Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems  (BIOS) for Almonds Guide, 1994
• Growth Predicted in Biologically Integrated and Organic Farming, 2000
• BIOS approach tested for controlling walnut pests in San Joaquin Valley, 2003

CAFF and BIOS

• Read more about CAFF’s current BIOS project
• CAFF archive of past field days and resources from our current BIOS work
• Find out how CAFF sets up the BIOS project in 2021!
• Learn more about research on mating disruption by Jeannine Lowrimore

What are the Lockes up to? 

• BIOS Field Day at Locke Ranch

Production Team

• Podcast hosted by Emma Centeno – Technical Assistance Specialist at CAFF
• Audio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald 
• Music by Blue Dot Sessions

The post The Legacy of Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) in Walnuts: Part 1 appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

In this episode we travel to Southern California to meet with Samuel Guitron of Gospel Swamp Farm in Santa Ana and Johnny Wilson from The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano to talk all about Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, in urban farms. You’ll also hear about how soil health is monitored using potatoes at Gospel Swamp Farm, how wheat and rice bran are being used to manage soil-borne pathogens at The Ecology Center, and so much more.

Episode Resources:

Production Team:

Funding:

California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) Grant: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/bifs.html

The post Urban Agriculture in Orange County: Gospel Swamp Farm and The Ecology Center appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

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.

The post EPISODE 3, SEASON 4: FUELS MANAGEMENT AND POLICY CONCERNS IN CA- A CONVERSATION WITH BETH REYNOLDS OF THE GOAT GIRLS, COLE BUSH OF GRAZING SCHOOL OF THE WEST, AND SENATOR MONIQUE LIMÓN appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

In this episode we delve into all things on-farm composting, from its production to its use and relevant agricultural policies. We hear from Abel Ruiz at CRECE Farming Collective in Santa Ana about their use of various composting methods at a small scale. Liz Schroeder of Spreadwing Farm in Rumsey shares about their use of compost on an organic farm, from considerations around sourcing compost to its application. Dave Runsten, CAFF’s Water Policy Director, also provides an update on the state of composting policy in California. 

Show Notes

CRECE Urban Farm Collective: https://www.crece-coop.org/about

CRECE Urban Farm Collective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crece.coop

Spreadwing Farm website: https://spreadwingfarm.com/ 

Spreadwing Farm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spreadwing_farm

Tierra Negra (es) : https://tierranegramx.wixsite.com/website

Assessing Compost Quality for Agriculture: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8514.pdf

Organic Materials Management from CalRecycle: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/farming/

More on CAFF’s policy work: https://caff.org/policy/ 

On-Farm Composting video with Frog Hollow Farm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSUSUH04Bjw

Production Team:

Podcast hosted by Emily Ayala

Audio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald 

Music by Blue Dot Sessions

The post CRECE Urban Farm Collective, Spreadwing Farm, and CAFF’s Dave Runsten podcast episode appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

In this episode, we learn about integrated crop livestock management from two Northern California Farms. First, we hear from Lorraine Walker of Eatwell Farm in Dixon, CA, where they incorporate laying hens into their diversified vegetable production, and also touch on soil health and fertility management. Ken Walker of Pasture 42 in Guinda, CA then walks us through how they incorporate sheep and poultry into their orchards, which were designed with animal integration in mind. Both expand on the benefits and challenges of integrating livestock, as well as considerations for pasture, rotational grazing, and food safety.

The post Farmers Beet Podcast on Integrated Crop Livestock Systems with Eatwell Farm – Dixon and Pasture42 – Guinda appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

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.

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: https://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

The post Episode 3: First Rain Farm- Nevada City appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

In this episode, Sarah Keiser of Wild Oat Hollow in Penngrove, CA describes her entry into ranching and how her love of the land positioned her to become a leader in developing and supporting community grazing cooperatives. Join us as Sarah shares her experience with wildfires in Sonoma County and how grazing is making a difference for regional wildfire protection and preparedness, while also working to reconnect locals with the ecology of the region and each other.

Show Notes:

• Wild Oat Hollow Website: https://www.wildoathollow.com/
• Fibershed: https://fibershed.org/
• Globetrotter Foundation: https://globetrotterfoundation.org/
• Indigenous Fire Ecologist, Peter Nelson: https://ourenvironment.berkeley.edu/users/754001
• Soil Health and Grazing: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/natural-resources-and-facilities/grazing-management/soil-health-relation-grazing
• Grazing and Wildfire Risk Reduction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052822000177
• CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program: https://caff.org/wildfire-resilience-program/

Production Team:

• Podcast hosted by Amber Schat
• Audio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald 
• Music by Blue Dot Sessions 
• Release Date: 11/30/2022

The post Episode 2: Wild Oat Hollow Penngrove, CA appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

In this episode we visit Cheetah Tchudi at his diversified operation in Yankee Hill, Butte County, CA. Cheetah shares his experience surviving the 2018 Paradise wildfire, and some methods for recovery; addressing toxic ash using fungi to capture and and treat persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals. 

Release Date: 11/16/2022

The post Episode 1: Turkey Tail Farm – Yankee Hill appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

Queridas oyentes, este es nuestro último episodio de la temporada. Esperamos que disfrute de este episodio especial en español presentado por el productor de nuestro podcast, Jaime Roque.

En este episodio, visitamos Luna’s Farm, una granja familiar Latinx multigeneracional que cultiva vegetales orgánicos en Hollister, California. Antonio Luna comparte sobre la granja de su familia y su historia agrícola en los Estados Unidos, que se remonta a más de tres décadas. Aprendemos cómo la granja reduce los riesgos de inocuidad alimentaria a través del uso del agua, la capacitación de los empleados y la evaluación previa a la cosecha para detectar la intrusión de animales. Antonio también comparte consejos para otros agricultores sobre el mantenimiento de registros de inocuidad alimentaria.

NOTAS DEL PROGRAMA:

The post Luna’s Farm Podcast Episode (en Español) appeared first on Community Alliance with Family Farmers.