2025 California Small Farm Conference

Welcome to the 37th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week-long event featuring over 40 online workshops as well as a dozen in-person gatherings around the state. Whether you’re a beginning farmer or a seasoned grower, a local food advocate or a farmers market manager, you’ll find something here for you. This year’s theme, "Rooted in Place", honors the vital relationship between farmers, communities and the land they steward.

Check out the schedule below for event times and locations. Click "Reserve Tickets" to register. Admission is on a sliding-scale, to ensure everyone can attend. Please select the amount you’re comfortable paying. Enjoy the conference!

Interested in sponsoring this event? Learn more here

8:00am PST

Boosting Beneficial Birds and Insects: Nest Boxes, Hedgerows and Other Natural Enemy Habitat OnlineJo Ann Baumgartner • Breanna Martinico A New Model for Farmland Access and Transition: The Farmland Commons OnlineIan McSweeney • Kristina Villa

9:45am PST

Practical Entrepreneurship Guide for Raising Poultry on Pasture or Integrated with Crops OnlineCaleb Barron • Ann Baier Strawberry Production in Hotter Climates OnlineMargaret Lloyd • Lindsey Kelley

11:30am PST

Beyond the Newsletter: 5 Strategies to Scale a 100+ CSA Program in Less Than One Season OnlineAri Memar Mechanization for the Small Farm OnlineElizabeth Vaughan

1:15pm PST

Which Direct Market Channel Is Right for Me? OnlineRamiro Lobo • Darlene Ruiz Agricultural Land Equity in California OnlineCamille Frazier • Qi Zhou • Dorian Payán

3:00pm PST

Awards Ceremony: 2025 California Farm Champions Online

4:45pm PST

Wildlife Safe Ranching OnlineGowan Batist Is There Soul in the Soil? The Spirituality of Farming OnlineDr. Stan Rodriguez • Angelie Ryah • Lacey Cannon

8:00am PST

Rethinking "Small Farm": What Does It Mean, What Should It Mean? OnlineKrista Marshall • Evan Hazelett • Nathaniel Brown • Rachel Soper Let’s Talk About Nitrogen on Your Organic Farm OnlinePatricia Lazicki • Margaret Lloyd

9:00am PST

Farmers' Market Manager Training Level 1: Elevating Market Management Standards OnlineMinni Forman • April Treona • Portia Bramble • Marikit Mayeno

9:45am PST

Small-Scale Composting: Getting Started, Growing, and Building a Network OnlineYaynicut Franco • Eric Wellington • Michael Rodriguez • Rocio Perez • Rebecca Ryals Ag Technology: Funding Opportunities OnlineMaria Ridoutt-Orozco

11:30am PST

A Farmer's Guide to Groundwater and SGMA OnlineRogelio Ponce • Cheetah Tchudi • Sadie Morris • Catherine Van Dyke On-Farm Recordkeeping Technologies and Strategies OnlineMaria Ridoutt-Orozco • Paulina S. Hernandez • Arabelle Schoenberg

1:15pm PST

Organic IPM for Vegetables OnlineEllie Andrews Path to Organic: How to Prepare for an Organic Certification OnlineMegan Robertson • Kristen Draz • Grace Jackson

3:00pm PST

Steps for Conducting Research on Your Own Farm OnlineEllie Andrews • Reyna Yagi • Caiti Hachmyer • Samuel Guitron • Moet Takata Asian Specialty Crop OnlineAddison Vang • Chiang Rai Lor • Johnny Moua

4:45pm PST

Regulatory and Advocacy Tools for Small Food Producers OnlineChristine Dzujna Organic Practices for Citrus and Avocado Growers OnlineBen Faber

8:00am PST

What is Carbon Farming? OnlineJoshua Kouri • Margot Flynn • Elena Bischak Research on CalFresh & Other Nutrition Assistance Programs at Farmers’ Markets OnlineSamantha Sam-Chen • Cassandra Nguyen • Olivia Henry

9:45am PST

Grants: Preparing for the Proposal OnlineLaura Ting • Logan Dreher • Lauren McCawley

