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Breaking Barriers & Ground: How Equipment Sharing Empowers Small-Scale Farmers in California

CalCAN

Their neighbors’ operations include vineyards, orchards, grain and vegetables. The collective currently shares two mid-sized combine harvesters, one mini-combine harvester, a compost spreader, two seed cleaners, a berm flamer, a no-till drill, and a foliar spray trailer.

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The Farmers Leaning On Each Other’s Tools

Civil Eats

Prior to that, they had all either harvested by hand, an intensely laborious process, or hired someone with a combine. Next, they purchased a no-drill seeder together, and it allowed them to plant rows of grain directly into orchards and pastures without tilling, a practice known to benefit the soil. The drill] made a huge difference.

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20 Organizations Cultivating the Food Movement in Atlanta

Food Tank

Food Well Alliance Food Well Alliance brings together leaders of the local food movement to support more than 300 community gardens, urban farms, and orchards in metro Atlanta. They support 10 farm, community garden and orchard sites in DeKalb and Rockdale Counties, helping communities grow fresh, culturally familiar crops.

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Speaking on Behalf of Small Farmers for a Better Future: Christine Gemperle’s Testimony on AB 552 Regional Equipment Sharing

CalCAN

Christine Gemperle, almond farmer and CalCAN advisor recently drove to Sacramento from her orchard in Ceres to testify in support of equipment sharing and sustainable agriculture investments alongside CalCAN staff. Anna Larson, Christine Gemperle and legislative director Mike Sharif.

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2022 Farm Champions

Caff

In October 2020, the Bear Yuba Land Trust, Sierra Harvest, BriarPatch Food Co-op and Tahoe Food Hub bought the land through a partnership called Forever Farm. The entire Sierra Orchards team is not only deeply knowledgeable and committed to their roles as land stewards, but they are forever generous with that wisdom.

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On the Ground with the Midwest Farmers Going All-In On Agroforestry

Modern Farmer

Johnson added trees to grazing land to create silvopastures, enhanced existing windbreaks and planted a micro-orchard with fruit and nut trees. In addition to organic practices including composting and perennial cover crops, he added a silvopasture for his grass-fed cattle. Tucker Gretebeck planting trees on All Season Farm.

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Meet the Arizona Nonprofit Working to Transform Urban Food Deserts

Modern Farmer

Across the Phoenix metro area, citrus trees sag under the weight of more produce than homeowners can harvest and use. Combined with copious sunlight and compostable waste, this system creates a “goldmine of opportunity” that Chevallier believes Homegrown can leverage to transform the area into a hub of local food production.

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