- Author: Linda Peterson
Message from Ana Stayton of Golden Nectar Farm
Opportunities at Golden Nectar Farm/Micro-Community
Come join a handcrafted, organic farm and, warm, intentional micro-community. We reside on 2.5 acres just outside of Windsor in Sonoma County, California, 60 miles north of San Francisco. We are primarily a fruit farm (tree, vine and bush fruit) and also cultivate vegetables and mushrooms and perennial starts. We raise chickens and ducks for eggs. Other highlights include: PV solar panels, cobb and straw bale buildings, plans for an aquaponics system and an ever-evolving intentional community process. There is room to expand into greater annual vegetable or flower production.
Short Term:
One-two individuals or a couple for 3-6 months, starting immediately. Work trade arrangement for room and board/25 hours week per person. You will have your own on site yome (yurt/dome hybrid), share common space in the main house and an abundance of delicious food. We are seeking individuals who are responsible, self-motivated and comfortable working independently yet who are also open to advice and collaboration. Farm experience is preferable but openness and willingness go a long way.
Long Term:
We are seeking experienced farmer(s) or a farming couple to join us and take over the management and operations of our farm. Because there are over 150 varieties of fruit crops on the farm, the learning curve can be steep. For this reason, we are looking for a minimum commitment of two years. Most farm plantings are mature and markets are already established. We are available to mentor the right people to help ensure your success. We are looking to design a cash or share lease and living on or off site is an option.
We are seeking farmers with 2-3 years of fruit growing experience, who are responsible, self-motivated and comfortable working independently yet who are also open to suggestions and collaboration.
Please send an e-mail to: ana@goldennectar.com if you are interested.
- Author: Linda Peterson
An increasing number of farmers and ranchers are selling their products to nearby restaurants and grocery stores. Those businesses want to satisfy their customer's demand for meals made from products grown close to home.
Producers may have a greater degree of control over quality and price when they sell close to home, rather than to distant wholesalers. This issue of ATTRAnews looks at the pros and cons of direct sales to local grocery stores and restaurants. Read more...
- Author: Linda Peterson
EcoFarm Audio
Take your pick from the EcoFarm 2012 Conference workshops! Don’t miss the free plenary recordings available under EcoFarm Conference under Programs.
You can access a wide variety of workshops for $1.99 or less (depending on how many you purchase, price drops a bit), including "farming on public land", "multi-farm CSAs and collaborative farming", "alternative financing for small farms", "bringing grains back home", and much more!
Click here for Ecofarm store!
- Author: Linda Peterson
CalCAN is a great resource for learning about climate change related to agriculture, and steps we can all take to work together. http://calclimateag.org/blog/
Here are a couple of examples:
Tracking the farm bill (you can read more on their website blog):
| Congressmen Jim Costa and Dennis Cardoza, Central Valley Democrats, held a farm bill forum on April 28 in Fresno, California. This forum came on the heels of the Senate Agriculture Committee passing its 2012 Farm Bill out of committee and the House Agriculture Committee beginning its hearings on the bill. Without passage of a farm bill in 2012, key programs that support sustainable, rural communities and healthy food may be in jeopardy of deep cuts. |
"CA Climate Policies Help Farms" is a video on CalCAN's website about Strauss Dairy and their efforts to conserve energy and be sustainable.
- Author: Linda Peterson
http://www.russianriver.tv/
See one of our Master farmers here - Quetzal Farm! For those of you signed up for a session next week - this is a good intro to their farm.
