August 2016
Serving Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and San Luis Obispo Counties
King City in Bloom is planting city pride
Farm Bureau holds annual dinner Silvia Prevedelli named farmer of the year
BY SAMANTHA BENGTSON Of the Land
By TODD GUILD Of the Land
WATSONVILLE — With a sweeping view of verdant Pajaro Valley farmlands in the distance, and the sun slipping behind the horizon through cloudless skies, dozens of people gathered at Live Earth Farms on June 23 for the 99th annual dinner meeting of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. The meeting has long been a way to bring the agriculture community together to celebrate the coming harvest. It is also a time to name the farmer of the year, an honor that this year went to Prevedelli Farms matriarch Silvia Prevedelli. Prevedelli came to the U.S. from her native Italy in 1966. She married Frank, whose parents started the farm in 1945. With no farming experience, she began helping her husband on his farm, growing apples, plums and vegetables for which the farm is still known. She is now involved in nearly every aspect of the farm’s operation. Wanting to switch to the “natural” farming methods of her homeland, Prevedelli helped the farm become organic just over 10 years ago. Prevedelli is currently involved in a project that links the health care industry with the agriculture community. Please turn to Page 6
Berry harvesting
Ellie Showalter, 7, and her brother, Dax, 2, of Sunnyvale show fresh strawberries that they picked at the Gizdich Ranch Pick-Your-Own farm. Vince Gizdich said hundreds of people have been visiting Gizdich Ranch lately as summer approaches to pick their own berries, sample homemade pies and relax in the ranch’s picnic area. “A lot of our visitors are moms looking for things for their kids to do,” GIzdich said. “They like to bring their kids to the farm.” Gizdich Ranch is at 55 Peckham Road in Watsonville. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/The Land
KING CITY — King City in Bloom is planting pride throughout the city. King City in Bloom is co-chaired by Phoebe Cheney and Laurie Slaten and is part of larger program called America in Bloom. America in Bloom began in 2001 after a similar project that was formed in Europe and Canada made its way to the United States. Before King City the project was picked up by Arroyo Grande in 2006. “They are mentoring us in beginning our program,” said Cheney. City Manager Steve Adams was heavily involved in the program while he was in Arroyo Grande and mentioned the project to Mayor Pro-Tem and Beautification chair Karen Jernigan. Jernigan then mentioned the program to Cheney and Slaten. “She knew that we both had a passion for the town and we both liked gardening and have this desire to try to enhance and beautify our town,” said Slaten. “This group is all about signing on to be a volunteer and work as you can as your time schedule permits.” The group held its first clean-up day on June 25 headed up by Allie Cullen, with several families showing up to pick up trash. The King City in Bloom group met at Starbucks and fanned out throughout King City. The group hit Please turn to Page 2
Salinas Valley Fair recognizes outstanding volunteers BY SAMANTHA BENGTSON Of the Land
KING CITY — The Salinas Valley Fair recognized three outstanding volunteers at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner on June 30. Among the recipients were Rick Grogan, Bob Martin and Karen Antle. About 30 years ago, Grogan began working at the Salinas Valley Fair and is the cornerstone behind the maintenance and operation of the fair. “He can fix everything, he can do everything, keeps everything running,” said Fair President Tim Baldwin. “The Western Fairs Association has presented this really nice plaque that I want to present to Rick.” The Salinas Valley Fair Volunteer Recognition Dinner is an annual event for the people behind the scenes who make the fair run smoothly. Since 1962, the fair has given out the Western Fairs Association’s Rick Grogan received a special recognition for his 30 years of service to the Salinas Valley Fair. Photos by Samantha Bengtson/The Land
Please turn to Page 4
King City in bloom logo. Photo by Samantha Bengtson/The Land
Inside ... Farm purchase
2
Farmers Market Week
4
Birding Festival
5
Greenhouse tour
6
2 The Land - August 2016
Elkhorn Slough Foundation buys 107-acre farm Staff report WATSONVILLE — On June 15, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) completed its purchase of 107-acre Sand Hill Farm, a property connecting the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve with a three-mile stretch of ESF-protected lands in the Elkhorn Highlands. “We’re pleased to announce that the Elkhorn Slough Foundation has purchased Sand Hill Farm for conservation of native habitat, water quality, and working lands in our watershed,” said ESF Executive Director Mark Silberstein. “Sand Hill Farm is a key piece of the puzzle for conservation in Elkhorn Slough, and we look forward to restoring this land to better health.” As early as 1999, ESF identified Sand Hill Farm as a high priority acquisition in its Elkhorn Slough Watershed Conservation Plan, but it was not until last year that ESF found a willing seller. Now that escrow has closed, restoration efforts at Sand Hill Farm — expected to last seven years with estimated costs exceeding $400,000 — can begin in earnest.
