Holiday greetings from the SARC!
This has been a particularly fruitful year for the SARC and the Cal Poly
Organic Farm, with several new employees having joined our team and many
new projects under way. Our newest staff member, Christine
Casillas, joined SARC this month as our new Outreach Coordinator.
Anastasia Killham (the former Coordinator) has moved on to new
adventures. Welcome, Christine & many thanks to Anastasia for
her 2 years of dedicated service!
I would also like to acknowledge several College of Agriculture faculty
(http://www.calpoly.edu/~sarc/staff.htm)
who have been particularly helpful this year in helping the SARC to
define four new ‘Program Areas’
(http://www.calpoly.edu/~sarc/programareas.htm)
through which many future SARC programs will be offered. Long-time
Advisor to the Cal Poly Organic Farm, Dr. John Phillips, will be helping
the SARC to launch a ‘Cal Poly Organic Initiative’ in 2007. Dr.
David Headrick will be directing SARC’s new ‘Professional Education
Program’, offering trainings such as the annual Sustainable Agriculture
PCA Conference. Dr. Ramon Leon is helping the SARC develop an
‘International Program’, which we are hoping will re-inaugurate
student exchanges with EARTH University in Costa Rica (among other
institutions), and SARC Faculty Director, Dr. Neal MacDougall, will be
working with other College faculty to develop a SARC Wine &
Viticulture Program to advance ideas for sustainability in that growing
arena.
FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE PCA CONFERENCE (Dec. 1-2), or for anyone
interested in resources on sustainable pest control, PLEASE NOTE: most of
the presentations given at that annual SARC event have been linked to the
Conference agenda at:
http://www.calpoly.edu/~sarc/PCA06agenda.htm
Speaker presentations are downloadable in PDF format and
offer a wealth of information to growers and consultants in
agriculture. May thanks to speakers and sponsors of this event; it
was very well received by those in attendance!
You may also wish to check out pictures from the December Conference
at:
http://www.calpoly.edu/~sarc/06pcapix.htm
And, recently updated pictures from our June Fundraiser
Dinner at:
http://www.calpoly.edu/~sarc/06fundraiserpix.htm
CAL POLY MIXER at ECO-FARM: Our next public gathering will
be at the annual Ecological Farming Conference at the beautiful Asilomar
grounds in Pacific Grove (near Monterey). The Conference will take place
Jan 24-27, 2007. Keynote speakers include Richard Heinberg on
"Peak Oil: Forty Million Farmers Needed" and Miguel Altieri of
UC Berkeley on "Agroecology: Challenges and Opportunities of the
Sustainable Agriculture Movement in the 21st Century. Visit the website
for details:
www.eco-farm.org.
THE SARC WILL BE HOSTING A ‘CAL POLY MIXER’ FROM 5:30-7:00 PM IN THE
SURF & SAND LIVING ROOM ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 26TH. Please join us
with Cal Poly friends and alumni for refreshments if you are able!
Other announcements:
1. Join ECOSLO in the greening of SLO by PLANTING TREES: 12/9-1/27
2. Community SOLSTICE CELEBRATION in Santa Margarita: 12/21
3. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION available @ UC Davis: Reviews begin
1/1
4. Production and research BERRY INTERN POSITIONS available:
App. 1/10
5. All are invited to CCOF’S “GOING ORGANIC PROJECT” Mtg. in Selma:
1/10
6. WINE TASTING TOUR & fundraiser for Leukemia Society: 1/19
7. Industry-sponsored COMPOST TEA Conference in FLA: 1/21
8. PRE-CONFERENCE on Organic Ag at ECO-FARM Conference: 1/23
9. 2007 AAIE Ecological Pest Management Conference: 2/4-6
10. Canon National Parks Science SCHOLARS COMPETITION 2007: Deadline
5/3
11. 6th CA SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE seeking presenters:
6/24-27
12. Free SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE directory from the USDA
13. SLO Office of Ed. is seeking CURRICULUM REVIEWERS (Enviro.
Initiative)
14. Like DUNGENESS CRAB? Check out Casa Festiva Website’s
December Issue
15. Odd job PRUNING Opportunity in SLO: NOW
16. Robert Freeman Ford Dairy (Organic Dairying) INTERNSHIP FUND
available!
