Posts Tagged: community

Larger CSAs are typically diversified businesses

A community support agriculture farm (CSA) with a large customer base generally makes a large part of its income selling through more traditional channels, reported Grace Hood on the NPR program The Salt: What's on Your Plate.

The reporter included a comment in the story from Ryan Galt, professor in the Department of Human and Community Development at UC Davis. Galt conducted a study of CSAs in the Central Valley

"Very often the larger farms [with CSAs] actually have a smaller percent of their sales from CSAs," because they have other, bigger points of sales, Galt said. "They're more likely to rely on a huge number of different outlets: farmers markets, CSAs, direct to restaurant, direct to retail and also wholesale."

The story related the tale of Grant Farms in northern Colorado, a CSA with 5,000 clients that went bankrupt in 2012.

"The problem with our farm was not its size," said farmer/owner Andy Grant. "In fact, within the farm, the CSA was probably one of the most dynamically well run, profitable things we did." (The story didn't give the reason for the failure of the enterprise.)

A typical CSA box.

Young Family Ranch is a UCCE teaching ground

Thanks to the generous spirit of late brothers Allen and Robert Young, the 3-acre Young Family Ranch in Weaverville is the setting for community workshops on soils, gardening, food preservation and more, reported Laura Christman in the Redding Record Searchlight. The farmhouse basement has been turned into a community classroom. Carol Fall, program specialist with Trinity County UC Cooperative Extension, has office space in the basement. Upstairs, two bedrooms are offices for the extension's nutrition staff. Being at the ranch allows the UC experts to tap into the gardens and orchard for workshops and classes. "We really use this as a teaching facility," Fall said.

Other news:

Modesto olive oil producer celebrates its 75th anniversary
John Holland, Modesto Bee

Nick Sciabica & Sons, in business for 75 years, is the state's oldest, and one of its leading, olive oil producers. Dan Flynn, executive director of the Olive Center at the University of California at Davis, told the Modesto Bee that California companies produced about 1.2 million gallons from the last crop but could soon reach 5 million. The Modesto company is a key part of this. "A lot of people have a high regard for the Sciabica family and all they have done in the industry," Flynn said.

Weather takes olive crop 'from bad to worse'
Tim Heardon, Capitol Press

California olive growers were expecting a lighter crop this season after last year's record yields, but not this light. This year's olive crop estimate is 65,000 tons -- a 67 percent drop from last year's record 195,000 tons, according to a probability survey from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Adverse weather during the bloom affected the crop as orchards were already stressed from last year's heavy load. In Northern California, an early-winter frost affected many orchards, said UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Rick Buchner.

A scene at the Young Family Ranch.

Novato garden project gets complicated

Developing a community garden in Novato is proving more complicated and costly than expected, but local organizers are pressing forward with their plans, according to an article in the Marin Independent Journal.

The garden, which will contain 50 to 80 garden plots, is proposed by the non-profit organization Novato Live Well Network. Initially, the group thought expenses for the project would amount to $25,000. However, the price tag has swelled to $220,000 to $250,000.

Reasons cited in the article for increased costs include:

• The city of Novato's fiscal problems preclude it from assisting with infrastructure and waiving fees
• Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is making the design more expensive
• North Marin Water District announced a 2009 moratorium on new connections. The Novato Live Well Network found a contractor to help them drill an 80-foot well on the property

Project supporters say the community garden would allow Novato residents to grow their own food and make better nutritional choices. A percentage of plots will be offered to low- or moderate-income households, and plot fees will be charged on a sliding scale.

"Community gardens open up the opportunity for community members to garden, and improve health factors, making them more active and getting them to eat more fruits and vegetables," the story quoted Mark Bauermeister, the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener coordinator in Marin County. "If they're managed correctly, they can be beneficial for the environment, encourage community interaction and beautify the neighborhood."

Late last year, Bauermeister, Marin environmental horticulture advisor Steven Swain and Marin community development advisor Ellie Rilla completed a Marin County Community Garden Needs Assessment. UC Cooperative Extension will host a day-long Community Garden Summit April 29 at San Rafael's Pickleweed Community Center, the article said.

Native plants on display at an existing Marin County community garden.

UC farm advisor appointed to local school board

UC Cooperative Extension viticulture and plant science farm advisor Glenn McGourty has been appointed to the Ukiah Unified School District Board of Trustees, according to The Willits News.

One of the reasons McGourty applied for the position, he explained in his written application, was because UC President Mark Yudof encouraged all UC faculty to reach out to K-12 education, "as the future depends on quality public schools in the state."

McGourty was also asked in the application about his knowledge of the Governor's budget and its impact to education.

"The present budget is abysmal," he responded. "We spend more on prisons than the combined budget of UC, CSU, and community college systems. Too many prisoners are high school drop outs. We cannot afford to have so many people outside of our economic mainstream. We need to have a school system that helps students who learn differently, are differently enabled and not simply focus on delivering a literal arts education for college-bound students. The immediate concern is that a challenging budget will negate many of the positive gains for K-12 education that were made in the previous two decades, such s classroom size reduction, tech education and electives that make school more appealing and interesting to students."

One of the topics of McGourty's research in his role with UCCE is biodynamic agricultural production, which was the focus of a ANR feature story.

Biodynamic farming is similar to organic production. As on organic farms, no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers are used. The farm is viewed as its own ecosystem and typically supports a diverse mix of crops and livestock, which are considered complimentary. Biodynamic farmers use unique preparations and compost. Planting, cultural operations and harvesting are guided by celestial events.

“Some people scoff or roll their eyes,” McGourty said. “I am interested in looking objectively at what a group of dedicated farmers take very, very seriously. More importantly, they are getting some very good results in their winegrapes and wines.”

New school board member.

Gardening is a growing trend in tough times

A community garden in Palm Desert was featured on the local TV news last night, with gardeners and experts proclaiming the many benefits of producing one's own vegetables.

Reporter Eddie Quezada of KESQ-TV interviewed gardener Brian Desborough, who said his small plot yields about 100 pounds of heirloom tomatoes, vegetables that often go for $5 a pound at supermarkets.

UC Cooperative Extension vegetable crops advisor Jose Luis Aguiar noted in his interview the psychological benefits of gardening.

"It's nothing better than coming out and spending a couple hours moving the soil, moving the vegetables around, watering, trimming them, nothing better than that and the added benefit is you get to pick your own vegetables which are always the best because they are fresh," Aguiar said.

All of the Santa Rosa Community Garden's 200 plots are being cultivated by local gardeners, and a waiting list for space there has been maintained for three years, Quezada reported.

Jose Luis Aguiar

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