Cache Creek Wildlife
River Rafting
Rumsey Bridge to Full Belly Farm, Guinda
Times: 9:30 am - 2 pm, Cost: $25, Capacity: 24
The Capay Valley owes its rich abundance of agriculture
in part to the waters of Cache Creek. Running from Clear
Lake and emptying into the Sacramento River, Cache Creek
also provides habitat to a diversity of wildlife. Explore
the biodiversity of the region while rafting down the
river. This trip down a mellow portion of Cache Creek
will have plenty of opportunity to few wildlife and some
beautiful geology.
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Chicken and the
Egg
Riverdog Farm, Guinda
Time: 10 am - noon, Cost: $15, Capacity: 20
We may not know the answer to the age-old question of
which came first, the chicken or the egg. But in this
workshop you will learn about the needs and productivity
of laying hens from experienced small-scale, commercial
egg farmers. Nick Charles, brings his experience in rotational
grazing with sheep, goats, and poultry. Adam Gaska, is
a biodynamic farmer in Mendocino County where he works
to integrate animals and crops into the vineyards at Frey
Vineyard. From coop design to using chickens in rotational
grazing with sheep & goats, this workshop is an opportunity
to exchange hen raising techniques. There will also be
time to hear answers to questions such as how many hens
does it take to produce a given amount of eggs per week?
Refreshments will be included. Children Welcome.
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Full Belly Farm
Kid's Day Camp
Full Belly Farm Guinda, California
Times: 9:30 am - 1:30 pm, Cost: $20, Capacity: 20
The Kid's will enjoy a morning on the farm; with a behind
the scenes look at what it really takes to run a farm.
The kid's will help with a few farm chores, enjoy games,
and activities. Lunch will also be provided.
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Full Belly Farm
Tour
Full Belly Farm, Guinda
Time: 11 am – 12:30 pm, Cost: $10, Capacity 50
Home of the Hoes Down, Full Belly Farm is a 200-acre certified
organic farm. Full Belly has farmed using organic practices
since 1984 and is certified by California Certified Organic
Farmers. This walking tour lead by one of the owners and
residents will be a great opportunity to ask questions,
learn, and see how a successful organic farm is run. Full
Belly's system includes: growing and marketing over 80
different crops; providing year-round employment for farm
labor; using cover crops that fix nitrogen and provide
organic matter for the soil; developing innovative marketing
strategies; and planting habitat areas for beneficial
insects and wildlife. This set of strategies allows the
farm to integrate farm production with longer-term environmental
goals.
The walking tour of the farm will be followed by refreshments
and time for discussion and questions with the farmers.
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Get the Lead Out!
Biodiesel Fuel
Riverdog Farm, Guinda
Time: 10 am – noon, Cost: $20, Capacity: 30
Join Devin O’Keane, founder of the Chico Biofuel
Collective, and Ben Jordan of Peoples Fuel Coop in San
Francisco for an interactive, “under-the-hood”
workshop on sustainable fuels for diesel engines. An experienced
biodiesel maker, Devin is an active educator who recently
co-founded Friendly Futures to support communities around
the world using sustainable technologies with a specialty
in biodiesel. Devin has traveled around the country in
a veggie-powered school bus (veggiebus.com) teaching the
public about the benefits of renewable fuels. He now spends
time producing fuel, hosting educational workshops, and
consulting on biofuels and SVO (straight vegetable oil)
engine conversions.
Devin will talk about biodiesel in detail, including how
to make your own and empowering communities and individuals
to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Refreshments will
also be included.
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Hedgerows and Birds
Hedgerow Farm, Winters
Time: 9 am - noon, Cost: $15, Capacity: 30
A tour of Hedgerow Farms, outside Winters California,
with operators John Anderson and/or Chris Place and birding
expert Jeff Maurer from UC Davis. Hedgerow Farms is a
well-known and recognized seed production farm specializing
in growing native grasses, sedges, rushes, and wildflowers
for Northern California. In addition to the farming activities,
over the past 25 years Hedgerow Farms has been instrumental
in pioneering and promoting farmland wildlife habitat
and conservation practices that are compatible with intensive
agriculture.
Participants will take a hay ride tour with stops and
short walking tours to see and learn about native plants
and birds that can enhance any farming system. The seed
processing facility will be shown at the end for those
who are interested.
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Olive Oil: Small-Scale Production
Live Oak Farm, Rumsey
Time: 10 am - noon, Cost: $15, Capacity: 15-20
Olive oil is a healthy, delicious oil which continues to grow in popularity throughout California. At this workshop three local farmers, Nina Andres of Live Oak Farms and Laurie Schuler-Flynn and Amy DelBondio of Hillstone Olive Oil, will discuss their experiences as small scale olive oil producers. These three farmers, who use different varieties (Mission vs. Arbequina) and growing methods (organic vs. conventional), will lead a lively discussion regarding their distinctive experiences selecting olive varieties; planting, irrigating and managing pests in their orchards; as well as harvesting, pressing and marketing their oils.
The tour will include a walking tour of Live Oaks two-acre organic olive grove, a tasting of Hillstone's olive oil, and an intriguing conversation between two local small-scale farmers. Refreshments will also be provided.
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Sheep
Raising in the Capay Valley
Come
learn the in and outs of raising sheep on the beautiful
farm of John and Caroline Holt, Sheep Dreams Ranch. These
two pioneers took over the farm several years ago from
Betty Nelson who developed her own breed of sheep, Capay
Reds. These hardy red faced sheep are an amazing wool
and meat breed that Betty selected for the heat in the
valley and for their wonderful mothering tendencies. Sheep
Dreams Ranch uses rotational grazing techniques and has
approximately 100 head of sheep. Cost $20.00. Time is
10:00 TO 12:00 pm
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