Amador RCD
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Soil Health ASsistance

What are healthy SOils?

A healthy soil will look, feel, and smell differently depending on your environment and context of  your operation. In general, healthy soils have a few things in common: an active microbiotic community, a diversity of living roots, plenty of pores for water to infiltrate, and an abundance of above-ground biomass protecting it from the elements. Each of these components contribute to the productivity of agricultural operations and result in increased water holding capacity and carbon sequestration. 

SIX Principles of Soil Health

KNOW YOUR CONTEXT. Our soil health practices are a reflection of ourselves and our stewardship of the land.
DO NOT DISTURB. In nature, there is no mechanical or chemical disturbance.
COVER & BUILD SURFACE ARMOR. Protect the soil's skin.
MIX IT UP with a diversity of plants, microbes, insects, wildlife, livestock. Mother Nature did not grow monocultures so why should we?
KEEP LIVING ROOTS IN THE SOIL as long as possible each year. Roots feed soil microorganisms, which feed our plants.
GROW HEALTHY ANIMALS & SOIL TOGETHER Grazing has been an essential component of all soils at one time or another.

Workshops

Throughout the state, RCDs, UCCE advisors, and nonprofits are hosting soil health workshops that cover a wide range of topics. We will be updating the below list as more workshops are advertised. Some of the events currently listed may be affected by the COVID19 pandemic. 
April 17th 2020 8am-11am DAY 1 Webinar
April 24th 2020 8am-11am DAY 2 Webinar

A FREE workshop about the production, soil health, and climate benefits of integrating sheep into the vineyard. Hear from Wine Country farmers, as well as university and extension specialists.
Click here to Register for the Webinar. 

April 22nd 2pm-3pm Webinar
Join Pasture Project and Dr. Kris Nichols for a webinar on cover crops and grazing as ways to stimulate carbon flow to soil biology, and learn how using these practices can build resilience to weather and pest and disease issues, as well as increasing overall profitability.
Register here.
May 1 & 2 Auburn, CA “Grazing School”
Co-hosted by Bruin Ranch, this two-day school will provide you with hands-on experience managing cattle on irrigated pasture and rangeland. You'll learn the principles of managed grazing, basic stockmanship and cattle handling skills, the basics of electric fencing, and grazing planning.
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/RanchingintheFoothills/
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Soil Health Resources

The websites listed below offer additional resources regarding soil health practices, implementation and current research. Once you click on any of the links you will leave the RCD website. ​
  • Websites
  • Reading
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
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Savory: Our mission is the large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands through Holistic Management to address the global issues of desertification, climate change, and food and water insecurity. savory.global

Regeneration International: To promote, facilitate and accelerate the global transition to regenerative food, farming and land management for the purpose of restoring climate stability, ending world hunger and rebuilding deteriorated social, ecological and economic systems. regenerationinternational.org

Regrarians: Working with producers worldwide to manage and create profitable agricultural landscapes and enterprises. www.regrarians.org

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is a private nonprofit organization, founded in 1976, which manages a series of projects that promote self-reliance and sustainable lifestyles through wise use of appropriate technology. Its programs deal with sustainable and renewable energy, energy conservation, resource-efficient housing, sustainable community development, and sustainable agriculture. attra.ncat.org

Kiss The Ground : Inspiring participation in global regeneration, starting with soil. 
kisstheground.com

Fibershed develops regional fiber systems that build soil and protect the health of our biosphere. www.fibershed.com

The Quivira Coalition builds soil, biodiversity, and resilience on western working landscapes. We foster ecological, economic, and social health through education, innovation, and collaboration. quiviracoalition.org

Holistic Management has helped thousands of farmers, ranchers and land stewards  around the world to create more healthy soil which provides many benefits including: improved water infiltration, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. holisticmanagement.org/healthy-soil

