In this month's edition:
- A Note From Our Executive Director
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Featured RCD Project: An interview with rancher Joe Pozzi on carbon farm planning and the future of sustainable agriculture
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Staff Highlight: Michele Harris, District Administrator
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Community Spotlight: Will Morris, boutique farmer of the Bodega Red Potato & recipient of rainwater catchment system
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2020 Working Lands Calendar: Tierra Vegetables
- Upcoming Workshops and Activities
- Partner News
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***If you are experiencing difficulties viewing our pictures or accessing links in this e-news, please copy & paste the following link into your browser for a web-based version. Additionally, use this link to share the September e-news with friends!
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A Note From Our Executive Director... |
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Dear Neighbors,
As we continue to face fires, evacuations, isolation, homeschooling, drought, and a changing economy, I want you to know the staff and the Board of the RCD are thinking about how we change alongside to make sure we are providing the most accessible and impactful service we can. We are grateful for our community's continued interest in protecting the land, wildlife and water that we all love and depend on, even when our attention is strained by adapting to our lives during a pandemic.
On Aug 22nd, the RCD sent out a Wildfire Resources guide with the intention of connecting our community to valuable fire resources. Please share this guide with friends and family as you see fit, and reach out to us if you have any questions or need additional support. Email admin@goldridgercd.org, and we will try to connect you with the right person.
The community in West Sonoma County is spirited, creative, collaborative, engaged and full of heart and fight. My own heart is filled with pride and hope for the future we are creating for the next generation.
With respect, love and gratitude,
Brittany
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An interview with Joe Pozzi on Carbon Farming and the Future of Sustainable Agriculture
By Isis Howard, Gold Ridge RCD
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Joe Pozzi is a fourth-generation rancher who has been raising sheep and cattle in Sonoma and Marin Counties his entire life. If you know of Pozzi Ranch or Sonoma Wool Company, then you know Joe! In addition to his passion for ranching, Joe brings a lifetime of knowledge about lamb and wool products and shares a deep appreciation for the land. Joe's family even has a history of working with the RCDs! "My dad Ed was a board member of the Marin County RCD for about 30 years, and I have been the district manager at the Gold Ridge RCD since 1994."
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Joe's thoughts on carbon farm plans and sustainable ranching:
1) What motivated you to create a Carbon Farm Plan for your ranch?
I have always been interested in implementing conservation practices on my ranches. Improving the soil, plants, and water quality on my ranch also improves my production capabilities and enhances the natural resources here. When I heard about a carbon farm plan which could help quantify the amount of carbon I am sequestering off of the practices on my ranch, I became very interested to see what it was all about.
2) Why invest in the process?
By developing a carbon farm plan for my ranch, I’m able to gain so much more information about the health of my ranch and the steps I need to take to enhance the natural resources I have here. The information gathered through the carbon farm plan is so valuable, not only to me as I implement practices on my ranch, but also to the public, who I sell my products to, so they understand the importance of farmland in our region and how it offsets the carbon being produced by others.
3) How has your relationship with soil, or other natural resources, changed since beginning the Carbon Farming process?
As I mentioned before, I have always been interested in conservation practices, but the carbon farm plan takes it to the next level; it gives me more knowledge of why I’m doing the things that I am doing and helps me set goals for projects I can implement in the future.The biggest thing it gives me is the ability to quantify how much carbon I am actually sequestering, which is a huge opportunity to promote the value of protecting local farming communities in our region for both farmers and ranchers, like myself, and the consumers and public who live in the region with us.
4) What does the future of sustainable ranching look like in Sonoma County?
A lot has changed in the past year. Sustainable ranching in Sonoma county is all about food security and distribution. It’s very important for those producing food and fiber in our county to have the ability to distribute it directly to the consumers at a price which justifies a viable business for the landowner. In my opinion, it’s so important to have quality food products grown locally for local consumers. This COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses in depending on our food and fiber coming from other countries or far reaches of our country.
5) As a rancher, what do you see as the greatest challenge in reducing your impacts on the climate?
A lot of times livestock production is blamed for greenhouse gas emissions in our country and world. With the shut down of the economy this past April and May when millions of cars were off the roads not burning fossil fuels, our air quality increased by a huge amount. If we could continue this practice of people working at their homes and doing less commuting, it would be a huge step in helping the climate change issues. For me, personally, if I can do my part by increasing the sequestration of carbon on the land I own and manage, it would be a benefit for all.
6) As you move toward sustainability, how do you see this impacting your products in terms of quality and marketing?
When I sell my products to consumers and they see the practices I am implementing to enhance the natural resources on my property and the interaction and coexistence I have with the wildlife and birdlife on my property, they feel like they’re part of my team, and I feel like I’m part of their team. When I have a consumer who sources my products because they believe in what I am doing, we have a partnership in the sustainability of me as a rancher and, for them, the security of knowing there’s food and fiber being produced for them locally.
