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• Resource Conservation Network launched 
• Healthy Soils Program Partner Q&A
• Meet our new team members!
• LandSmart Grazing application closes soon
• New drought funding for small and underserved producers
• Check out more ways to get involved with the RCD and community

Resource Conservation Network Launched

We are excited to announce the launch of the Resource Conservation Network! Together with Gold Ridge, Napa, and Marin RCDs, we are building a platform to share resources and stories that empower the stewards of local lands — from small urban plots to vast open spaces — in resilient land stewardship and improvements to ecosystem health.

Together we seek to build a network that can share resources, knowledge, and expertise to take on our toughest environmental challenges. We hope our collaboration offers an example of how partnership can strengthen our impact while supporting the long-term sustainability of our landscapes and collective natural resources.

"We see a future where the natural resources of Sonoma County are abundant and available for the benefit of all people, agriculture, ecosystems and the economy; however, we cannot do this work without leveraging our collective action across our region and state. Empowering our network through reliable technical support and action will enable us to strengthen the resiliency of our landscapes, health of our natural resources, and adaptiveness of our communities as we face the impacts of a changing climate," said Christine Kuehn, Education and Communications Manager.

Spreading Knowledge (and Compost) with the Sonoma Mountain Institute CA Family Farmer Emergency Fund

A Q&A with Byron Palmer

When the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced the Healthy Soils Program, Byron Palmer knew he wanted to participate. The Healthy Soils Program promotes the development of healthy soils on California’s farms and ranches. It aligns perfectly with the goals of the Sonoma Mountain Institute (SMI), where Byron works as a Grassland and Grazing Manager. However, for busy land managers like Byron and his colleagues, the barriers to submitting and managing a grant of that magnitude can be overwhelming. That’s where the Sonoma RCD comes in. Over the course of three years, the Sonoma RCD partnered with the SMI to spread more than 3.5 million pounds of compost across 53 acres, a practice known to improve soil health and sequester carbon on SMI’s land. The project seeks to demonstrate carbon sequestration on a working rangeland through compost application.

We're hiring: Finance and Administration Director

The Finance & Administration Director oversees the management of the RCD’s finance, human resources, and

administrative operations that support the District’s ability to achieve its mission to bridge the needs of the

community and natural resources by empowering people through reliable expertise and action to strengthen the

resilience of Sonoma County. The Finance & Administration Director is a results-oriented, hands-on professional with big picture vision and a commitment to excellence, transparency, and fiscal accountability. View and download the full job announcement below.

LandSmart Grazing Application Closing Soon!

LandSmart Grazing is a pilot program designed to support interested neighbors or community groups to utilize grazing as a way of reducing fuel load and making their communities safer in the face of wildfires. This project also aims to serve previously burned properties in order to remove invasive weeds and reduce fuel load in preparation for future post-fire recovery activities. Due to the overwhelming interest we received during the first round of funding, the RCDs applied for additional funding through the same Vegetation Management Grant Program, and the project has been funded now for a second round. Now we are planning for our next round of applications. Applications will close on Friday, October 21, 2022. 

How to Apply & Eligibility

Eligible Land Participants include, but are not limited to, managers of properties:

• 4-20 acres for single properties or 4-100+ contiguous acres for multiple properties
• Grassland, woodland, shrubland, agricultural lands (orchards, vineyards, etc.) 
• At high risk of wildfire 
• In close proximity to at-risk, disadvantaged, or densely populated communities
• Adjacent to key community evacuation routes or key infrastructure 
• In an urban area or between urban and open space land

Please visit our website for program application information in Spanish.

California Small & Underserved Producers (CUSP) Drought Funding

Direct-to-Producer Opportunity through California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD)

CDFA has awarded CARCD $1M to administer drought relief reimbursement funds to small/underserved producers in your networks beginning now through 2024. 50% of funds will be awarded to socially disadvantaged farmers, immigrant farmers, and undocumented farmers. Socially disadvantaged farmer means a farmer who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group, these groups include all of the following: (1) African Americans (2) Native American Indians (3) Alaskan Natives (4) Hispanics (5) Asian Americans (6) Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Small farmers are defined as making less than $400,000 in gross farm sales.

