- Author: Chris M. Webb
Water is essential to life. Clean water supplies require the efforts and cooperation of many. It is our responsibility to learn about this life sustaining natural resource, and take steps to ensure our supply is safe to drink.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an extensive collection of resources to educate the public about drinking water. Titled, Protect Your Drinking Water for Life readers have many topics to explore and a variety to learn about their water supply and takes steps to protect it.
Topics include:
- Drinking water
- Education & training
- Grants & funding
- Laws & regulations
- Our waters
- Pollution prevention & control
- Resources & performance
- Science & technology
- Water infrastructure
- What can you do?
- Adopt your watershed
- After the storm
- Emergency preparedness
- Good Samaritan
- Nonpoint source toolbox
- Pollution prevention
- Protect your health
- Protecting drinking water
- Volunteer monitoring
- Water efficiency
There is also a collection of resources designed for youth, which includes games and activities, and curriculum for teachers.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
On April 20, 2012 California State University, Channel Islands will host a symposium titled, ‘Agriculture in the Golden State: Challenges in Feeding California in the 21st Century.’
Strong and sustainable agricultural production is important to all of us, and to our future. UCCE Ventura County researchers Oleg Daugovish and Ben Faber will speak at the symposium.
From the event organizers:
"California is the nation’s top agricultural producer generating over $30 billion annually. However, the ability of growers to feed California and beyond is continually being challenged by the introductions of new insect pests, drug resistant pathogens, and environmental concerns at the urban-agricultural interface. CI sits within one of the top ten agriculturally important counties in California, which produces much of the States’ strawberries, raspberries, citrus, and avocados. Given our location, it is important that everyone learn about the issues affecting agriculture locally and statewide."
To learn more about this year's symposium, or to register please visit this page of the CSU Channel Islands website.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Rain harvesting is becoming quite popular. Rain barrels are one way to harvest rain. These barrels allow residents to store water that would otherwise become urban runoff. This simple process can provide positive benefits to water quality improvement efforts.
The USDA has a practical and easy to follow publication on rain barrels.
This resource includes:
- Rain barrels help your garden – and local streams
- Selecting a rain barrel
- Equipment and installation tips
- Maintaining your barrel
- Links for further information
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Dedicated to advancing innovation in sustainable agriculture, SARE has many resources and learning opportunities available. At their Learning Center website you will find links to handbooks, bulletins, online courses, fact sheets, videos, newsletters, and more. Hardcopy resources can be ordered through the SARE WebStore. All online resources are available at no cost.
Topics include:
- Animal Production
- Community Development
- Crop Production
- Economic/Marketing
- Education & Training
- Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy
- For consumers
- Integrated Systems
- Natural Resources/Environment
- Pest Management
- Quality of Life
- Soil Management
- Specialty Crops
- Value Added Products
- Author: Chris M. Webb
On the morning of Tuesday, April 3 Oleg Daugovish will hold a fumigant alternatives and soil-borne pathogens field day. This event will be simultaneously translated into Spanish.
Scheduled topics include:
- Regulatory update on soil fumigation
- Alternative fumigants research update
- Soil borne pathogens Macrophomina and Fusarium: biology and management in strawberry
- Advances in steam application technology for soil disinfestation
- Update on Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation studies
- Research update from the California Strawberry Commission
- In-progress results from experiment on display
- View the plots with fumigant alternative treatments
Continuing education credits have been approved from DPR (Department of Pesticide Regulation).
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Additional details can be found on the agenda.
To insure your participation, or if you have questions, please contact Oleg Daugovish at (805) 645-1454 or odaugovish@ucdavis.edu.