Farming
Build Healthy Soils with Free Assistance to Secure up to $100,000 Grant Funding!
Join Solana Center for Environmental Innovation (Solana Center) for a free technical assistance webinar for farmers and ranchers to learn more about applying for up to $100,000 in state grant funding. Assistance is provided by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Healthy Soils Program (HSP) for farmers to implement conservation management practices that…
Read MoreNew Resource Guide: 4 Most Common Healthy Soil Farming Practices
Did you know the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Healthy Soils Program (HSP) provides financial assistance to California farmers, growers, and ranchers for implementation of one or more HSP agricultural management practices to improve soil health, including compost & mulch application, cover cropping, no-till methods, conservation planting, and more? During the last solicitation period, CDFA allocated $67.5 million worth of HSP awards,…
Read MoreSan Diego County unanimously passes ordinance in support of organic waste processing!
Celebrations are in order! The San Diego County Board of Supervisors just passed an updated ordinance that will amend the County’s existing zoning ordinance and allow organic material composting to occur in more areas of the unincorporated county. This will have a significant impact in the years to come on San Diego County’s ability to…
Read MoreWhat is an Aerated Static Pile (ASP)?
Have you seen us mention ASP compost before and wondering what it means? ASP stands for aerated static pile which is a powerful system that uses large pipes to circulate air from fans through the pile, eliminating the need to physically aerate the composting organic material. This system can manage large quantities of waste and makes it particularly suitable…
Read More5 Ways to Heat Up Your Compost Pile – Even in Winter!
Want to get finished compost faster? You may want to try increasing the internal temperature of your backyard bin! Contrary to popular belief, compost piles do not heat up or drop in temperature due to atmospheric conditions (i.e. sun exposure, warm weather or cold weather) but rather, as a result of heat generation by specialized…
Read MoreWorried About Your Carbon Footprint? Shopping Local Might Be the Key
Lowering contribution to this form of pollution is easy: shop local!
Read MoreThe Magic of Manure Compost: Protect Your Waterways, Save Money, and Improve Your Soil!
When you think of San Diego County, horses aren’t usually the first thing that come to mind, but we do have the second-largest number of horses in the state (only Riverside County has more). As beautiful as they are, there are few ways to turn money into manure faster than having a horse. Horses can…
Read MoreBenefits of a Mechanized Trommel
How will Solana Center’s mechanized trommel benefit you? Investing in a trommel has multiple benefits, but the primary purpose for acquiring this equipment is to accommodate the growth of the Food Cycle program and process compost faster. A trommel will: allow the Food Cycle program to grow, serving more local families, individuals and organizations; divert more food…
Read MoreHealthy Soils Make Food and People Healthier
Healthy soils help make a healthy environment and nourishing food for our bodies. This winter, Solana Center worked with local farmers and ranchers to discuss the state’s Healthy Soils Program, strategize ways to implement best management practices, and improve productivity. According to the Farm Bureau, San Diego County has more small farms than any other county in the US…
Read MoreMaster Composter Class Tours Compost Facility, Family Dairy
Students in Solana Center’s Fall Master Composter course, sponsored by the County of San Diego, were treated to an excellent example of how composting can solve local waste issues during a field trip on November 3rd. The class visited San Pasqual Valley Soils and Konyn Dairy, adjacent businesses that partner together to make the most of…
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