The Farmers Beet

In this episode, we learn about integrated crop livestock management from two Northern California Farms. First, we hear from Lorraine Walker of Eatwell Farm in Dixon, CA, where they incorporate laying hens into their diversified vegetable production, and also touch on soil health and fertility management. Ken Walker of Pasture 42 in Guinda, CA then walks us through how they incorporate sheep and poultry into their orchards, which were designed with animal integration in mind. Both expand on the benefits and challenges of integrating livestock, as well as considerations for pasture, rotational grazing, and food safety. Show Notes: * Eatwell Farms website: https://www.eatwell.com/ * Eatwell Farms Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatwellfarm/ * Pasture 42 website: https://pasture42.com/ * Pasture 42 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pasture_42/ * Match.Graze California Grazing Exchange https://matchgraze.com/ * California Wool Growers’ Association Targeted Grazing Directory: https://californiawoolgrowers.org/targeted-grazing/directory/ * More about Integrated Crop Livestock Systems from CAFF: https://caff.org/ecologicalfarming/integrated-crop-livestock-systems/  * CAFF’s Ecological Farming Program: https://caff.org/ecologicalfarming Production Team: Podcast hosted by Emily Ayala Audio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald  Music by Blue Dot Sessions

In this episode, we travel to First Rain Farm in Nevada County, where Tim Van Wagner is integrating a number of effective wildfire preparation methods on his property, as well as those of his neighbors and surrounding community. By combining targeted ecological grazing and prescribed burns, Tim is able to rehabilitate overgrown forests in the foothills to productive foraging systems that support greater biodiversity, sequester more carbon, and improve soil health and water quality in the region- all while also reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires.Show Notes:* First Rain Farm Website: https://www.firstrainfarm.com/* John Jeavons: https://johnjeavons.org/* Nourishing Traditions: https://nourishingtraditions.com/ * California Prescribed Burn Association: https://calpba.org/* UC ANR Fire Resources and Information: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/* Brittleness Scale: https://savoryinstitute.teachable.com/courses/896826/lectures/16507356* Land Management Regimes of Nevada County: https://www.ncrcd.org/resources-and-links/knowledge-base/agriculture-resources/  * Ruminant Digestive System: https://extension.umn.edu/dairy-nutrition/ruminant-digestive-system* Fuel Moisture: http://stream1.cmatc.cn/pub/comet/FireWeather/S290Unit10FuelMoisture/comet/fire/s290/unit10/print.htm#page_1.0.0* Smoke Exposure and Safety: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/wildfire/worker-protection-from-wildfire-smoke.html* SB 926- Rx Burn Liability Fund: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB926* CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program: http://caff.org/wildfire-resilience-program/ Production Team:Podcast hosted by Amber Schat- Wildfire Resilience Specialist at CAFFAudio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald Music by Blue Dot Sessions Release Date: 12/14/2022  

In this episode, Sarah Keiser of Wild Oat Hollow in Penngrove, CA describes her entry into ranching and how her love of the land positioned her to become a leader in developing and supporting community grazing cooperatives. Join us as Sarah shares her experience with wildfires in Sonoma County and how grazing is making a difference for regional wildfire protection and preparedness, while also working to reconnect locals with the ecology of the region and each other.Show Notes:* Wild Oat Hollow Website: https://www.wildoathollow.com/* Fibershed: https://fibershed.org/* Globetrotter Foundation: https://globetrotterfoundation.org/* Indigenous Fire Ecologist, Peter Nelson: https://ourenvironment.berkeley.edu/users/754001* Soil Health and Grazing: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/natural-resources-and-facilities/grazing-management/soil-health-relation-grazing* Grazing and Wildfire Risk Reduction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190052822000177* CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program: http://caff.org/wildfire-resilience-program/Production Team:Podcast hosted by Amber SchatAudio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald Music by Blue Dot Sessions Release Date: 11/30/2022

In this episode we visit Cheetah Tchudi at his diversified operation in Yankee Hill, Butte County, CA. Cheetah shares his experience surviving the 2018 Paradise wildfire, and some methods for recovery; addressing toxic ash using fungi to capture and and treat persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals.  Show Notes: * Turkey Tail Farm Website: https://turkeytailfarm.net/v2/ * Butte Remediation: https://butteremediation.com/  * Mycoremediation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycoremediation  * NRCS Disaster Assistance: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/california/post-fire-disaster-assistance  * Ag Pass Programs: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1g94z1qn  * OSU and OSHA Programs for Stay and Defend: https://ourimpact.oregonstate.edu/story/farmers-get-handle-wildfire-prevention-osu-extension-outreach  * Cal OES Wildfire Recovery: https://wildfirerecovery.caloes.ca.gov/  * CAFF’s Wildfire Resilience Program: https://caff.org/wildfire-resilience-program/  Production Team: Podcast hosted by Amber Schat- Wildfire Resilience Specialist at CAFF Audio engineering and editing by Coby McDonald  Music by Blue Dot Sessions Release Date: 11/16/2022

