‘resilient farms’ for southern vancouver island...resilient farms for southern vancouver island...

‘ResilientFarms’forSouthernVancouverIsland

AResourceGuideforFarmWaterManagementinaChangingClimate

November25,2017

PreparedbyTaylerKrawczykHatchet&Seed

Emrys Miller

Resilient Farms for Southern Vancouver Island

I.AboutthisResourceGuide

ThisResourceGuidehasbeencompiledbyHatchet&Seedaspartoftheproject:“KeylineWaterManagement:FieldResearch&EducationintheCapitalRegion.”

Moreabouttheprojectwhichranfrom2015-2017,includingaprojectoverviewandtheresultsofourkeylineplowmonitoredfieldtrials,canbefoundattheprojectwebsitewww.crkeyline.ca.

II. Acknowledgements

Thisresourceguidewouldnothavebeeninitiatedwithoutthehelpreceivedfortheabovementionedprojectfromourfunders,projectpartners,advisors,hostfarmsandfarmers,aswellasalloftheparticipantswhosharedtheirfarminginsightsatseminars&fielddays.

FundersFundingforthatprojecthasbeenprovidedbytheGovernmentsofBritishColumbiaandCanadathroughtheInvestmentAgricultureFoundationofBCunderGrowingForward2,afederal-provincial-territorialinitiative.TheprogramisdeliveredbytheBCAgriculture&FoodClimateActionInitiative.TheCapitalRegionalDistrict(CRD)IntegratedWatershedManagementDivisionalsocontributedfundsforwatermanagementseminarsontheGulfIslandsaswellaseventspaceintheCRDBoardroom.

ProjectPartnersCRDIntegratedWatershedManagementBCAgriculture&FoodClimateActionInitiativePeninsulaStreams

Advisors&SpecialRecognitionSaraDuncan,P.AgDarrenJ.Doherty,RegrariansKentMullinix,Ph.D.,P.Ag(SustainableAgricultureandFoodSystems)MikeDoenhel(Barleyfarmer)GordBaird,Eco-SenseDeLisaLewis,Ph.D.,ResearchAssociate,UBCNatalieBandringa,CRDIntegratedWatershedManagementIanBruce,PeninsulaStreams


III. Disclaimer

Opinionsexpressedinthisdocumentarethoseoftheauthorandnotnecessarilythoseofthefunders,projectpartnersandadvisorsoftheassociatedproject,“KeylineWaterManagement:Fieldresearch&EducationintheCapitalRegion.”

IV. UsingthisResourceGuide&theRegrariansPlatform®

Thisresourceguideisdesignedasastartingpointforsolvingissuesrelatedtofarmwatermanagement.Theintentionistousethetheme-basedFAQformattoorganizeonlineresourcesthatcanbeusedtohelpansweryourquestionsrelatedtowatermanagement.Notintendedasadefinitiveguide,ithopestoleveragetheworkotherorganizations,resourcepeopleandpublicationstopointyouintherightdirectioninyoursearchforsolutionstoclimateadaptation.

BecauseweareusingtheRegrariansPlatform®(seebelow)asanorganizingtool,wehavealsoincludedresourcesfornon-watermanagementrelatedtopics,likeresilientBuildings,Fencing,Energy&Economy.Whileoutsidethescopeofthisproject,wewantedtosharesomeusefulresourcesonthesetopicsinthecontextbuildingaresilientwholefarm.

Ifyouhaveaquestionthatrelatestoresilientfarmdevelopmentthatyoudonotfindhere,[email protected],ifyouhavefurtherresourcesorsolutionstocontribute,pleaseemailthemaswell.Updatescanandwillbemade.

ThescopeofthisguideislimitedtotherainshadowclimateofSouthernVancouverIsland,Canada,howeverwedohopeitcanbehelpfulelsewhereaswell.Formoreonthisclimate,seesection1.1.

TheRegrariansPlatform®

TheRegrariansPlatform®hasbeendevelopedbyDarrenJ.DohertyofRegrariansLtd.ItisabuiltofftheworkofP.A.Yeoman’s‘KeylineScaleofPermanence’.

HereareseveralresourcesontheKeylineScaleofPermanenceandhowitisbeingusedalandplanningtool:● RegrariansPlatform®-DarrenJ.Doherty● UsingtheKeylineScaleofPermanenceasaToolforLandEvaluation-SteveGabriel,CornellSmallFarms

● PlanningforPermanencewithYeoman’sKeylineScale-OwenHablutzel,PRIAustralia


V.Resilient&RegenerativeAgricultureDefined

Resilienceisdefinedas“thecapacitytorecoverquicklyfromdifficulties;toughness”.

