Different Strokes for Different Folks

Another product of cleaning out my in-box: a webinar hosted by the America Farmland Trust, an organization working to save farm and ranch land across the county.

farmland.org

This event was the second in a series entitled Planning for Food and Agriculture: Taking a Systems Approach that highlights success stories from which others can learn. The first webinar focused on the state and region level, and the one I attended looked at community and county activities.

The four speakers each presented a wealth of information specific to their communities (Sacremento, Iowa Corridor, King County in Washington, Multnomah County in Portland). A couple items stuck out to me, which reinforced how one size does not fit all when it comes to local food systems.

First, from Sacramento, the urban-rural edge. This is where farmland abuts city land. The "softer" the edge - that is, the more urban and rural land is mixed together - the more likely the farmland is to lay fallow. The likelihood increases because that field is closer to traffic, pets, invasive plants, and vandalism or theft. And the urbanites might not be too chuffed about the farm next door because of spraying, dust, noise, and odor. Furthermore, land near developments is ripe to be developed itself; so, farmers may find the land more valuable sold than farmed.

Ways to address these potential points of conflict include buffer zones, Right-to-Farm laws, and ag parks.

Wait - what parks?

The Sunol AgPark in San Fransisco

Ag parks! According to the Sacremento Region Rural-Urbans Connections Strategy, an ag park is "a combination of a working farm and a municipal park that is located at the urban edge;" Sunol Water Temple AgPark is the model. Given an ag park's modest acreage and proximity to the city, it can be a good option for small farmers looking for a bit of land.

So that was the first item that stuck out to me. The second was King County's drainage and floodplain issues. Did you know that the ditches draining agricultural areas are often swum by endangered salmon? Neither did I! Maintenance of these ditches is understandably highly regulated to protect the fish and the water quality.

Also, farms in Washington's floodplains are liable to, well, flood. Did you know that some farmers build "farm pads" or "critter pads" to elevate their livestock above Base Flood Elevation? Me neither! The pads require permitting to ensure negligible impact on the floodplain, and can also be used to elevate houses.

Always something new to learn.