Entries by ncat-admin

Episode 231. Leave No Trace Farming

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Damian Valdez and Jamie Williamson run Lighthouse Herb’n Farm, an organic herb, tea, medicinal plant, and dye-plant operation in eastern San Diego. The farm is located on what is considered Luiseño Payómkawichum native land.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Jamie and Damian talk with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Katherine Favor about their ethic of “leave no trace” — how they farm organically in San Diego’s harsh desert climate in a way that honors this sacred native land, and ensures that it is kept intact for generations to come.
NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Katherine Favor and Damian Valdez and Jamie Williamson, Lighthouse Herb’n Farm

Episode 230. NCAT’s AgriSolar Clearinghouse Aims to Make Solar More Accessible to Land Managers

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The National Center for Appropriate Technology has launched America’s first AgriSolar Clearinghouse to connect farmers, ranchers, land managers, solar developers, and researchers with trusted, practical information to increase the co-location of solar and agriculture. In less than a decade, solar installations are expected to cover more than 3 million acres of the United States, creating […]

Episode 229. Encontrando tierra para trabajar. Seis maneras de asegurar tierra agrícola

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En este episodio de Voces del Campo, Martin Guerena, especialista en agricultura sostenible de NCAT, es entrevistado por Pepe Reyes de Radio El Gallito de Bakersfield, California, sobre cómo encontrar tierras agrícolas y cómo asegurarla para alquiler, arrendamiento o compra. Martin trabaja en la Oficina Regional Occidental de NCAT en Davis, California. Para obtener más […]

Episode 228. A Closer Look at Hair Sheep

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, Margo Hale, NCAT’S Southeast Regional Director, and NCAT Agriculture Specialist Tracy Mumma discuss considerations in raising hair sheep. Both have raised hair sheep but in very different climates – Tracy in Montana and Margo in Arkansas. Because hair sheep are less common than wool sheep in many […]

Episode 227. Meet NCAT. Chris Lent aims to help farmers be resilient

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Nina Prater introduces us to one of NCAT’s newest staff members, Chris Lent. Actually, it is more of a reintroduction since Chris worked at NCAT several years ago. He took a break when his son was born, and now he’s back as a sustainable […]

Episode 226. Organic Pulse Production Is Timeless in Montana

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agricultural and Natural Resource Economist Jeff Schahczenski talks about the more than 30 year history of the development of the organic pulse and legume industry in Montana and beyond. His conversation is with David Oien, founding farmer and CEO of Timeless Foods based in Ulm, Montana. […]

Episode 224. From the Air Force to Alpacas

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Alvina Maynard credits a commercial she happened to see on television while staying in a hotel with inspiring her to raise alpacas. In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT’s Southeast Regional Director and Director of NCAT’s Armed to Farm Program Margo Hale, talks with Alvina, an Air Force Reservist who owns River Hill […]

Episode 223: Do Cover Crops Steal Water? Part 2

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This episode of Voices from the Field continues the discussion between NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell and Dr. Alexis Racelis of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley about the use of cover crops in semi-arid subtropical environments. While cover crops are heralded as a regenerative agriculture tool to improve soil health, integrating cover […]

Episode 222: Do Cover Crops Steal Water? Part 1

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In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell sits down with Dr. Alexis Racelis of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to discuss the use of cover crops in semi-arid subtropical environments. In particular, the conversation centers on the Subtropical Soil Health Initiative, a research partnership between NCAT […]