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Learn about specific carbon farming practices Joe has implemented on his ranch, why he continues to invest in sustainable agriculture, and so much more!
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Interested in developing a Carbon Farm Plan with the RCD? Learn more here.
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Staff Highlight: Meet Michele!
Michele Harris, District Administrator for Gold Ridge RCD
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Michele in her glorious garden. |
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Hi, I’m Michele!
I started my journey at Marin RCD in 2012 as a bookkeeper three days a week, in 2013 I filled out my week and began working at Gold Ridge as well. Though I entered the position with job expertise, I knew nothing about resource conservation districts, nor had I even heard of them! In my seven years working with the RCD, I have not only found a career I love but now share a passion for the work RCD’s are involved with. Though my role as a District Administrator is streamlined by numbers, the team I work with brings the day-to-day joy to my job!
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Having lived in Sonoma County since 1977, it is safe to say I’m a Northern Californian through and through. My typical evenings are spent tending to my flourishing garden, where even the peep of a new seed excites me! I also love to cook and find great joy assembling mostly all of our meals from the garden. When not at home, odds are you can find me enjoying the views of a nearby body of water – relaxing may be my favorite hobby! Without a doubt, I am most passionate about my family; spending time with my children and husband brings me more joy than anything else. This June, our family welcomed it’s most precious addition yet, my granddaughter, Reagan. |
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Rainwater Catchment System Supports One Man's Efforts to Revive Sonoma County's Legendary Bodega Red Potato
By Isis Howard, Gold Ridge RCD
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Learn about the history of the Bodega Red potato and how, with the help of the RCD and Slow Food SCN, one Bodega resident was able to scale-up his boutique farming operation to help revive this legendary spud! |
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"These are local heritage heirloom potatoes that have such a connection to Sonoma County, and in particular, the region of Bodega... I want people who I am selling to to know the history of these potatoes and why they should put these potatoes on their menu." - Will Morris
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Local boutique farmer, Will Morris, has been working alongside Slow Food Sonoma County North for years now in broad efforts to bring back the heirloom potato variety, the Bodega Red! What started as a few raised beds in Will's backyard scaled into a fulfilling side-business once Will received a Rainwater Catchment System through the RCD, which allowed him to significantly increase his volume of production. According to Will, "Being able to farm an heirloom crop is deeply satisfying."
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History of the Bodega Red Potato... |
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As the legend goes, it was a young Chilean woman, Manuela Torres Smith, who first brought the Bodega Red potato to the coasts of California in 1843. Manuela grew up in South America, the geographical origin of the Bodega Red potato, and is rumored to have sewn a handful of red-colored seed potatoes into the hem of her dress before embarking on her journey to North America as the new wife of Captain Stephen Smith.
Upon marrying a woman of Spanish descent, Stephen Smith, 57 at the time, received his long-anticipated rancho grant for Rancho Bodega, a 35,000 acre ranch stretching along the coast from the Russian River to the north to the Estero Americano to the south, and east to Bodega. It was here that 16-year-old Manuela Torres Smith planted her Peruvian seed potatoes in the rich Bodega soils. The potatoes flourished, and quickly became known as the "Bodega Reds".
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With its pink-red skin, creamy texture, and nutty-flavor, the Bodega Red potato quickly became a famous staple crop for North Bay residents in the 1850's. According to the Rancho Bodega Historical Society, "Thousands of sacks of Bodega Reds passed through Captain Smith’s Bodega Port or down the Petaluma River to the San Francisco produce markets, until they finally stopped producing well." For almost a century, the Bodega Red potato dominated the marketplaces in Bodega and Tomales Bay, only to reach its downfall in the 1970s when many farmers and ranchers transitioned primarily to wheat and dairy production. By the late 1900s, the Bodega Red potato variety was nearly unheard of.
In the early 2000s, Slow Food Sonoma County North and the Bodega Land Trust initiated efforts to bring back the Bodega Reds. Finally, the potatoes were rediscovered thanks to an anonymous local. Once verified through DNA analysis, Bodega Red seed potatoes were redistributed to North Bay residents dedicated to reviving the unique spud and its historical significance in local cuisine. This is where our friend, Will Morris, comes in...
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Several years ago, Will Morris contacted the RCD to express interest in a grant that would fund the design and installation of a rainwater catchment system for his 6-acre property in Bodega. At the time, Will only had a few potato beds in his backyard and was extremely limited by his access to water in summer months. After waiting patiently through several rounds of funding, Will became an official recipient of a rooftop rainwater catchment system!
The water catchment system now allows Will to collect and store over 8,000 gallons of winter rainwater annually. With the water catchment system in place, Will no longer has to rely upon the pricey town water supply to grow his Bodega Red potatoes, which saves him a bit of money and grants him the water resources to grow more potatoes. By storing winter waters for later use in the summer months, Will is also helping to conserve valuable summer waters for the salmonid populations in nearby Salmon Creek. It's a win-win!
