Reduced disturbance organic farming group takes part in cover crop workshop at Paicines Ranch, February 7th – 9th, 2019!

February 17, 2019

About fifteen members of the CIG (Conservation Innovation Grant) Project on organic reduced disturbance farming systems took part in a very stimulating three-day workshop on cover cropping that was sponsored by Paicines Ranch February 7^th to 9^th. The group in attendance consisted of about 100 farmers from all over California and from many other states and countries. CASI members who took part included Scott Park, Kelly Mulville, Patrick O'Neill, Tom Willey, Monte Bottens, Jesse Sanchez, Rich Collins, Paul Muller, Andrew Brait, Daphne Miller, Phil Foster, Jessica Chiartas, Cindy Daley, Lee Altier, Tim LaSalle, Peter Donovan, Cary Crum, Silas Rossow, Seth Rossow, Rosie Burroughs, and Jeff Mitchell. In addition, other CASI associates including Eric Brennan, Jim Leap, and Darryl Wong also took part in the CIG Project's planning meeting on the 7^th of February that preceded the cover crop program on the other two days. The workshop was extremely stimulating and provided much for our CASI group to consider and to learn more about. Scott Park was a program presenter along with Green Cover Seed's Keith Berns, Ian and Diane Hagarty of Western Australia, and Christine Jones, also of Australia. Much of the content that was showcased and discussed by program speakers consisted of their experiences and thoughts related to achieving improvements in soil function deriving from specific practices and attention to soil biology. Needless to say, there will be an awful lot for the CIG group to consider in the future related to what they saw and heard in this workshop!

Jessica Chiartas and Tim LaSalle talking about what they’ve heard during the cover crop workshop at Paicines Ranch, February 7th through 9th

Jessica Chiartas and Tim LaSalle talking about what they’ve heard during the cover crop workshop at Paicines Ranch, February 7th through 9th

CIG team that took part in the project planning discussion at Paicines Ranch on February 7th 2019, ahead of cover crop workshop

CIG team that took part in the project planning discussion at Paicines Ranch on February 7th 2019, ahead of cover crop workshop

Monte Bottens and Jesse Sanchez in Paicines Ranch pasture as part of a field walk during the February 8 and 9 cover crop workshop

Monte Bottens and Jesse Sanchez in Paicines Ranch pasture as part of a field walk during the February 8 and 9 cover crop workshop

Paicines Ranch cover crop workshop participants examining soil health in Paicines Ranch pasture

Paicines Ranch cover crop workshop participants examining soil health in Paicines Ranch pasture

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