Vineyard Field Trial Insights: Plant Cover Systems and Soil Health
A North Coast Soil Hub news/update post (published January 23, 2024) summarizing highlights from the Ferrington Vineyard Field Trial in Mendocino County. Links to a downloadable PDF of the October 2022 Ferrington Vineyard Field Trial Summary, which documents findings from a replicated field trial comparing cover crop and tillage management approaches and their effects on […]
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 […]
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 […]
Cuyama Lamb: Regenerating Native Grasslands Through Sheep Grazing
A feature article by the nonprofit Kiss the Ground profiling Cuyama Lamb as a pioneering regenerative grazing operation rooted in Native American land stewardship principles. Covers their rotational grazing model, wildfire risk reduction, invasive species management, and cooperative ownership goals.
Burroughs Family Farms: Daily Care of Pastured Poultry
A video in which Rosie Burroughs introduces her grandson Jed and walks through the daily care practices for pastured poultry at Burroughs Family Farms, showing how chickens are managed as part of the farm’s diversified, multigenerational regenerative operation
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.
Jalama Canyon Ranch
At Jalama Canyon Ranch, our farming philosophy is rooted in the belief that ecological health, agricultural productivity, and community resilience are interdependent. We steward this 1,000-acre landscape—situated just eight miles from Point Conception, at the crest of the Santa Ynez watershed and bordering the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve—as a living laboratory dedicated to the […]