Sand Hill Farm was conventionally farmed for decades. Its steep sandy slopes are subject to erosion, and sediment moving off the fields has flowed into the wetlands on the National Estuarine Research Reserve. ESF’s goal is to return the steep upper slopes to habitat and groundwater recharge and conservation, while creating a sustainable, certified organic farm on the gentle slopes. “Sand Hill Farm features around 25 acres of native habitat, such as maritime chaparral and oak woodlands. About 50 acres of old farm debris and plastic sheeting remain on the fallowed strawberry fields,” said Kim Hayes, ESF stewardship director. “Before our land restoration team can undertake further work to stabilize the eroding slopes, we need to excavate and remove this debris.” ESF land stewards are working to
remove the agricultural plastic and debris in the next several months, so that sediment basins and cover crops can be readied to halt erosion and runoff in time for seasonal winter rains. Silberstein estimates up to one hundred acre feet of water (more than 32 million gallons per year, roughly the volume of 48 Olympic-size swimming pools) will be saved each year by retiring the steep eroding slopes from cultivation. In addition, Silberstein says changes in land management will reduce the input of nutrients and chemicals into an estuary that is recognized as extremely important habitat for Southern sea otters and a host of other valuable coastal species. “Sand Hill Farm is a key parcel that will make a difference in the overall health of the slough,” Silberstein said. “We are beginning what we see as the Foundation’s
next major phase of land acquisition, and we look forward to engaging the community as we move forward in these projects that will truly transform the slough’s landscape and health.” The Elkhorn Slough Foundation will be offering tours of the Sand Hill Farm property throughout the next several months. The Sand Hill Farm purchase is supported by a $1,580,000 grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy, with the agreement that ESF raise the remaining funds needed for restoration. With restoration costs projected to exceed $400,000, the Elkhorn Slough Foundation welcomes contributions from individuals who support conservation of Sand Hill Farm and other watershed lands. For information, visit www. elkhornslough.org.
PUBLISHER John Bartlett publisher@register-pajaronian.com
EDITOR Erik Chalhoub editor@register-pajaronian.com
EDITORIAL STAFF Tarmo Hannula, Todd Guild, Samantha Bengtson
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ART AND DESIGN Mike Lyon
The Land is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. The Land made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. The Land is a division of the Register-Pajaronian and South County Newspapers.
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Sand Hill Farm connects to the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. (Contributed photo)
City Pride
Continued from page 1
Bitterwater and Metz Road as well. “Eventually we will cover the whole town but Broadway is our first commitment,” said Cheney. King City in Bloom focuses on six areas of improvement — heritage preservation,
landscaping, overall impression and cleanliness, city trees, flowers and environmental care. The area that King City in Bloom is focusing on right now is landscaping with its first project the roses in the median on Broadway.
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“We’re trying to pick spots that people see and notice,” said Cheney. “Project two will be the flower bed outside the library that faces Broadway.” Adams is coming up with ideas for Cheney and Slaten to consider that aren’t practical for the city to do. Forden Park is also on King City in Bloom’s radar to possibly incorporate a flower bed there. Once King City in Bloom completes a project, such as the flower beds on Broadway, the group is responsible for maintaining it. The group does the trimming, watering and monitoring of the project on a weekly basis. In the future, King City in Bloom is hoping to add to its collection of banners and have a “Welcome to King City” at the entrances to town as well as Pinnacles National Park banners. King City in Bloom is also open to any partnerships with interested organizations and clubs. King City in Bloom is under the King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture currently and is in the process of receiving a nonprofit certification. The group welcomes contributions made out to the King City Chamber of Commerce with King City in Bloom on the memo line to 214 Rio Drive, King City. “We really welcome anyone in the community to give us ideas,” said Cheney. “This is a community project.”
