Outline for future project development:
October 2015
- community meeting discussing the economics of regenerative agriculture and the viability of a local farm based food hub – cooperative model – behavior based
November 2015
– End of the year meeting November 17th at McGrath Farm
latest version of business plan to be revised for January meeting
looking at Market Match program for cooperative CSA project
- Meeting at the EDC-VC regarding the draft of the economic report for Food Production in Ventura County including food hub data..final report – beginning December – Data to be used for funding efforts
- Multi-stakeholder meetings continue in January
- Market Match meeting in Satna Barbara with Carle at the Ecology Center November20th – some interest in a tri-county effort – Karen with the VC Farmers Markets is interested in pursuing
December 2015
– Blue Sky Center – meeting in Cuyama – 12 acre pilot project/incubator at the High School – potential future partner
– Ken Haggard project design mapping – potential for photovoltaics and net-zero greenhouse – Jerome Ostentowski, Michael Thompson – Christian Dupraz and photovoltaics and agriculture study
– Solar Institute – Hopland – photovoltaics course
– Potential net-zero greenhouse research project for New Mexico to extend grow efforts to 4 season
January 2016
– Multi-stakeholder meeting at McGrath Farm
– Sustainable Food Systems Conference – Grass Valley – looking at biointensive growing practices as a potential research project
– Dr. Elaine Ingham – Farm visit at Berry Creek – soil research project for Ventura County – greenhouse fueled by compost
– EcoFarm Conference – networking for future partners
February 2016
- Organic Farming Conference – Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Continuation of January multi-stakeholder meeting
- CAFF – CSA workshop in Ventura County
March 2016
- Grant funding awards announced for collaborative projects with ALBA and CAFF
- Multi-stakeholder meeting at McGrath Farm
- Crop planning meeting with Ventura Unified Farm to School
- National Good Food Network – National Food Hub Conference – Atlanta, Georgia
April 2016
– Monthly multi-stakeholder meeting
– photovoltaics and net-zero greenhouse design – Carbondale, Colorado>
May 2016
- monthly multi-stakeholder meeting
June 2016
- monthly multi-stakeholder meeting
- USDA LFPP Implementation grant proposal due