identifying the issues green rush€¦ · solutions 3 every spring, inspect your entire water...

BestManagementPractices

Identifying the Issues Green Rush

Table of ContentsIntroduction .................................................................................................... 3

Water ............................................................................................................ 4

Erosion and Sediment ............................................................................ 8

Potting Soil ............................................................................................ 10

Amendments and Fertilizers .............................................................. 12

Disease and Pest Control ................................................................ 14

Rats, Mice, and Other Critters ...................................................... 16

Recommended Resources ............................................................ 18

Conclusion ................................................................................ 19

The Northern California Farmers Guide is a community-based collaborative project that was written for the benefit of our communities and the

watersheds we thrive in. We would like to acknowledge and thank the many community members, farmers,

environmentalists, advocates, and sponsors who have contributed to the writing, designing, and funding of this still evolving project. Enjoy!

Northern California Farmers Guide

Inrecentyearsthecannabisindustryhasgrownexponentially.Thisagriculturalboom,or“GreenRush,”ispresentingnewthreatsandchallengestoourcommunitiesandthenatural environment that sustains us. Northern California watersheds have already beendamagedbyyearsofboomandbustcyclesincludinglogging,ranching,anddevelopment.Thelegacyimpactsofthesecycleshaveseriouslydegradedtheintegrityand health of the natural environment.

NorthernCaliforniaisalandofancientredwoodgroves,annualsalmonruns,steepmountainvalleys,expansivewilderness,scenicrivers,andisarefugeformanyrareandendangered species.

NorthernCaliforniaisalsohometoruggedandresilientcommunitiesandmodernhomesteadsbuiltoff-the-gridfocusingonrecreatingastewardshipethicthathaslargelybeenlostoverrecentcenturies.Fordecadesourcommunitieshavehadanactiverelationshipwithcannabis,pioneeringgrowingmethodsandproducingbudsthatare known around the world.

Thisguideismeanttocomplementtheuniquedo-it-yourselfcultureandspiritwhichhaslongbeenestablishedhereontheNorthCoastofCalifornia.Thisissimplyastartingpointintheprocessofidentifyingandcreatingviablesolutionstotheenvironmentalproblemsouragriculturalactivitiesmaybeexacerbating.Ourintentionistoaddressthemdirectlyandeffectively,onourownfarmsandwithinourowncommunities.Webelievethatourproactiveeffortswillhelppreventlawenforcementandresourceagencies from trying to solve these problems for us.

Identifying the Issues Green Rush

Table of ContentsIntroduction .................................................................................................... 3

Water ............................................................................................................ 4

Erosion and Sediment ............................................................................ 8

Potting Soil ............................................................................................ 10

Amendments and Fertilizers .............................................................. 12

Disease and Pest Control ................................................................ 14

Rats, Mice, and Other Critters ...................................................... 16

Recommended Resources ............................................................ 18

Conclusion ................................................................................ 19

Northern California watersheds are faced with an agricultural boom:

causing threats to our communities.


Water

ConcernsWaterisundoubtedlythemostcrucialresourceissuerelatedtoruralresidentialhealthandqualityoflife.

Divertingand/orpumpingwaterfromsprings,creeks,andriversduringthesummermonthsreducesstreamflowsandincreaseswatertemperatures.Thiscontributestoblue-greenalgaebloomsinourrivers,affectsthequalityofwaterforhumanandanimalconsumption,andthreatensthesurvivalofendangeredsalmon,steelhead,andotheraquaticlife.Anytimeyouaretakingwaterfromaseasonaloryear-roundwaterwaysuchasacreek,stream,orriveryouarecreatingawaterdiversion.

Overflowing water from a tank— a waste of diverted water. Float valves installed inside of tanks keep

water from overflowing.

Poorly done excavation work leaves a Class II stream buried in debris, left. Instream excavation work has turned this headwaters stream into a “pond” which is immediately drained out of the stream, eliminating aquatic life, right.


