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A look back at the 2015 construction of the Westview Jersey Dairy's 1.4 million-gallon rainwater storage pond. With it, the organic dairy has replaced its 7,000-gallon a-day diversion from nearby Salmon Creek.
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The news on your RCD's latest efforts to conserve and protect our most valued natural resources, support a thriving agricultural community and promote a
sustainable local economy.
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New Healthy Soils Program Seeking Farmers to Apply for Funding - Deadline for Applications is September 19th
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California’s much-anticipated Healthy Soils Program officially launched August 8 with the release of the first
Request for Grant Applications
(RGA) by the California Department of Agriculture (CDFA).
The deadline for applications is 5pm on September 19th.
The first of its kind in the country, the program will
provide grants to farmers and ranchers for implementing on-farm practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or store carbon in soil, trees and shrubs.
T
hree types of grants will be available: 1)
Direct farmer grants, 2) outreach and education/demonstration grants, and 3) research/demonstration grants.
Resources to assist growers in applying:
- For a farmer fact sheet from CalCAN: click here
- For Incentives Program application materials and a schedule of application assistance workshops and webinars: click here
- For Demonstration Projects application materials and a schedule of application assistance workshops and webinars: click here
- For a 5-minute introduction video and schedule of training webinars for COMET-Planner, the calculator required for most applications: click here (video) and here (schedule)
For more information from the Gold Ridge RCD staff, contact: William@goldridgercd.org.
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See You at the Agrarian Games!
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Lucky us, we will be hosting activities in the Soil Zone of the Agrarian Games, with our partners, Sonoma Resource Conservation District and the NRCS. Come see farmers' test results from the "Soil My Undies" soil health challenge, express yourself with paints made from local soils, examine soil structure under a magnifying glass, and dare to love dirt!
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Join the fun at the
Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds!
When: Saturday, September 16
Time: 12pm - 6pm
175 Fairgrounds Dr, Petaluma, California 94952
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A
griculture and Environment Education Program Begins the 2017-18 School Year with a Splash!
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Thanks to local conservation efforts and rainfall from Mother Nature, there is water flowing in Salmon Creek through Gilardi Ranch. The Gilardi Ranch hosts 5th graders to learn why conservation practices are important for water quality and quantity, soil health and wildlife habitat.
On the ranch, students learn how Mr. Gilardi's 230,000-gallon underground water storage system, cattle fencing and water-loving trees he planted along the creek are protecting habitat for herons, hawks, frogs, shrimp, deer, lions, otters, and yes--salmon!
Grade school students visit the ranch through our TEAM Environmental Education program, funded by the tax-payer supported Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. The TEAM program serves students across the county with fall field trips to Crane Family Farm in Santa Rosa and Gilardi Ranch in Bodega, and spring trips to Dutton Ranch in Graton.
For more information, or to sign your 5th grade class up for a trip to Gilardi Ranch, contact: Adriana Stagnaro, Adriana@goldridgercd.org, (707) 823-5244.
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Acorns to Oaks
Napa RCD is looking for acorns donated to their Acorns to Oaks school and community oak planting program this fall! Please donate quality Valley Oak, Coast Live Oak, CA Black Oak, and Blue Oak acorns. Quality acorns: Are fully matured and brown, their shell is intact without small holes in them, and they DO NOT rattle when you shake them (these won't grow). Want to help plant these trees? Volunteer on the planting day! Saturday, November 18, 9:30-11:30am. For more information, contact: Eric McKee, Eric@NapaRCD.org, (707) 252-4189 x 3120.
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Harvest of the Month: In-Class Tasting Kit Program registration now open!
Through these in-class tasting kits, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) Harvest of the Month program lets teachers take the lead on food and farming education, connecting students with California family farms. Kids get to taste fresh, local fruits and vegetables, empowering them to make healthy food choices. Know a teacher or school who might be interested? Send them our way. Or, contact: Angie Corwin, angie@caff.org, (707) 824-1823 x 301.
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Whole Farm/Ranch Business Planning Workshop
Holistic Management International's "Whole Farm/Ranch Business Planning Workshop" is taking place this fall. Sign up now for 6 days of class, from October to December 2017.
While many folks are attracted to farming and ranching because of their love of the land or their desire to do truly meaningful work, farming and ranching is still a business. HMI knows that to create a sustainable, healthy agricultural enterprise, you need to run it like a business. HMI has created this course to give both new and experienced farmers and ranchers the knowledge and tools they need to do just that. While many of HMI's other programs teach both business and production techniques, this one will focus on the business side of your operation. Because agriculture isn’t just your passion, it’s your livelihood. For more information,
click here
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September 3
Atascadero-Green Valley Creek Watershed Clean Up Day
Sunday September 3, 8:30-12pm
Meet at the bridge over Atascadero Creek on Occidental Rd, west of HWY 116 and just east of Mill Station Rd to join the dedicated crew of cleaners removing trash from this beautiful creek system. More clean ups will be held on Sundays this fall. Stay tuned for scheduled dates. For more information, contact: John Roberts, jahiltop@sonic.net, (707) 321-3273.
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September 16
International Coastal Cleanup Day is September 16th!
A problem as big as plastic in the ocean requires a big response! By participating in the International Coastal Cleanup, you can make a difference. You’ll join millions of volunteers just like you, who love the ocean and want to protect it.
There are many ways to participate locally:
Russian River
: The Russian River Cleanup collected 21,769 pounds of trash in 2016. Help them beat their numbers this year!
Learn more here
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September 20
Public Workshop for the Russian River Watershed TMDL Action Plan
The Russian River Watershed TMDL Action Plan will be presented for public review and comment on Wednesday September 20 at the Guerneville Veterans Memorial Hall, 16225 1st Street, Guerneville, CA.
The draft Staff Report describes the watershed setting, the applicable regulatory framework, and desired watershed conditions. It further documents pathogen pollution and impairments in the Russian River and its tributaries, identifies potential sources of pathogens, and estimates the pathogen loading capacity of the system. For information, contact: Alydda Mangelsdorf, Senior Environmental Scientist, (707) 576-6735 or Alydda.Mangelsdorf@waterboards.ca.gov.
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If you would like to support programs like these with your donation,
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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