Aswelookaheadtotheprospectofproducingfoodinthenextcenturyandbeyond,itisimportanttoconsiderhowwecanmakeourfarmsmoreresilientinthefaceofchangingweatherpatterns.Howcanwemaintainproductivitythroughtheseclimaticchallenges?

PotentialchallengesforagricultureinBCinclude:increasedcoastalflooding;increasedriver/valley/surfaceflooding;drought;watersupplyshortages,salinization;fire;nutrientleaching,pest&diseaseoutbreaks,energyinputcosts&marketshocks.

Forthepurposeofthisresourceguide,wedefine‘resilientagriculture’asaproductionsystemthatiscapableofbothmitigatingandadaptingtothechallengesabove.

ThefollowingisalistoforganizationsworkingontheseissuesinBC:● BCAgriculture&FoodClimateActionInitiative● KwantlanPolytechnicUniversitySustainableAgricultureandFoodSystemsprograms:UBCFacultyofLand&Food

● BCAgricultureCouncil● BCMinistryofAgriculture

RegenerativeAgriculture‘RegenerativeAgriculture’isanothertermbeingusedtodescribeagriculturalproductionthatenhancesbio-diversityandsoilhealth.Thesepractisesareinherentlymoreresilient.Thereareseveralproducergroupsandresearch/policyinstitutesinvolvedindefiningandcreatingstandardsfor‘RegenerativeAgriculture’.Thefollowingaresome:● TheRodaleInstituteisworkingtocreatea‘RegenerativeOrganicCertification’:https://rodaleinstitute.org/regenerativeorganic/.Thethreepillarsbelowrepresentagoodstarttowarddefiningtheterm.


Otherorganizationsareworkingtodefineandstandardizethemovement:● TerraGenesisInternational● RegenerationInternational● Regrarians.org

ForthepurposeofthisResourceGuide,wearefocusingonfarmstrategiesandtechniquesthatworktoachieveseveralofthefollowinggoals:

- Increasingorganicmatter%insoiltoactasawater&nutrientspongeandsequestercarboninthesoil

- Addperennial,abovegroundbiomasstothefarmlandscapeintheformofmulti-functionaltrees,shelter-beltsandshadetrees


- Fosterahealthy,diverseandactivesoilfoodwebfornutrient&watercyclinganddiseaseprevention

- Improvedinfiltrationforeffectivegroundwaterrecharge- Responsibleaquiferorgroundwatermanagement- Balancingdrainagewithwaterretentionstructures- Increasedsurfacewaterstorageforuseinirrigation

VI.DefiningPersonal&FarmContextasaFoundationforDecision-Making

Whileoutsidethescopeofthisguide,wecannotover-emphasizeimportanceofdefiningyourpersonalandfarm‘context’.Resilientfarmsneedresilientfarmers,whoarecapableofmakingtoughdecisionswhilebalancingcomplexandsometimesconflictinginterests.

Pioneeringworkhasbeendoneonthisexercise(creatingaHolisticContext)byAlanSavory,HolisticManagementInternational&theSavoryInstitute.

- https://holisticmanagement.org/- https://www.savory.global/

Therehavesincebeenothersinfluencedbytheconceptofcreatinga‘HolisticContext’andhavesharedtools&servicestohelpothers.Somecanbefoundhere:

- VeryEdibleGardens-StepbyStepProcessBlog- RegrariansREXProgram- RegenerateLandBlogStepbySheldonFirth- PurplePitchFork- HowtoWriteAHolisticGoal-HolisticManagementCanada- CreatingaPersonalHolisticGoal(AdaptedfromHolisticManagementInternational;UMassStockbridgeSchoolofAgriculture)

- AllPointsLifeDesign

Whichevertoolormethodyouuse,itisveryimportanttodevelopafarmdecision-makingframeworkthatworksforyou,theecologythatsupportsyourfarmandforyourbottomline.Resilientfarmsneedresilientfarmers!


