HomeMy WebLinkAbout06. Receive annual report on CoCo San Sustainable Farm 6■
CoCo San Sustainable Farm
ANNUAL REPORT: Executive Summary
Submitted April 1, 2017
REPORTING PERIOD: January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
AgLantis and the CoCo San Sustainable Farm have four major foci:
1) Equity
2) Environment
3) Education
4) Economy
1) EQUITY: Public Health and Nutritional Poverty
One of our primary purposes is to grow salads for schools and the Food Bank. Basic
infrastructure and the greenhouse must be built before we can grow produce. Soil organic
matter must increase considerably and weeds must be suppressed before we can grow field
crops. Rain has been an impediment. We are almost through the many bureaucratic barriers
that have prevented us from moving forward.
Infrastructure. County Quarry will build the road to the greenhouse and the greenhouse pad
as soon as the soil is dry. Fencing will be erected. Water and other utilities Will be hooked up
and metered.
Greenhouse. We have the finances to construct the 144' X 42' Solar Light greenhouse,
donated by AgraTech. Donations from PG&E; Michael Cunningham, Chancellor of National
University; and the contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, as well from our local
community. We will need to equip the greenhouse once it is built.
Urban Agriculture, Food Security and Food Justice. Urban farming can help create a more
equitable food system, especially when it includes greenhouse growing. Fostering local food
production is critical to resilience in the face of predicted food shortages Which Will particularly
effect poor people. When our greenhouse is built and equipped, we Will demonstrate
hydroponic production, which can produce up to 40 times the yield for approximately 10% of
the water.
2) ENVIRONMENT: Protection and Enhancement
Erosion control and Healthy Soils. Many tons of wood chips and compost have been
donated and will be spread on the farm when soil dries and can support heavy equipment.
Some of the plants in the cover crop planted by central San have regrown, protecting the soil,
reducing erosion While adding soil organic matter and helping to sequester carbon in the soil.
Executive Summary
Urban Agriculture and Environment. One of the most important features of our farm is
promoting movement of agriculture as may much as possible into cities, which allow the use
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recycled agricultural grade water. A sustainable food system not only feedseo le, but also
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reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the food system and also
sequesters carbon to help reverse global warming. conventional agricultural practices release
carbon that is stored in the soil. our project demonstrates the environmental benefits of
growing produce right in the center of a densely populated urban environment.
Carbon Sequestration in Soil. Our farm will use and teach sustainable methods that decrease
GHG emissions and sequester carbon.
Recycled Water/No Fossil Fuel Based Fertilizers. Growing near a water reclamation facility
allows the use of recycled water with little electricity used in pumping water. Recycled water is
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high in nitrogen and phosphorus, nutrients critical to plant growth. These nutrients eliminate the
necessity of using fossil fuel based fertilizers, which emit nitrous oxide -- a verylong-lived
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GHG. Using the recycled water for agriculture has the added benefit of keeping
these nutrients
out of the watershed, where they have a negative impact potentially fostering algae growth and
reducing the watershed's ability to sequester atmospheric carbon.
Low Electricity Use. Pumping water uses about 10% of the electricity used in the state of
California. Growing food adjacent to a water reclamation facility g Y greatly reduces the GHGs due
to electricity generation for water pumping.
No-till. Tilling releases CO2 into the atmosphere. We need to be sinking carbon, instead.
Tillage also disturbs the habitat of the micro-organisms that sink carbon into the soil aspart of
the natural carbon cycle.
Cover-crops. Instead of killing micro-organisms, we want to feed androtect them b planting
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cover crops. Photosynthesis takes atmospheric carbon and transfers it to the micro-organisms
that sequester it into the soil. Cover-crops also prevent top soil erosion.
No-pesticides. We will use no pesticides. Pesticides kill the micro-organisms that sink Cot
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into the soil.
No fossil fuel based fertilizers. We will not use fossil fuel based fertilizers which cause
nitrous oxide emissions. Instead, we will apply compost to increase soil organic matter, feed
crops and feed the micro-organisms that sink carbon. Compost also enhances soil structure so
it holds more water and thus needs less irrigation and pumping of water.