Water

Solutions 3Everyspring,inspectyourentirewatersystemforleaksandrepairleakyfaucetsandconnectors,allthecollectivedripsaddup! 3 Installproperstreamcrossings,ifapplicable. Reduce erosion by installing properstreamcrossings,maintainingwaterbars,andkeepingculvertsclear,especially during heavy rains. Slow down waterrunoffandcatchsedimentwheremuddy water leaves the road by building simplecheckdamsoutofrocks,logs,brush,etc. 3 Installfloatvalvesonalltankstokeepwaterfromoverflowingontotheground.(Visit: www.sanctuaryforest.org for details). 3Besurethatallcreek,stream,andriverdiversionsandpump-intakeshaveappropriately-sizedfishscreenstopreventkillingjuvenilefish.”Fordetailsonthis,seeSanctuaryForests’WaterStorageGuide.(seepage18forlink.) 3Reducewaterusebyinstallingmulti-cyclewatertimersanddripirrigationsystems.Bywateringforshortdurations,2-5minutes2-4xaday,youcankeepsoilmoistwithoutwastingwaterorleachingnutrients. 3 Ifhandwatering,waterduringtheeveningorearlymorninghours.Wateringwhileit’sstillcooloutsidehelpstoreduceevaporation.

3Mulchplantsandallcultivatedareas,evenyourpots!Driplinesandemittersgo under the mulch.

3 If the ground between and around yourcultivatedareasisdisturbedorlacksvegetation,seedandmulchtheseareasaswell.Vegetationaroundcultivatedareashelpswithoverallwaterretentionaswellastemperaturereduction.

3Cannabis is a xeric or drought tolerant plant. Studies suggest that lettingplantsregularlydryout,alongwithwater-sparingingeneral,especiallyduring last the last few weeks of flowering,mayincreasepotency.


3Coverpots/containersonthesouthand west sides with burlap or another suitable material to keep containers cool. 3Besuretonotoverwateryourgarden!Overwateringnotonlywasteswaterbutis also a contributor to diseases such as rootrot,rootaphids,whiteflies,fungusgnats,etc. 3Signsofoverwatering-

•Yoursoildoesn’tdryout between watering.

•Waterisrunningoutofthebottomofpottedplants(usesaucerstocollectexcess water and give root balls the timetheyneedtoabsorbit).

•Thepathwaybetweenbedsorplantingsis wet or develops puddles.

Water


Water

3Collect and store water during therainyseasonintanks,bladders,orengineeredponds. 3You can avoid the use of groundwater by installing rainwater catchment systems and tanks.

Rainwater catchment tank, above. Rooftop rainwater catchment system, left.


ConcernsPoorlymaintainedorbadlyconstructedroadsandexcavationsitesareamajorsourceofsedimentpollutioninourwatersheds.Theheavywinterrainsexperienced by our bioregion put a tremendous amount of water onto road systems,transferringvastamountsofloosesedimentintoourcreeksandrivers.Poorly maintained or plugged culverts can lead to catastrophic failures that can severelydamageroadsandnearbystreams.Thisdegradesoreliminateshabitatessentialtofishandotheraquaticlifeandcancausesedimentdamstooccurleavingisolatedpoolsthatfishcan’tgettoorescapefrom.

Erosion and Sediment

Buried stream and riparian buffer resulting from the excavated flat showing deep

gullies where sediment has washed down hill in the heavy winter rains, above. A partially obstructed culvert, right.


Solutions 3Reduceerosionbymaintainingwaterbarsandkeepingculvertsclear,especiallyduringheavyrains.Slowdownwaterrunoffandcatchsedimentwhere muddy water leaves the road by building simple check dams out of rocks,logs,brush,etc. 3Beawarethatchoosingtouseheavyequipmenttodevelopyourpropertyhasseriousshort-andlong-termimpacts.Besuretohireexperiencedandreputableoperatorsinsteadofdoingityourself!Un-permittedgradingand/orroadconstructionisillegalandcanleadtoheavyfines. 3Put gravel on all dirt roads and be sure to seed and mulch all disturbed areas and bare soil prior to the rainy season. 3Donotincorporateslash,brush,branches,ortreetrunksintoroadprisms,sidecastmaterial,clearings,landings,etc.Thisorganicmaterialwillquicklyrotandtheoverlyingsoilwillslumpandcreateadditionalsedimentationproblems. 3YoucanfindmorepracticaltipsbydownloadingRural Roads: A Construction and Maintenance Guide for California Landowners. (see page 18 for link.)

Erosion and Sediment

A graded area that has been mulched with straw and grass seed to prevent erosion and runoff, above.A well-maintained culvert, left.


ConcernsImportingpottingsoilisveryenergyintensiveinitsproductionandtransportationtoourregion.Theproductionofpottingsoildepletesnaturalresources,suchaspeatmoss,perliteandpumice.Plasticsoilbagsalsocreateanexorbitantamountoflandfill.Dumpingusedpottingsoilisillegalandcanbeasourceofpollutiontolocalrivers.

Potting Soil

A 10-foot plus cut in the earth, a result of the peat bog mining.

Discarded potting soil left exposed to the winter rains will leach remaining nutrients into the environment and possibly waterways.