The Land - August 2016 3
USDA announces $47M in drought response Staff report The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Interior announced more than $47 million in investments to help water districts and producers on private working lands better conserve water resources. The funds include $15 million in USDA funds and $32.6 million from the Bureau of Reclamation for local projects to improve water and energy efficiency and provide a strengthened federal response to ongoing and potential drought across 13 states in the West. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Reclamation Commissioner Estevan Lopez announced the funding in Brighton, Colo. The Bureau of Reclamation funding will support 76 local projects through the Department of the Interior’s WaterSMART program. Funding from USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) will support on-farm water delivery system improvements through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program, in tandem with the 76 Interior-funded projects. Vilsack and Lopez were joined by a local water authority and landowner who spoke about the importance of the federal funding in the cost share program. “By working with communities and producers to more wisely manage the water they have, we help ensure that this and future generations will have sufficient supplies of clean water for drinking, agriculture, economic activities, recreation, and ecosystem health,” said Vilsack. “As drought continues across the west, our farmers and ranchers are stepping up to the plate to partner with communities and strengthen efficiency to better conserve our water supply.” “Water and energy efficiency are
intricately linked,” Lopez said. “When we conserve water, we also conserve the energy it takes to move it. One way we can achieve these efficiencies is to bring federal resources to the table for local projects that focus on saving water. This program represents one more way we’re focusing resources on projects to provide resiliency in the face of drought.” Interior’s funding is made available through competitive grant programs, which are part of the WaterSMART sustainable water initiative. The grants and selection process are managed by Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, which is the nation’s largest wholesale water supplier, providing one in five western farmers with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland and potable water to more than 31 million Americans across 17 western states. Of the 76 new projects announced, Reclamation has selected 53 projects in 11 states to receive a total of $25.6 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants which, when leveraged with local and other funding sources, will complete more than $128 million in efficiency improvements. In addition to the new grants announced today, Reclamation will provide $2.1 million to support previously selected WaterSMART projects. Together, these projects are expected to enable water savings of more than 123,000 acre-feet. Alongside the 53 water and energy efficiency grants, Reclamation also selected 23 additional cost share grants through its WaterSMART Drought Response Program, totaling $4.9 million, which when leveraged with cost-share funding will provide a total of $23.5 million in efforts associated with the program. For information, visit usda.gov.
4-Hers visit State Capitol
King City Blue Ribbon 4-H members David Gonzales and Francisco Bahena during a meeting with Assemblyman Luis Alejo’s office at the State Capitol. The delegates traveled to the 4-H California Focus conference in Sacramento for a five-day educational conference in June. Contributed photo
4 The Land - August 2016
Volunteers
Continued from page 1
Tim Baldwin, president of the Salinas Valley Fair recognized volunteers from the three special award winners to the Silver Kings and Queens, the Junior Fairboard members, the livestock clerks and volunteers, security, the Salinas Valley Fair Board members and staff, and still exhibit crew members. Photos by Samantha Bengtson/The Land
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Blue Ribbon Award to recognize and honor individuals or groups that have provided outstanding support to the Salinas Valley Fair. “This year’s recipient is added to the plaque that we have located in the Fair Office,” said Baldwin. “A lifelong resident of King City, enthusiastic supporter of the Salinas Valley Fair. This year’s recipient has helped ensure that our facility continues to serve the community for the next generation through his efforts as part of the Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Foundation.” The First Blue Ribbon recipient was Martin who was not in attendance but will have a going-away party later. Presenting the second Blue Ribbon award winner was the 2006 Blue Ribbon Award Winner Mikel Anne Miller. “This recipient is not loud at all but really quiet, not argumentative, just the opposite,” said Miller. “Not stubborn, maybe a little when it makes sense. These are the words you would use to describe a typical outstanding volunteer.” The Second Blue Ribbon recipient was Antle who is a resident of Monterey County and a supporter of the Salinas Valley Fair for years. According to Miller, Antle has been a member of the Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Foundation and is one of the most dedicated workers. Antle helped set up and take down the Orradre building for at least the last 10 years. “The time and effort this person has put into this fair is above and beyond generous,” said Miller. “A very silent giver always.” Antle was taking care of family during the evening and will receive her plaque shortly. There are approximately 215 volunteers who invest approximately 5,688 hours into the annual Salinas Valley Fair. “It’s been such a great experience to be able to see how much support goes into this fair,” said Fair Hostess Lena Coulson. “Not only from the farmers and ranchers around our community but also the workers and the volunteers and everyone who gives up there time to make sure that this fair is great.”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack signed a proclamation declaring Aug. 7-13 as “National Farmers Market Week.” This year marks the 17th annual National Farmers Market Week to honor and celebrate the role that farmers markets play in local economies. “Farmers markets are an important part of strong local and regional food systems that connect farmers with new customers and grow rural economies. In many areas, they are also expanding access to fresh, healthy food for people of all income levels,” Vilsack said. “National Farmers Market Week recognizes the growth of these markets and their role in supporting both urban and rural communities.” Throughout the week, USDA officials will celebrate at farmers market locations across
the country. On Saturday, Aug. 6, Elanor Starmer, the Administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – which conducts research, provides technical assistance, and awards grants to support local and regional food systems – will kick off the week visiting a farmers market and wrap up the week at USDA’s own farmers market in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Aug. 12. “Farmers markets are a gathering place where you can buy locally produced food, and at the same time, get to know the farmer and story behind the food you purchase,” Starmer said. “These types of markets improve earning potential for farmers and ranchers, building stronger community ties and access to local foods.” To help farmers market managers across the country promote and celebrate National Farmers Market Week, USDA is sharing online free farmers market related graphics that market managers and others can use to customize posters, emails, websites and other promotional materials. The graphics, along with a short demonstration video, can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/ resources/NFMW.
