Sustainable Agriculture Summer Academy offered by Santa Rosa Junior College will be held at SRJC's Shone Farm.

This new program is open to current high school sophomores and juniors - 24 students will be selected.

WHEN: For two weeks starting late July/early August (TBA) - Monday-Thursday.  Classes will be held 9:30-3:00, with a ½ hour lunch break.
WHERE:  Santa Rosa Junior College’s Shone Farm, Forestville
WHY: To learn about sustainable agriculture and resource stewardship on a working farm, and to have fun!
COST:  FREE! All materials, supplies and tuition will be provided at no charge. You will be responsible for providing transportation to and from SRJC’s Shone Farm. The group will be transported in SRJC vans for field trips.
Applications due Friday, May 3!

What happens at SASA?
The Sustainable Agriculture Summer Academy is designed to introduce high school students to sustainable agriculture and natural resource stewardship through lecture, field activities, and hands-on projects.

Seeding training at Shone Farm

• Explore Shone Farm on a hay-ride tour
• Learn from demonstrations, presentations, and hands-on projects with livestock, soils, compost, greenhouse plants, row crops, vineyards, the Shone Farm forest, and more!
• Visit local farms for an overview of sustainable agriculture in Sonoma County
• Take a Russian River canoe trip
• Camp overnight at Shone Farm’s forest and campground

Why should I participate in SASA?

• You will earn 3 college credits and 10 high school credits
• You will learn about aspects of sustainable farming and gardening and resource stewardship
• You could set a course for your future!
• Participation in SASA will look great on your college applications and resumes
• You will make new friends and have fun on a working farm!

Learn more about SASA and Apply!

If you're an aspiring/beginning farmer or rancher with at least one year or more of experience under your belt, and want to learn how to take your operation to the next level - increasing your farming/ranching knowledge, connecting with experienced farmers/ranchers (Masters), receiving hands-on education, and creating crop, grazing and business plans, please apply for this year's program!

Applications for the AGROpreneurship Beginning Farmer & Rancher Training Program are due April 19, 2013.

County Lands for Food Production: submit a proposal to for a community garden on County Land.

At the request of County of Sonoma (County) Board of Supervisors the University of California Cooperative Extension, Department of Health Services, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, Regional Parks Department, Sonoma County Water Agency, Agricultural Commissioner, and General Services Department collaborated to assess the feasibility of making land owned by organizations governed by the County Board of Supervisors available for food production.

There are three (3) phases associated with this project:

• Phase 1, Community Gardening
• Phase 2, Small-scale farming operations
• Phase 3, Grazing

This Request for Proposal (“RFP”) is issued by the Sonoma County Regional Parks for Phase 1 of the project. We invite proposals from qualified organizations for the licensing of publicly owned lands for the development and management of community gardens.

See the Request for Proposal for complete information.

Important Dates

• April 10 - Interested parties must return the completed Acknowledgement of Receipt of the RFP to the Sonoma County Regional Parks.
• May 31 - Proposals must be received no later than 3pm by the Sonoma County Regional Parks.
• NOTE:  Any changes to dates will be posted on Sonoma County Regional Parks as an addendum.

Registration $95, by July 11th. Six-hour course fee includes instruction and the focused tasting of 18 olive oils, plus a coffee welcome at morning registration, snack break, and catered lunch. Class size is limited.

Lisa Bell lkbell@ucanr.edu