SolutionsBuyingsoilisaseriousfinancialinvestmentanditisnota“disposable”commodity. Protect your investment and the environment by following these basicsuggestions.

3Maintain and improve your soil each year byplantingcovercrops(favabeans,vetch,winterrye,clover,etc.)inthefalltoboostsoilfertilitynaturally.Plantingamixisbest.Compost cover crops or turn them back intothesoilinthespring,30-60daysbeforeplanting.Covercropsholdyourinvestment(soil&nutrients)on-sitebypreventingthemfrom eroding or leaching into the watershed during winter rains. 3 If using bagged soil be sure to empty the bags completely and recycle them by bringing them to a local recycling center or garden store that recycles. 3Purchasebulksoil.Thisrequiresnoplasticbags,savesyoumoney,andreduceslandfilltrash. 3Whattodowithusedpottingsoil?Ifyouneedtoreplaceyourpottingsoil,consider reusing it to develop new garden beds or giving it to gardeners whowantit.Ifyou’reexperiencingsaltbuild-up,considerlayeringthesoilincompostbinswithstraworhay,inoculatingwithbeneficialbacteriaandmycorrhizalfungiandlettingitcompostforayearortwobeforereusing.PottingsoilcanbelegallydisposedofforasmallfeeatFreshwaterFarms or W. Green Landscaping.

Potting Soil


ConcernsWecanalldoourparttokeepfertilizersoutofcreeks,rivers,andwaterways.Over-fertilizingwithbothsyntheticandorganicnutrientsisamuchtoocommonpractice.Excessnitrogenandphosphorousfromagriculturecanpollute waterways and may contribute to toxic algae blooms in our local rivers andstreams.Additionally,syntheticfertilizersoftencontaincoppersulfate,aningredientthatisextremelytoxictoaquaticlife,eveninsmalldoses.

Amendments and Fertilizers

Homemade Compost

Synthetic chemical-based water soluble fertilizer can

easily enter streams and waterways. Even a small amount can have serious

environmental impacts.

A homemade compost tea brewer

Syntheticchemical-basedtime-releasefertilizerwill leach nutrients into the environment for an extendedperiodoftime.


SolutionsHealthysoilislivingsoil!Soilthatisteemingwithbeneficialmicroorganismswillhelptoreduceyourgarden’sneedforamendmentsandfertilizerswhileincreasingyouryields.Additionally,healthysoilholdsmoisturelonger,reducingplantstressduringthedryheat-intensivesummermonths.

3When amending your garden soil or fertilizingduringthegrowingseason,choosenaturaland/ororganicproductstoreducethechancesofsaltbuild-up.Alwaysfollowthemanufacturer’ssuggestedapplicationrates. You may even want to use less than recommended.Thisisnotacaseofmoreisbetter!Remember,plantscanonlyabsorbsomuch (about 15% of applied inputs) at one timeandover-applicationofamendmentshas been linked to many problems including stemrot(Botrytis),molds,powderymildew,andexcessiveleafiness. 3Tryusingcompostandcompostteasoraddingbeneficialmicroorganismstoyoursoilandteatanks.Utilizingsuchproductsencourageshealthybiologicalactivityinsoilsandincreasesnutrientuptakewhileenhancingyourgarden’snatural

immunityagainstpathogens,suchasmoldand fungus.

3 Installvegetatedbuffers(grassyswale,filterstrip,etc.)aroundtheperimeterofthegardentofilterrunoffandsediments.Leaveand/orinstallbufferstripsofnativevegetationdownslopeofallgardenareastohelpcatchsedimentandcleanserunoffbefore it has an opportunity to enter creeks and streams. Excess nutrients and watercanalsobecapturedbyconstructingearthenbasinscalled“bio-swales”belowyour garden site.

3See Resources on page 18 for naturally producedandorganicfertilizersandamendments,soil-buildingclasses,anddo-it-yourselfcompostteabrewing.

Amendments and Fertilizers

A bio-swale with a filter strip of native vegetation

Mycorrhizal Fungi with Beneficial Bacteria


ConcernsPowderymildew,rootrotandrootaphids,spidermites,whiteflies,andvariousgardenvirusesarepotentialproblemsforfarmersinourregion.Pesticidesandfungicidesusedtotreattheseproblemscancontaminatethesoil,water,andthecroptheyareappliedto.Theyalsodon’tdiscriminate,oftenkillingthebeneficialinsectsandmicroorganismsthatarenature’sdefenseagainstplantdiseaseandpestissues.Improperhandlingandstorageofpesticidesandfungicidescanbeharmfultotheenvironment,humans,andanimalsthatcomeintocontactwiththem.Applyingpesticidesandfungicideswithin25feetofacreekorwaterway,unlesstheproductisdevelopedspecificallyforaquaticuse,isnotonlyillegalbutdangeroustoaquaticlife.