1. Climatea. Overview

i. Whatfactorsinfluencetheregionalclimate?TheclimateofSouthernVancouverIsland(theGeorgiaDepressionEco-Province)bringsauniquesetofconstraintsandopportunitiesforagriculture.Winterrainscompactbaresoilsandleachnutrients,fungalandbacterialpressureishighandmanyarthropodpests(mites&insects)arecapableofoverwinteringmoresothanincolderclimates.Summerrainfallislowanddecreasing,makingirrigationeconomicallyandagronomicallyessentialformostcrops.Inlowlandareas,finetexturedsoilsaresusceptabletowaterlogging.Ontheotherhand,itisoneofthecountry’swarmestandmostfrostfreeregions,sothediversityofcropswecangrowisgreatandmanycanbegrownallyearlong.(Seelinkaboveformoreaboutthefactorsthatdelineateoureco-province.)

ii. Whataretheprojectedclimatechangeimpactsforourregion?In2017,theCapitalRegionalDistrictcommissionedandpublishedaClimateProjectionsReportin2017.Itcanbefoundhere.Belowisasummaryoftheirfindings,(pg.II):

• Thenumberofsummerdaysabove25°Cisexpectedtotriple,fromanaverageof12to36daysperyear.

• 1-in-20yearhottestday’stemperatureisprojectedtoincreasefrom32°Cto36°Cbythe2050s.

• 22%increaseinthegrowingseasonlengthanda49%increaseingrowingdegreedaysbythe2050s.

• 69%decreaseinthenumberoffrostdays• Annualprecipitationprojectionsareamodest5%increasebythe2050sand12%bythe2080s.Projectionsindicatethefallseasonwillseethegreatestincreaseinprecipitation.Thisprecipitationisexpectedduringincreasinglyextremeevents,withabout31%moreprecipitationonverywetdays(95thpercentilewettestdaysprecipitationindicator)and


68%moreonextremelywetdays(99thpercentilewettestdaysprecipitationindicator).

• Despitetheprojectedincreasedintensityofwetevents,theamountofraininsummerisexpectedtodecreasebyabout20%,whilethedurationofdryspellswilllengthenbyabout20%.”

iii. HowcanIbetterunderstandweathersystems/patterns?-EarthWindMap-Real-timewind,ocean,particulatemap-Weatherstats-DailyrainfallforVictoria,BC

b. Risks&Opportunitiesi. Whatarethemainchallengestoouragriculturalsector?

Whilethespecificimpactsofclimatechangetoagriculturearehighlydependentonregionalclimate,microclimateandthecommoditiesproduced,thefollowinglistidentifieshowclimatechangeisexpectedtoimpactagricultureingeneralacrosstheprovince:1. Morefrequentoccurrenceandseverityofsummerdrought;watershortagesinmoreregions

2. Decreasedsnowfallinalpineareasleadingtoreducedsnowpackandtowatershortages

3. Increasedprecipitation(frequentlythroughmoreextremeevents)andsubsequentvulnerabilitytoflooding,erosion,nutrientloss

4. Morefrequentandintense“extreme”weatherandweatherrelatedevents(wind-storms,forestfires,hail,droughtsandfloods)

5. Increaseingrowingdegreedays(heatunitaccumulation)andalongerfrostfreeseason

6. Potentialforbroaderrangeofviablecropsinsomeregions7. IncreaseinpestanddiseasepressureduetoincreasedoverwinteringsurvivalratesSource:(http://www.bcagclimateaction.ca/overview/why-adaptation/)


ii. WherecanIfindmoreresourcestohelpdealwiththesechallenges?TheBCClimateActionInitiativehascreatedseveralfarmadaptationpracticefactsheetswhichcanbefoundhere:http://www.bcagclimateaction.ca/farm-level/farm-practices/Otherspecificresourceswillbelistedbelowintherelevantchapters.

iii. Whatarepossibleopportunities?Somepotentialopportunitiesrelatedtoclimatechangeinclude:longergrowingseason,lessfrostfreedays,availabilityofnewcropsandcultivars,newmarkets,growingmarketforlocalandorganicfoodproduction.-BCFood&AgricultureClimateActionInitiative:Risks&Opportunities

2. Geographya. Landform

i. WherecanIfindinformationaboutthegeologicalfactorsthatproducedmyfarmlandscapeandsoils?-CRD-GeologicalHistoryofVancouverIsland-GeologyofVancouverIsland-StevenEarl,Ph.D-SoilFormation&ParentMaterial:LandscapeEvolution-UBC-VirtualSoilScienceLearningResources(VSSLR)

ii. WherecanIfindmyfarm’ssoiltexture&drainage,andagriculturalclassification?-BCSoilInformationFinderTool-FreeOnlineGISSoftwarethatletsyoufindyourfarm’ssoiltype,drainagecharacteristicsandprovidesaccesstotheBCsoilsurveyreportscreatedduringthe1970s-1980s.

iii. WherecanIfindfreeGIStools(topographyandaerialimagary)formyarea?


