Posts Tagged: program
UC SAREP funds 8 sustainable food and farming projects
Projects will support socially disadvantaged farmers, increase urban access to healthy food and more
The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program (SAREP) is pleased to announce the recipients of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems 2024-25 Small Grants Program. This grant program will fund planning, research and education projects that support the development of sustainable community food systems and environmentally sound and economically viable farming enterprises.
Of the 33 eligible applications, eight applicants were selected to receive approximately $80,000 in combined funding to support their work. Individual grants are limited to $10,000. “The Small Grants Program is an important part of our mission,” said Ruth Dahlquist-Willard, interim director of UC SAREP. “By facilitating these grants, SAREP is able to support ANR in engaging a wide range of food systems stakeholders, outcomes show that a small financial investment can have a large impact in improving the lives of Californians.”
The eight recipients of this year's grants are:
Planning
Building Capacity and Resiliency Among Networks of Socially Disadvantaged California Farmers
Fresh Approach will establish a network of pooled learning and technical support that will aid emerging food-aggregation businesses in accessing sustainable market channels, including emergency food distribution. As part of the project, they will enhance an interactive GIS mapping tool of value chains to streamline market opportunities for socially disadvantaged farmers and aggregators. (Project lead: Andy Ollove, Fresh Approach)
Sustainable Urban Resident Food Gardens Expansion Planning Project
Growing Hope Gardens will systematize the process of outreach, discovery, design, planning and implementation in creating new urban resident food gardens. The project will document Growing Hope Gardens' garden development process into a training and implementation manual to more effectively duplicate food garden programs in more low-income urban communities. (Project lead: Carolyn Day, Growing Hope Gardens)
Research
Evaluating Best Management Practices for Cover Crops to Minimize Nitrogen Losses in California's Salinas Valley
This project will quantify the effectiveness of cover cropping at different planting times and termination dates to scavenge excess nitrogen in the soil and reduce nitrate leaching in a Salinas vegetable cropping system. The results will inform Ag Order 4.0 for cover crop credits and help stakeholders in the Salinas Valley better understand crop management for efficient nutrient cycling. (Project lead: Scott Fendorf, Stanford University)
Implications of American Kestrel Diet, Dispersal and Migration on Pest Control in Northern California Farming Systems
Investigators will study how the diet, post-breeding dispersal, and migration of nesting kestrels influences biological pest control on Northern California farms. The project will generate management recommendations for using the predatory bird for biological pest control in sustainable agriculture programs across California. (Project lead: Breanna Martinico, UC Cooperative Extension)
Education and Outreach
EAT! Community Farms Market Access and Promotion Project
This project helps socially disadvantaged and indigenous farmers in Riverside County create pathways for realizing economic return. EAT! will provide mentoring for marketing strategy development, connect farmers to buyers, promote the farmers market so it's more profitable for farmers, and provide a cooperative farm stand in the city of Norco for farmers to sell produce directly to consumers. (Project lead: Patrick Mitchell, Ecological Agricultural Training Cultural Center [EAT!])
Cultivating Cooperative Education, Stewardship and Connection at the Agroecology Commons Cooperative Incubator Farm
Agroecology Commons aims to address challenges faced by young, first-generation, BIPOC, queer and femme farmers at the Agroecology Commons Cooperative Incubator Farm in the Bay Area. The project will focus on education and outreach, providing technical assistance and training in regenerative agriculture practices such as soil health, pest management and crop diversification to socially disadvantaged farmers. (Project lead: Jeneba Kilgore, Agroecology Commons)
Signage and Mural Refurbishment for Southeast Asian Farmers to Improve Direct-to-Consumer Marketing
This project will build new, long-lasting farm signs for Southeast Asian farmers growing diversified vegetables and berries in the Sacramento region. Improving the appeal and durability of farm signs will increase the profitability of the farm stands as these resource-limited farmers rely on direct-to-consumer marketing strategies to promote their businesses. (Project lead: Margaret Lloyd, UC Cooperative Extension)
Community Nutrition Security and Education Program
Farm Discovery at Live Earth will increase access to organic produce for individuals and families experiencing food and nutrition insecurity in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay area. This will be accomplished through farming, outdoor education and nutrition education programs focusing on regenerative agricultural practices to connect youth and families to their regional agricultural and ecological systems. (Project Lead: Jessica Ridgeway, Farm Discovery at Live Earth)
The UC SAREP Small Grants Program has a big impact! Help us fund more projects that support sustainable community food systems and environmentally sound, economically viable farming enterprises. To support this program, please donate here. Choose SAREP Small Grants Program for the designation.