11:30am PST

CNIP Nutrition Incentive Program, Advocacy and Funding Updates: A review of the CA State Budget funding for food and agriculture programs OnlinePortia Bramble • Andy Naja-Riese • Sam Greenlee • Minni Forman • Tiffany Germain Mentorship Magic! How mentorship strengthens organic & bolsters beginning farmer success OnlineJustin Miller • Molly Nakahara

1:15pm PST

Blending Habitat Conservation & Restoration into Ag Landscapes: From Research to Reality OnlineJesse Trace • Alex Palmerlee • Miranda Kersten Farmers' Market Roundtable: Navigating Hot-Button Issues in Today’s Certified Farmers' Market Landscape OnlineCara Mae Wooledge • Minni Forman • Portia Bramble • Marikit Mayeno

3:00pm PST

New and Ongoing Resources for Producers: Simple Grants for Compost and up to $25k for Healthy Soil Practices OnlineAlana Williams California Agriculture & A New White House OnlineMike Lavender

4:45pm PST

Introduction to Soils and Soil Health in Urban Areas OnlineMartin Guerena Small Farm Innovation Challenge Awards Ceremony OnlineElizabeth Vaughan

8:00am PST

ABC Aves: como establecer un emprendimiento ecológico con pollos y gallinas OnlineBruno Vasquetto Practical Tools for Implementing Regenerative Agriculture Practices OnlineSarah Light

9:45am PST

Requisitos y recomendaciones para preparar una declaración de impuestos federales sobre los ingresos OnlineStephanie Stevens Soil Health In-Field Tests and Lab Analyses: What do they tell us? What are their limitations? How do they compare? OnlineMargaret Lloyd • Lindsey Kelley • Vivian Wauters

11:30am PST

Apple Orchard Health OnlineTed Richardson • Zea Sonnabend • Stan Devoto • Dave Hale • Ellie Andrews

1:00pm PST

Growing Urban Agriculture: Challenges, Pathways, and Equity for a Resilient Landscape OnlineKeely Cervantes Humboldt Regional Gathering Field Day (Part 1) Green Spiral FarmMichelle Wyler

1:15pm PST

Cultivos de cobertura: mejorar la salud del suelo en cada temporada OnlineEmilia Santos Perez • Guillermo Lazaro • Margarita Castro • Daniel Hoffman Developing a Business Plan with the AgPlan Online Software OnlineCurtis Mahnken • Mariah Beverly • Katie Wilts Johnson

3:00pm PST

Producción de Semillas y Fitomejoramiento para la Resiliecia Climática: Una propuesta educativa OnlineXochilt Juarez • Ana C. Galvis Martinez Legal & Business Considerations for Non-Farm Income OnlineElizabeth Vaughan • Rachel Armstrong

4:30pm PST

Humboldt Regional Gathering Dinner (Part 2) NCGA Harvest HubMichelle Wyler

4:45pm PST

Cómo prepararse para una inspección orgánica: Guía paso a paso OnlineJennifer Núñez • Brian Coltrin Water Rights, Rural Water Systems and Water Use Efficiency OnlineTom Hammond

12:30pm PST

North Bay Regional Gathering Green Valley Farm + MillEvan Wiig • Yvonne Socolar • Zuriel Bernier • Breanna Martinico

2:00pm PST

San Diego Regional Gathering TBAElizabeth Vaughan

4:00pm PST

Central Coast Regional Gathering United Way Monterey County CenterPaulina S. Hernandez

5:00pm PST

Sacramento/Yolo/Solano Gathering West Sacramento Community CenterElliott Ge

TBA

Los Angeles Regional Gathering TBAGuido Lois Northern San Joaquin Valley Regional Gathering Lagier RanchesMoet Takata

8:00am PST

Mendo / Lake Farmer’s Convergence Ridgewood Ranch

9:00am PST

Merced / San Joaquin Valley Gathering Merced Community CollegeRasheed Hislop

9:30am PST

Ventura Regional Gathering TBACarla Rosin

10:00am PST

Nevada County Field Day: Small Farm Equipment & Maintenance Feeding Crane FarmsKali Feiereisel

1:00pm PST

Inland Empire Regional Gathering Five Keys’ Ecological Agriculture Training FarmPatrick Mitchell • Sandy Ramirez

3:00pm PST

North Valley Regional Gathering Chico State University Farm PavilionEmily Ayala

2025 California Small Farm Conference

From $20.00