Somemunicipalitiesofferveryaccurate0.5m-1mcontourlines,havingdoneeitherLiDarorphotogrammetryfly-oversfortheirregion.Othermunicipalitieshaveaerialimagesonly,or5-50mcontourintervals,bothofwhichareinadequateforthepurposeofdetailedwaterworksplanning.-CapitalRegionWebMap-NorthSaanichGISMap-CentralSaanichGISMap-NanaimoGISMap-Askyourregionalgovernmenttoseeiftheyhaveopen-accessdatatheycanshare.

iv. Ifmyregionalgovernmentdoesnothavereadilyavailableandaccuratetopographicinformation,whatotheroptionsdoIhave?-Surveyingtechnologyhascomealongwayinthelastdecadeandwiththeintroductionofdrones,wecannowobtainrelativelyinexpensive,highlyaccuratecontourdata&aerialimageryfromeitherLiDar,photogrammetry(usinggroundcontrolpoints)orRTK.Contactasurveyorinyourareaforanestimate.

b. KeylineGeometryi. WhatiskeylinegeometryandhowmightIapplyitonmyfarm?

-CRKeyline.ca-WhatisKeylineDesignFAQ&Resources-FreeE-Book,UnderstandingtheApplicationofKeylineGeometry,GeorgiPavlov-RegrariansHandbook,GeographyChapter-FreeWebinarbyDarrenJ.DohertyforKeylineWaterManagementProject,2015-BeforePermaculture:KeylinePlanning&Cultivation,MarkFeineigle,PRIAustralia

ii. Howisthistechniquebeingutilizedelsewherebyfarmers,ranchers&agro-foresters?


-CRkeyline.ca-WhatisKeylineDesignFAQ&Resources

iii. Underwhatcircumstancesmightakeylinelayoutnotbethebestoptionformyfarm?-Ifakeylinelayoutfortreesmeansasignificantcompromiseonsolarorientationforhigh-densityorchards,amorethoroughcost-benefitanalysismustbeapplied-Ifsoildrainageisyourprimarylimitingfactorandmethodstoimprovethesoil’sinternaldrainagethroughorganicsoilbuildingareinsufficient,youwillneedtoconsiderotherdrainageoptions.Thatbeingthecase,itispossiblethatakeylinecroppingandirrigationlayoutcouldbesuper-imposedontopofotherdrainagestructurelikeditchesorsubsurfacedrains.Moundsmayalsobeanoption.

3. Watera. Sources,Catchment&Storages

i. Whatarethepotentialadvantages&disadvantagesofdifferentfarmwatersources?


ii. HowdoIcompleteacatchmentanalysistoassessthevolumeofsurfacewaterIhaveaccesstoonmyfarm?-Ponds:Planning,Design&Construction-USDA(pg.13-22)-FarmWaterDugouts-BCMinistryofAgriculture(pg.22)-WaterFromSmallDams-ErikNissen-Petersen-CatchmentCalculations-TreeyoPermaculture-RunoffCalculator-Computepeakdischargefromadrainagebasin


usingtheRationalEquationMethod

iii. WherecanIfindinformationonmywell?-BCWellLog-OnlineRecords-BCGuideToFindingWellWaterInformation

iv. HowcanIaccesssurfacewateranddevelopspringsforfarmuse?-AccessingSurfaceWaterSourcesforSprings(springorsprings?)-BCMinistryofEnvironment-UnderthenewBCWaterSustainabilityAct&BCWaterSustainabilityRegulationyouwillneedtoapplyforawaterlicensetodevelopaspring

b. ChoosingIrrigationTypesi. Whatresourcesexisttohelpchoosemyirrigationtype?

