Views From the Field: Soil sampling in local West County vineyards. |
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In this month's edition:
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RCD Updates: Apply Now for the North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP), Watch the 4th Annual Soil Health Symposium - Recordings Now Available!
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Staff Highlight: Sophia & Marvin, GRRCD & FSS Interns
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Publications: The Near Demise of the Monarch Butterfly and What We Can Do to Save It, Grazing: Natural & Sustainable Wildfire Mitigation
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Workshops & Activities: The Nitty Gritty on CA Soils, Climate Change in Our Watershed
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Partner News: FSS Storytelling Project, County Chipper Program, New Grant Opportunities, and More!
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What's new at Gold Ridge? |
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Apply Now: North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP)
Financial Incentives for Private Landowners to Improve Forest Health and Mitigate Wildfire Risk
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Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) in Sonoma, Mendocino and Napa Counties have partnered with Rebuild North Bay Foundation and the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC) to form the North Bay Forest Improvement Program NBFIP to help private non-industrial small forest landowners (between 5 and 500 acres) implement non-commercial forest improvement activities such as thinning, planting, pruning, and fuel hazard reduction.
This is a cutting-edge cost share program, providing public funds to support private investment in forest stewardship activities. Funding will support reducing vegetative fuel loads, insect infestation, and disease epidemics on forested private properties in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma County. Specific methods supported by the program may include:
- forest management planning
- site preparation
- tree planting and protection
- forest thinning and pruning
*Supervision of these activities will be done by Registered Professional Foresters.
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“In recent years, we’ve seen a major uptick in requests for assistance managing forestland,” said Valerie Minton Quinto, of Sonoma RCD. “Folks are realizing that in forests shaped by decades of fire suppression, they may need to take a more active role in managing fuel buildup. NBFIP will be one tool in the toolbox to support proactive land stewards as they work to make our forests healthier and more resilient.”
“Rebuild NorthBay Foundation and our partnering RCDs are at the forefront of innovation with this program,” said Dr. Lisa Micheli, a RNBF Board member. “NBFIP is being looked to by CAL FIRE as a model program for technical expertise and financial incentives. These resources will help residents, especially those in disadvantaged communities, get work done on their own properties that increase our collective resilience to wildfire. It is super exciting.”
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Over the next three years, NBFIP aims to support 40 forest health and resilience projects in the four participating counties, with at least 15% of the program dollars benefiting disadvantaged communities. The program is funded primarily by a $1.5M CAL FIRE Wildfire Resilience and Forestry Assistance grant through CA Proposition 68.
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NBFIP is accepting applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis; there is no application deadline. For the application and more information, visit the program's website here. See and share the program flyer here.
Please review all materials associated with the program before applying. While it is not required to have a forester to apply for this program, we suggest that applicants seek help from a forester to fill out the application. Sonoma County landowners who have additional questions may contact Jason Wells, Registered Professional Forester, at jwells@sonomarcd.org.
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Do You Know About the Sonoma County Forest Working Group?
Sign up for their quarterly eNewsletter!
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The Sonoma County Forest Working Group (FWG) is a robust network of forest landowners, land managers, foresters, land trusts, watershed councils, non-profits, government agencies, researchers and educators. The Gold Ridge RCD's very own Outreach and Project Manager, Adriana Stagnaro, is a key member and organizer for the Sonoma County FWG. The group brings together forestry and conservation expertise to provide education and resources to forest landowners with the goal of protecting and sustaining healthy forests, woodlands, and watersheds in Sonoma County.
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Stay up-to-date with the latest FWG news and events. |
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Missed the 4th Annual Soil Health Symposium?
Watch Now - Recordings Available Online!
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Gold Ridge, Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino RCDs joined forces to virtually host the 4th Annual Soil Health Symposium on March 11th and 12th, 2021. This year’s Soil Health Symposium brought together growers, land and vineyard managers, scientists, agency representatives, and others to provide an overview of soil health in our North Coast region. Topics included potential climate change impacts and solutions, cutting-edge soil health practices, and the latest data from the field.
Click here to view the speaker list and read speaker bios.
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Missed the Symposium?
If you couldn't make the symposium last week, don't worry! You can now view Day 1 and Day 2 recordings at the North Coast Soil Hub website: soilhub.org
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Thank you to everyone who made this virtual symposium possible! |
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Since starting their internships with the Gold Ridge RCD and Fire Safe Sonoma (FSS) in January of 2021, Sophia and Marvin have served an instrumental role in expanding and improving outreach and communication efforts within our community. Many thanks to both of you!