The Land - August 2016 5
Registration opens for Birding Festival Staff report WATSONVILLE — The 12th annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival is fast approaching. Organizers this year have announced the opening of online registration is now open at www. montereybaybirding.org. This year’s festival takes place Sept. 23 through Sept. 25, with scores of field trips, workshops, speakers and multiple new offerings, said organizer Debbie Diersch. Strategically hosted during fall migration, the festival provides the opportunity to view more than 250 bird species, as well as whales, dolphins and otters on pelagic tours of Monterey Bay. Serious birding enthusiasts can add California specialty “life-list” birds such as the California thrasher, California towhee, Bell’s sparrow, oak titmouse, Nuttall’s woodpecker, elegant tern and the endangered California condor. Birders who enjoy combining birding with tasting olive oil or wine in boutique groves and vineyards will have that option this year. Besides the popular birding hot spots, birders will have special access to private lands on some trips. Beginning birders will find supportive leaders and trips to boost their skills. This year’s speakers include Bruce Lyon, professor of Evolutionary Ecology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, presenting “Reconsider the Coot: the Crazy Reproductive Antics of a Common Marsh Denizen;” Alvaro Jaramillo, Carleton Eyster, avian ecologist, (left, at scope) leads a field trip in 2014 at the Salinas National Wildlife Refuge during the Monterey Bay researcher, author and owner of Alvaro’s Birding Festival. File photo by Tarmo Hannula/The Land Adventures, presenting “Birding the Blob: Effects of Weird Warm Weather and the Drought on Birds;” Karine Tokatlian, Bay’s Western Snowy Plovers in the ... Tantalizing Tidbits about ‘Boring’ hosted by the City of Watsonville Nature director of San Francisco Bay Bird Wake of a Changing Environment;” and Birds.” Center, offers family fun for kids of all ages. This year’s workshops include: birding A pancake breakfast hosted by community Observatory’s Plover Program, presenting Kate Marianchild, author and naturalist, “Breeding Success of San Francisco presenting “California’s Oak Woodlands photography techniques for beginners volunteers and a day of soundscape through advanced; birding optics programs, films and workshops hosted by demystified; bird sketching in the field; the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory will bird identification through bird sounds; round out the event. and nature poetry. More than 50 field trips For information, visit www. and educational lectures will be offered. montereybaybirding.org. “A Taste of the Pajaro Valley” reception, featuring locally grown foods and wine, will be held again this year. Family Days,
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UCSC offering organic farming course Staff report SANTA CRUZ — UC Santa Cruz is holding a six-month, full time training course for organic farming and gardening. Those involved are able to use their training in organic farms and businesses, educational farms, school gardens and more. It is a hands-on course and when completed the trainees receive a certification in crop production and marketing. People are eligible to learn
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6 The Land - August 2016
Silvia Prevedelli
Continued from page 1
Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau President David Van Lennep presents the farmer of the year award to Silvia Prevedelli.
She participates in the “Day on the Farm” program, and gives tours and presentations for the annual Eco Farm Tour, which draws farmers from around the world. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, and the Agri-Culture Down to Earth Women’s Luncheon Committee. She is active with the Sons of Italy and the California Small Farms Conference. A fourth-generation family farm, the
Prevedelli family has been in Watsonville since 1945. They grow nearly 40 types of apples and other produce including beans, squash and berries, and have been using organic farming methods for nearly a decade. The farm was certified as organic more than 10 years ago. Prevedelli said the award surprised her. “It’s incredible,” she said. “A lot of other people deserve it too. I love what I am doing. Farming is a part of my life.”