Disease and Pest Control

Dangerous fungicides and miticides contrasting with sunflowers and beneficial insects.


SolutionsAgardenwithsoilteemingwithbeneficialmicroorganismsandbeneficialinsectswillbefarlesssusceptibletodiseaseandpestissues.Beaproactivegardener,notareactiveone!Takestepsaheadoftimetoreducetheriskofpestanddiseaseinfestation.Mostgardendiseaseandpestissuesarebroughtintothegardenbycontaminatedplantstartsthatareacquiredfromoutsidesources.

3Considerbreedingandsproutingyourownseeds!Seedplantstendtohaveincreased vigor and resilience to disease and pests. Seeds that are produced on-siteand/orinthesamebioregionarepreferableastheyaremorelikelytobeacclimatedtotheweather,subtlelightchanges,andhaveincreasedimmunitytothebioregion’svariousdiseaseandpestissues. 3Whenpurchasingplantstartsfromseedorclone,examinethemcloselyfor signs of disease and pests. Check the underside of leaves for spider miteeggsand/oradults.Squashes,melons,cucumbers,anddahliasareallhighlysusceptibletopowderymildewsotaketheextratimetogivethemathoroughexaminationbeforebringingthemhomefromyourlocalnursery. 3GardenvirusessuchasVerticulumandFuscariumwiltareeasilytransferredthroughclonecuttingandcontaminated soil or mediums. Choose plant starts thathavehealthyhairywhiteroots,avoidplantstartswithrootsthatareundeveloped,browning,orlackavigorous appearance. 3Knowyourplantandclonesource!Clonesarecutfrommotherplants,meaningthecloneyoutakehomeishighlylikelytohavethesamediseasesand/orpestsasitsmotherplant.Additionally,clonesmayalsocontainfungicideandpesticideresiduesifthemotherplantwastreated prior to the clones being cut. 3Attractbeneficialinsectstoyourgardenbyinter-plantingamixofyarrow,cilantro,parsley,dill,orcoreopsis.Thiswill help to combat spider mites and other pests. 3Prevent the onset of powdery mildew by using natural remedies as a preventativeduringtheplant’svegetativelifecycle.Ifpowderymildewpersists,sprayyourgardenwithaweaksolutionofbakingsoda,neemoil,orH2O2(hydrogenperoxide.)Youcanalsosprayordustwithsulfurproductstodeter the onset of powdery mildew. 3 Ifpurchasingpesticidesorfungicides,choosethemostnaturalororganiconesavailableatyourgardensupplystore.Alwaysfollowthemanufacturer’srecommendationsandneverapplymorethanrecommended.

Disease and Pest Control

A Beneficial Insect, the Predatory Wasp,

on Bronze Fennel


ConcernsRememberthatpoisonkills!Rodenticidesusedtoexterminategardenpestssuchasrats,mice,gophers,andmolescanmoveupthefoodchainandcausesecondarykillsoffamilypetsandpredatorssuchasowls,bobcats,foxes,andfishers.Theimproperuseandstorageofrodenticidescanalsocontaminatesoiland water supplies.

Rats, Mice, and Other Critters

A Barn Owl killed by rodenticide.

A Fisher, an endangered species, killed by rat poison. Credit:PLOSONE-Gabrieletal.2012


SolutionsWateriswhattheanimalsarelookingforwhentheychewthebaseofplants,sogivethecritterswhattheywant!Putoutbowlsoffreshwateroruselivestockwater feeders.

3Protectthebaseofplantstalkswithplasticpipe,orwiremeshtokeeprodentssuchasrats,mice,andvolesfromchewingonplants.Theseareeasysolutionsthatcanbe implemented long before rodent issues become a problem. 3Becreativeifyouhavearatormouseproblem.Tryplacingarampupthesideofatrashcanthatleadstoalengthofplasticpipe rigged on a pivot point. Bait the far endoftheplasticpipewithasmearofpeanutbutter.Theratormousewillwalkuptherampandintothepipe,onlytobetippedintothetrashcan.Thesecanbelivetraps(soasnottodrowncrittersyouwantaround)orfilledwithenoughwatertodrown the rodents.

