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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
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Thursday, February 27
 

12:30pm PST

North Bay Regional Gathering
Thursday February 27, 2025 12:30pm - 6:30pm PST
Join us at Green Valley Farm + Mill, just outside Sebastopol, CA, for the North Bay gathering of the CA Small Farm Conference. This event, open to anyone working within the small farm community, will feature an afternoon of educational workshops, panels, farm tours and networking events followed by a happy hour social.

FULL SCHEDULE
ARRIVAL & WELCOME
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

SESSION ONE
1:00 - 2:15 pm
  • Farm to School & Institutional Sales: Lizzy Elliott, CDFA; Meerae Park, CDFA; Tim Galarneau, UCSC Center for Agroecology; Michael Jochner Food Service Director Morgan Hill Unified School District
  • Dry Farming Techniques: Yvonne Socolar, Research Scientist, UC Berkeley; Caiti Hachmyer, Red H Farm; Zuriel Bernier, Bernier Farm
  • Farm Tour: Green Valley Farm + Mill & Brambletail Homestead (repeated at 4pm)

SESSION TWO
2:30 - 3:45
  • Rodent Pest Control: Clare Riesman, SRJC Shone Farm; Breanna Martinico, UC Cooperative Extension
  • Selling to Food Banks: Samiha Hamdi, Fresh Approach; Juila E Van Soelen, UCANR, North Bay Food Systems Advisor; Erika Carstensen, Redwood Empire Food Bank; Maria Houlne, CA Association of Food Banks
  • Pricing for Different Markets & Knowing Your Cost to Grow: Arabelle Schoenberg, CAFF; Vince Trotter, UCCE Sustainable Ag Coordinator & Agricultural Ombudsman; Lily Schneider, Kitchen Table Advisor

SESSION THREE
4:00 - 5:15 pm
  • Selling Wholesale & Working with Food Hubs: Dylan Stein, FEED Cooperative;  Haerah Baird, Mendo-Lake Food Hub; Ben Hartmen, Pacific Produce; Farmers Jessica Rentsch, Caroline Radice & Samuel Tookey
  • Farmers Markets & Other Direct Sales: Ariel Vaughan, Agricultural Institute of Marin; Kelly Smith, Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets; and Julia Van Soelen Kim, UCCE
  • Farm Tour: Green Valley Farm + Mill & Brambletail Homestead (repeated at 1pm)

HAPPY HOUR WITH FOOD & DRINKS 
5:30 - 6:30 pm


NOTE: Snacks, drinks, and lite bites (tamales!) during happy hour will be provided. Warm layers and farm-appropriate attire encouraged. Make sure to add this event to your personal schedule on Sched to receive updates.


EVENT PARTNERS:
  • Community Alliance with Family Farmers
  • University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • California Department of Food and Agriculture
  • Agricultural Institute Of Marin
  • Southwest Regional Food Business Center, University of California, Santa Cruz

Organizer
avatar for Layla Aguilar

Layla Aguilar

Ecological Farming Program Manager, CAFF
AS

Arabelle Schoenberg

Bay Area Regional Lead, Farmer Services, CAFF
avatar for Evan Wiig

Evan Wiig

Communications Director, CAFF
Evan Wiig is the Director of Membership & Communications for Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) and the founder of The Farmers Guild. A community organizer with a passion for regenerative agriculture, he's not only worked on farms and ranches across California, but previously... Read More →
Speakers
HC

Héktor Calderón-Victoria

Regional Food Systems Specialist, UCSC: Center for Agroecology & USDA
avatar for Tim Galarneau

Tim Galarneau

UCSC Center for Agroecology
avatar for Yvonne Socolar

Yvonne Socolar

Research Scientist, UC Berkeley
Yvonne's research interests lie at the nexus of agriculture and climate resilience. She studies how diversified management practices influence plant-soil-microbe interactions to promote farms’ ecological and economic well-being, particularly in the face of water limitations.
CR

Clare Riesman

Associate Faculty, Sustainable Agriculture, Santa Rosa Junior College
CH

Caiti Hachmyer

Farmer, Red H Farm
avatar for Meerae Park

Meerae Park

Producer Engagement Specialist, CDFA
ZB

Zureal Bernier

Bernier Farms
avatar for Ben Hartmen

Ben Hartmen

Pacific Produce
avatar for Samiha Hamdi

Samiha Hamdi

Fresh Approach
BM

Breanna Martinico

UC Cooperative Extension
avatar for Lizzy Elliott

Lizzy Elliott

Farm to School Bay Area Regional Lead, CDFA
JE

Juila E Van Soelen

North Bay Food Systems Advisor, UCANR
DS

Dylan Stein

FEED Cooperative
HB

Haerah Baird

Mendo Lake Food Hub

Thursday February 27, 2025 12:30pm - 6:30pm PST
Green Valley Farm + Mill - 13024 Green Valley Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472 13024 Green Valley Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472

2:30pm PST

Sacramento/Yolo/Solano Gathering PART 1 (Farm Tours)
Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 4:45pm PST
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Sac/Yolo/Solano gathering to learn more about local Sacramento area farms, mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Participants are welcome to attend both the afternoon farm tours and evening social mixer, or to attend one of the parts of the schedule that suits your interests!
Get a close-up look at urban farms in West Sac, including tours of Riverfront Farm and Fiery Ginger Farm, and hear more about CLBL’s Community Food Program and Mobile Farmers Market truck!

