How to Accept CalFresh Benefits on Your Farm

Training workshop Monday March 30th, 2015 at the Sebastopol Grange Hall. 

CAFF and ISFC will co-host a training workshop for direct market farmers to go through the application process in order to receive a subsidized wireless EBT machine and accept CalFresh benefits. 

This potluck and discussion will be held at the Sebastopol Grange Hall from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Need more information?

Contact rachel@caff.org

PACSAC: Portland Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition

PACSAC: Portland Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition

PACSAC's CSA Share Fair was featured in Edible Portland

CSA Share Fair: Spring Starts Here

Join the Portland Area CSA Coalition and Ecotrust on March 21, the spring equinox, to celebrate CSA and spring. Meet 30+ CSA farmers, taste spring greens, and join in chef demos, farmer matchmaking, a cookbook swap, kid’s games, and more. And it’s FREE! More details to come, but mark your calendars today!

CSA Share Fair
March 21, 10 am – 2 pm
At the Redd, 831 SE Salmon St.

(photos from Diggin’ Roots Farm)

CSA Farm Profile: Singing Frogs Farm

Located just northwest of downtown Sebastopol, Singing Frogs Farm is no stranger to the community. This multi award-winning farm is a leader in sustainable, ecologically friendly (and certified bee friendly) farming. Singing Frogs Farm is not only free of conventional, but also organic pesticides, practicing what is often termed “Beyond Organic.” Singing Frogs Farm proudly exceeds all organic standards. They prefer to “encourage the presence of Mother Nature,” providing all natural, spray-free produce. Singing Frogs Farm uses a “no-till” system of soil management, which owners Elizabeth and Paul Kaiser suggest, “boosts productivity and profits, and dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions.” This nine-acre farm grows over 100 varieties of vegetables and many fruits, berries, herbs, flowers, and also eggs.

Singing Frogs Farm is a dedicated supporter of CAFF’s work. We also welcome farm owner, Paul Kaiser, who recently joined CAFF as a board member! Singing Frogs Farm has recently sponsored two North Coast schools to participate in CAFF’s Harvest of the Month (HOTM) program for March-May 2015.

In addition, Singing Frogs Farm hosts several events ranging from farm tours to Easter egg hunts, and also provides year-round CSA membership. Click here to learn more about the program and join, so you can support Singing Frogs Farm and enjoy nutrient dense, locally grown produce.

National CSA Sign-up Day

The most popular day of the year to sign-up for a CSA:

February 28th

Another great dinner and discussion of all things CSA!

We had a full house in the 18 Reasons kitchen last Tuesday! People crowded in to share a meal prepared from the contents of an Eatwell CSA box and to hear Lorraine speak about the farm. Check out the pictures, and look out for the next class sometime in the Summer! 

http://caff.org/programs/csas/network/

CSA Farm Profile: Full Belly Farm

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 LeopoldConservation Award for their achievements as exemplary land stewards.

The farm’s CSA program was started in 1992, and runs from January to November. It is a single-farm CSA, ensuring consumers that all of the fruit, nuts, produce, and flowers found in the weekly shares are grown at Full Belly. A timeline of what crops the farm grows each season is available here.

More than 60 people are employed at Full Belly, including a rotating crew of about five full-time interns. The year-long internship (minimum) is world renowned, providing future farmers with training in harvesting, cultivating, washing, packing, and marketing produce. Interns also cook and share meals together.  A list of farm dinners, tours, and other community events is available here. 

Full Belly has been a member of CAFF since 1993. For more than two decades CAFF and Full Belly have partnered to promote sustainable agriculture and provide healthy food for our community. Farm co-founder, Judith Redmond, serves on the policy committee of the CAFF board, where she works on matters concerning food safety and direct market policy. More than half of CAFF’s board members are family farmers, ensuring that a farmer’s perspective is present in all facets of our work. 

Farm Commons Webinars

Going In-Depth With CSA Farm Law

Broadcast date: Tuesday, February, 24 2015, 12:00 pm CST

 

In this webinar, farmers will get in-depth tools to move forward on managing sales, drop-site, volunteer, and worker share matters. We’ll also discuss some of the more unique CSA programs like farmers’ market pre-pay programs and multi-farm cooperative CSAs. Farmers who’ve already attended one of Farm Commons’ basic CSA law programs will get a lot out of this advanced session.

Registration link: Join Webinar

Also, see the archived webinar: 

Put Your CSA On Strong Legal Footing

Broadcast date: Tuesday, December, 9 2014, 11:00 am CST

 

CSA is an incredibly unique relationship between farmer and customer. But, this means it also has unique legal dynamics. CSA farmers who critically analyze their membership agreement, drop sites, and farm event programs beforehand set themselves up for success. Learn how an attorney sees CSA and what you can do to protect your farm. This webinar will also discuss risks with farm volunteer programs and buying the right insurance.

Eatwell Dinner and Discussion

Eatwell. Drinkwell. Be Merry. 

Tuesday February 24th, 2015

18 Reasons Kitchen San Francisco

https://18reasons.org/classes-events-eatwell-farm

 

EcoFarm 2015

Another inspirational, productive, and fulfilling EcoFarm Conference! 

January 21-24, 2015
 
Here are just a few of the highlights:

Seed Exchange

Sustie Awards

Sunset at the beautiful Asilomar Conference Grounds

https://eco-farm.org/conference

CAFF and 18 Reasons host a dinner Discussion with Eatwell Farm

Announcing the 2nd in a series of CSA-focused cooking classes held at 18 Reasons kitchen in San Francisco! 

Join CAFF and Nigel & Lorraine Walker of Eatwell Farm on February 24th for dinner and a discussion of sustainable, small-scale, farming! Limited seating available. 

https://18reasons.org/classes-events/2015-02-24/dinner-discussion-eatwell-farm-community-alliance-family-farmers

A three-course dinner discussion paired with wine.

CAFF and 18 Reasons are happy to be co-hosting the second dinner in a series focused on local farms offering community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. Nigel and Lorraine Walker of Eatwell Farm will join us at the table to discuss their 105-acre operation in Dixon, an hour East of San Francisco.
With more than twenty years of farming experience under his belt, Nigel is equipped to answer any farming question you have for him. Lorraine is the founder of Drinkwell Softers, a good food company that developed from her passion for fermentation, and has endless recipe suggestions! Meet your farmers and enjoy a three course meal created by 18 Reasons' Chef Michelle from the ingredients of an Eatwell CSA share.

MENU  
Romanesco with Green Garlic Aioli  
Farro, Butternut Squash, Pistachio + Arugula Pesto  
Tangerines + Fresh Dates, Bi-rite Creamery's Earl Grey

Nigel Walker was born in Leicester (pronounced "Lester"), England, and studied at Writtle Agricultural College in Essex. Though the school taught production farming with chemicals, Nigel received permission to fulfill his practicum at an organic farm in Kent, England. He studied drip irrigation in 1985 in Israel, a country where “if you waste water it’s treason.” He returned to England and farmed there until moving to California in 1992.
 
Lorraine Walker met Nigel in 2008 and married him in 2011. Getting involved in the farm initially in a support role, she developed Drinkwell Softers from her interest and passion for fermented foods into a fully-fledged business, adding efficiency, value and diversity to what Eatwell Farm has to offer.