Farming Opportunity – Chileno Valley Area

I just posted a shorter version of this listing on our website. The landowners have asked me to post a more detailed description as well. If you're interested, don't forget to mention the ID number when you contact me!

Sonoma County #1218: We are looking for a farmer or farming couple to join us in the Chileno Valley area of West Marin (6 miles southwest of Petaluma) for outstanding opportunity in small-scale fruit, vegetable, pastured poultry and, possibly, sheep production. We have 20 acres, 9 acres fenced, up to 3 acres for vegetables, 3 acres of orchard (non-bearing/young), and additional acres for grazing. 

Infrastructure: 

• greenhouse
• high-tunnel
• shadehouse
• water system
• electricity
• equipment/tractor implements

The site is in the valley bottom with clay loam soils, warm in general, but a cold sink during the winter. Housing may be available (5.5 miles from farm) on a work-trade or rent basis. Vegetable ground will be certified organic in 2012, orchard in 2014. We are primarily interested in someone who would work as an employee part-time (15-20 hours/week) and/or rent land or be a partner on market vegetable production.

We seek a hardworking individual or couple with some combination of the following: 

• motivation for success
• practical
• conscientious
• ethical
• a long-term thinker
• handy

We believe the following are critical to economic sustainability of a farming enterprise: 

• marketing skills
• basic bookkeeping
• a passion for record keeping

We're happy to mentor on farming and business topics, so we're primarily looking for someone with a high degree of motivation for a viable small farm business. Let's work together to make sustainable food production a viable livelihood!

California FarmLink's 2011 Highlights

Hey there, devoted blog readers! As 2011 draws to a close, we just wanted to let you know a little more about what we've accomplished throughout the year. Our many programs reach to far corners of the state, and many of you have been directly assisted by myself or one of my colleagues. Thank you for your continued support of the work we do and look forward to helping you and other farmers in the future. 

Overview

California FarmLink is building regional food systems throughout California by providing access to land and capital for small-scale and beginning farmers. Reggie Knox, longtime farm program leader, is FarmLink’s new executive director.

Linked

•  35 farmers linked with land leases and partnerships (14 in the North Coast region)
•  15 farmers with loans

Assisted

•  193 farmers with leases and purchases
•  130 farmers with financial management, business planning, building and maintaining credit
•  15 farm families with succession planning
•  21% of this assistance went to Latino and SE Asian farmers, 60% to limited-resource farmers, and 29% to women farmers

Serving Farmers

Loan Program and Matched Savings Program

•  CFL’s independent loan program fills a critical niche, serving small, direct-market, limited resource, organic and beginning farmers. FarmLink:
•  is now a certified independent lender with the Department of Corporations
•  became the first non-profit in 23 years to receive guaranteed lender status from the Farm Service Agency
•  has made 30 farm loans, averaging $25,000 each, since beginning our loan program

•  CFL’s matched-savings program deposits $200 each month into savings for three Santa Cruz County farmers towards farm asset purchases for every $100 they put in (collaboration with Santa Cruz Community Credit Union) 

__________________________________________

Please support FarmLink to help farmers achieve financial success and true sustainability! 

Donate online through PayPal: www.californiafarmlink.org or by mail: 

California FarmLink, 609 Pacific Avenue, Suite 101, Santa Cruz, CA  95060 

Your tax-deductible gift will go a long way to support farmers! No donation is too small (or too large ☺ )

CAFF Seeks So. Bay Program Manager

South Bay Program Manager
 Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
Sunnyvale, CA

Hours: 0.5 FTE, or the equivalent of 20 hours per week
Salary: $40,000 @ 1.0 FTE
Start Date: January 2012

The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for California family farms and sustainable agriculture. CAFF is a membership organization guided by a board of directors that includes family farmers and others who are passionate about food, farming and the environment. Since 2001, CAFF has spearheaded Farm to School projects across California. Our Farm to School Program has developed and coordinated on-the-ground programs connecting schools and schoolchildren to their local farms in the classroom, in the cafeteria, and in the community. CAFF runs Farm to School programs in the Central Coast, Bay Area, and Humboldt County. 
See http://www.caff.org for more information.

