A local newspaper article from the Corning Observer / Appeal-Democrat (published September 2022) covering a Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)-sponsored agricultural field day held August 19, 2022 at Handy Farms in Richfield, Tehama County. More than 40 attendees — primarily family farm owners and employees of larger farming companies in the North State — gathered at Clayton Handy’s certified organic walnut orchard. Handy presented on alternative gopher control methods (biodiversity, owl boxes, daffodil bulbs around new plantings), plant sap analysis, and direct marketing of walnuts. CSU Chico’s Cindy Daley presented on soil health, regenerative agriculture, cover crops, water conservation, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration. The article also covers CAFF’s broader mission, the relaunch of the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS) program across six demonstration sites, and CAFF’s 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year recognition.