Aaron Dillon of Four Winds Growers in Aromas shows guests a Hass avocado tree the business grows during the Monterey Bay Greenhouse Growers Open House Tour. Photo by Erik Chalhoub/The Land
Greenhouses welcome the public By ERIK CHALHOUB Of the Land
AROMAS — Four greenhouses in Watsonville and surrounding areas opened their doors June 18 to give the public a glimpse into their operations. California Pajarosa, Kitayama Brothers, Four Winds Growers and Succulent Gardens welcomed guests to the one-day Monterey Bay Greenhouse Growers Open House Tour, each donating a portion of the day’s sales to local organizations. Aaron Dillon of Four Winds Growers said the nursery has participated in the tour for three years, two of which have taken place at its Aromas nursery. Being a wholesale nursery that distributes its dwarf citrus trees across the country, Dillon said it is not normally open to the public. The annual tour, he noted, is a chance to educate the public on the tree-growing process. “This is the one time of the year that we let people in to our world and see what goes into growing our trees,” Dillon said.
Four Winds Growers donated a percentage of the day’s proceeds to the neighboring Aromas School for its Home & School Club. Over the past six years of the tour, approximately $35,000 has been raised for local nonprofits. The event was launched five years ago when the Santa Barbara-based California Cut Flower Commission called a meeting of local growers to suggest they hold an open house. The result was a self-guided tour that offers participants a chance to purchase locally grown products, while giving businesses a chance to promote themselves. Other organizations benefiting from the tour included:
• California Pajarosa — Friends Cure CF • Kitayama Brothers — Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks • Succulent Gardens — Elkhorn Slough Foundation
The Land - August 2016 7
High school students were awarded for their original videos created for the Save Water Video Contest. Photo by Erik Chalhoub/The Land
Students honored for water saving tips Staff report WATSONVILLE — High school students from three high schools in Santa Cruz County were awarded for their original videos created for the Save Water Video Contest at the Watsonville City Council meeting. The second annual video contest was organized by the Soquel Creek Water District in partnership with the Water Conservation Coalition of Santa Cruz County and water pollution prevention programs from the County of Santa Cruz and the cities of Watsonville and Santa Cruz. Students in local high school video production classes offered through the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) and video production classes at local colleges were invited to make short public service announcement videos in English or Spanish that inspire the local community to save or protect water. The winning videos are posted at watersavingtips.org under “Resources” and “Video Contest” and the Water Conservation Coalition’s YouTube channel. The winning videos will air on KION Channel 5, the Spanish TV station KMUV Telemundo, Watsonville’s public access channel 70 and Green Valley Cinema throughout the summer in order to engage the public in saving water for the future. The following videos were chosen for their video quality, entertainment value
and ability to educate the viewer about conserving water or preventing water pollution. • First Place Water Saving Tip PSA (in English) — $500 goes to a video showing how leaking faucets waste water by Jose Paredes from the Watsonville High School Video Academy. • First Place Water Saving Tip PSA (in Spanish) — $500 is for a video showing how to use a soil moisture gauge, which is produced, written, filmed and edited by WHS Video Academy students Josefina Lopez, Rosalidia Larios and Rachel Delozier. Actors include Jesus Lopez and Josefina Lopez. • First Place Pollution Prevention PSA (in English) — $500 for a video on picking up after your dog to prevent contamination from entering the storm drain by WHS Video Academy students Leslie Lopez and Beatriz Solis. Actors are Juan Lopez and Miss Honey the dog. • Second Place Water Saving Tip PSA (in English) — $350 goes to the “Drought Monster” PSA by Cameron Brown and Daniel Johnson from San Lorenzo Valley High School. • Second Place Water Pollution Prevention Tip PSA (in Spanish) — $350 goes to the video showing that you can prevent run off during car washing by washing it on the grass and by using a hose nozzle. Produced, written, filmed and edited by WHS Video Academy students Jose Diaz, Montserrat Abrego and Nohely Quintano.
• Honorable Mention: Refrigerating Drinking Water (in English): Although there was limited number of awards, the judges also want to give an honorable mention to a water saving tip PSA about refrigerating your drinking water and using leftover drinking water to water plants. This video was created by Kirby High School students Toni Mills and Anna Rubin. The actors are Claire Pollard and
Allan Tirado. The students will receive a certificate of appreciation and will also have their video shown on TV. The judges also extend a special recognition to the Watsonville High School’s Video Academy teacher, Dale Poor. For information, visit watersavingtips. org/resources/videocontest.
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