Community Alliance with Family Farmers - January 2015

CAFF's e-newsletter for farmers and community members

The CA Small Farm Conference

March 7-10 in San Diego

"The CA Small Farm Conference provides a venue for small farmers and their supporters to come together to network, learn, discuss and grow. Over the years, an estimated 7,500 attendees have benefited from the short courses, programs, keynote speeches and events. Their mission is to conduct an educational conference on topics relevant to family farming, direct marketing and issues related to agricultural sustainability." Please join CAFF and attend this worthwhile event!

Photo by Paolo Vescia

Farmer Profile:
Full Belly Farm

by Rachel Petitt

Full Belly Farm is a 350-acre farm in Guinda, supplying more than 1,100 members with weekly CSA boxes. Full Belly has been certified organic since 1985. The farm's mission statement to create an "ecological sanctuary" is demonstrated through their commitment to sustainable agricultural practices. In 2014, Full Belly was honored with the Leopold Conservation Award for their achievements as exemplary land stewards.

Profile: Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA)

Founded in 2001, ALBA is a non-profit organization which aims to improve the livelihoods of the region's low-income farm workers by developing their agricultural and business management skills and connecting them to growing organic produce markets. ALBA owns and operates a farm-based business incubator program on 150-acres at two organic farms near Salinas and Watsonville, California. Continue Reading...

Policy Update

by Dave Runsten

A new year is upon us and things are getting underway in Sacramento. It is also the International Year of Soils and in Governor Brown's budget summary the following encouraging statement appears:

"Healthy Soils- As the leading agricultural state in the nation, it is important for California's soils to be sustainable and resilient to climate change." Continue Reading...

CA Farm to School Conference

Early bird registration will end January 31!

The California Farm to School Conference will be held on May 4-6 at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, CA. Join us for three days of short courses, field trips, a "Taste of Farm to School" dinner reception, and opportunities to learn, connect, and grow the farm to school movement in California through a diverse mix of powerful and engaging sessions. Visit the conference website to register and find out more about the event.