Home Wildfire Assessments Resuming this July

Our home wildfire assessment program is back! If you are curious what you should do with a tree that may be a fire risk, what areas of your roof are most vulnerable to wildfire embers or just want some suggestions on how to start a new garden while keeping your house safe you should sign up for this free home assessment.

New Funding Anticipated

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VCRCD anticipates several opportunities for farmers and ranchers in Ventura County including pollinator habitat funding, irrigation efficiency project funding, soil moisture monitoring station implementation, and drought relief reimbursements. VCRCD will also be able provide nutrient management plans, pest management plans, carbon farm plans, and carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) assessments.

Please make sure to join our ag email list, and share your ag/working land interests and concerns with us by filling out our intake form. This form streamlines our process to help us match your needs with our current and upcoming programs and additionally it informs VCRCD staff on what grant applications we should pursue. Ag Interest Form linked here: https://forms.gle/jRrmhj2cw1L3L65T8

Please feel free to connect with Emily Nye, Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability Specialist, at emily.nye@vcrcd.org to learn more.

Oak Park Planting Day

Join us on June 24th at 9am for a planting day. We will be putting in new native plants to create a pollinator habitat near the Oak Park High School Baseball field. No previous gardening experience is necessary but please wear sun protection, bring water, and come in sturdy shoes.

RSVP

Avocado Irrigation Workshop

July 18th

1pm - 4pm

United Water Conservation District

1701 Lombard St. Ste 200, Oxnard CA 93030

The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) is hosting an Avocado Irrigation Workshop. VCRCD's Dr. Jamie Whiteford and UCCE's Dr. Ben Faber will be speaking as well as climate, irrigation, and agricultural specialists Dr. Tapan Pathak, Dr. Ali Montazar, Dr Peggy Mauk, and Etaferahu Takele.

For more information email Ben Faber at bafaber@ucanr.edu

Fillmore Gardening Day

Have fun helping us to extend the trail, planting native plants, moving mulch, and clearing invasive plants. You will learn about our local Santa Clara River Watershed, including its ecology, wildlife and the riparian restoration happening along the Santa Clara River. All ages welcome! For more information email info@vcrcd.org

Camarillo Wildfire Public Forum

The Ventura County Wildfire Collaborative and the City Camarillo hosted a Wildfire Public Forum for residents of the area. Attendees were able to hear directly from the Ventura County Fire Department, the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council, and other wildfire professionals.

Our next wildfire town hall will take place in the Santa Paula area, date still to be determined. Click the link below to register for our quarterly wildfire newsletter and learn about future town halls.

Lets Talk Butterflies

Scientist Desirae Braga and Outreach Coordinator Heidi Ortloff presented on the importance of pollinators in Ventura County, with a focus on actions that local residents could do to help the declining monarch butterfly population. Attendees were able to take home native milk weed to plant in their own home.

Public Works Day

Ventura County Public Works invited the VCRCD to spread the word about monarch butterflies. Over 1000 students attended the event and added their butterflies to our monarch overwintering tree.

VCRCD Applying for Block Grant

VCRCD is applying to CDFA State Water Efficiency & Enhancement Program (SWEEP) grant as a Block Grant Recipient (BGR). If awarded VCRCD will have up to $4 million to disperse to local farmers/ranchers for on-farm projects which reduce water use and greenhouse gas emissions. If VCRCD is awarded as a BGR then farmers will be able to apply to VCRCD for funding as soon as this fall 2023 for up to $200,000 per agricultural operation. Check out our webpage for more information: https://vcrcd.org/sweep-bgr/. See the pre-approved list of on-farm practices/projects: https://vcrcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/SWEEP_Project_RequirementsEligibility.pdf.

VCRCD is also applying to the CDFA Healthy Soils Program (HSP) grant as the as a Block Grant Recipient (BGR). If awarded VCRCD will have up to $4 million to disperse to local farmers/ranchers for on-farm projects that increase conservation management practices which improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs). If VCRCD is awarded as a BGR then farmers will be able to apply to VCRCD for funding as soon as this winter 2023 for up to $200,000 per agricultural operation per grant term. Check out our webpage for more information: https://vcrcd.org/hsp-bgr/ . See the pre-approved list of on-farm practices/projects and their payment rates Here

Ventura County Resource Conservation District

Board Meeting

June 21

8:30 am

3380 Somis Rd, Somis CA

VCRCD offers several planting and weeding events throughout the year. To receive emails when these events arise please sign up at the link below.

Become a Volunteer

If you can't volunteer your time consider making a donation to the VCRCD. Donations can help pay for resources that may not be covered by grant funds.

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