Queridas oyentes, este es nuestro último episodio de la temporada. Esperamos que disfrute de este episodio especial en español presentado por el productor de nuestro podcast, Jaime Roque.  En este episodio, visitamos Luna's Farm, una granja familiar Latinx multigeneracional que cultiva vegetales orgánicos en Hollister, California. Antonio Luna comparte sobre la granja de su familia y su historia agrícola en los Estados Unidos, que se remonta a más de tres décadas. Aprendemos cómo la granja reduce los riesgos de inocuidad alimentaria a través del uso del agua, la capacitación de los empleados y la evaluación previa a la cosecha para detectar la intrusión de animales. Antonio también comparte consejos para otros agricultores sobre el mantenimiento de registros de inocuidad alimentaria.

In this episode we visit Stone’s Throw Farm, an organic vegetable and flower farm located in Colfax, California. We sat down with Bryanna Eisenhut, co-owner and operator of Stone’s Throw, to learn about her path to farming full-time and what it’s like to farm in the foothills of the Sierra’s. Bryanna also shares about the challenges and opportunities her family experienced while navigating the coronavirus pandemic and farming with young kids. Lastly, we hear how a winter storm ruined the farm’s original packhouse and how they recovered. Bryanna tells us about her favorite packhouse equipment and changes they made to improve food safety in their post-harvest operations.

In this episode we visit Vitis and Ovis Farm, a multi-generational Swiss-American-Ethiopian family farm located in the Capay Valley and specializing in pastured duck eggs, fruit and medicinal herbs. We talk to Hans, Barbara and Giselle Herren about the 30+ years of stewarding their land, including the recent shift from producing only wine grapes to planning for a more diversified operation designed with permaculture principles. While they wait for their fruit trees to mature, the family shares how they plan to rotate ducks throughout their orchard while also maintaining food safety standards. They also describe some of the infrastructure changes they made recently to ensure their packing and storage areas are easy to clean and sanitize, and at lower risk of cross contamination. 

In this episode we visit Donald Sherman at his farm in Kerman, California. Donald owns and operates Sherman Produce, a year-round diversified vegetable farm and produce market distributing throughout Fresno County. Donald has been involved in agriculture his entire life and knows about managing on-farm food safety risks. We talk to Donald about his family business and involvement with the African American Farmers of California. Then, we dig into food safety topics like maintaining food safety across multiple farm locations and reducing risks during post-harvest processing.

In this episode we visit Urban Tilth, a community-based organization in Richmond, California. We learn about the organization’s mission and programs to cultivate agriculture and build a more sustainable, healthy and just food system in West Contra Costa County. One of the farm managers, Debora Supinski, describes their year-long journey to formalize food safety practices through writing a food safety plan and SOPs. Listeners can look forward to hearing about the farm’s approach to volunteer management, maintaining food safety across the farm and distribution and efficiencies behind their wash and pack station.

In this episode we visit Sysourath Farms in Fresno, California. Veomany Sysourath, a second generation farmer, shares about her family’s history emigrating to the United States, working in agriculture and eventually starting their farm. Sysourath Farms grows a variety of Southeast Asian specialty crops on leased land, which presents infrastructure challenges. We learn about the farm’s food safety practices and requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), plus innovative tools they use to ensure their farm complies with FSMA.

In this episode we visit Steve Fukagawa Farms in Kingsburg, California. Steve Fukagawa is a third generation Japanese farmer, growing organically in the San Joaquin Valley. We learn about Steve’s family history farming in California, his production of organic tree fruit and raisin grapes, and use of compost tea. We also discuss how the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) can impact the way growers use and apply soil amendments such as compost tea.

In this episode we interview Daniel Karp, Ph.D., Associate Professor at UC Davis studying conservation in working landscapes. Danny describes his research related to wildlife habitat conservation and bird activity on farms, and implications for food safety on produce farms. He also provides risk management considerations for farms with bird activity and resources for farms interested in attracting beneficial birds for their pest control services.

In this episode we visit Jacobs Farm / del Cabo in Watsonville, California. Larry Jacobs, one of the co-founders, tells us about the company history and relationship with growers in Mexico. We learn how food safety regulations for imported produce helped identify contamination from an unlikely source, the importance of keeping wells covered and maintained, and tips for developing an engaging employee food safety training program.

In this episode we visit Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas, California. We learn about the farm’s mission to connect agriculture, education and ancient Jewish wisdom. The farmers give us a tour of the food forest, production fields, laying hens and compost production, and describe how food safety plays a role in their day-to-day operations. Listeners can look forward to hearing tips and tricks related to food safety recordkeeping and volunteer and employee training.

In this episode we hear from Dr. Floyd D. Harris Jr. of Fresno Freedom School in Fresno, California. We learn about the organization’s history and mission to connect Fresno’s youth with agriculture, how they implement food safety practices as an urban-based education farm and tips for communicating their food and human safety guidelines to youth, parents and volunteers.