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Hello! My name is Sophia Tsue, and I am a second year at Sonoma State University! I am currently in the Hutchins liberal studies program where I am working towards my BA in liberal arts and my teaching credential. I am looking for more ways to incorporate education into other fields, such as environmental conservation! I am beyond excited to be working with Gold Ridge RCD and Fire Safe Sonoma this semester! In my free time I like to cook, crochet, water my plants, and play with my dog!
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Hello! I’m Marvin, and I’m currently a senior student at Sonoma State University. I’m excited to be interning for the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District and Fire Safe Sonoma organizations in my final semester. I’m majoring in Communication Studies and hope to eventually transition to a career in television or production. You can normally see me lounging around, catching up on my favorite reality shows. I am an avid lover of boba tea and good music.
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The Near Demise of the Monarch Butterfly and What We Can Do to Save It
Article by Dave Sherwood and Michelle Katuna
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Marin, Sonoma, and Gold Ridge RCDs have all been working on efforts to support monarchs and pollinators.
Read about ongoing RCD efforts in the article below. *This article is from the March 2021 Sonoma-Marin Farm News.
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Grazing: Natural & Sustainable Wildfire Mitigation
Article by Bo Laurent and Sarah Keiser
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If you’re looking for a natural, sustainable wildfire mitigation strategy that brings neighbors together, then consider grazing! Community grazing programs address issues of wildfire prevention, safety, community resiliency, and climate equity in a collaborative way, building morale and harmony in rural residential neighborhoods.
Sonoma County resident Bo Laurent and Sarah Keiser of Sonoma Safe Agriculture Safe Schools (SASS) teamed up to highlight the multiple benefits of community grazing for our March newsletter. Check out their article on the Fire Safe Sonoma website here!
Are you a rural resident on a small-acreage property in Sonoma County and would like to find out whether a Community Grazing Cooperative would work for you? Contact Sarah Keiser! You can also reach out to Bo Laurent to visit her neighborhood project!
If you own or manage a larger property, you might want to consider contract grazing. Visit https://matchgraze.com/ to find local contract grazers.
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More Grazing Resources:
For additional information on grazing, check out UCCE Sonoma County’s Grazing Management Fact Sheet here, as well as this Grazing Handbook for Resource Managers in Coastal California. To learn more about UCCE’s Match.Graze program watch their video here. For another perspective on Sarah’s grazing program, check out this recent article in the Press Democrat. And be sure to check out FIRESafe Marin’s YouTube playlist all about goats!
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The Nitty Gritty on California Soils
Hosted by the California Farm Demonstration Network
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Virtual Series, March - June, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
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The California Farm Demonstration Network is hosting a four-part series on California soils. This series will feature four speakers, each with extensive knowledge of California soils through the lens of farming and agriculture. Speakers will be covering various topics, including composting, orchard recycling, soil sampling, testing for microbial dynamics, and more.
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PART 1 | March 24, 2021 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
“What happens to soil properties when you add compost or cover crop?”
PART 2 | April 21, 2021 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
“What are the benefits of whole orchard recycling, including disease control?”
PART 3 | May 19, 2021 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
“How can we pull a soil sample for meaningful results?”
PART 4 | June 16, 2021 | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
“How do we properly test for soil microbial dynamics?”
Click Here for detailed information on each session and to view the list of speakers.
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Climate Change in Our Watershed
Hosted by Sonoma State University
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Free Webinar (live from the field), April 14th, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
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Join us for an informal chat with scientists from Sonoma State University and Sonoma Water studying how climate change is affecting the Russian River Watershed.
Come explore this fascinating topic through both an academic and applied lens while hearing about who these scientists are, how they got interested in watershed research, and their scientific goals and questions.
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Participate in Fire Safe Sonoma's Storytelling Project! |
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Have you been impacted by Sonoma County wildfires in the past four years?
Fire Safe Sonoma (FSS) is gathering stories from Sonoma County residents who are willing to share their personal experiences navigating recent catastrophic wildfires. If you are a Sonoma County resident who has been critically impacted by wildfire in the past four years, FSS wants to hear from you. To share your story, please contact firesafesonomastaff@gmail.com and put “Storytelling Project” in the subject line. *In your message, please indicate whether or not you had to evacuate.
These conversations can be difficult, but Fire Safe Sonoma is here for you! The purpose of this project is to shed light on local experiences, build community resilience, and inspire wildfire readiness in preparation for the 2021 wildfire season.
