Center for Agroecology

Feature Articles:

USDA Grant Funds Central Coast Organic Research

Center Examines Central Coast Consumers' Interest in Food Systems Issues

New Training Manual on Direct Marketing and Small Farm Viability Released

New Book on Changes in Food System Released

Tips for Growing Stone Fruit in Backyard Gardens

Feature articles:

Center Researchers Lead USDA-funded Study of Farm-to-Institution Programs

Watershed Monitoring Efforts Expanded

Farm-to-College Set to Go Systemwide

For the Gardener: Growing Spinach, Beets, and Chard

Feature articles:

Community Supported Agriculture on California's Central Coast

Developing Nutrient Bugets

Farming with Nature in Mind

Information on dahlias, including their history, cultural requirements, bulb storage and recommended varieties 

Describes cover crop uses in the home garden, including tips on varieties and seeding rates.

Discusses the basic concepts associated with soil cultivation and garden bed preparation, including organic matter incorporation, nutrient release, and promoting good tilth and structure

In this article we review the benefits and challenges of Farm to School efforts, and describe some of the innovative ways that Food Service Directors (FSDs) on California’s Central Coast are working to over- come several of those challenges by forming effective partnerships with food banks, produce distributors, and other school districts. We also describe how efforts to formalize a regional school food alliance as well as share innovations via California- wide FTS trainings have further contributed to advancing FTS pro- grams. We close with suggestions for “next steps” to consider in develop- ing effective FTS efforts.

Winter squash production can be done with low capital investment and simple infrastructure. Squash has low seed cost, modest fertility needs, and relatively little labor requirements during the growing season. The broad leaf canopy minimizes weed pressure, and many varieties are fairly resistant to pests and diseases. “Winter” or “hard” squash is grown in the warm season and can be stored for some months (through the winter). Unlike “summer” squash (zucchini and other “soft” squashes) that must be harvested daily and stored in a cooler, winter squash has a flexible window of harvest and sale (with proper dry storage). These characteristics make winter squash a viable crop for beginning specialty crop growers.

This guide addresses the steps involved in growing winter squash organically on the Central Coast of California, with a focus on planting to moisture to minimize weed pressure.

Cut flowers have become a popular crop for small- and medium-scale mixed organic production farms. They can diversify and increase your income stream and offer an attractive option that draws consumers to your farmers’ market stall or farmstand. Cut flowers are a value-added specialty crop that in general can be managed like many other row crops while generating increased income per acre compared to most vegetables.

This grower guide provides examples of how to select and grow cut flowers, with a focus on crop planning and selection, harvest efficiencies, equipment needs, and market bouquets.

Crop diversity on small-scale farms is key to direct marketing strategies such as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), farmers’ markets, farm stands, and restaurant accounts. Crop diversity also benefits on-farm ecology, risk management, and economic viability. However, managing a diverse cropping system requires significant experience and planning for the farm operation to be productive, competitive, and financially viable.

This guide focuses on producing mixed blocks of 30- to 60-day, direct sown and transplanted crops suitable for CSA and direct market sales, with the goal of improving cropping system efficiencies and economic viability. Note that the guide does not address specific crop information, but focuses instead on managing the mixed crop production block as a whole.

Las papas (o patatas) pueden ser un buen complemento a un sistema de cultivos de especialidad mixta a pequeña escala. Con acceso al equipo adecuado para el manejo mecanizado de malezas, el aporque y la cosecha, las papas son relativamente fáciles de cultivar. El clima de la Costa Central es ideal para la producción de papa. Los rendimientos pueden alcanzar la impresionante cifra de 10 toneladas por acre. Esta guía describe los pasos necesarios para el cultivo orgánico de papas, las necesidades de equipo y proporciona información sobre los hábitos de crecimiento y variedades recomendadas de papas precoces -también conocidas como papas tempranas o papas “primor” y las papas “cremosas”. 

Los chiles son una excelente adición a la mayoría de los sistemas de cultivos mixtos orgánicos de pequeña escala que se centran en la ventas locales. Los chiles son muy productivos y producirán fruta de manera confiable de julio a octubre sin las tecnologías de extensión de temporada (como casas de aro). Son relativamente fáciles de cultivar y cosechar, y ofrecen múltiples opciones culinarias y de comercialización. Esta guía para productores aborda los pasos básicos de producción en el cultivo de chiles de manera orgánica en la región de la costa central de California y proporciona una visión general de variedades para aquellos interesados en agregar chiles a sus cultivos especializados.

