Events
Find a Demonstration Event
March 12, 2025 1:00 pm
Tillage in Small-Scale Annual Cropping Systems: Balancing Farmer Wellbeing and Soil Health
Tillage in Small-Scale Annual Cropping Systems: Balancing Farmer Wellbeing and Soil Health
March 12, 2025
1 – 4:30 p.m.
Yagi Sisters Farm, Sebastopol
Free
Join the North Coast Soil Hub, UCCE, CAFF, and Yagi Sisters Farm for a workshop on tillage in diversified annual cropping systems. The workshop will feature an overview of the tillage trial Reyna Yagi and UCCE Advisor Ellie Andrews established as part of the CA Farm Demonstration Network to explore the intersection of farmer well-being and ecological health, a grower panel focusing on decision-making around tillage, information on soil-water dynamics, and peer learning discussion sessions on equipment and tradeoffs. Join us to learn, share, and advance the conversation together! Spanish interpretation is available. Registration is limited, please prioritize space for farmers.
Labranza en Sistemas de Cultivo Anual a Pequeña Escala: Equilibrando el Bienestar del Agricultor y la Salud del Suelo
12 de marzo, 2025
1 – 4:30 p.m.
Granja Yagi Sisters, Sebastopol
Gratuito
Únase al Centro de Suelos de la Costa Norte, la Extensión Cooperativa de la Universidad de California, la Alianza Comunitaria con Agricultores Familiares y la Granja Yagi Sisters en un taller sobre labranza en sistemas diversificados de cultivos anuales. El taller incluirá un resumen de un ensayo de investigación sobre labranza establecido por Reyna Yagi y la asesora de la Extensión Cooperativa Ellie Andrews como parte de la Red de Demostración Agrícola de CA, explorando la relación entre el bienestar del agricultor y la salud ecológica. También contaremos con un panel de productores centrado en la toma de decisiones sobre labranza, información sobre la dinámica suelo-agua y sesiones de discusión y aprendizaje sobre las ventajas y desventajas del uso de diferente maquinaria. ¡Acompáñenos para aprender, compartir y avanzar juntos en esta conversación! Se ofrecerá interpretación en español.
March 25, 2025 8:30 am
Grazing in Orchards Field Day and Monitoring Training
Point Blue (in partnership with General Mills and East Stanislaus RCD) is hosting a soil health field day on March 25th in Waterford. The morning portion is a demonstration of sheep grazing in orchards and the afternoon is dedicated to learning the Ag-C monitoring protocol. There will also be an optional pre-field webinar on March 18th for technical service providers on designing a carbon monitoring project using Ag-C.
Lunch is provided! RSVP here by March 18th.
Learn more here
March 26, 2025 8:30 pm
Resilient Rangelands: Stewarding Grassland Ecosystems for the Future
Resilient Rangelands: Stewarding Grassland Ecosystems for the Future
March 26, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Stemple Creek Ranch, Tomales
$30
Join the North Coast Soil Hub, Stemple Creek Ranch, and Point Blue Conservation Science for a day on the land exploring on-farm resilience, grazing management strategies for resource conservation, and evaluation and monitoring tools. With extreme weather events increasing in the region, hear from local ranchers how they are building resilience to drought, floods, wildfire, and seasonal shifts. In addition to learning valuable tools for evaluating changes and monitoring indicators of ecosystem health over time, participants will have the opportunity to gather together, share experiences, and strengthen our regional network.
March 27, 2025 9:30 am
Interactions Between Cover Cropping and Integrated Grazing in Walnuts
Drew Cheney of Machado Family Farms will share his experiences of working with Tom Johnson to trial various cover crop mixes designed to be grazable and, and depending on the mix, to increase pollinator forage availability, increase soil water infiltration, fix nitrogen, and much more!
We will also go on an interactive tour of the farm where we will be observing the differences in soil quality across the five different cover crop seed mixes by using tools like soil probes, shovels, and infiltration rings. Also, we will see how the different mixes will attract beneficial insects by using a sweep net and observing sticky cards.
Tom Johnson will describe the decision making process of selecting a cover crop to address grower’s soil needs and what factors they considered on Machado Family Farms before selecting the mixes they planted. We’ll also hear from Vince Arburua of VA Livestock and Frankie Arburua of F Ewe Sheep Company about integrated grazing into cropping systems and considerations from a grazing perspective.
Details:
This event will take place in Linden, CA. The address will be provided in the confirmation email after RSVPing.
We will be walking into the field for hands on activities and sampling, so please make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes and a hat!
Coffee, water, and snacks will be provided.
March 28, 2025 9:30 am
Promoting Livestock Integration and Pollinator Habitat in Vineyards
March 28, 2025
9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Alta Orsa Winery, Hopland
$15
Join the Mendocino County RCD and Alta Orsa Winery for an open discussion of regenerative viticulture practices, and a tour of the vineyard and winery with winegrower Martin Bernal-Hafner. The focus of this event will be on the benefits of supporting grazing and pollinator habitat in the vineyard, but there will be room to discuss the other exciting practices and projects ongoing at Alta Orsa, such as no-till, cover cropping, compost, and how the winery is keeping up with the grape market through sustainability.
April 2, 2025 8:30 am
Cultivating Biodiversity, Soil Health, and Community in North Coast Vineyards
Cultivating Biodiversity, Soil Health, and Community in North Coast Vineyards
April 2, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Medlock Ames Winery, Healdsburg
$40
Join the North Coast Soil Hub, UC Organic Agriculture Institute, Medlock Ames Winery, Sonoma Vineyard Technical Group, and Napa Green for a half day workshop to build community and advance our shared understanding of how to improve soil health and biodiversity in North Coast vineyards. The Symposium features a grower panel on transitioning to regenerative practices, science talks on integrated sheep vineyard systems and soil health evaluation, and resources for supporting wildlife habitat and biodiversity. The 5th Annual Soil Symposium will be a critical opportunity to build resilience and strengthen connections in the face of change. Free hedgerow tour at Ridge Vineyards to follow – please register separately for the tour.