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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!

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or to register for this event.
Type: In Person Gathering clear filter
Wednesday, February 26
 

1:00pm PST

Humboldt Regional Gathering Field Day (Part 1)
Wednesday February 26, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm PST
Field Day: Green Spiral Farm 819 Mad River Rd, Arcata, CA;
Followed by regional gathering and dinner at NCGA Harvest Hub (click for link to part 2)

Farmer friends and allies, join us to celebrate CAFF’s small farm conference!
The day includes:
UCCE & NCGA will lead a field day from 1:00-4:00 with a brown bag lunch at Green Spiral Farm
Topics: Cover crop strategies, Crops for winter harvest, and more.  
Organizer
avatar for Michelle Wyler

Michelle Wyler

Farm to Market Director, CAFF
Wednesday February 26, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm PST
Green Spiral Farm - 819 Mad River Rd, Arcata, CA 819 Mad River Rd, Arcata, CA

4:30pm PST

Humboldt Regional Gathering Dinner (Part 2)
Wednesday February 26, 2025 4:30pm - 7:00pm PST
Farmer friends and allies, join us to celebrate CAFF’s small farm conference.

Humboldt Regional Gathering at NCGA Harvest Hub (5720 West End Rd, Arcata CA):
4:30-7:00: Light dinner provided.
5:30: Evening program includes meet your local resource providers and each will have 1 slide/2 mins/table to give an overview.
Organizer
avatar for Michelle Wyler

Michelle Wyler

Farm to Market Director, CAFF
Wednesday February 26, 2025 4:30pm - 7:00pm PST
NCGA Harvest Hub - 5720 West End Rd, Arcata CA 5720 West End Rd, Arcata CA
 
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
  • Dry Farming Techniques
  • Farm Tour with Green Valley Farm + Mill & Brambletail Homestead (repeated at 4pm)

SESSION TWO
2:30 - 3:45  
  • Rodent Pest Control 
  • Selling to Food Banks
  • Pricing for Different Markets & Knowing Your Cost to Grow

SESSION THREE
4:00 - 5:15 pm
  • Selling Wholesale & Working with Food Hubs
  • Farmers Markets & Other Direct Sales
  • Farm Tour with 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

North Bay 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
CH

Caiti Hachmyer

Farmer, Red H Farm
CR

Clare Reisman

criesman@santarosa.edu
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.
BM

Breanna Martinico

UC Cooperative Extension

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 (Farm Tour and Social Evening)
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Sac/Yolo/Solano gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Stay tuned for more information.

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)
- 5:00-8:00 PM: Social and Mixer at West Sacramento Community Center (1075 W Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691)

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 West Sacramento, please refer to this list.
Organizer
avatar for Elliott Ge

Elliott Ge

Administrative and Systems Specialist, CAFF
Thursday February 27, 2025 2:30pm - 8:00pm PST
West Sacramento Community Center - 1075 West Capitol Avenue West Sacramento, CA 95691 1075 West Capitol Avenue 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:
  • Discuss the Tijuana River crisis and an exciting pilot project the farm is participating in

  • Walking tour to visit TRV Community Garden, Wild Willow Farm & Education Center, South Bay Sustainable Communities

  • Advice seeking on establishing a food forest

  • Discuss soil-building techniques that have worked well in similar environments or in zones with past degradation history

  • Learn about successful self-service farm stand models from those who have implemented them



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

4:00pm PST

Central Coast Regional Gathering
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Central Coast regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
Thursday February 27, 2025 4:00pm - 7:00pm PST
United Way Monterey County Center - 232 Monterey Street, Suite 200, Salinas, CA 93901 232 Monterey Street, Suite 200, Salinas, CA 93901
 
Friday, February 28
 

TBA

Northern San Joaquin Valley Regional Gathering
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Northern San Joaquin Valley regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
avatar for Moet Takata

Moet Takata

Ecological Pest Management Program Manager, CAFF
Moet supports the Ecological Pest Management Program to help farmers implement and sustain ecological pest management practices through applied research and outreach. She is based in the San Joaquin Valley, and conducts on-farm experiments in walnut orchards and winegrape vineyards... Read More →
Friday February 28, 2025 TBA
Lagier Ranches - 16161 Murphy Rd, Escalon, CA 95320 16161 Murphy Rd, Escalon, CA 95320

8:00am PST

Mendo / Lake Farmer’s Convergence
Friday February 28, 2025 8:00am - 5:00pm PST
Details coming soon.

Organizers of this gathering include the Mendo-Lake Food Hub, School of Adaptive Agriculture, CDFA Farm to School Program, and the Blue Zones.

Friday February 28, 2025 8:00am - 5:00pm PST
Ridgewood Ranch - 11800 Orchard Ln, Willits, CA 95490 11800 Orchard Ln, Willits, CA 95490

9:00am PST

Merced / San Joaquin Valley Gathering
Friday February 28, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm PST
The SJV Regional Gathering connects farmers, community members and supporters of family farms in the Central Valley to come together, meet one another and grow our community. In 2025, our regional gathering will also include workshops and a buyer-farmer mixer focused on connecting small-scale farmers with buyers. 
Organizer
avatar for Rasheed Hislop

Rasheed Hislop

Farm to Market Senior Manager, CAFF
Selling produce. Developing direct markets (CSAs). Helping small farmers access institutional markets. Food Hubs.
Friday February 28, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm PST
Merced Community College - 3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348 3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348

9:30am PST

Ventura Regional Gathering
Friday February 28, 2025 9:30am - 2:00pm PST
TBA
Explore the Rio School District Farm with Farmer Edgar in the morning, where a regenerative farm education project offers an inspiring tour from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. This hands-on experience showcases sustainable practices and educational initiatives in action.