California Honey Festival Is the Place to 'Bee'
Show me the honey? Show me the California Honey Festival. The annual event, which emphasizes the...
Bee observation hives attract attention at the annual California Honey Festival. Visitors delight in pointing out the queen bee and checking out the workers and drones. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
"Queen bee" Amina Harris, retired director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center that she founded in 2012, also co-founded the California Honey Festival in 2017. In this archived photo from last year, she offers attendees a taste of honey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
At the 2023 California Honey Festival, Wendy Mather, co-program manager of the California Master Beekeeper Program, delighted in greeting the crowd and posing for photos. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Wellness Reimbursement Program application period opens March 1 at 9 am
To all UC ANR employees:
Beginning March 1, 2024, the UC ANR Wellness Reimbursement Program will begin accepting applications for reimbursements of personal wellness expenses up to $75.
Administered by UC ANR Staff Assembly Council and its Wellness Committee, and also supported by Academic Assembly Council, the program reimburses UC ANR staff and academics for a variety of wellness items, including but not limited to: exercise equipment, clothing, classes, memberships, personal training, gardening supplies, and books related to health and well-being.
Note that food, medicine, supplements and pet items are not eligible for reimbursement.
To apply, fill out the Wellness Reimbursement Program application, attach appropriate receipts and email the documents to Andrea Rayray at arayray@ucanr.edu.
The application period opens at 9 a.m. on March 1, 2024. Applications submitted prior to the official starting time will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant.
Receipts dated between January 1, 2024 - March 30, 2024, will be accepted.
Applications are due no later than April 1, 2024, and must be submitted for reimbursement in the Aggie Travel system by May 1, 2024.
Applications will be reviewed on first-come, first-served basis and employees are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.
The first reimbursements will be announced in mid-March.
For more information, visit: https://staffassembly.ucanr.edu/Subcommittees/Wellness_Committee/?story=2582.
Frank Zalom: Lifetime IPM Achievement Award
His name is synonymous with integrated pest management (IPM) and his achievements during his...
UC Davis distinguished professor emeritus Frank Zalom takes an image of a Willamette vineyard showing grapevine red blotch virus in the fall.
UC Davis distinguished professor emeritus Frank Zalom is highly honored for his work on almonds. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Maya Maniar named Interim Director of PSU Internal Research, Extension & Programmatic Events
Dear Colleagues,
Please join me in welcoming Maya Maniar as the Interim Director of PSU's new Internal Research, Extension & Programmatic Events function!
In early December, I sent a communication about the reorganization of UC ANR's Program Support Unit (PSU) into two subunits: 1) External & Executive Events and 2) Internal Research, Extension & Programmatic Events. Each subunit will be led by a separate director. This realignment is intended to ensure that PSU is optimally resourced and structured to support UC ANR's diverse needs and growing demands for events support. The new structure will officially go into effect Jan. 22, 2024.
Sherry Cooper will be the director of the External & Executive Events subunit, managing all high-profile, executive-level events. She will continue to provide guidance and mentoring to the PSU team as needed. We will be conducting a search for a new director to lead the Internal Research, Extension & Programmatic Events function, and Maya will serve as Interim Director while we are working through the search process.
Maya comes to us with extensive events management experience, including oversight of Broadway productions and large-scale festivals. A California native, Maya is temporarily relocating to Davis from New York. We are so fortunate to have found someone with exceptional events and team management skills who was also available to provide daily on-site support and leadership to the PSU team during this transition period. Maya's first day in the Second Street office will be this Thursday, Jan. 18. Please stop by and welcome her when you are in the building!
UC ANR is very fortunate to have an outstanding Program Support Unit and I have no doubt that during this transition the entire team will continue to provide the same exceptional customer service and support for which they are known. Please continue to send all meeting/event requests using PSU's online form: https://ucanr.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0qY3nrex7360RWS and you may continue to communicate with the existing PSU mailbox: ANRProgramSupport@ucanr.edu.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Kathy
Kathy Eftekhari, Ph.D.
Chief of Staff to the Vice President