A special EcoFarm Pre-Conference field day will give attendees the opportunity to see regenerative practices on the ranch and learn about the overarching frameworks and core principles from top leaders in the field. The workshop will be hosted on the historic Paicines Ranch which encompasses 7,600 acres of rangeland, vineyards and row crops,
The day starts with an introductory overview of the new Regenerative Agriculture movement, followed by presentations on the fundamentals of soil health and whole-systems thinking. We’ll demonstrate how to put these principles into practice - including the production of specialty compost, and the use of cover crops, no-till systems, animal integration, and holistic planned grazing. As these regenerative management practices boost farm productivity, soil fertility, and water-use efficiency, they pull carbon out of the atmosphere and store it in the soil. Enjoy an interactive installation “A Taste of Place,” an actual soil tasting and a catalyst for reflection on the day’s lessons, instigated by artist Laura Parker.
Walking the fields and vineyards of the ranch, participants will be able to see examples of livestock integrated into annual and perennial cropping systems. Point Blue ecologists will showcase several onsite projects that observe how management decisions can influence the ecology of rangelands and cropping practices in California.
Lunch will be catered by acclaimed chef Jim Denevan, founder of Outstanding In The Field.
The conference is sponsored by Paicines Ranch/Globetrotter Foundation & TomKat Ranch/Leftcoast Grassfed