The South Bay Program Manager will be primarily responsible for implementing CAFF's Santa Clara County program in the area and developing opportunities for program growth in the region. The Program Manager will start at 0.5FTE with the hope that he/she can fundraise to grow the position to 1.0FTE. The current position is focused on Farm to School projects and will grow to include Local Food Systems projects such as the Buy Fresh Buy Local program. This position reports to the Farm to School Director.

Essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Program Management (40%):
* Oversee current projects in the South Bay region, such as the Know Your Farmer
program, Farm to Cafeteria projects, and school and farmer assessments
* Work with the Farm to School team to provide technical assistance to food service
directors in Santa Clara
* Collaborate with Harvest of the Month Coordinator in delivering program in the South Bay region
* Supervise the Americorps Member and manage relationship with the administering agency, the Silicon Valley Healthcorps
Regional Development (50%):
* Outreach to schools and farmers and promote fee for service offerings
* Participate in local collaborative efforts and develop relationships with potential partners and funders
* Identify and apply for local opportunities for program funding
* Strategize ways for building community support of Farm to School and a Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign
Program Administration (10%):
* Collaborate with Farm to School staff statewide
* Manage data collection and funder reports
* Handle all administrative duties in the Sunnyvale office
* Participate in program and strategic planning as needed
Qualifications:
* Strong project management skills
* Ability to work autonomously and independently
* Excellent communication skills including writing and presenting to groups
* Experience in working with schools and/or farmers
* Knowledge of agriculture, health and nutrition, obesity prevention efforts, etc.
* Experience in performing evaluations and/or assessments
* Experience in fundraising for non-profits
* Santa Clara County residency preferred
* Applicant must have access to a vehicle as some driving to area schools is required

To apply:
Submit your cover letter, resume, and 1 - 2 page writing sample to farmtoschool@caff.org.

Deadline is January 3, 2012. Interviews will be held the first two weeks of January.

CAFF's policy is that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, or sexual orientation.


originally posted on the EcoFarm listserve

Petaluma Bounty Seeks Educational Farm Manager

The Bounty Community Farm plays an important role in helping to transform Petaluma’s food system by growing healthy food for the Petaluma community, engaging all community members to participate in growing their own food, and improving food literacy of young people through volunteer opportunities, field trips and more.

As Farm Manager, you will coordinate and implement all aspects of the educational farm, from planning and production of a mix of crops for sale/distribution through a CSA, farm stand, farmers market and other outlets, coordinating volunteers, and managing farm staff and interns, to developing and implementing new program initiatives. You will work with and report to the Board of Directors.  

Compensation:  $28-30,000 per year, depending on experience (plus benefits) To apply for this position, please send your resume and a cover letter to jobs@petalumabounty.org

Starting date is mid-January. 

NRCS California Posts Educational YouTube Videos!

Videos of the Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) conservation practices are now available on the same medium, and with the same world-wide ease and accessibility, that is enjoyed by everyone from world leaders to piano-playing cats: YouTube.

Using the tagline "Conservation: There's a Plan for That," the videos introduce eight different scenarios where the NRCS approach of voluntary conservation has made a difference to satisfied customers in California. A brief glimpse is given of the planning and techniques used to benefit the land and the landowner.  The NRCS "actors" are simply employees doing their everyday jobs, who are passionate professionals dedicated to helping people help the land. Hopefully, for many, these  will make the world of NRCS conservation practices seem more accessible and familiar.

The eight practices portrayed are as follows:

*       Conservation Planning
*       Managing/Monitoring Irrigation Water (2 videos)
*       Improving Forest Stands
*       Managing for Livestock and Wildlife on Rangeland
*       Building Hedgerows for Pollinators and other Benefits
*       Decommissioning a Well
*       Managing Nutrients (Wastewater) on Dairies

Take a look. You might see someone you know.  If you think this approach has promise let us know and as time and resources allow we hope to add to our YouTube offerings.


http://www.youtube.com/user/NRCSCalifornia


Check it out!

