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 […]
Diversified Drought-Tolerant Silvopasture in Oak Savanna Rangeland: PT Ranch Producer Case Study
A producer case study profiling PT Ranch in Ione, CA, documenting how ranch manager Molly Taylor implemented four silvopasture systems — a fruit orchard, pig fodder bank, olive orchard, and irrigated pasture hedgerows — to restore native oak savanna, sequester carbon, and diversify farm income through integrated tree-livestock systems.
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: Integrating Pastured Poultry with Dairy, Almonds, and Olives
A video in which Ward Burroughs describes the integration (“stacking”) of pastured chickens with the farm’s other enterprises — chickens following cows in dairy pastures and grazing in almond and olive orchards during winter — illustrating how enterprise stacking enhances soil fertility and overall farm resilience
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 […]
Sustainable Agriculture Leaders: Rosie & Ward Burroughs
A video profile of Rosie and Ward Burroughs, who farm organic almonds and operate an organic pasture-based dairy near Merced in California’s Central Valley, discussing their approach to regenerative and sustainable agriculture.
Rosie & Ward Burroughs: Farmer Heroes Building Sustainable, Climate-Resilient Farms in California’s Central Valley
A Farm Aid Farmer Heroes profile of Rosie and Ward Burroughs, who own and operate sustainable organic farms in California’s Central Valley, detailing their commitment to soil health, management intensive grazing, on-farm composting, solar energy, French drain water management systems, and their advocacy for climate-friendly farming through organizations such as CalCAN and WODPA