Low Water Use )Methods. our farm will also use drip irrigation to demonstrate low water use
methods which not only conserve water and reduces pumping of water.
Transportation. By growing right in the middle of an urban area, we are dramaticallyreducing
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the GHGs due to transportation miles from farm-to-fork.
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Executive Summary
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3) EDUCATION: Soil Science; carbon Sequestration; Sustainable Agriculture Scientists
and other experts believe that one of the only known ways to reverse the anthropogenic GHGs
that cause Global Warming is to increase carbon sequestration in soil. Conventional agriculture
increases GHGs, while sustainable farming sink carbon and reduce GHG emissions due to
agriculture. our educational outreach this year has focused primarily on sustainable practices
for agriculture and gardening, including soil science and carbon sequestration.
Recent research by the Marin Carbon Project has demonstrated that the single application of
composted green waste amendments to rangeland not only increased forage production, but
increased soil carbon sequestration an average of 1 tonlhectare (-2.5 acres) every year for 3
years. Net ecosystem carbon storage increased by 25-70% without including the compost
carbon, while having no effect on nitrous oxide or methane emissions. In addition, compost led
to increased water-holding capacity in soils.
Our educational efforts have largely focused on educating major influencers in the community
and students about the environmental and financial benefits of sustainable methods. We held
an event entitled "Learn to Farm the Singing Frogs Farm Way and The Future of Recycled
Water" that was attended by approximately 150 people.
Paul and Elizabeth Kaiser own the Singing Frogs Farm, an organic farm that yields $100,000
income per acre due to sustainable methods. The farm uses greenhouses as an p
integral art of
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the growing practices to bring their seedlings to "adolescence" before planting, great)
reducing crop loss to birds. Birds like seeds, not plants. This is an important model for us, due
to our proximity to the airport.
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Executive Summary
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SINGING FROGS FARM
The Marin Carbon Project's findings and Kaiser's methods are relevant to public utilities
because they can use their lands to sequester carbon and offset their GHG emissions by
simply covering their lands with compost, wood chips, and/or cover crops. Many Contra Costa
County officials came to this event. The County has an extensive Climate Action Plan that
focuses on REDUCE or reduction of GHG emissions, but does not mention REUSE of carbon
by sequestration of carbon in soil, nor promoting RECYCLING of water.
Michael R. McGill gave a talk about "one Water" which was very well received. The Workforce
Development Board of Contra costa County paid to have CCTV videotape the entire event and
it was played on CCTV for many weeks, reaching thousands of local residents in their homes.
Diablo Valley college Horticulture Department. our educational outreach included offering
the farm for use by local faculty. Bethallyn Black and another DVC faculty member used the
farm for classes for students in the Horticulture Program.
419 student classes of up to 2 hours each were held on the farm:
Permaculture: 28 students X 5 classes at farm = 149 Soils Lab: 20 students X 3 months X
1/week at farm = 240 Site Analysis: 13 students X 3 classes at farm = 39
Other Educational outreach. We presented at the 2015 Soil Not oil International Conference
in Richmond CA. our talk was "Urban Farming on Public Land Using Recycled Water."
We also have an extensive educational reach and social media campaign on Facebook group
and page; Twitter; Linkedln and our Website and CCTV, reaching tens of thousands of citizens.
We use these outlets to educate the public about practices that they can change to increase
carbon sequestration in their own backyard soils and other environmental issues, including
water issues, Global Warming, soil and water pollution, and much more.
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Executive Summary
We participated in University of California, Berkeley Department of Natural Resources grant
activities "Crowing Roots" and CaICAN Conference where we networked by telling people
about our novel urban farm using recycled water on public utility land.
4) ECONOMY (Job Training and Creation)
We are working closely with the County and local colleges and universities and businesses to
use the farm and greenhouse to foster economic development and job training in the County. It
is widely hoped that our greenhouse project will be replicated and will provide not only local food,
but green jobs training and jobs.
Our project fosters local businesses: greenhouse, steel, construction, engineering, along with
those selling hydroponics and farm equipment. The economic multiplier of our urban farm
alone is significant. If replicated, it will be great.
SCALABLE
Water reclamation facilities in San Francisco Bay Area discharge as much as a trillion gallons
of water in a year into the Bay waterways. They also have thousands of acres of buffer land.