Applications are available as Google Forms in multiple languages:

• English
• Spanish
• Punjabi
• Mandarin
• Lao
• Hmong

Need the form in another language? Please reach out to Emily-Smet@carcd.org. If you would like a printed application for a producer, please reach out to Emily Smet at Emily-Smet@CARCD.org for a PDF copy for the desired language. Printed forms can be scanned and emailed to Emily-Smet@CARCD.org.

Funding Cycles & Amounts

The first cycle will begin Oct. 15, 2022 and end January 15, 2023. CARCD will offer 4 funding cycles - one fall/winter and one spring/summer - between 2022 - 2024. Applications will be open for 3 months, during which time applications will be reviewed and awards disbursed monthly. After each funding cycle ends, the remaining funds will be assessed and the amount available for the next cycle will be determined and communicated via email and webpage (yet-to-be-developed). Grant amounts will be $1,000 min and $20,000 max. Producers may only receive awards every 12 months - CARCD will cross-check applicants with CDFA to ensure no repeat funds are awarded inside of that time period. Producers can expect to receive the award notice within the first two weeks of the 1st month following their application and the award check by the first week of the 2nd month following their application.

Community Outreach Meeting: Vegetation Management & Wildfire Resilience

Presented by the Sonoma County Healthy Forests Ad Hoc Committee

Wednesday, October 26 | 5-7pm

Please join the Healthy Forests Ad Hoc Committee and county staff as they present an update on countywide vegetation management activities and seek community feedback on the way these services could be improved.

Save the Date: California Forest Stewardship Workshop

Presented by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

January 19, 2023 - March 16, 2023 and in-person Saturday, February 4th in Napa County

Join the workshop to understand and protect your forests by developing a Forest Management Plan. Participants will utilize online resources on their own time to complete learning modules and short activities. Zoom meetings with all participants and presenters will take place once a week on Thursdays, 6-7:30pm. The in-person field day will cover silviculture, forest inventory and mapping activities. Participants who complete the workshop will be eligible for a free site visit with a California Registered Professional Forester. $60 registration fee. For questions, contact Kim Ingram, kcingram@ucanr.edu. 

BFR Q&A Monday's

USDA and USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Initiative

Every Monday from 10am to 11am PST

BFR Q&A Monday's is an open beginning farmer and rancher community platform. The California Beginning Farmer and Rancher team will be available to answer your questions. All participants will benefit from direct feedback. Whether it be farm loans, conservation contracts, and land stewardship, risk management, or assistance in Rural Communities, we have created this time and space to assist you with your farm operation questions.

MORE RESOURCES & EVENTS

CARCD 77th Annual Conference

Folsom, CA

November 30th - December 2nd

Please join us November 30th through December 2nd for our in-person event at the Lake Natoma Inn in Folsom along with an additional virtual event in March 2023. California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) continues the tradition of bringing together representatives from federal and state agencies, non-profits, private industries, farming communities, and resource conservation districts (RCDs) to share knowledge, build partnerships, and address urgent natural resource challenges.

California Small Farm Conference

Community Alliance with Family Farmers

February 26th - March 2nd

Join the small farm community–from growers to market managers to local food advocates–for a week of learning, inspiration and movement building. We’re exciting to bring back the new hybrid conference format featuring over 50 different online workshops, forums and videos as well as multiple in-person gatherings around the state. Stay tuned for more details!

LandSmart Grazing: Application Info Session

Gold Ridge and Sonoma RCDs

Past event

Livestock turns potentially dangerous fuels, grass and brush into soil-amending manure. Grazing mimics low-intensity fire behavior – it eliminates flash fuels and ladder fuels, and revitalizes spaces left untouched by fire or grazing for a generation. With additional funding through the same Vegetation Management Grant Program the RCDs are now taking applications. Applications for this round will close on Friday, October 21, 2022.

Resilient Landscaping: Gardening in the Defensible Space Zone

Sonoma Ecology Center

Past event 

Learn how to create and maintain a fire-wise and sustainable landscape that supports biodiversity and meets County code requirements. We can help you with plant selection, placement, and maintenance to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, while keeping your property and neighborhood fire-wise and sustainable. View and download the "Resilient Landscaping Coalition Guide to Sustainable Defensible Space" below.

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