- Author: Karen Giovannini
If you have a backyard garden, you know that there are times that everything seems to ripen at once. Or perhaps you enjoy produce gardening, but grow far more than you plan on consuming. What can you do with that excess FOOD? Don't let it go to WASTE!
Last year, the Sonoma County departments of Agricultural Commissioner, Department of Health Services, Information Systems Department and UCCE Sonoma County worked together to create and roll out the Approved Produce Gardener Certificate (APGC). This FREE certification program allows backyard produce growers who follow the required best practices to donate or sell their produce as an approved source grower.
Visit Approved Produce Gardener Certificate, review the FAQ's then complete the annual registration form.
- Enter the responsible party name(s)
- Enter the garden location(s)
- Agree to follow each of the best management practices
- List all of the produce expected to grow in the next year
- The certificate is good for one year from the date of completion
- The certificate lists all the produce entered in step 3
- A copy of the certificate is emailed to the user
- Provide a copy of the certificate to entities that require produce from an approved source.
School Gardens
In order for schools to use the produce grown in their gardens, the garden must have an Approved Produce Gardener Certificate.
When is APGC not required?
If the garden is certified organic or is registered with the Agricultural Commissioner with a Certified Producer Certificate (for sales at Certified Farmers Markets) or Operator Identification Number (for pesticide use), they do not need to complete the APGC. They will need to provide proof of certification to the entity that requires produce from an approved source.
Questions?
Send an email to klgiov@ucan.edu
/h2>/h2>/h2>- Author: Lisa Bell
On Saturday morning, June 28, 35 people attended a sudden oak death (SOD) educational talk and local disease update at our UCCE office. More than half of the people who attended were unfamiliar with the disease, letting us know that we continue to find new people with our outreach. In this 2-hour session, Master Gardener specialists described disease history, biology, and treatment.
Attendees left informed about what can be done for diseased trees on their property, or if they have no disease, how to avoid infection. These talks are given by the Master Gardeners at different locations around the county, periodically throughout the year and on request.
Often the first question asked is “What kind of oak is this and is it susceptible to SOD?” See photos below for common oaks of Sonoma County (click on the picture for a larger version).
Visit Sudden Oak Death for more information.
- Author: Paul M Vossen
Click on photos to see details.
The number of chilling hours (below 45oF) required by fruit trees varies from about 100 for figs to over 1,000 for apples. It also varies by variety within each species. It is even more complicated than that. Using the old system of measurement, which just adds up the number of hours of temperatures below 45oF (November 2013 through February 2014) we had 1,339 hours in Santa Rosa. This is slightly above normal, as the historical average is about 1,200 per year with a range of 950 to 2,012 hours. Consequently, we would not expect to have seen any abnormal growth this spring, but we did. This occurred because not all chilling hours are equally effective and because chilling hours accumulated at night can be cancelled by warm daytime temperatures.
Paul Vossen, Specialty Crops Advisor pmvossen@ucanr.edu
Available as PDF Low Chilling in 2014 Causes Fruit Tree Problems
- Author: Linda Peterson
This is Sonoma County UCCE's third and final year managing the USDA funded Agropreneur training program (Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program, BFRDP). Before class even started, we were able to invite three of our students, who are veterans, to a film screening in Berkeley, called “Battlefields to Farmfields”; about veterans taking up farming. Ground Operations made the film, and the event was hosted by the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC). It was an amazing and quite moving film; with a panel of veterans, filmmaker and FVC Executive Director – Michael O'Gorman. Our students were able to attend thanks to O'Gorman's generosity, and had an opportunity meet and talk with him.
The first week in June, we took two more students, who have experience in swine production, on a road trip to Magruder Ranch in Mendocino County to learn about pastured pig, lamb and grass fed beef operations. Grace Magruder, fifth generation rancher who came home to the farm, was our host and shared their land management strategies; how they encourage native grasses and let the land rest as needed, using pasture rotation. We had lunch in their beautiful historic home, with a breeze blowing through the screened in porch, and chatted with Mac Magruder, Grace, and her husband Kyle. Wonderful conversations flowed up and down the dining table, as people shared the challenges and joys of ranching.
The first “official” day of class was on June 6th. This is a nine week race to the finish to complete a business plan. As we've done the past two years, we offer opportunities to visit farms and ranches; grow specialty crops at Shone Farm, with support from our graduates from 2012 and 2013; partner with SBDC counselors to develop and hone their business plans; connect with a broad range of resources, including organic certifiers, lenders, marketers, ag tourism experts, SBDC counselors and more.
Each year, people come to us with their vision, determination, and the hope that they can manifest a sustainable Ag business. Their interests range widely, including hydroponics (fish), medicinal herbs, pigs, chickens, beef cattle, goats, value-added products, mushrooms, row crops, agri-tourism, and bees.
Let us know if you want to come for a visit! Our classes are every Friday, through August 8th, except for July 4th.
Linda Peterson, BFRDP Coordinator lipeterson@ucanr.edu
- Author: Karen Giovannini
We are proud to present the UCCE Sonoma County 2013 Annual Report.
This report demonstrates our many accomplishments and increasing collaboration with County partners, extending our reach and abilities to achieve shared goals in Sonoma County.
Read about UCCE Sonoma's longstanding connection with farmers and home makers starting in 1918, with the opening of the Cooperative Extension office in Sonoma County. Catch up on our current efforts to support local agriculture far into the future.
As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Cooperative Extension, we look forward to continuing strong working relationships with our partners.