17. Program Manager sought for AG. WATER QUALITY Coalition: Due
12/31
************************************************************************
1. Join ECOSLO in the greening of SLO by PLANTING TREES: 12/9-1/27
ECOSLO is planting trees behind the City Water Treatment Facility on
Prado Rd. Volunteers are welcome to meet in the parking lot of the City
Corporation Yard, at 25 Prado Rd., every Saturday from the 9th of
December until the 27th of January at 10am (except for the 23rd and 30th
of December). The tree planting parties last from 10am until 2pm! ECOSLO
will provide all the tools, but please bring your own gloves, water, and
snacks. For more information, contact Patrick Kirby at (805)544-1777 or
patrick@ecoslo.org
2. Community SOLSTICE CELEBRATION in Santa Margarita: 12/21
Coyote Road and the Tread Lightly Farm are sponsoring a Winter Solstice
Gathering and Celebration of Community on Thursday, December 21 between
10AM and 10PM in Garden Farms (Santa Margarita). There will be
family-oriented activities for all including learning firemaking, gourd
painting, cobb building, art, music and dancing. Please bring:
vegetable to add to soup, warm clothes, potluck dish and eating
utensils. There is a suggested donation of $5 for this event. For
directions and to RSVP, please call or email Rob & Karyn Kimmell at
zigge@kcbx.net 438-5745.
3. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION available @ UC Davis: Reviews begin
1/1
The University of California at Davis is looking to fill the position of
Assistant Professor of Agricultural Sustainability and Society. A Ph.D.
degree in anthropology, geography, planning, political science, rural
sociology, or sociology is necessary to qualify for the position.
Preference will be given to those whose research is publishable and
concentrates upon the relationship between agricultural sustainability
and communities in the U.S. For further information about this position,
please contact the Chair of the Search Committee, Stephen Brush
(sbbrush@ucdavis.edu). For technical or administrative questions
regarding the application process please email the Search Committee
Coordinator, Jeri L. Sorensen (jlsorensen@ucdavis.edu). To apply,
candidates should begin the application process by registering online at
http://hcd.recruitments.ucdavis.edu.
Please include statements of research and teaching interests, curriculum
vitae, publication list, and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone
numbers of at least four professional references. Review of the
applications will begin January 1, 2007.The position will remain open
until filled.
4. Production and research BERRY INTERN POSITIONS available:
App. 1/10
Driscoll’s
(www.driscolls.com),
the largest year-round berry producer in the world, is offering two paid
internships. The Production intern will assist in the operations of
a strawberry and or raspberry ranch. The research assistant intern
will assist in the process of conducting applied research activities in
strawberry and raspberry crops. Both positions are three month paid
internships in Mexico. Housing and transportation will be
provided. The positions are available from March-May 2007.
Applications for these positions must be filed by the 10th of
January. (Summer internships are also available – deadline is
April 10 to be considered for those.) To apply, e-mail resume,
cover letter, and a faculty reference to Wendy.acevedo@berry.net.
Include your language skills. Questions may be directed to Cal Poly
AGB Professor McCorkle in Room 10-225.
5. All are invited to CCOF’S “GOING ORGANIC PROJECT” Mtg. in Selma:
1/10
The upcoming CCOF meeting of their new ‘Going Organic Project’ is a
great opportunity to brush up on or learn about organic farming and
certification issues while meeting new and current organic growers. The
event will be held from 9am-3pm on the 10th of January and is located at
the Spike and Rail Steakhouse (2910 Pea Soup Anderson Blvd. Selma, CA
93662). A free organic lunch will be served to all who attend. All
interested parties are welcomed. For more information on the event please
visit
www.ccof.org/goingorganic.php
6. WINE TASTING TOUR & fundraiser for Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society: 1/19
Join Mike Sinor, one of the premier Central Coast winemakers and owner of
Sinor-Lavalee Wines, on a guided tour of Sinor-Lavalee, Churchill &
Claiborne, Saucelito Canyon, Ortmann, and Wolff Vineyards. Sinor’s tour
will feature conversations with vineyard/winery owners and winemakers,
who will share their growing practices and wine making methods. The tour
will take place on January 19th and begin at 1pm at Claiborne &
Churchill (2649 Carpenter Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo). Tickets for the
event are $100 per person and include all tasting fees, bus
transportation, special wine purchase discounts, and entry in a wine and
merchandise raffle. This event is a fundraiser for the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society/Team in training. For more information, about the LLS
please visit
www.teamintraining.org.
For more information about this event, please contact Steve Moore at
sfmoore@earthlink.net.