When asked what initially motivated him to apply for the rainwater catchment funding, Will responded, "I'm an environmentalist, you know. So knowing the issues surrounding resource conservation in Sonoma County and the water coming out of Salmon Creek, it was a pretty clear choice." The addition of the water catchment system ultimately provided Will with a unique opportunity to scale-up his production of Bodega Red potatoes, reduce his environmental impact, and amplify local efforts to bring back this incredible heirloom potato variety!
To learn more about Bodega Red potatoes, check out the following resources:
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2020 Working Lands Calendar
September Highlight: Tierra Vegetables
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Calendars are available, and they are free!!
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Upcoming Workshops & Activities |
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The Effect of COVID-19 on Indigenous People's Organizations and Local Communities
Free webinar series hosted by the Ford Foundation, the Land Portal Foundation, the Tenure Facility and the Thomson Reuters Foundation
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Sept 10: COVID-19, Biodiversity and Climate Change: Indigenous Peoples Defining the Path Forward
Sept 17: COVID-19, Regulatory Rollback and the ‘Green Recovery’: Indigenous Peoples Raise Their Voices
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Thursdays | Sept. 10th & 17th | 6am-7:30am |
This webinar series features indigenous and non-indigenous leaders in virtual roundtables to discuss both the key effects that COVID-19 is generating in their communities as well as possible solutions and the way forward. |
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A Day in the Life of a Farmer, as Seen on Social Media
Free virtual workshop hosted by Sonoma County Farm Bureau & American Ag Credit
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Monday | Sept. 14th | 3pm-5pm |
Presenter: Kerry Rego
You are farming in a digital era. Learn how to connect with audiences and tell unique stories through social media. Kerry Rego will help you create a winning strategy for your digital persona in this free webinar.
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Protecting Monarch Habitat from Pesticides
Free webinar hosted by CARCD & The Xerces Society
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Weds | Sept. 16th | 11am-12pm |
Presenter: Sarah Hoyle
This webinar will review findings from a new study that shows the ubiquity of pesticides found in milkweed in different land use types throughout California. It will also describe different techniques that can be used to protect monarch habitat from pesticide drift.
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Celebrating Womxn's Leadership in Food
Growing Power, Cultivating Change: Activating Through the Racial Liberation Work of Black Womxn in Food
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Weds | Sept. 23 | 6pm-8pm |
This is a 3-part, facilitated conversation series hosted by Celebrating Womxn's Leadership in Food (CWLF). CWLF is creating an inclusive space for the community to come together to explore anti-racism work in the food movement through the lives and writings of powerful Black womxn leaders.
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A Message on COVID-19 Safety from Sonoma County Farmers (Spanish)
Courtesy of Sonoma Winegrowers
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This Spanish-language film outlines important safety precautions to take in the prevention of spreading COVID-19 with our local agricultural community. The video features local agricultural employees, farmers, and community leaders who express how crucial it is to use proper safety measures to keep our community, family members, and coworkers safe.
Please be sure to share this video with you labor force!
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North Coast Water Conservation Flyer
Conserve your water resources to benefit special status fish species
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"Coastal streams in Northern California are experiencing extreme low flows this summer... low flows are a significant threat to the survival of this year’s juvenile coho salmon and steelhead."
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"Every week is critical for threatened and endangered coho salmon and steelhead populations, so immediate actions to help conserve water by all surface water and groundwater well users is needed to mitigate the dry conditions this year... Any immediate actions taken on your part could be instrumental in protecting your local creek this summer!"
Additional information on ways to conserve water can be found at saveourwater.com
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New Guide for Land Conservation Practitioners: Evaluating and Protecting Environmental Water Assets
Created by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Sonoma Land Trust (SLT) and Alford Environmental
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This newly released handbook provides easy-to-understand guidance, resources and tools that California land trusts, open space districts, resource conservation districts and others can use to identify, evaluate and protect water resources.
The guide includes:
- an overview of water rights,
- steps for conducting water resource and water rights due diligence on existing protected lands,
- recommended actions to protect and maximize the conservation benefit of water rights, and
- recommendations for integrating environmental water asset evaluation and protection approaches into land and water protection operations.
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PG&E Community Wildfire Safety Program Presentation Slide Deck
Courtesy of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau E-news (sign up here)
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Learn about what PG&E is doing to enhance wildfire safety and minimize the power shutdowns triggered by safety measures. |
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Click here to view the slide deck from the PG&E Briefing About Fire Season and Power Safety Power Shutoffs, which was a virtual seminar with Joe Horak, PG&E's North Bay and Sonoma Divisions Sr. Manager on August 17th.
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There's still time to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
Now accepting applications through September 11th, 2020
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Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.
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USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the deadline to apply for CFAP has been extended to September 11. The original application deadline was August 28, 2020.
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