Contra Costa County alone has over 5000 acres of buffer land. our model is scalable and
potentially can be replicated on and near other treatment facilities to increase water recycling.
PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR FOLLOWING YEAR
Capital improvements for 2017 include:
1. install roads (County Quarry donated the recycled asphalt and planned to build the roads,
but was delayed by CCCSD's road construction on the Kiewit Property and then rain);
2. Install floor for greenhouse (County Quarry has agreed to build the greenhouse floor out of
recycled asphalt as soon as weather permits;
3. Install fencing along Runway Protected Zone (RPZ) and around construction area;
4. Drop PG&E line and meter it;
5. Hook up to recycled water lines.
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS
About 100 people have volunteered in some capacity to help with the events and donating
materials such as wood chips, recycled asphalt, fencing and compost for the farm.
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Executive summary
ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
2016 operating Budget: None, because we could not commence operations on the farm until
a Land Use Permit was acquired, including submitting Wildlife Management Plan and fulfilling
other permit requirements such Conditions of Approval.
Profit (Loss) and cash Flow: Statement of Financial Income and Expenses
Income:
Direct Public Support: $12,533
TOTAL INCOME: $12,833
Expense
Business Expenses: $3,637
TOTAL EXPENSES: $3,637
NET ORDINARY INCOME: $9,196
NET INCOME: $9,196
Assets at the Beginning of the Year: $4,557.48 Assets at the End of the Year: $24,139
Estimated In-Kind Contributions: $24,536
Executive Summary
AgLantis Balance Sheet
For Year Beginning 1/1/2017
ASSETS LIABILITIES
Current Assets Current Liabilities
Cash 14139 CPLTD 0
Inventory 0 Trade Payable 0
Account Receivable 10000 Accruals 250
Other Current Assets 0 Taxes Payable ❑
Prepaid Expenses 1 Deposits 0 Other ❑
Total Current Assets 24139 Total Current Liabilities 250
Long Term Assets ❑ Long Term Liabilities
Land 80000 Term Debt LTP 0
Buildings 10500 Other ❑
Equipment 0 Total Long Term Liabilities 0
Other Fixed Assets 10000 Total Liabilities 250
Accum Depreciation
OWNERS EQUITY Draws 0
Total Long Term Assets 80500 Total Owners Equity Capital 104,389
Total Liabilities and Owners
104039 Equity 104639
Total Assets
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Executive Summary
AgLantis
Breakeven
Analysis
For Year Ending
12/31/2017
Projected Revenues 86004
Fixed Costs;
Teaching Salary
Expense 0
Rent 1
Payroll taxes 0
Travel&
Enter. 500
Prof. &Acctg 0
Depreciation 0
Insurance 5140
Interest 0
Rep & Mai nt. 10400
Util. & Phone 1600
office
Supplies 800
Other Taxes 0
Other Expense/Contractors 60000
Total Fixed Costs 77541
Cost of Goods Sold Percentage 0%
Breakeven Sales and Grants
Level 77541
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Department of ContraJohn Ko ch'r
Conservation and Costa Director
Development Aruna Bhat
36 Muir Road
Deputy Director
County
Mainez, �A 94553 Jason Grapo
Deputy Director
Phone:1-855-323-2626 Maureen Toms
Deputy Director
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March 30, 2017
AgLantis c/o C.Phinney and Danea Gemmell
62 Scenic Dr.
Grinda, CA 94563
RE: Status of Condition of Approval#35(c), CV16-04104 (LP14-2051).
APN: 159-140-051
Imhoff Drive, Martinez
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for meeting with staff on March 30, 2017, to discuss the Condition of Approval
compliance status of your previously approved Land Use Permit, County File #LP 14-2051. Per
your request, this letter is to acknowledge that the verbal compliance g�e. � no update ground
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disturbance to date) you provided staff during that meeting satisfies Condition of Approval #35
(c), which requires an annual condition of approval compliance report prior to April I st of each
year.
If you have any questions,please do not hesitate to contact me at(925) 574-7801.
Sincerely,
Francisco Avila
Senior Planner
UL File CV16-0144
ALUC staff