BIOS Field Day at Unruh Farms
A blog post recap from Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) documenting a June 16, 2022 Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) project field day held at Unruh Farms in Princeton, CA. Attended by approximately 30 participants, the event featured demonstrations of predatory mite releases using Daniel Unruh’s custom-built mite blower, predator attractant application (soy flour, […]
Regenerative Practices Have Yielded Unruh Walnut Farms Big Dividends in Chemical Savings
A grower profile article from National Nut Grower magazine (November/December 2024 issue) covering Daniel Unruh’s regenerative transition at his 193-acre walnut orchard in Colusa County. Focuses on how his mustard cover crop strategy resolved a severe nematode problem without chemicals, the evolution toward diverse 30-species cover crop mixes, no-till and crimping practices, biological pest management, […]
Unruh Walnut Farms – Colusa County, California: A Soil Health Academy Case Study
An in-depth producer case study profiling Daniel and Rachelle Unruh’s 193-acre Chandler walnut orchard near Princeton, CA. Covers their transition from conventional to regenerative production starting in 2013, driven by an intractable nematode problem, and details their practices: diverse cover crop mixes (including mustard for nematode suppression), no-till, reduced synthetic nitrogen, pheromone mating disruption for […]
Interview with Molly Taylor on Cover Crops
A blog interview with PT Ranch manager Molly Taylor covering the ranch’s adoption of cover crops starting in 2020, including the specific species used (turnips, clovers, collard greens, oats, rye), their no-till approach, integration with cattle grazing, benefits to soil health and drought resilience, and how California’s Healthy Soils Incentive Program and carbon credit markets […]
5 with a Farmer: Molly Taylor of PT Ranch
A short-form video in Kiss the Ground’s “5 with a Farmer” series, featuring five rapid-fire questions with PT Ranch manager Molly Taylor about regenerative farming, her philosophy on soil health, and what she hopes future generations understand about working with nature rather than against it.
From the Orchard: Rich Gemperle Applies Hydrogeology Expertise to Farming
A Q&A profile of Rich Gemperle of Gemperle Family Farms in Turlock, a second-generation almond grower with a background as a hydrologic engineer. Gemperle discusses how his hydrogeology training informs a science-driven, trial-based approach to sustainable farming — including a long-running compost program using poultry manure from the family’s egg operation, cover cropping and hedgerow […]
Ceres Almond Grower Tests Cover Crops to Save Water
A KCRA-TV Sacramento news segment and article featuring Tanya Gemperle-Goncalves, sustainability manager for Gemperle Family Farm in Ceres. The piece explains how the 45-acre almond orchard has spent several years testing cover crops — including wheat, mustard, and legumes — planted between tree rows as a strategy to improve soil water-holding capacity and reduce irrigation […]
Burroughs Family Farms: Pioneering Regenerative Organic Certified Almond Farming
A Q&A-style article featuring Benina Burroughs Montes, managing partner of Burroughs Family Orchards, describing how the fifth-generation family farm became the first Regenerative Organic Certified almond operation in the country, and how their practices — including cover cropping, planned sheep grazing, hedgerows, whole orchard recycling, and a catch-frame harvest system — improve soil health, water […]
Full Belly Farm Farmer Profile: Nutrient Management on a Diversified Organic Farm
A detailed farmer profile from UC ANR’s Solution Center for Nutrient Management describing Full Belly Farm’s cover cropping systems (winter oat/vetch mixes and summer Sudan grass/cowpea/buckwheat), compost purchasing and application practices, sheep grazing for soil fertility and residue management, soil testing protocols, and the challenges and tradeoffs of organic nutrient management.
Know Your Farmer: Full Belly Farm — Soil Health and the Principles of True Organic
A farmer profile featuring video and transcript interviews with the Full Belly Farm partners — Paul Muller, Judith Redmond, Dru Rivers, and Hannah Muller — discussing the farm’s focus on biodiversity, soil health, cover cropping for on-farm fertility, multi-generational ownership, and the importance of maintaining strong organic standards.