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• Save the date: GivingTuesday
• TEAM field trips see 200 students in October
• Meet our new Associate Director
• RCDs in the Press Democrat
• UCCE Limited Resource Needs Assessment
• Check out more ways to get involved with the RCD and community
• Happy Thanksgiving!

Save the date GivingTuesday: How you can support your RCD

Through drought, wildfire, and a changing climate the RCD stands ready to help our community build a more resilient future. We cannot do this without your help. Please consider supporting your RCD today.

In this season of gratitude, we are so thankful for you, our RCD community. We know that our work would be impossible without you. Whether you invited us onto your land to do a conservation project, shared our eNews or social media posts with friends and family, attended a virtual event, or collaborated as a partner in our programs, your contributions made us and our community better this year.

"GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity." (GivingTuesday, 2022). This year on November 29, organizations around the world will participate in this community giving event.

On November 29th GivingTuesday, we ask that you consider contributing financially to the RCD at whatever level you’re able. Local support is essential to the RCD’s operations and programs, and your donations truly make a difference. Invest financially in conservation – make a donation to the RCD, helping us put boots on the ground for conservation in the new year. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

8 Ways RCDs Benefit the Public

Established in response to the social, environmental, and economic struggles of the Dust Bowl Era, Resource Conservation Districts across America have been working hand-in-hand with land managers for the past 75-plus years to conserve and restore natural resources and provide community benefits.

As technical assistance providers, RCDs play a supportive role in building the network necessary to improve our use and stewardship of natural resources while also supporting the farmers that produce our food and fiber. In this article, we let RCDs play a rare starring role by highlighting some of the critical work we do to benefit our communities — and the people, animals, and plants that live there.

Making on farm connections and memories

Last month, our TEAM (Teaching Environmental and Agricultural Memories) program jumped into a full year of in-person, on farm programming and we are so happy to be back out on the land! Over 200 elementary students throughout Sonoma County visited Open Field Farm in Petaluma through our TEAM program. Open Field Farm is a diversified farm, raising grass fed beef, sheep, and pastured eggs, while also growing a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, dry corn, flowers, and small grains. All of the food grown is distributed through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

The TEAM field trip program is a unique environmental education program offered to elementary youth county wide in partnership with the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District. The content of the TEAM program incorporates the significant role that Sonoma County’s characteristic agricultural landscape plays in environmental stewardship.

We are excited to offer field trips to Dutton Apple Ranch and Duckworth Family Farm in spring 2023. Class sign-up dates can be found here and on social media. The TEAM Program is made possible by our partnership with Ag + Open Space. There is no charge for these field trips, which is made possible by the voters of Sonoma County who fund the work of Ag + Open Space with a quarter-cent sales tax.

These Sonoma County businesses aren't just cultivating crops or raising livestock, they're farming carbon

MARY FRICKER

FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

November 3, 2022, 8:41AM

“Carbon farming is one of our best opportunities to achieve our climate goals in this county. Farmers and ranchers are already being part of the solution, and that’s only going to increase,” said local ag expert Valerie Quinto.

Leaders in this Sonoma County effort are two 80-year-old organizations that grew out of a national movement to help farmers during the desperate years of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

CDFA awards $25.5 million for Farm to School projects across California

CDFA Office of Public Affairs

November 10, 2022

The Sonoma RCD is elated to collaborate with project partners Conservation Works, School Garden Network, Gold Ridge RCD, and Community Alliance with Family Farmers on the "Sonoma County Farm to School Capacity Building and Sustainability Project" just awarded last week by CDFA. A total of $488,600.03 will provide Sonoma County schools with local food sourced from micro farmers and those using climate-friendly, regenerative practices. We will also work to revitalize school gardens with plantings, infrastructure, and education; identify solutions to barriers to farm-to-school models; and provide farm trips and classroom modules.



"As part of California’s nation-leading investment in farm to school programs, the California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Farm to Fork (CDFA-F2F) is excited to announce $25.5 million in funding for 120 farm to school projects across the state." Visit the CA Farm to School Incubator Grant Program website to view the full list of 2022 grantees.

Limited Resource Needs Assessment

This is a message from UCCE

Dear Grower & Grazer,

University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) is conducting a survey to determine the needs of farmers and ranchers as they pertain to land access, infrastructure, markets, etc. The goal of the survey is to determine what are the barriers to increasing the economic viability of the small scale, crop and livestock production in Sonoma County. The survey is being conducted by Stephanie Larson, Livestock and Range Management Advisor, Ellie Andrews, Specialty Crops Advisor (who starts January 2023), and Kerry McGrath, Agriculture Ombudsman. We are seeking increased access for grazing and Ellie’s research focuses on organic matter amendments, nutrient cycling, water dynamics, soil health, plant physiology and productivity. We would be grateful for your participation in this survey as it will help me take a first step toward understanding how to orient UCCE’s program goals to best support grazers’ and growers' interests.

This survey will assist University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Sonoma County to better serve our specialty crop and livestock producers and will be used in collaboration with a county wide effort to increase land access for food production. Link to the survey: 

 https://ucanr.edu/limitedresourcesurvey or the QR Code below, to complete the survey. Individuals that complete and return the survey will be placed in a drawing for a gift certificate to a local farm supply store. Your name and email address will need to be added to the survey.

Curtailments Lifted - Russian River Curtailment Status List November Revision

This is a message from the State Water Resources Control Board

Due to additional forecasted precipitation for the region, the Division of Water Rights is posting a revised Curtailment Status List that will soon be available on the Russian River Drought Response webpage taking effect on November 5, 2022. With this update, there are no water right curtailments in place. Despite the lifting of curtailments for appropriative rights and diversion reductions for riparian rights, right holders must continue to regularly monitor the Curtailment Status List for the latest curtailment statuses prior to diversion. 

Curtailments are lifted for all appropriative water rights in the watershed. Riparian claimants diverting under a Statement of Diversion and Use are not subject to correlative reductions. 

Division staff continues to actively monitor forecasted precipitation for the rest of November within the watershed. The Division will post a revised Curtailment Status List should supply conditions change and a degree of reductions are again necessary. 

If you received this notice in a forwarded message or are not otherwise subscribed to the Russian River Drought email list and would like to receive future emails related to this and similar efforts, please subscribe to the State Water Board’s “Russian River Drought” email subscription list under “Water Rights”

at:https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.html 

If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Water Rights at RussianRiverDrought@waterboards.ca.gov

or (916) 341-5318.

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.

8th Annual Latino Farmer Conference

Presented by The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

November 17-18, 2022

Join NCAT and NRCS at the 8th Annual Latino Farmer Conference. in Escondido, CA on November 17 and 18. This sustainable agriculture conference for Spanish-speaking farmers brings together the Latino farming community, the agriculture industry, agribusiness leaders, and advocates for sustainability for two days of workshops, local farm visits, networking, and learning - all in Spanish. Register and apply for free lodging here: Latino Farmer Conference – The National Center for Appropriate Technology (ncat.org)

Questions?

Contact Katherine Favor at katherinef@ncat.org or Omar Rodriguez at omarr@ncat.org

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!

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