15 Acres for Lease in Kelseyville (Lake County)

Here's an interesting opportunity for the right farmer! Please read through the description below, which is also on our website. If you're interested in contacting the landowner, don't forget to send me the ID number along with your request! 


Lake County #1365: Fifteen acres for lease on a 40-acre property near Kelseyville. Leasable portions could include a five-acre organic Zinfandel vineyard, a five-acre organic walnut orchard, and five acres of undeveloped pasture. Landowners are interested in leasing some or all of it. 

• Irrigation infrastructure exists throughout the property. 
• Vineyard and orchard are fenced, but the pasture needs fencing. 
• Property is certified (Stellar) organic and is in transition toward Biodynamic certification. 
• Housing is available on the property. 
• Landowners, along with six other permanent residents, live on the property and seek a long-term sustainable relationship with a skilled farmer or farmer team; this relationship would include participation within the established community on the farm and events relating to education within the greater local community. 
• They are open to exploring a variety of agreements. 
• There is also an opportunity to create a road-side stand on a busy highway that divides the farm. 
• Property is located about 30 min. east of Highway 101 in between Santa Rosa and Ukiah, about 2 hours and 45 minutes north of San Francisco, and about 2 hours east of the Pacific Ocean.

7-8 Acres For Lease in Sebastopol!

I just spoke with a landowner today who has a great property near Sebastopol that is surely perfect for one of you! Please read the below listing, which is also on our website. If you're interested, please contact me directly, and don't forget to include the ID number for the opportunity! 


Sonoma County ID#1364: 7-8 acres for lease on a 16-acre property near Sebastopol. This property has been in the landowner's family for over 70 years and has had vineyards, apple orchards and livestock on it in the past. The leasable portion is split up into four hilly pastures, all of which are fully fenced with either three-board fencing or no-climb fencing. Surface pond has several acre feet of water available to pump. Landowner is interested in short- or long-term cash lease with the right farmer. They live on the property, and there is a mother-in-law unit (820 sq. ft.) that could be available.

Additional Date Added for "Growing Fruit Trees on a Small-Scale in Sonoma & Marin Counties" -- Dec. 20th

December 20th, 9 am to 3 pm

Presented by Paul Vossen, Farm Advisor for Sonoma & Marin Counties, University of California Cooperative Extension.

Morning in the Classroom

9-noon presentation at UCCE office, 133 Aviation Blvd, Ste. 109, Santa Rosa.

Evaluating land and specific sites for fruit trees

Irrigation and fertility needs of various fruit trees

Tree spacings and training systems

Rootstock and variety choices

Pests and growing organically

Production costs, potential profits

Afternoon in the Field

1-3 pm at the Santa Rosa Junior College Shone Farm

View plantings of apples, peaches, olives, citrus, pears, and other fruit trees and discuss their management

Registration $10. Click here to register and for more information.

Call 707-565-2621 with any questions.

New Ag Water Stewardship Resource Center

On December 8th, the California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply launched a new and expanded online Agricultural Water Stewardship Resource Center to assist growers and ranchers, water suppliers, and others in making effective farm water management decisions. The Resource Center, online at http://agwaterstewards.org, includes a new searchable databaseand interactive map of innovative efforts around California to improve on-farm and regional water management. In addition, the website includes an expanded catalogue of information about a range of on-farm practices, as well as a library of technical support information and policy documents. 

The California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply (CRWFS), a project of Ag Innovations Network, is a consensus-based forum for a broad range of leaders focused on enhancing water security for agriculture, the public and the environment. CRWFS appointed an Editorial Board of experts from the agricultural sector, University of California and California State University systems, the environmental community, and the water supply community to moderate the website and ensure balanced and accurate content. 

They invite you to explore the Resource Center and share the on-farm practices, case studies, and ag water stewardship information with your networks. 