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County Chipper Program
Open for Applications!
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The County of Sonoma Roadside Chipper program opened for applications March 1, 2021.
The County of Sonoma Roadside Chipper Program was implemented in 2014 and has supported hundreds of county residents in creating defensible space around their homes. Since the program’s inception, there has been an increase in the use of the program by county residents working towards increased fire safety. Last year, the free roadside chipper program started on May 4, 2020 and continued to operate based on available budget, which is driven by community demand for the service. The program operates on a “first come, first served" basis.
In September 2020 the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors allocated additional one-time funds to the annual chipper budget to increase program capacity. To date, 933 jobs have been completed. The program will start operating again on March 1, 2021. For further information and to sign up for the program, visit the program webpage here.
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Call for 2021-2022 AmeriCorps Fellow Applications |
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CivicSpark & Climate Action Corps
From September 2021 to August 2022, over 120 Fellows will bring energy, commitment, and drive to support communities across California in tackling their climate and community resilience issues while gaining professional experience!
Fellow applications for the 2021-22 Service year are OPEN!
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GrizzlyCorps
The GrizzlyCorps program is dedicated to helping rural communities plan for and implement two of the most promising solutions to the climate crisis: regenerative agriculture and forest resilience.
During the upcoming September 2021 -August 2022 service year, GrizzlyCorps Fellows will be placed in rural farming or forest communities around California to work on projects that support regenerative agriculture or forest resilience. Fellows gain valuable career experience in cutting edge climate work, develop professional contacts, receive a monthly stipend, and earn a $10,000 educational award. GrizzlyCorps is looking for upcoming and recent college graduates who want to gain real-world experience in the sustainability and resilience fields, and make a lasting impact.
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Leopold Conservation Award Accepting Applications
Announcement from Sonoma County Farm Bureau
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In California, Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award in partnership with American Farmland Trust, and state partners: California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation. Leopold Conservation Awards recognize extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation, inspire other landowners through their example, and help the general public understand the vital role private landowners play in conservation success.
Nominate yourself or another landowner. Award criteria are used by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation professionals in each state to evaluate each application for the Leopold Conservation Award. The Leopold Conservation Award recipient receives $10,000 and a crystal award.
Application Deadline: July 15, 2021.
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New BIPOC Farmer Micro-Grant Program Open
Funding offered through the Rodale Institute & Organic Farmers Association
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Rodale Institute & Organic Farmers Association have partnered to launch a new BIPOC Organic Farmer Micro-Grant program. This program is specifically targeted to support small-scale BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) farmers, whether organic, transitioning to organic, or an aspiring organic farmer. The goal of this program is to grow BIPOC farmers in the organic movement and help them succeed.
Applications Due March 31st.
Who’s Eligible: Any U.S.-based BIPOC farmer or aspiring farmer who is interested in organic production. Applicants will be screened by Rodale Institute and Organic Farmers Association.
Funding Amount: Rodale Institute will fund up to $18,000 per year for projects that meet the programs’ requirements. Individual project budgets should be between $500 and $2,000.
Timeframe: Applications are open from January 1-March 31 of each year. Funding decisions will be made by May 31 and funding will be available immediately following approval
How to Apply: Start the application here and submit to Elaine Macbeth, Rodale Institute Chief Financial Officer, via email or mail. Projects that have a high potential for impact on the individual farm and/or the communities they serve will be given the highest priority. The application is short and streamlined.
Examples of projects that may be approved for funding include (but are not limited to): support for on-farm consulting, facility upgrades, outreach & marketing tools, travel or education stipends, signage or multimedia projects, and more.
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Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
Funding offered through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
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USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides grants to support education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers.
Beginning farmer education for adult and young audiences in the United States can generally be traced back to the advent of the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land-Grant Acts. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill) reauthorized the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and provides mandatory funds for which supports education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers.
Application Deadline: March 25, 2021.
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Watch the 2021 Small Farms Conference Online!
Video Recordings Now Available on YouTube
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In February of 2021, farmers, ranchers, industry professionals, students and local food advocates dug into the topics of soil health, appropriate-scaled technology, small farm marketing, social issues and more in the 33rd annual California Small Farm Conference.
If you missed it, you can now watch free recordings of each presentation online.
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Follow the Gold Ridge RCD on Social Media!
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on our latest efforts and projects (like helping the monarchs!) in our district. You can also track our hashtag, #GRRCD.
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