Robin Carpenter co-hosts her show with local journalist, Trevor Hunnicut, in a conversation with Evan Wiig one of the founders of the newly formed North Coast Young Farmers Guild. Evan is a former NY publishing professional who has been called to the land as a rancher and partner in True Grass Farms in Valley Ford just up the road. We covered the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunites and Threats) of becoming a local/regional sustainable farmer or food producer in our foodshed and across the country. Please check out the links and info below to see how you can help. Evan shared how the use of technology and social media are key components of surviving as a small farmer/rancher and why the Young Farmers Guild has grown at a dizzying pace and that the synergy is powerful. Trevor shared what happened at the Ag workshop put on by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) on 5/8/13 in San Rafael for all coastal farmers and ranchers. There has been a disconnect between the CCC and the needs of the coastal ag community and regulations and changes made without the input or consideration of the viability of our coastal family farms. This workshop appeared be a valuable start to bridging what appears to be a threatening divide.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act:

http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/7323/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=13898

Contact Evan to find out about the Young Farmers Guild - emwiig@yahoo.com

To see Trevor Hunnicut's article on the Coastal Commission workshop:   http://www.ptreyeslight.com/article/marin-ag-groups-parse-coastal-act-regulators

Sam Dolcini is a fifth generation rancher in Marin County and the President of the Marin County Farm Bureau. In discussion with host Robin Carpenter they discussed the challenges and issues facing local and regional family farms in our area. They also talked about recent developments within the farming/ranching/environmental community in our foodshed that threaten the tapestry of harmony that was woven so many years ago when the multi-generational agricultural community of Marin joined hands with the local environmental movement to create our working landscapes that provide us with a healthy foodshed working sustainably with Mother Nature. Great ideas around better communitcation, education and collaboration are to be found in this fascinating interview with Sam Dolcini.