-BCIrrigationManagementGuide-Editor:TedW.vanderGulik,P.Eng.;Authors:StephanieTam,B.A.Sc.,T.JanineNyvall,P.Eng.,LanceBrown,EngTech-LargeScaleIrrigationMethods-TedVanDerGulik,p.Eng-DripIrrigationCalculatorforPNW-WashingtonStateUniversity

ii. Is‘dryfarming’(noirrigation)anoption?Yes,onsomewaterretentivesoils,‘dryfarming’hasproventohavesomesuccess.Soiltype,cropselection,preparationandtimingarecriticalfactors.Whileonecanexpectloweryields,thedrasticallylowerinputcostscouldmakeabusinesscaseinsomeinstances.OregonStateUniversityhaspublishedfactsheetsonthepractiseinasimilarbio-region:-CommonMisconceptionsaboutDryFarming-OSU-DryFarmingOregon-OSU

c. WaterUsagei. Howmuchwaterdomycropsneed?


-BCAgricultureWaterCalculator-comprehensivecalculatorthattakesintoaccountevapotranspirationrate,crop,irrigationtype,soiltype/textureanddepth

ii. WhatstepscanItaketoensureIambeingefficientwithmyirrigationwater?Oneofthemosteffectivewaystoholdwaterinyoursoilisbyincreasingthewaterstoragecapacitybyaddingorganicmatter.-BCIrrigationManagementGuide-Editor:TedW.vanderGulik,P.Eng.;Authors:StephanieTam,B.A.Sc.,T.JanineNyvall,P.Eng.,LanceBrown,EngTech-LargeScaleIrrigationMethods-TedVanDerGulik,p.Eng

d. PondDesign&Constructioni. Whatregulatorymeasuresneedtobeaddressedtoconstructafarm

pond?-BCWaterSustainabilityAct-BCWaterSustainabilityRegulation-DamSafetyRegulation-BCGovernment-CheckyourlocalmunicipalbylawsandwiththeAgriculturalLandCommission(ALC)regardingsoilmovement,asmostmunicipalitieswillrequireapermittoremovesoilfromthefarm.

ii. Howbigshouldmypond/reservoirbe?-UsetheBCAgricultureWaterCalculatortodeterminewhatyourcropswillneed-WaterStopraevideo(ClimateActionInitiative)-Adddomesticusageiffromthesamewatersource-Ifrelyingonasurfacepond,itisagoodideatodesignthevolumetobe1.5-2timesthatamounttoaccommodateforevaporation,seepage&anenvironmentalreserve

iii. Whatconstructiondetailsneedtobeconsideredtobuildasafe,sealedpond?


-WaterStorage-BCClimateActionInitiative-Ponds:Planning,Design&Construction-USDA-FarmWaterDugouts-BCMinistryofAgriculture-QualityFarmDugouts-AlbertaGov.-APrimeronDamDesign-DarrenDoherty

e. PumpingSystems i. HowdoIchoosewhichpumpisrightformypondirrigation

system?-SelectingaPumpTypePage1-IrrigationTutorials.com-SelectingaPumpTypePage2-IrrigationTutorials.com-PumpingFromYourfarmPond-PresentationbyGordBairdaspartoftheKeylineWaterManagementProject

ii. Issolarpoweredpumpinganoption?Solarpoweredpumpingisanoptionforsomeonfarmapplications,especiallylowpressuresystemsliketank/pondtop-upsandstockwatering.Highpressure,highvolumeirrigationsystemswilltypicallyrequirecostlyPVarrays.Ifyourequireirrigationwaterwhenthesunisnotshining,thenabatterysystemwillberequired,whichistypicallyhigherthanthecostoftherestofthePV/pumpsystem.TherearemanygoodDC–powerpumpsonthemartetforthisapplication.Theycanbesuitablefordripirrigationandmicro-sprinklersystems.Someexcellentsuppliersinclude:-SundogSolar-https://www.sundogsolarwind.com/-BackwoodsSolar-http://www.backwoodssolar.com/-KelnSolar-http://kellnsolar.com/-CAPSolar:http://www.capsolar.com/Belowisasamplesolarpumpsystemthatkeepsanupperpondtoppedupfromalowerreservoirona2.5acremarketgarden.


