Sustainable Marin

This week was all about transition and preparation, and we enjoyed a blend of unique in-class learning and hands-on farm work We finalized and began to execute our exciting new plans for the hopefully growth-filled spring up ahead. 

We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit different local farms around Marin and beyond, and present our most important learnings to the class. Our presentations included a wide variety of growing spaces and systems from all around the county, each varying size, history, and levels of sustainability. I think I speak for all of us students in saying this was an incredibly interesting and motivating experience, as we have been able to see the techniques we have spent the year mastering on a much larger scale with a wider impact. Many of us spoke to first and second generation farmers, which was inspiring in itself because it demonstrated the kind of action each and every once of us is capable to take to increase sustainability in our communities. 

Despite the previous stormy weather, we made it out to harvest the bulk of our winter crops on the sunny midmorning on Friday. While veggies were not abundant, we had tons of bell bean leaves, lettuce, kale, and flowers for bouquets, which made for another successful market day! 

Spring has Sprung! (pics)

Spring has Sprung!

    The rain these last two weeks has made it hard for us to get out on the farm and plant our seedlings. Instead, we've been spending more time in the classroom learning about sustainable design. Students just finished a project in which we interviewed a farmer or visited a farm to learn about alternative systems and methods of growing plants. Lauren Bell and I went to the San Rafael Farmers Market to interview Jesse Kuhn from Marin Roots Farm in Woodacre. We learned about his techniques for growing crops and soil, most of which were very similar to methods we use on the Redwood Farm. 

    Today we were finally able to get out on the farm to harvest just in time for the farmer's market! Not much has been growing this winter, but we were able to harvest a surprising amount of crops. Now that spring has arrived, there are plenty of flowers growing on the farm that make beautiful bouquets. Our kale and lettuce have survived the winter, perfect for a delicious salad. And, as always, there is an abundance of bell bean leaves, which are a great substitute for spinach.  

    Next week we plan on planting our spring crops. Now is the perfect time to transplant our organic seedlings into our One Beds. Students are looking forward to another successful growing season! 

By Emerson Cole

Oxbow Visit

Last monday we had farm report presentations due, where we got the opportunity to interview a farmer to learn more about their farming systems. The farmer my group decided to interview a teacher, Alex, at the Oxbow School who teaches students about the food industry and environmental impacts. What Alex teaches is a lot like what Mr. Stewart teaches our class, things like compost and how to be more sustainable. Like us, the students get to work on the farm by making compost and planting seedlings that will grow into beautiful plants that will feed the students at their school. Unlike our farm they have really cute chickens, bees and a lot of different places where they are able to plant, many beds on different locations, fruit trees over the campus, and a greenhouse.

It was really interesting visiting another farm that is run by students because we got to compare our experiences about what we learn in our classes. We have very similar systems set up in both of our farms. The drip system that we use in our farm, they have at oxbow. We both use compost cubes to produce our own compost (but we both do not produce enough so we must bring in compost from other places, grow our seedlings in a greenhouse and we all work together as a class to get the most out of their farm. The main difference between our two farms is that they have a lot more of their school time devoted to the farm and have to take care of the animals that live at the school as well.

"PS Alex is Dana's dad" - Dana

by Anna K.

Spring and What it Entails

It's that time of year again, the rain is falling and the weather is starting to warm up. Thus the RHS Sustag team is making steps in preparation for re-planting the beds. We have recently harvested the remaining compost crops, predominately bell beans. We are redistributing nutrients of the plant(s) by composting the stalks, and leaving the nitrogen fixed roots in the soil. We are also repairing the soil structure of overgrown beads. Our groups were assigned beds to weed. We used hula hoe to remove the majority of low lying grasses, and then used the sickle to cut through thick grasses. We then contributed this to the compost pile, as long as what we had harvested was not invasive. Then we u-bared the beds mixing in compost. This aerated the soil and re-established soil structure. Prior to preparation of the beds, seedlings were being grown in flats to transplant. The types of crops that are currently sprouting are conventional spring crops: largely leafy greens, herbs, root crops, as well as cold weather beans. When the rain starts to subside, the soil will be dry enough to dig and plant with out compressing the soil structure or crushing the root systems. We have cautiously prepared our beds to provide conditions for optimal growth, so lets get planting!

The bed my group was restoring.

---Julian C

A Week of Hydroponics and Lots of Rain!

This week in Sust Ag was very exciting because we had 6 guests come to talk to us about their jobs and the methods they use to be sustainable.

On Tuesday, Stan came in to talk to us about hydroponics. Hydroponics is basically growing plants in a water and nutrient solution. It was started by the aztecs and is still used today, especially by people who want to conserve water and land space and want to have direct control of the roots of your plants. One reason hydroponics is a good growing method is because it isolates the plants from soil borne insects, diseases, and animals. Some other benefits of growing hydroponically are you get a higher yield, no runoff of fertilizers, the veggies can potentially have a higher nutrient content and taste better, and you save a lot of water. Unfortunately, growing organically using the hydroponic method is difficult outside especially because you have to constantly adjust the ph and the other nutrient levels. One thing he said that I found really interesting is that you can't use a white or clear bucket to grow plants in because too much light can get in, it can promote algae growth and can promote the growth of diseases. He said with hydroponics all you have to do is "plant and walk away", it's that easy (expect if your trying to do it organically outside.) Hydroponics can't replace soil culture for many reasons but it is still a good option if you want to try it.

On Wednesday we listened to a panel of speakers talk about their various jobs relating to agriculture. They talked a lot about how new government leadership has affected their work, what they do to support sustainability and what they love about their jobs.

Overall it was a super interesting and informative week!

Grace Willens

AARON'S SPEECH

A couple weeks ago we got a visit from one of Mr. Stewart's old students who came to redwood to present on what he is doing currently doing in his life. 

He started to work on farms with sheep, goats and cattle. They are very easy to work with and help with having a sustainable land. He used a system called sweetgrass grazing which help support diversity in the farm. The presentation was very interesting and he showed people flyers of a program that he makes available during the summer, teaching kids about working on farms and being with animals with hands on experience. 

On block day we worked on our management jobs, my group and I wheelbarrialed a thing of wood chips over to the ground where there are weeds growing. On friday we have our field trip to IVC to learn about the farm there.  

kelsey