7. Industry-sponsored COMPOST TEA Conference in FLA: 1/21
The US Composting Council & the Compost Tea Industry Association
(www.composttea.org)
will be co-sponsoring a unique workshop: ‘Compost Tea — Beyond the
Basics’ in Orlando, FL on Sunday, January 21, 2007. This workshop is
intended for those who already have a basic understanding of compost tea
production and applications. A brief ‘compost tea primer’ will be
given at the beginning, but the majority of the session will focus on
biological and chemical attributes of compost tea, analytical methods to
evaluate quality, and interpretation of analytical data for designing
effective application programs. Findings from current research
investigating the effects of vermicompost tea on plant growth and
suppression of diseases and pests will also be presented. For a details
and a workshop description, please see:
http://www.compostingcouncil.org/pdf/07_Compost_Tea_WS.pdf.
To register, visit:
http://www.compostingcouncil.org/pdf/07_Con_Reg_form.pdf
8. PRE-CONFERENCE on Organic Ag at ECO-FARM Conference:
1/23
Join colleagues just prior to the Eco-Farm Conference
(www.eco-farm.org)
this year in a dialogue about the future of organic agriculture. This
conference will examine national and federal priorities for organic
agriculture. Organic agriculture in this country has a future beyond a
Federal program – help to map it out and stay on course. Collaborate
with organic advocates around the U.S. to initiate a dialogue to develop
a National Organic Action Plan and a National Summit on Organic Food and
Agriculture in 2007/2008. Such a plan is necessary to realize the fullest
potential of organic and to ensure that the farmers, the public and the
progressive organic businesses can help to strategically shape its
future. The workshop will be offered just prior to the Eco-Farm
conference on Tuesday afternoon, January 23 (1:00 – 5:30), and all day
(8:30 – 5:00) Wednesday, January 24 at Asilomar. Please register for
this through Eco-Farm registration
(www.eco-farm.org).
The cost for the workshop, including lunch on Wednesday, is $25.
Questions? Contact Liana Hoodes: Liana@hvc.rr.com or 845-744-2304.
9. 2007 AAIE Ecological Pest Management Conference: 2/4-6
The Association of Applied IPM Ecologists will host another
information-packed conference of pest management at the Embassy Suits
Napa Valley this February 6-7. This year’s conference offers a program
packed with high caliber speakers and high priority topics, built around
the famous AAIE spirit of discussion and dialog. General Session
Presentations: “New Spray Technology to Reduce Drift and Dust”,
“Precautionary Principles in Practice”, “Exotic Pests”,
“Radiofrequency for Disinfection and Disinfestation”. Concurrent
Session Topics: Grapes Mites and Vine mealybug, Citrus, Landscape IPM,
Tree Fruit and Nuts, Integrated Weed IPM, Soils and IPM, and Structural
IPM. With plenty of informal networking time interspersed throughout the
program sessions, you’ll be able to meet and follow up with IPM pros
who can help you with ideas, products, and expertise. Continuing
Education Units have been applied for from California Department of
Pesticide Regulation, California Certified Crop Advisors, and California
Structural Pest Control Board. Registration is available now!! To view
registration form visit
http://www.aaie.net/documents/EcologicalPestMgmtConfReg2007.pdf
10. Canon National Parks Science SCHOLARS COMPETITION 2007:
Deadline 5/3
The Canon National Parks Science Scholars Program has announced its
2007competition. The program annually awards doctoral dissertation
scholarships to support graduate student research in national parks. The
program is a collaboration among Canon
(http://www.canon.com/),
the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(
http://www.aaas.org/
), and the US National Park Service ( http://www.nps.gov/ ). The program will be awarding eight $80,000 scholarships to Ph.D. students throughout the Americas to conduct research critical to conserving the national parks of the region. In 2007, the program will award eight scholarships based on two separate competitions: four Canon National Parks Science Scholars will be selected from students studying at universities in the United States; and four Canon National Parks Science Scholars will be selected from students studying at universities outside the US. Visit the program's Web site at http://www.nature.nps.gov/canonscholarships/ for complete grant guidelines and application procedures.