This is the registration page for the first part of the schedule and farm tours for the Yolo/Solano/Sac Regional Gathering. To sign up for the second part, the social evening, please go to the Part 2 event link.

FULL SCHEDULE:
- 2:30-3:30 PM: Farm Visit and Tour at the Center for Land-Based Learning's Riverfront Farm (985 Riverfront St, West Sacramento, CA 95691)
- 3:45-4:45 PM: Farm Tour at Fiery Ginger Farm (1551 Merkley Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691)
- 5:00-8:00 PM: Social and Mixer at West Sacramento Community Center (1075 W Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691)
All locations are within a 5-10 minute driving distance of each other in West Sacramento.


For parking information around Riverfront Farm: There is a gate by the farm at the corner of Riverfront St & Bridge St. You can park by the dog park there. If overflow parking is needed, there is free 2 hour parking along Riverfront St., and paid hourly parking in the city lot on Bridge St.

For parking information around Fiery Ginger Farm: Unrestricted event parking within 10-15 minute walking distance is located at 1271 West Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691 (this lot is also usable for access to the evening social event at the West Sacramento Community Center).
Organizer
avatar for Elliott Ge

Elliott Ge

Administrative and Systems Specialist, CAFF
Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 4:45pm PST
Riverfront Farm - 985 Riverfront St, West Sacramento, CA 95691 985 Riverfront St, West Sacramento, CA 95691

3:00pm PST

San Diego Regional Gathering
Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 6:00pm PST
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the San Diego regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference.We'll be hosted by S&S Friendly Ranch in the Tijuana River Valley and have a dynamic afternoon full of discussion and sharing. We are excited to gather and share our collective efforts!  Attendees can plan to participate in the following:

  • Farm tour of S&S Friendly Ranch concluded with a community art project and small contribution by each attendee

  • Discuss the Tijuana River crisis and an exciting pilot project the farm is participating in on Mycoremediation

  • Choose your own discussion adventure! Various discussion tables will be arranged on the following topics for attendees to choose from 1) Soil-building and healing techniques 2) Food forest 3) Farm-to Market (sales strategies, self-service farm stands, etc)

  • Time at the end to enjoy each others company, eat some food, hang out

  • Bonfire at Sunset!


Folks are welcome to bring a dish to share (potluck style - please label), any drinks etc. We have a donation from Pure Project Brewery once again (thank you PPB)!

This is a free event. Kid friendly!

We can't wait to see you at the farm!
Organizer
avatar for Elizabeth Vaughan

Elizabeth Vaughan

Small Farm Technology Specialist, CAFF
Thursday February 27, 2025 3:00pm - 6:00pm PST
S&S Friendly Ranch - 2105 Hollister St, San Diego, CA 92154 2105 Hollister St, San Diego, CA 92154

5:00pm PST

Reunión con CAFF para agricultores en la Costa Central
Por favor regístrese a este evento en persona a través de este enlace
https://actionnetwork.org/events/reunion-con-caff-para-agricultores-en-la-costa-central?clear_id=true

Para cerrar la conferencia de Pequeños Agricultores de California, reúnase con personal de CAFF y agricultores de la Costa Central en este evento completamente en español.
Presentaremos un espacio para que usted pueda compartir con otros agricultores, información general de la Inocuidad Alimentaria (Food Safety) y una cena ligera.
Únase para conectarse con su red de agricultores y personal de CAFF en la Costa Central.
Este evento requiere inscripción. 

Speakers
Thursday February 27, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm PST
United Way Monterey County Center - 232 Monterey Street, Suite 200, Salinas, CA 93901 232 Monterey Street, Suite 200, Salinas, CA 93901

5:00pm PST

Sacramento/Yolo/Solano Gathering PART 2 (Social Evening)
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Sac/Yolo/Solano gathering to learn more about local Sacramento area farms, mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Participants are welcome to attend both the afternoon farm tours and evening social mixer, or to attend one of the parts of the schedule that suits your interests!

Receive other resources and learn about opportunities from tabling partners such as CAFF, CA Department of Food and Agriculture’s Farm to School Program, Center for Land-Based Learning, Yolo County Resource Conservation District, and more. Featuring food provided by local California Farm Champion award-winning restaurant, Magpie Cafe!

This is the registration page for the second part of the schedule and social evening at West Sacramento Community Center. To sign up for the first part and the farm tours, please go to the Part 1 event link.

FULL SCHEDULE:
- 2:30-3:30 PM: Farm Visit and Tour at the Center for Land-Based Learning's Riverfront Farm (985 Riverfront St, West Sacramento, CA 95691)
- 3:45-4:45 PM: Farm Tour at Fiery Ginger Farm (1551 Merkley Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691)
- 5:00-8:00 PM: Social and Mixer at West Sacramento Community Center (1075 W Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691)
All locations are within a 5-10 minute driving distance of each other in West Sacramento.

For parking information around the Community Center: Please refer to this document. Unrestricted event parking within a 5-10 minute walking distance is located at 1271 West Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691.
Organizer
avatar for Elliott Ge

Elliott Ge

Administrative and Systems Specialist, CAFF
Thursday February 27, 2025 5:00pm - 8:00pm PST
West Sacramento Community Center - 1075 West Capitol Avenue West Sacramento, CA 95691 1075 West Capitol Avenue West Sacramento, CA 95691
 
From $20.00


2025 California Small Farm Conference
From $20.00
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