Recent Posts

Grace+Vine, or how to produce climate-friendly wine, part 1
July 28, 2024

Grace+Vine, or how to produce climate-friendly wine, part 1

I discovered Grace + Vine at The Ecology Center’s 15th anniversary, where their VP of Regenerative Outreach, Patricia, shared their mission through wine tasting. Founder Elaina Bertrand, inspired by her passion for food and wine, transitioned from a career in wine sales to promoting regenerative agriculture. Grace + Vine blends and finishes wine from sustainable vineyards, emphasizing soil health and ecosystem restoration. Their approach reflects a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and purposeful living.

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Embarking on a Pioneering Journey in Agricultural Drones at Orange Coast College, Part 2
June 25, 2024

Embarking on a Pioneering Journey in Agricultural Drones at Orange Coast College, Part 2

Agricultural drone technology offers clear benefits but faces high entry barriers, including regulatory and training requirements. At Orange Coast College, lead by Joel Jones, efforts are underway to streamline certification and training for drone pilots, addressing industry needs. He is developing a standardized program to equip students with essential skills and hands-on experience. This initiative aims to meet the growing demand for skilled agriculture drone pilots.

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Embarking on a Pioneering Journey in Agricultural Drones at Orange Coast College, Part 1
June 24, 2024

Embarking on a Pioneering Journey in Agricultural Drones at Orange Coast College, Part 1

In December 2023, I attended an open house at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, exploring the future of agricultural drones. Joel Jones, a seasoned drone instructor, highlighted the program’s impact on training certified drone pilots for agriculture. With extensive real-world experience and innovative courses, Joel is pioneering a program that promises to enhance crop spraying efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and fill the growing demand for drone pilots in agriculture.

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Drone Imaging in Agriculture, Another Tool to Achieve Global Food Sustainability
March 24, 2024

Drone Imaging in Agriculture, Another Tool to Achieve Global Food Sustainability

At UC Davis, Dr. Alireza Pourreza pioneers the use of drones in agriculture to enhance food production efficiency and sustainability. His research in digital agriculture creates tools aiding farmers in informed decision-making, mitigating crop loss from climate change, and optimizing resource use with high-resolution data. Despite the potential benefits and the need for education and government support for wider adoption, drones represent a technological leap in creating sustainable food systems in collaboration with farmers and policymakers.

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Do you know where your almonds come from? Part 2
March 19, 2024

Do you know where your almonds come from? Part 2

The 2023 almond harvest was the toughest in 40 years Micheal from Hopkins Ag has seen due to pests, disease, and weather. Growers face challenges from nature, government policies, labor costs, and spiraling production expenses. In the last 2 years, falling almond prices and increased interest rates have added to the diminished ROI. The Almond Board of California has been helping the almond industry since 1950 and continues to lead the road to sustainable almond farming.

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Beej Farms India trip
November 16, 2023

Beej Farms India trip

Nandini and Andrew, owners of Beej Farms based in southern California, returned from a 3-week trip in India this September. If you haven’t read the blog “Do you know where your spices come from?” I highly recommend it, as this blog is a catch-up with …

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Do you know where your spices come from? Beej Farms or how to honor farmers.
July 1, 2023

Do you know where your spices come from? Beej Farms or how to honor farmers.

Discovering Beej Farms nestled in a Farmers’ Market I find visiting Farmers’ Markets always a treat, and as a bonus, you might find a gem hiding around the corner. I like to walk slowly from booth to booth, soaking up farmers’ products and stories. I …

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Do you know where your almonds come from?
March 11, 2023

Do you know where your almonds come from?

When you pop an almond as a snack, pour almond milk, or drool at the thought of an almond croissant, do you ever think of the journey that almond took before it landed in your mouth? Follow me as I visited an almond orchard to …

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Jujube History and Cultivation in California
January 21, 2023

Jujube History and Cultivation in California

Where to begin, as jujubes were not even on my radar in 2022. A current client and I were talking about my Green Farm 4 All projects, and he told me about his friend farming jujubes. I had no knowledge of this fruit, like so …

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DJI Airworks, October 2022
January 14, 2023

DJI Airworks, October 2022

How to start a career with a bang as a drone pilot. Not long after joining “Women and Drones”, a networking group bringing women from around the globe to connect and succeed in this industry, I won their free registration for DJI Airworks 2022. DJI …

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