The Resource Center is an  ongoing work-in-progress and we encourage you to contact them with submissions you would recommend posting on the site. 

Enjoy Organic Apple Cider and Make a Wreath and The Seed Bank in Petaluma

On Sunday, Dec. 11 and 18, The Seed Bank will be serving free apple cider from 1 to 4 p.m. while you shop. We're proud to offer heirloom apple cider from Nana Mae's Organics in Sebastopol. 

Also, mark your calendar for Thursday, Dec. 8th, at 7 p.m. Christian Dake, from The Seed Bank, will provide a free wreath-making demonstration and group wreath-making session at the store.  Come learn how to make a holiday wreath using a grapevine base of any size. We'll have a wide variety of foliage and items from nature to bring beauty and fragrance to your home or front door. Please feel free to bring additional materials to use and share. There'll be organic heirloom apple cider and seasonal music, too. An RSVP to paul@rareseeds.com is appreciated but not necessary.

The Seed Bank is located at 199 Petaluma Blvd. North in Petaluma. 

Three Seasonal Farm Field Crew Positions Available in Pescadero!

Fifth Crow Farm 

Pescadero, CA 

Positions are full time & pay minimum wage.  Work is diverse, though largest number of hours are spent harvesting. Responsibilities include greenhouse production & field crop management/weeding, poultry care, & occasional Farmers' Market responsibilities. We supply a kitchen stocked with basics (oil, rice, beans, etc. & all the farm produce you can eat), as well as laundry facilities & wireless internet. Although crew are paid seasonal employees versus interns, we are committed to providing rich optional educational opportunities outside of work hours.  For this reason we are part of a group of more than 8 local farms (*Central Coast CRAFT: https://sites.google.com/site/centralcoastcraft/) collectively providing further educational & community building opportunities for our interns/apprentices & employees. This position is ideal for someone who has already interned, but wants more experience and exposure to other farms before starting their own operation.

Qualifications: Applicants must be able to commit full-time (40-50 hrs/wk) Tues.-Sat. from the last week of April thru the first week of Nov. Occasional weekend chore responsibilities required. Applicants must have a season's experience on a working farm and his/her own transportation (the closest big town is a ½ hr drive).  This position is best suited for applicants with a serious interest in a career in sustainable ag.  Must also be able to lift 50 pounds & do repetitive tasks, have a willingness to live/work in community, & a desire to work long hours and share in the fruits... and vegetables of our labors. 

Fifth Crow Farm is a young and growing, highly diversified, certified organic farm in Pescadero, CA. 45 miles from San Francisco, 10min. drive to beaches and to State Park hiking trails.  We are largely a market farm, selling to farmers' markets and restaurants in San Francisco & San Mateo Counties.  We also have a 50 member CSA.  We grow on 15+ acres: 10+ acres of row crops, a young 1.5 acre 24-variety apple orchard, & a pastured egg operation consisting of 2 flocks of 350+ beautiful ladies- all heritage breeds.  We want our farm to be more than a business:  we strive to make it an engine for change that is part of a greater sustainable food systems movement.

Applications accepted thru Jan. 15, or until positions are filled.

To apply please send resume, including two references, and responses to the following questions to Mike, John, and Teresa at fifthcrowfarm@gmail.com or P.O. Box 527, Pescadero, CA 94060 

1. Thoroughly describe your previous farming experience (name, type of farm, your responsibilities).

2. Why are you interested in this position?

3. What is your experience living in community? 

4. We share a crew lunch as well as cooking responsibilities on work days.  How do you feel about this?  Do you have food and/or dietary restrictions?