Esta breve guía trata de prácticas de labranza, formación de camas, y siembra en humedad de cultivos especializados en granjas a pequeña y mediana escala.

Developed by the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, this series of case studies focuses on the social and environmental efforts of innovative U.S. food system businesses across different geographies, scales, legal structures, and points along the food supply chain.

While these represent only a handful of the thousands of socially and environmentally responsible food businesses across the nation, they have many features that others can learn from in developing sustainable businesses that incorporate the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits.

Developed by the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, this series of case studies focuses on the social and environmental efforts of innovative U.S. food system businesses across different geographies, scales, legal structures, and points along the food supply chain.

While these represent only a handful of the thousands of socially and environmentally responsible food businesses across the nation, they have many features that others can learn from in developing sustainable businesses that incorporate the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits.

Developed by the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, this series of case studies focuses on the social and environmental efforts of innovative U.S. food system businesses across different geographies, scales, legal structures, and points along the food supply chain. While these represent only a handful of the thousands of socially and environmentally responsible food businesses across the nation, they have many features that others can learn from in developing sustainable businesses that incorporate the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits.

A primer is defined as “a book that covers the basic elements of a subject.” In this primer, Alan Chadwick Garden manager Orin Martin discusses the basic steps involved in cultivating a healthy rose plant. Organic pest and disease control options are addressed, but the emphasis here is on selecting, establishing, and caring for your roses in a way that gives them the best chance to thrive in an organic setting — what Martin calls a “plant positive” approach.

The 1999–2001 Activity Report/Research Summary reports on the research, education, and public outreach work of the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems from July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2001.

Research in the United Kingdom and more recently in the United States has found geographic differences in access to affordable, nutritious food. In some cases more limited access has been associated with a higher proportion of residents in ethnic minority groups. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we explored the potential existence of “food deserts” and their relationship with ethnicity in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties. Relative to the region as a whole, there were few clusters of census blocks with less access to retail food outlets with fresh produce (grocery stores, supermarkets and fruiterias) after adjusting for population density. In addition, access to these retail food outlets was not associated with the percentage of the population that was Latino. However, we identified some areas that would benefit from further investigation, and that may be suitable locations for locating new fruit and vegetable markets. Such markets may benefit local residents, as well as new, limited-resource, and minority farmers who often have inadequate access to distribution networks for their produce.

In this research brief we present data from water quality monitoring conducted between October 2000 and September 2004, to demonstrate the way that agricultural land use influences phosphorus concentrations in streams and rivers. We discuss the nature of phosphorus pollution from agriculture along the Central Coast, examine the implications of these data for agricultural regulations, and offer suggestions for reducing phosphorus losses from farmlands.

This research brief examines the experiences of growers running Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects on the central coast of California, including their motivations for starting a CSA, the economic viability of their projects, the challenges they face, and issues of equal access to their products.

The objectives of this study, conducted from 2005 to 2007, were (1) to assess the habitat quality of different hedgerow plants for insect natural enemies and pests, (2) to track the movement of insects from hedgerows into adjacent crop fields and (3) to test the effect of hedgerows on parasitism rates of an economically important pest, the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni). This study took place at four farms with hedgerows on the Central Coast of California.

Summarizes social issues critical to sustainable agriculture. Raises questions to be considered in clarifying sustainability goals and translating them into action. 

Discusses ways to broaden the concept of sustainable agriculture so as to include issues of class, gender, and race.

Raises concerns about current sustainability definitions and suggests ways to incorporate social, environmental, and economic issues into a new definition of sustainable agriculture

For a variety of reasons, including the demands of buyers and insurance companies, food safety has become a major concern in farming operations. Federal regulations governing food safety on the farm are still developing, but even in their absence, all growers should be aware of and employ practices that minimize the risk of food-borne contamination. This unit introduces the concept of food safety, and the steps involved in the developmnent of a food safety plan based on “good agricultural practices” (GAPS).

