TIERRA MIGUEL FOUNDATION Education Agriculture Farmland & Soil Conservation

The Farm Property in Pauma Valley

TMF Location Map

Our Mission: Education programs: that increase healthy soils to improve the nutritional value of food that demonstrate through farming and gardening methods sustainable, community-based food production for healthy lifestyles that encourages farmland conservation

Farm Program

Community Supported Agriculture and Farm Program We are a young demonstration farm growing safe, organic, and nutritious produce distributed to over 300 members in Southern California using the Community Supported Agriculture model.

Community Supported Agriculture and Farm Program ~ FARMER FOR A DAY Nutritional and soil conservation components are also available as well as night time astronomy lessons or an afternoon trip to the observatory at Mt. Palomar.

Education Programs Tierra Miguel Foundation currently offers education programs supporting agriculture for all ages.

Education Programs ~ Farm to School Programs This program connects the food in the cafeterias to farms and health so that students can better relate to how their food choices affect their own health. Funding for this program is provided through purchase agreements and fee for service.

Heifer International & Heifer Nepal visit July 2005

Land and Soil Conservation Programs An Agricultural Conservation Easement grant is to preserve in perpetuity the agricultural productive capacity and open space character of the property. Fallbrook Land Conservancy dedicated to preserving and enhancing the rural lifestyle and natural beauty of this area partnered with Tierra Miguel Foundation as the agricultural easement holder and monitor.

Land and Soil Conservation Programs Soil Conservation Project July 16, 2005 Mulch Workshop

Workshop Results Farmers know that: Woodchips and clean greenwaste are valuable. High transportation and application costs limit use. Have to get fertilizer below the high C:N mulch layer. Irrigation must be adjusted. Small farms need assistance. Quality and cleanliness is critical. Research is needed on application techniques, pest and fertility questions.

Looked at the Research.

Soil Conservation Project Seed funding for this program has been generously provided by an anonymous Foundation and additional funding is provided through fee for service.

Soil Conservation Project Practices are being conducted using tested scientific methods to improve the effectiveness of organic and sustainable techniques and to make information about them available to the general public. Our goal is to demonstrate that organic and sustainable agriculture are viable and economically feasible alternatives to practices that can deplete the soil.

Soil Conservation Project Study the application of woodchip mulch to avocado orchards as it affects irrigation design, moisture retention and evaporative loss. The goal of this project is to advance knowledge about the use of woodchip mulch as a tool for conservation of irrigation and precipitation in the major avocado producing areas of Riverside and San Diego Counties constituting 32,860 acres. Many of these orchards are old and are under consideration for replanting at a time when irrigation costs have increased dramatically. Thus there is a need to study methods for improving irrigation efficiency and soil conservation for hillside soils where the majoring of avocado orchards are situated. Avocado production occurs on well drained hills soils due to a need to avoid excessive soil moisture which promotes the major disease affecting yield of avocado which is Phytopthora root

Mechanisms of Suppressiveness Improved aeration and drainage in mulch and soil Lower soil temperatures also favor the tree over Phytophthora Increase in cellulase enzymes produced by other fungi feeding on the wood mulch, cellulase enzymes degrade the cell walls of Phytophthora

Avocado Thrips Survival in Mulch vs. Leaves

Soil Conservation Project

Mulching on Local Farms Valley Center citrus 45 acres, 4500 tons.

Mulching on Local Farms

Mulching on Local Farms Minimal mulch cover 100yds/acre.

Mulching on Local Farms 45 acres in Valley Center

Mulching on Local Farms 45 acres in Valley Center - Spreading

Mulching on Local Farms 45 acres in Valley Center - Machinery

Mulching on Local Farms 45 acres in Valley Center - Irrigation

Mulching on Local Farms 45 acres in Valley Center - Quality

Mulching on Local Farms Pauma Valley Persimmons

Mulching on Local Farms Persimmons – Avocados in background

Mulching on Local Farms Persimmons – Spread by hand.

TIERRA MIGUEL FOUNDATION Thanks for Listening