11. 6th CA SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE seeking presenters: 6/24-27
The University of California at Santa Barbara invites you to its 6th annual UC, CSU, CCC Sustainability Conference. This conference unites administrators, staff, students, and faculty who are making major changes on their campuses to talk about the successes they have had and challenges they faced in the areas of: Agriculture & Food Systems, Green Building: LEED NC, EB, and CI, Energy, Institutionalizing Sustainability, Transportation, Procurement, Waste Reduction, Water, Student Affairs, and Curriculum and Research. If you are interested in presenting and have a creative idea for a non-lecture style presentation format, you are encouraged to apply, please visit: http://geog.ucsb.edu/sustainability/conference2007/sessions.php. Submissions are due no later than Jan.15th. For examples of sessions at last year’s event please visit http://www.sustainability.ucsb.edu/conference. Registration fees will be determined in January. For More information please email turningthetide@geog.ucsb.edu
12. Free SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE directory from the USDA
USDA’s Alternative Farming Systems Information Center at the National Agricultural Library publishes a free, annual “Educational and Training Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture” directory. All those interested in viewing the newly-updated directory should visit http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/edtr.html
13. The SLO Office of Ed. is seeking CURRICULUM REVIEWERS (Enviro. Initiative) The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education is seeking highly-qualified educators and technical experts to participate in the Education Working Group (EWG) and the Content Working Group (CWG) for California's Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI). Members of the EWG will participate in the review of education-related aspects of the draft instructional materials being developed as part of the EEI Curriculum. Members of the CWG will participate in the review of the technical accuracy of the draft instructional materials being developed as part of the EEI Curriculum. Please go to http://www.creec.org/stories/storyReader$198 for detailed information and application materials for the EWG and CWG.For more information on the Model Curriculum Plan developed over the past two years, see (http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Education/EEI/documents/ModelPlan.pdf). Curriculum development will be occurring for approximately two years, until late 2008 up until the time it goes before the State Board of Education for curriculum approval. Currently, grade 9-12 writers are being solicited. Also in the works is to contract with 20 school districts throughout California to field test and pilot test the EEI Curriculum. Questions regarding this Request for Qualifications should be directed to eei@seer.org
14. Like DUNGENESS CRAB? Check out Casa Festiva Website’s December Issue
"Dive into Dungeness" is featured in the December 2006 "e-issue" of Casa Festiva (along with other local food ideas & links) at: www.casafestiva.com
15. Odd job PRUNING Opportunity in SLO: NOW. Any Fruit Science students or other tree lovers out there who would like to make a few dollars pruning some fruit trees (nine trees: apple, apricot, nectarine, pear and persimmon)? The trees are on property located at the end of South Higuera, about midway between the SLO city limits and Avila Beach. If interested, please contact Lou Robinson at cloverridge@hughes.net.
16. Robert Freeman Ford Dairy (Organic Dairying) INTERNSHIP FUND available!
The Robert Freeman Ford Dairy internship fund is designed to underwrite the transportation, housing, and other per diem expenses of a College of Agriculture student taking on the responsibility of an internship in Sonoma County which focuses on the organic aspects of the dairy industry. The organic dairy industry is a rapidly growing sector of the US food industry. For more information about the fund, please contact Dairy Science Department Head, Dr. Mark Shelton at mshelton@calpoly.edu or 756-2161.
17. Program Manager sought for AG. WATER QUALITY Coalition: Due 12/31
The Central Coast Agricultural Water Quality Coalition is currently seeking applications for a highly motivated Program Manager to assist in the development and implementation of a new program aimed at demonstrating the compatibility of agricultural water quality and food safety. The Central Coast Agricultural Water Quality Coalition (Coalition) is a public benefit nonprofit corporation organized by farmers and ranchers with the purpose of protecting water quality. Additional information can be found at www.awqa.org. A successful candidate will have direct experience working in specialty crop production agriculture, specifically in the field of water quality protection. Successful candidates will possess solid experience in working under grant deliverables, schedules, and budgets. Three years professional experience, including three years in the capacity of managing and coordinating agricultural water quality improvement programs/projects. Two years experience working with grant funds and multi-partner collaborations. Bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences, social sciences or engineering including: ecology, biology, agronomy, planning, environmental science, civil, agricultural or environmental engineering, hydrology, geology, soil science, environmental studies, environmental toxicology. Spanish fluency. Financial compensation will be negotiated, commensurate with experience ($50,000-$60,000 annually). Applicants must submit a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for at least 3 professional references to: Dawn Mathes, Central Coast Agricultural Water Quality Coalition,7960 B Soquel Drive #409, Aptos, CA 95003. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to concurrently submit application materials electronically to agwaterquality@aol.com. Contact Dawn Mathes for more information at 831-728-2892. Due 12/31. The position is open until filled.
***************************************
Hunter Francis, Program Associate &
Christine Casillas, Outreach Coordinator
Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium
c/o Horticulture and Crop Science Department
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California 93407
(805)756-5086
www.calpoly.edu/~sarc
***************************************
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Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie@sbpermaculture.com
www.sbpermaculture.org
"We are like trees, we must create new leaves, in new directions, in order to grow." - Anonymous