UCCE-Ventura farm advisors, Oleg Daugovish and Andre Biscaro are partnering with Joji Muramoto-UC Santa Cruz, on a new step or stage of a research project-Optimizing Anaerobic Soil disinfestation, a technology they have investigated since 2009.

Anaerobic soil disinfestation, or ASD, enhances plant performance and suppresses pests. The technique maintains soil anaerobiosis (life sustained by an organism in the absence of oxygen) for 3-4 weeks and relies on a carbon source and irrigation under plastic mulch. It was developed as a non-chemical alternative to soil fumigation with methyl bromide in the Netherlands and Japan. It has become increasingly popular in California organic fields (over 500 acres) and generated interest among conventional producers of high value crops. Large scale operations require 7-10 days to connect and test the drip lines before initiating irrigation. This may compromise ASD efficacy.

Over the past seven years, research has optimized ASD in California strawberry production. Researchers on this project, located at HAREC, will concentrate on:

• evaluating delayed irrigation on ASD effectiveness
• test two types of carbon sources-rice bran (dry powder, incorporated into soil) and glycerol (liquid solution)

The hope is that a delay in irrigation will not compromise efficacy of the ASD and provide growers with a realistic timeline for implementing this technology. Additionally, a liquid carbon source, if feasible and effective, could simplify the application process and help growers adopt ASD.

Study results will be presented at a field day, the North American Strawberry Growers Association tour, and disseminated at industry oriented meetings in Ventura County and other coastal counties that produce strawberries.

Installation of the project required many hours, extra hands, and heavy equipment. "We thank growers Hector Gutierrez and Jose Romero and UCSC students for their help in setting up the experiment and UC Hansen staff for their support of the project." said Oleg Daugovish.

Water is one of the most important natural resources our planet provides. If Earth is about 71% water....then why are we caught short? So much to ponder on Day 3-Water!

• Where on Earth is the water?
  

  A Drop in the Bucket activity demonstrates the importance and availability of useable fresh water on Earth.
• How do plants use water?
• Efficient water transport-is it necessary?
• What is a water treatment system?
• How can we conserve water?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enthusiatic campers returned for Day 2 which posed questions about Food!

• What is local food?
• What is a food mile?
• Why is buying local food important?

Campers also learned about product packaging and discussed how to make informed choices about packaging. Rounding out food day were other hands-on activities-harvesting farm fresh carrots and blood oranges, making orange juice for snack time, building garden boxes, and planting lettuce seeds to take home.

 

 

Repurposing carrot tops

January 2014 the Center broke ground on an enterprise student-operated farm. This is a collaborative effort between 4-H Youth Development Programs at the Center and Ventura Unified School District Food and Nutrition Services.

Twenty 7th and 8th graders from Balboa Middle School are enrolled in the 17-week after-school program. Activities are led by Food Corps member, Chris Massa, currently serving with Ventura Unified where he supports the Farm to School work.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of British Columbia. He has three years of hands-on farming experience that ranges from family farms to large scale greenhouse production. He has been a volunteer teacher in his hometown of Colorado as well as abroad in Peru and Argentina. Supporting Chris are HAREC staff, Jose De Soto and Susana Bruzzone-Miller.

The experiential learning format of the student farm consists of a short lecture followed by hands-on practice. Weekly topics include Ventura County agriculture, food safety, soils, irrigation, plant biology, integrated pest management, seeds, sustainable food systems, nutrition and cooking. Students participate in monthly field trips to local farms and Ag related businesses to gain a better understanding of agriculture and career opportunities. Produce grown on the student farm will be sold back to Balboa's cafeteria to be used in the salad bar. Some will be donated to Food Share, a local food bank. Any subsequent profit will be used to support the program.

The students participated in all aspects of the farm from laying down irrigation to weeding the rows. Some of the January plantings are ready and the students proudly harvested and delivered 60 pounds of radishes and 7 pounds of cilantro to the school cafeteria. Ten pounds of radishes were harvested and donated to Food Share. This week student will continue harvesting spinach and cilantro.