Ag Field Day in Richfield Focuses on Sustainable Farming
A local newspaper article from the Corning Observer / Appeal-Democrat (published September 2022) covering a Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)-sponsored agricultural field day held August 19, 2022 at Handy Farms in Richfield, Tehama County. More than 40 attendees — primarily family farm owners and employees of larger farming companies in the North State — […]
Gemperle Orchards: Sometimes Finding an IPM Balance Takes Time
A National Nut Grower magazine grower profile (May/June 2022 issue) documenting Christine and Erich Gemperle’s decade-long evolution toward integrated pest management (IPM) at their 135-acre almond operation in Ceres, CA. Details how an accidental observation of beneficial insects during cover crop mowing led Christine to forgo a routine preventative abamectin mite spray — resulting in […]
BIOS Field Day at Unruh Farms
A blog post recap from Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) documenting a June 16, 2022 Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) project field day held at Unruh Farms in Princeton, CA. Attended by approximately 30 participants, the event featured demonstrations of predatory mite releases using Daniel Unruh’s custom-built mite blower, predator attractant application (soy flour, […]
Regenerative Practices Have Yielded Unruh Walnut Farms Big Dividends in Chemical Savings
A grower profile article from National Nut Grower magazine (November/December 2024 issue) covering Daniel Unruh’s regenerative transition at his 193-acre walnut orchard in Colusa County. Focuses on how his mustard cover crop strategy resolved a severe nematode problem without chemicals, the evolution toward diverse 30-species cover crop mixes, no-till and crimping practices, biological pest management, […]
Unruh Walnut Farms – Colusa County, California: A Soil Health Academy Case Study
An in-depth producer case study profiling Daniel and Rachelle Unruh’s 193-acre Chandler walnut orchard near Princeton, CA. Covers their transition from conventional to regenerative production starting in 2013, driven by an intractable nematode problem, and details their practices: diverse cover crop mixes (including mustard for nematode suppression), no-till, reduced synthetic nitrogen, pheromone mating disruption for […]
From the Orchard: Rich Gemperle Applies Hydrogeology Expertise to Farming
A Q&A profile of Rich Gemperle of Gemperle Family Farms in Turlock, a second-generation almond grower with a background as a hydrologic engineer. Gemperle discusses how his hydrogeology training informs a science-driven, trial-based approach to sustainable farming — including a long-running compost program using poultry manure from the family’s egg operation, cover cropping and hedgerow […]
Ceres Almond Grower Tests Cover Crops to Save Water
A KCRA-TV Sacramento news segment and article featuring Tanya Gemperle-Goncalves, sustainability manager for Gemperle Family Farm in Ceres. The piece explains how the 45-acre almond orchard has spent several years testing cover crops — including wheat, mustard, and legumes — planted between tree rows as a strategy to improve soil water-holding capacity and reduce irrigation […]
Jalama Canyon Ranch
At Jalama Canyon Ranch, our farming philosophy is rooted in the belief that ecological health, agricultural productivity, and community resilience are interdependent. We steward this 1,000-acre landscape—situated just eight miles from Point Conception, at the crest of the Santa Ynez watershed and bordering the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve—as a living laboratory dedicated to the […]
MacRostie- Thale’s Vineyard
MacRostie is committed to using sustainable management practices on all their ranches, including at Thale’s Vineyard near Healdsburg. MacRostie has been implementing sustainable practices for several years, to best care for their land and resources, and to produce high quality grapes for their wine. MacRostie is certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowers Alliance. They […]
California Olive IPM Workshop
Ca