3Whiletraps(rats,mice,gophers,voles,etc.)arebetterthanpoisonsandoftenveryeffective,theycanalsokillorinjurecrittersandpetsthatarenotthreateningyourgarden!Consider using Havahart traps. Thesearewonderfullyeffectiveand allow the user to relocate wildlifeinsteadofterminatingit.

3Todefendyourgardenfromlargeranimals,userabbitand

deerfencingorheavy-dutydeerfencing.Bothoftheseoptionshavesmallenoughsquarestokeepoutlargeranimals.

3Avoidusingplasticbirdnettingasacritterfence.Itcankillsnakes,birds,andother wildlife that easily become entangled in it.

3Deterrentssuchasvolatileoilsofbalsamfirandpeppermintcanbeplacedoncottonballsnearplants,orfoundinproductssuchasFreshCabandMouseMagicandareeffectiveatkeepingratsaway.

Rats, Mice, and Other Critters


Recommended Resources: 3FreshwaterFarms(Eureka),(707)444-8261 3W.GreenLandscaping(Arcata),(707)822-8035 3SancturayForest,www.sanctuaryforest.org 3TreesFoundation,www.treesfoundation.org 3EPIC,wildcalifornia.org 3EmeraldGrowersAssociation, www.emeraldgrowers.org 3MattoleRestorationCouncil,www.mattole.org

Suggested Reading: 3“Gaia’sGarden:AGuidetoHome-ScalePermaculture,”TobyHemenway 3“HowtoGrowMoreVegetablesthanYouEverImagined,”JohnJeavons 3“TheRodaleBookofComposting,”RodaleInc. 3“TheCompostTeaBrewingManual,”Dr.ElaineIngham 3“TeamingwithMicrobes:TheOrganicGardener’sGuidetotheSoilFoodWeb,”JeffLowenfels&WayneLewis 3Anotheroptionforthesustainablyadventurousfarmer:“TheHumanureHandbook,”JosephJenkinandhumanurehandbook.com 3“NaturalEnemiesHandbook:TheIllustratedGuidetoBiologicalPestControl,”Mary Louise Flint and Steve H. Dreisdadt 3“RainwaterHarvestingforDrylandsandBeyond,”BradLancaster 3Forrainwatercollectionandstorageinformationpleasecheckout“AHomeowner’sandLandowner’sGuidetoBeneficialStormwaterManagement”:www.sscrcd.org/rainwater.php 3“DesignforWater,”Kinkade-Levario 3SanctuaryForests’“WaterStorageGuide,”http://aginnovations.org/agwaterstewards.org/uploads/docs/1213661598_Water_Storage_Guide.pdf 3“HandbookforForestandRanchRoads:Aguideforplanning,designing,constructing,reconstructing,maintaining,andclosingwildlandroads,”WilliamE.WeaverandDannyK.Hagans,availableonthewebasaPDFfileat:www.krisweb.com/biblio/gen_mcrcd_weaveretal_1994_handbook.pdf 3“RuralRoads:AConstructionandMaintenanceGuideforCaliforniaLandowners,”http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8262.pdf

For More Information Please Contact: [email protected]

Tomakeadonationpleasesendyourcheckto:NorCalsFarmersGuide-EGA 1271EvergreenRoad#2,Box126,Redway,Ca95560

For More Information Conclusion


Afundamentalmotivationforpresentingthis“growersguide”tothecommunityisourbeliefthat—eveninthemidstoftherecent“greenrush”—most people want to do the right thing. By outlining and describing Best ManagementPracticesitisourhopethatwewillencouragedialogue,raiseawareness,andempowerfarmerstosafeguardtheuniqueenvironmentalqualitiesofourbioregionbecauseweallcareaboutcoolcleanwatertodrink,cleanairtobreathe,wildlifeinabundance,andasafecommunitytoliveandgrowin.Thisguideisacelebrationofwhatwehaveachievedandrecognitionofabasicfact:wecandobetter!

Wehavetheopportunitytoutilizetheprosperityofthecurrentagriculturalboom,combinedwiththeknowledgeandabilitytogrowthehighestqualitycannabisinharmonywithourlocalenvironment.Thankfully,growinginbalancewiththenaturalenvironmentwillalsoproduceabetter,saferproductforconsumers,andwillensurehigherqualityandsustainablyproducedproduct.

Thechallengeistoprotectourenvironmentwhilemaintainingtheprosperityandnaturalresourceswedependon.Thingsdon’thavetobeperfect,butwecan all make improvements.

For More Information Conclusion

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identifying the issues green rush€¦ · solutions 3 every spring, inspect your entire water...

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