Community Outreach
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Since the formation of the Biomass & Biochar Cooperative a great many opportunities are springing up to connect and coordinate agencies, groups, people and projects. Since the total devastation of the town of Paradise, in Butte County, and the reinvigoration of interest in food security, due to COVID-19 and the C.A.R.E.S. Act, both forest safety and food security are paramount interests.
Press Release: Collaborating California Communities PDF Info on Burning Trees PDF |
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Butte County
Morning Glory Organics
Bordering the wilderness area of Butte College in Oroville, the newly No-Till organic market garden is finding its stride by enhancing the soil quality and biodiversity through the additions of compost and biochar under deep mulch. The produce supplies local natural food Co-ops and the school system which manages to provide more than a thousand meals a day! The on-site staff are three capable young women who keep the place in order and full production.
Susanville Community Gardens
Under the guidance of Seth Anderson (of Rustic Rancher) an abandoned homesite with neglected fruit trees became a bountiful community garden for some 40 families to tend plots and learn the methods and benefits of Permaculture, and grow produce for the newly established Susanville Farmer's Market. The space helps link the three counties of the LPSCAA into a chain that will support each other and design distribution plans for emergency food drop-off points.
Paradise Recovery
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Bordering the wilderness area of Butte College in Oroville, the newly No-Till organic market garden is finding its stride by enhancing the soil quality and biodiversity through the additions of compost and biochar under deep mulch. The produce supplies local natural food Co-ops and the school system which manages to provide more than a thousand meals a day! The on-site staff are three capable young women who keep the place in order and full production.
Susanville Community Gardens
Under the guidance of Seth Anderson (of Rustic Rancher) an abandoned homesite with neglected fruit trees became a bountiful community garden for some 40 families to tend plots and learn the methods and benefits of Permaculture, and grow produce for the newly established Susanville Farmer's Market. The space helps link the three counties of the LPSCAA into a chain that will support each other and design distribution plans for emergency food drop-off points.
Paradise Recovery
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Plumas County
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BROADFORK & Friends Collective
Originally initiated as a solution to the labor shortage that led to the collapse of a successful 200 member CSA (in a small town!) that left a hole in the community The focus shifted to supporting women as educated workers and Broadfork & Friends has evolved into a coordinating and cooperative body to expand local growing at multiple sites, sponsoring further food farmer education and entrepreneurship of sustainable business, along the lines of food prep and delivery, compost and soil regeneration and educational workshops and community events.
Image Left: Known as the Gem of Plumas County, Quincy serves as home to many projects and agencies working in conjunction with the goals of the Biomass & Biochar Coop. |
LIMB & AIDE
As a partner project between Emily Bryant and Lassen-Plumas-Sierra Community Action Agency, Limb & Aide developed as a Biomass Reduction service, utilizing goats and Biochar creation alongside the Fire Safe Council to make safe spaces around homes which became especially concerning during and after the Paradise fire. The became a Soil Regeneration site and Community Garden on private property, generously shared, in the heart of downtown. It houses facilities and structures for an operating Aquaponics system, winter-growing greenhouse, hoop houses and raised beds. Going forward the space may be a processing center for the food bank system and local produce distribution as a CSA alternative, under the coordination of BROADFORK & Friends.
As a partner project between Emily Bryant and Lassen-Plumas-Sierra Community Action Agency, Limb & Aide developed as a Biomass Reduction service, utilizing goats and Biochar creation alongside the Fire Safe Council to make safe spaces around homes which became especially concerning during and after the Paradise fire. The became a Soil Regeneration site and Community Garden on private property, generously shared, in the heart of downtown. It houses facilities and structures for an operating Aquaponics system, winter-growing greenhouse, hoop houses and raised beds. Going forward the space may be a processing center for the food bank system and local produce distribution as a CSA alternative, under the coordination of BROADFORK & Friends.
FOLLOW YOUR HEART FARM
Just newly planned this year to be designated as a Medicinal Market Garden, the owners Anne & Laura have also worked on building a Monarch Butterfly sanctuary to really foster a safe and loving environment to grow healing herbs, flowers and roots. Plus, the use of biochar may extend to the pasture raised pigs so their feed and daily activities are healthy and nutritious.
Just newly planned this year to be designated as a Medicinal Market Garden, the owners Anne & Laura have also worked on building a Monarch Butterfly sanctuary to really foster a safe and loving environment to grow healing herbs, flowers and roots. Plus, the use of biochar may extend to the pasture raised pigs so their feed and daily activities are healthy and nutritious.
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JUBILEE FARM
The Sturley family have opened an acre of space in front of their family’s house, along the Spanish Creek alluvial plain, making it a fruitful space amidst the meadow. The main purpose being providing fresh ingredients to the Veteran’s and Senior’s Food Program. The produce grown in row plots under low to no till, with multiple succession plantings and soil treated with our locally made Bio-char out of our understory and forest litters that run abundant in this area. THE PLUMAS GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) GARDEN Amber brought the first ever Pride Parade to Quincy and she has opened up her historic property, being the first hydraulic powerhouse to generate electricity to the surrounding neighborhood, to our efforts to open space and allow access to fresh, local foods, and best methods for nutrition and soil health, also employing Bio-char. |
She is also turning her kitchen into a cottage kitchen and offering food preservation workshops. As part of our foods and crafts network we can offer the know-how and materials to store foods over winter for our community members. This site is not only a safe space for any person of any gender to find relaxation, acceptance and refuge as needed, but it will house a Paint Reclamation station, Farmstand, and Letter Writing workspace allowing us to be better stewards of the land, more close to source consuming, and caring for each other in these times of isolation.