Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden: IVC farm classes 1

September 21, 2010

IVC farm classes 1 - 4

Idiosyncratic and selective notes from first few classes Class #1, Aug. 18, 2010 Introductions and history of IVC farm. The farm was begun two years ago with the leadership and vision of the College of Marin, Marin County Cooperative Extension (Steve Quirt), North Bay Conservation Corps (Henry Wallace), and Wendy Johnson from Green Gulch farm. Assignment: "Where I'm from" essay Class #2, Aug. 25, 2010 Four principles of organic farming to be covered this semester

How to cultivate the ground
How to increase fertility
How to grow plants (propagation)
How to tend the garden once it's established (pruning, IPM, records, maintaining healthy plant growth)

Understanding climate is critical to gardening in the Bay Area. SF Bay is second largest harbor in the world and is key to understanding our climate, which is characterized/influenced by:

Cool nights
Ocean/bay interaction with Central Valley
Currents and winds

Our growing season is 3/21 to 9/21. Dormancy periods - 12/21, 6/21 (days begin to increase and decrease after winter/summer solstices). During period of waning moon (2 weeks) you shoul do below ground work (transplanting, etc.). During period of waxing moon (2 wks) you should do above ground work (pruning, sowing).

Class #3, Sept. 1, 2010

Steve Quirt's powerpoint showed history of IVC farm and illustrated some best practices for organic farming.

Production farming is active. Direct and manage natural processes to increase soil fertility (vs. permaculture, which builds fertility with as little disturbance as possible). Initial inputs are higher in a new area of cultivation - these lessen as soil fertility increases over time.

Garden design can feature:

raised beds
mulched path
mix of veggies, herbs and flowers (pollinator plants)
wild areas (wildness, hedges and edges)
cover soil to maintain moisture

Misc. discussion:

Cover crop - cut and till into soil. Wait 2 weeks until planting. Underground composting.
Heirloom seeds vs. seeds from the store. Store-bought seeds adapt over about 3 years to local conditions, as seeds are sourced from all over the world.
Drip vs. spray irrigation - spray pattern important to health of soil and certain plants like letttuce. Also important for transplants.

Class #4, Sept. 8, 2010

ATTRA paper was discussed: how will climate change affect agriculture?

Lengthen growing season
Reduce days of winter chill (important to fruit trees)
Affect more heat-sensitive crops (tomatoes)
Increase evapotranspiration
Increase drought severity

Causes of and mitigation for carbon emissions are complex and not resolved. Conventional farming is a large source of carbon emissions, while organic farming is more climate friendly. To increase carbon sequestration, increase use of perennial crops to reduce release of carbon during tilth. Cap and trade is one way of addressing problem; industry emitters who exceed allowable amount ("caps") can offset through "trade" of permits from those who are below their "cap." Unfortunately, current value of carbon sequestration is $12.34/ton (very low). CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) are said to be huge carbon emitters, but some feel that conventional soil management, not livestock, is bigger source of carbon emissions. Marin RCD has no-till drill, yeoman's plow that might be borrowed to reduce soil disturbance and thereby carbon emissions. Steve led lengthy discussion about value of growing your own food - so important to community, healthy, economy, energy, etc. Assignments