5. What else should we know about you?

6. Do you have any questions for us?

*  This season there were over 8 events, each comprising of a farm tour, workshop, as well as a couple purely social events. This coming season looks to be even better.  These are wonderful opportunities to see other operations, meet fellow farmers/farm workers, and learn more on a number of farm related topics. This years topics included: starting a small farm, tractors & field equip., animals on the farm, direct marketing, and more. The events are outside of work hours and attendance is purely voluntary. For more info visit:https://sites.google.com/site/centralcoastcraft/home

originally posted on the EcoFarm listserve

Jewish Urban Farming Fellowship

Urban Adamah

Berkeley, CA 

Urban Adamah Now Accepting 2012 Applications

Three Months that Will Change The Rest Your Life!

Join other passionate young adults in their 20's for a 3 month residential, leadership-training program in Berkeley, CA that integrates

• Urban Organic Farming
• Social Justice Work
• Intentional Community Building
• Progressive Jewish Living & Learning

We are now accepting applications for the upcoming 2012 Spring, Summer and Fall Fellowships! The application process is competitive and we anticipate selecting our 12 spring fellows by the end of the year. 

Dates, FAQs, and Information can be found at urbanadamah.org/apply 

originally posted on the EcoFarm listserve

CCOF Annual Meeting & Conference Feb. 1st

Advancing Organic 2012: Practices and Policies

February 1, 2012

Asilomar Conference Grounds

Pacific Grove, California

A Pre-Conference to EcoFarm

Register NOW - Early bird discounts end December 9, 2011.

Join us for CCOF’s Annual Meeting & Conference on February 1, 2012, which will be held as a pre-conference to EcoFarm. The theme of this full-day conference is Advancing Organic 2012: Practices and Policies. The conference will focus on advancing strong organic practices and shaping policies that support organic research, soil management, food safety, and farming innovation. Conference participants will explore advanced practices and techniques in sessions led by expert organic producers and handlers. Topics will include soil fertility, weed management, range management, and innovation in green energy for organic processing. In addition, we will explore the connection between implementing these practices and advancing federal food and farm policies that value and support the work of organic producers. Experts will address compliance with the National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010. 2012 Farm Bill provisions and how they connect to our work will also be discussed.

For a full agenda, please visit the event page.

California Farm Academy: In-Depth Farm Training!

Interested in becoming a farmer? Know someone who is?   Well, here is your chance!  


The Center for Land-Based Learning is thrilled to announce that the California Farm Academy is now accepting applications through December 9, 2011 for its inaugural session.  Classes are set to begin in mid-February, 2012 and run through early August. Submit your application early for preferred consideration, as space is limited!

In partnership with the Center for Land-Based Learning and a Specialty Block Crop Grant, the California Farm Academy trains, mentors, and leases land to beginning farmers. Our six month program will give you the practical know-how to start your own farming business!

What will you learn? 

• The basics of production of specialty crops
• Business planning 
• Marketing
• More!

The training will include guest speakers, hands-on activities, field work, and farm visits. 


In addition, each participant's experience in the program will be tailored to their background and farming goals through their individual learning plan and an independent study project. We are accommodating the working professional by holding classes in early evenings and on weekends.

To find out more and share this program with your friends, apply online at:  CaliforniaFarmAcademy.org or call us at (530) 795-4146      

Free information session this Saturday, December 3rd, from 1-4 p.m. at the Center for Land-Based Learning at 5265 Putah Creek Road, Winters, CA 95694. 


Hope to see you there as we take the first steps in growing tomorrow's farmers!

New Opportunity: Leased Land and Mentorship in Lake County

I just finished a phone call with the landowner for a what sounds like a great property in Lake County. He is even offering to mentor and train an aspiring farmer! The listing is up on our website, and you can also find it below. Please don't forget to provide me the ID number if you're interested! 


Thanks! 


Lake County ID#1356: Variable 11 to 25 acres for lease with 6.5 acre Petite Sirah vineyard. Eleven acres currently deer fenced. Riparian water rights to year-round Lower Cache creek. Irrigation powered by 6.7 HP Tier 2 John Deere stationary engine and 150 HP Centrifugal Berkeley pump, providing water delivery for agricultural expansion. Equipment storage facilities negotiable. Prefer to lease for rent but will consider option to buy. Mentoring and training available.