The first lecture discusses some of the reasons behind recent food safety concerns, reviews the categories of microbes and the pathogens most involved in food contamination, and discusses the need for a food safety plan and the current status of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Lecture 2 discusses potential sources of pathogens, practices that minimize risks of microbial contamination, and the use of logs, checklists, and standard operating procedures in implementing and tracking good agricultural practices. The concepts of conservation and biodiversity on the farm as they relate to food safety are also introduced, along with third party audits and sources for help in developing a food safety plan.

This unit is about integrated farm planning. The goal of this approach to planning is to integrate the crop plan, the marketing plan, the financial plan, and the time management plan in order to minimize risk and maximize return.

All businesses have to manage uncertainty, but farmers face significant risks that are beyond their control, including the vagaries of nature, the fiercely competitive global market, land access challenges, and increased demands from local markets for ever-improved food safety plans and marketing materials. The farmer does not know what will happen each year, but over the life of the farm all of these pressures (and more) will surely influence the farmer’s success. While larger farmers selling into the undifferentiated commodity market can manage a great deal of production and marketing risk with crop insurance and marketing contracts, small-scale direct-market farmers have to manage their risks with their wits.

As with many things in farming, diversity—combined with planning—is the key. The lectures, exercises, and background scenario presented in Units 6.0–6.4 provide a framework for planning and operating a small direct-market farm to ensure resilience in an ever-changing world.

Affordable and secure access to land is crucial for assuring both the economic viability of small-scale agriculture and the adoption and use of sound land stewardship practices. In order to help beginning farmers secure long-term land tenure in the face of development and increasing land prices, new and innovative options for land tenure must be explored. This unit introduces students to a range of strategies that may be used to secure affordable access to land. Although the focus is on those farming or seeking farmland in California, this information will also be useful in other regions.

Lecture 1 examines the challenge of finding affordable farmland, and outlines various land tenure options, including leasing and purchasing, and alternative models such as community land trusts and shared ownership arrangements.

Lecture 2 offers “how to” information on finding land and developing a lease agreement. It also identifies government programs that offer help to beginning farmers who are looking for land and improving farmland.

Part 2, Applied Soil Science, covers basic information on soil chemistry, soil physical properties, and soil biology and ecology, providing a more detailed overview of the underlying scientific principles that inform many of the organic farming practices covered in Part 1.

Part 3, Social and Environmental Issues in Agriculture, first outlines the history and development of agriculture in the U.S. and then introduces students to social and environmental issues associated with conventional agriculture practices and the current organization of the food system. This section also introduces the concept of sustainable agriculture and current food justice efforts, and some of the existing obstacles to more sustainable food and agriculture systems.

Drawing on nearly 50 years of teaching organic farming and gardening, the staff of the University of California, Santa Cruz Farm & Garden Apprenticeship and invited authors have developed an updated and expanded resource for instructors based on many of the skills and concepts taught in UCSC’s annual Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture program. Teaching Organic Farming & Gardening: Resources for Instructors, 3^rd Edition addresses practical aspects of organic farming and gardening, applied soil science, and social and environmental issues in agriculture.

New features of the 3rd Edition include revised and expanded lecture outlines, new demonstrations and exercises, detailed narrative supplements to support lecture topics, and new appendices and illustrations. Although much of the material has been developed for field or garden demonstrations and skill building, most of the units can also be tailored to a classroom setting.

The 700-page manual was produced by UCSC’s Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food System and is designed for a wide audience of those involved in teaching farming and gardening skills and sustainable agriculture concepts, including colleges and universities with sustainable agriculture programs, student farms or gardens, and on-farm education programs; urban agriculture, community garden, and farm training programs; farms with internships or apprenticeships; agriculture extension stations; school gardening programs; organizations such as the Peace Corps, US AID, and other groups that provide international training in food growing and ecological growing methods; and master gardener programs.

This document highlights example outcomes, indicators and data collection questions. These items can be used to reflect on and develop specific evaluation efforts that are most appropriate to your organization. These tools may also be useful for planning the proposal writing process. 

This document provides an example theory of change for a hypothetical training program for aspiring farmers – highlighting the pathway the outcomes take from short-term to long-term.

This document was developed as part of an evaluation of the USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. It highlights the many possible components that can go into programs that train beginning farmers and ranchers. This document can be used for developing logic models for evaluation or project development.