After lunch at noon, join us for an engaging afternoon at the Rodale Institute California Organic Center, located at McGrath Family Farms. Here, visitors will dive into our ongoing research projects that drive organic and regenerative agriculture in California, including soil health advancements and reduced-tillage vegetable production methods.

Cost: $20 includes lunch (please register at Rodale Institute's website to reserve your tickets!)
Organizer
Friday February 28, 2025 9:30am - 2:00pm PST
TBA

10:00am PST

Los Angeles Regional Gathering
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Los Angeles regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup.

RSVP is required to enter this event. Stay tuned for the link to register.

Organizer
avatar for Guido Lois

Guido Lois

Bilingual Communications & Events Manager, CAFF
Friday February 28, 2025 10:00am - 2:00pm PST
GrowGood Urban Farm - 5600 Rickenbacker Rd, Bell, CA 90201, United States 5600 Rickenbacker Rd, Bell, CA 90201, United States

10:00am PST

Nevada County Field Day: Small Farm Equipment & Maintenance
*NOTE: this special event requires an additional registration and fee. See above*

On-farm Field Days are half-day workshops featuring farmer-to-farmer education, hands-on skill building, practical tools for beginning farmers, and networking opportunities.

Small Farm Equipment & Maintenance📅 Friday, February 28, 2025 10am – 2:30pm
📍 Feeding Crane Farm, Penn Valley
🍴 Lunch and refreshments included

🚜 Farmer scholarships available!

Join us for a hands-on, half-day workshop designed to help small-scale farmers understand and maintain their essential equipment. Whether you’re new to farming or looking to improve the efficiency of your current operations, this workshop will cover the basics of small farm equipment, from tillers and tractors and other common tools used on small farms. Participants will learn about proper maintenance techniques, troubleshooting common issues, and tips for extending the lifespan of equipment. Experts will also share advice on when to repair or replace equipment, as well as how to keep costs manageable. This interactive session will include hands-on activities, demonstrations, and ample time for Q&A, leaving you with the knowledge to keep your equipment running smoothly for maximum productivity.

Click here to apply for a farmer scholarship.

Who Should Attend: Small-scale farmers, new farm operators, and anyone looking to learn more about farm equipment & maintenance.

Organizer
avatar for Kali Feiereisel

Kali Feiereisel

Farmer Services Director, CAFF
Friday February 28, 2025 10:00am - 2:30pm PST
Feeding Crane Farms - Address to be shared with registrants closer to the event Address to be shared with registrants closer to the event

1:00pm PST

Inland Empire Regional Gathering
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the Inland Empire regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food and drinks as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference. Field day and/or public viewings of select workshops may be added to the lineup. Stay tuned for more information.

Organizer
avatar for Patrick Mitchell

Patrick Mitchell

Farm Operations and Cultural Center Manager, Five Keys Ecological Agriculture Training Cultural Center and Farm
Friday February 28, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm PST
Five Keys’ Ecological Agriculture Training Farm - 4208 California Ave Norco, 92860 4208 California Ave Norco, 92860

3:00pm PST

North Valley Regional Gathering
Farmers and local food advocates are invited to the North Valley regional gathering to mix, mingle, and enjoy food together as a culminating event to this year's California Small Farm Conference, hosted in partnership with the North Valley Food Hub and the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS). Join us for a tour of CSU Chico’s Organic Dairy, connect with other farmers, and share your reflections on the conference. 


Organizer
avatar for Emily Ayala

Emily Ayala

Ecological Farming Program Specialist, CAFF
Emily supports the Climate Smart Farming Program and Ecological Pest Management Program to assist farmers and ranchers implement and sustain pragmatic agroecological practices. She has lived and worked in agriculture in the Central Valley, Bay Area, and Spain, and is committed to... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Benjamin Lewis

Benjamin Lewis

Implementation Specialist, North Valley Food Hub / Grower Outreach Coordinator, Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems
Benjamin worked on farms in Pennsylvania and Vermont and as a Soil Health intern at Rodale Institute while achieving his B.S. in Biology before moving to California to study Agricultural Ecology through a master’s program at U.C. Davis. After co-founding a small fruit and vegetable... Read More →
avatar for Lindsey Hethcote

Lindsey Hethcote

Program Manager Conservation Planning and Education, Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems
Lindsey Hethcote, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, is currently the Conservation Project Coordinator for CRARS. After graduating from the University of Denver with a B.A. in Environmental Science, Lindsey spent time in the States and in Peru working in environmental education... Read More →
avatar for Joey Haney

Joey Haney

North Valley Food Hub Market Manager, Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems
Joey Haney, North Valley Food Hub Market Manager, has worked in the regional food industry for over a decade. He is eager to build agricultural resiliency by forging new connections between farmers and buyers.
Friday February 28, 2025 3:00pm - 6:00pm PST
Chico State University Farm Pavilion - 311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln, Chico, CA 95928 311 Nicholas C Shouten Ln, Chico, CA 95928
 
From $20.00


2025 California Small Farm Conference
From $20.00
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