The mission of the non-profit Soil Health Academy is to teach and assist farmers and ranchers in applying time-tested, ecological principles and biomimicry to regenerate our living and life-giving soil. In restoring the health of our soil’s ecosystem, we will restore the health of our bodies, our farms, our communities, and our planet.
soilhealthacademy.org

The Carbon Cycle Institute’s mission is to stop and reverse climate global change by advancing science-based solutions that reduce atmospheric carbon while promoting 
environmental stewardship, social equity and economic sustainability. The Carbon Cycle Institute (CCI) is advancing this mission through our Ag Carbon Program, which is advancing carbon farming and regenerative rangeland management that builds soil carbon and critical ecosystem services on ranches, farms and working landscapes.  www.carboncycle.org/carbon-farming

The Soil Health Institute is a non-profit whose mission is to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and advancement. The Institute works with its many stakeholders to identify gaps in research and adoption; develop strategies, networks and funding to address those gaps; and ensure beneficial impact of those investments to agriculture, the environment and society. soilhealthinstitute.org

Regenerative Organic Certification is a holistic agriculture certification encompassing pasture-based animal welfare, fairness for farmers and workers, and robust requirements for soil health and land management. regenorganic.org

Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is a non-profit that builds sustainable food and farming systems through policy advocacy and on-the-ground programs that create more resilient family farms, communities, and ecosystems. www.caff.org

CalCAN advocates for policies to ensure the resilience and sustainability for California farms and ranches in the face of climate change. calclimateag.org

The Ecological Farming Association (EcoFarm) is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to nurture safe, healthy, just, and ecologically sustainable farms, food systems, and communities by bringing people together for education, alliance building, advocacy, and celebration. eco-farm.org

Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) trains and supports “whole communities” — schools, public agencies, Native American tribes, urban social justice organizations, watershed groups and others — to design and cultivate resilience to mounting ecological, social and economic challenges. 
oaec.org

Center for Land Based Learning educates youth on agriculture, business and the environment.   landbasedlearning.org 

Kitchen Table Advisors fuels the economic viability of sustainable small farms and ranches through practical business advising and trusted relationships. www.kitchentableadvisors.org

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=24747
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/magazine/dirt-save-earth-carbon-farming-climate-change.html
https://civileats.com/2019/09/23/to-prevent-the-next-dust-bowl-give-soil-a-chance/


Flipping the Table Podcast  https://www.rootsofchange.org/tag/flipping-the-table-podcast/

​Art of Range Podcast 
 https://artofrange.com/


Soil Carbon Cowboys Video https://vimeo.com/80518559

Technical & FINANCIAL Assistance Available


The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) funding is available to California farms and ranches for a variety of practices to build soil fertility and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing economic benefit to the operations. Project awards are available to operations of all sizes: medium and small scale operations are encouraged to apply. The Healthy Soils Incentives Program (HSP) can award up to $100,000 to implement any of the 25 eligible soil health practices, such as: cover crops, compost application, hedgerows, mulching, no-till or reduced till, and prescribed grazing on pasture.  If you are interested in applying check out the Healthy Soils Program website. The Amador RCD will be hosting workshops and providing technical assistance to applicants, sign up on the ARCD email list to stay updated. Amador RCD will be available to provide free one-on-one technical assistance through the application period.

Check out CDFA's website for application information, they have also created a video that walks you through the application process. 
Click Here to Sign Up for Updates
Questions about Healthy Soils Funding
Contact Molly Taylor: 1-(209) 202-3102 or 
HealthySoil@AmadorRCD.org
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  • Home
  • About
    • Mission/History
    • Meet the ARCD
    • Employment
    • Board Agenda/Minutes
    • Transparency
    • Our Partners
  • Projects
    • Current Projects
    • Proposed Projects
    • Past Projects
    • Chipping Program
    • Soil Health
    • On Farm Assistance
    • Forest Health Assistance
  • S.A.W.Q.A
    • Requirements
    • Membership Database
    • Member Assistance
  • Events & News
  • Contact