13Moflift(42ft.)350Moftransfer(1137ft.)3millionliterstorageconsumptionisestimatedat15000liters/day(3300imperialgallons)Seasonofuse=may1sttoOctober15thHereistheaverageamountofgoodsolarsunperdaypermonthatComox,BritishColumbiaMay–5.54hrs./dayx60minutes/hr.=332minutesx10.9gpm=3623gallonsperdayinMay(June–5.75hrs./dayx60minutes/hr.=345minutesx10.9gpm=3760gallonsperdayinJuneJuly–6.31hrs./dayx60min=378x10.9=4127gallonsperdayinJulyAugust–5.36hrs./dayx60min=321x10.9=3505gallonsperdayinAugustSeptember–3.79hrs./dayx60min=227x10.9=2474/dayinSeptemberOctober–1.90hrs./dayx60min=114x10.9=1242gallonsperdayinOctoberUsinga1.5inchtransferpipewecanassumewewillproduce10.9gpm,whichincludesallfrictionlosscalculations.EquipmentRequired:


2-250wattSolarPanelModules2-HeavyDutyHighWindloadSolarPanelModuleMounts50ft.SubmersibleSolarPumpCable1-Sub750KU4-0214-48voltstainlesssteelSubmersibleSolarPump1-SubmersiblePumpfloatifrequired(floatsthepumpapprox.seveninchesbelowsurface)TotalCost=$4910CAN(2016pricing)

OtherResources: -PumpingfromYourfarmPond-PresentationbyGordBaird -BackwoodsSolarPumpCatalogue -SundogSolar

f. GravityFlowPipe/PondSiphonsi. Isagravityflowpipelinesystemanoptionformyfarmpond/tank?

Gravityflowwaterpipelinesarecapableofoffering0.43psiperfootofheadpressure.Thelargerthepipesize,thehighertheflowrate.Thismakesitidealforlowpressuresystemslikestock-tanktop-upsanddripirrigation.Largeelevationdropscanmakelow-pressuresprinklersanoptionaswell.TheminimumPSIrequiredtorunthin-walleddriplinesoptimallyis8-10psi,meaningonewouldrequireapproximately19feetofheadpressure.-GravityFlowPipelines-BCMinistryofAgriculture

g. KeylineSubsoilCultivationforIncreasedInfiltration


i. Whatiskeylinesubsoilcultivationandhowmightithelpimprovewatermanagement?-CRKeyline-WhatisKeyline?-BeforePermaculture:KeylinePlanning&Cultivation

ii. Isthereanyresearchonthisapplication?-CRKeyline–FinalReport-KeylineCultivationFieldMonitoringResults(Vermont)

h. DrainageStrategies&OtherHighWaterTableOptionsi. WhatoptionsdoIhavetodealwithstandingwaterin

myfieldsthatlimitproductioncapacity?Beforeexcessivedrainageisinstalled,itisimportanttooptimizethesoil’sinternaldrainagebyincorporatingcovercrops,organicmatter,biologicalinoculantsandothersoilbestmanagementstrategies.Moundingisalsoanoption.Similartothe‘chinampas’ofMeso-AmericansocietiesinMexico,somesitescouldbenefitfrompermanentearthworkstoestablishseasonallyfloodedpathwaysandraisedmoundsforgrowing.Thisensurespermanentlyaerobicsoilsinareaswithahighwatertable.Themaindisadvantagesaretheenergyoutputtoinitiallycreatetheearthworksandtheareaslosttowaterways.Itisalsomostsuitedtoperennialcrops,unlessspecializedequipmentisutilized.Moretemperateclimatezoneresearchisneededonthistechnique.Hereisasampleconcept:


Source:Hatchet&Seed–TaylerKrawczykLastly,choosingcropsthataremoresuitedtoseasonallyfloodedconditionswillensuremorereliableproduction.

ii. WherecanIfindspecificationsforagriculturaldrainagedesign?Duetothepredictedincreasedseverityandintensityofstorms,fielddrainagespecificationsarebeingupdatedbyengineersandagrologists.Insomeareas,stormwaterimpactisexacerbatedbyruraldevelopmentandtheassociatedstormwaterrunoffincreases.Resourcesfordrainagedesigninclude:-ClimateChangeAdaptationandOnFarmDrainageManagementinDelta,BritishColumbia:CurrentKnowledgeandPractices(updatedresearchthattakesfutureclimateprojectionsintoaccount)-Drainage:BCFarmPractices&ClimateChangeAdaptation-BCAgricultureDrainageManual-Questionsandanswersaboutdrainagewater


managementfortheMidwest-UniversityofMinnesotaExtension-WaterTableManagement-FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations-NaturalResourcesandEnvironment

4. Accessa. Multi-FunctionalRoads&AccessWays

i. Whatresourcesareavailabletohelpdesignintegratedfarmroadstohelpmanagewater?-FarmRoads:Assessment&DesignCriteria-GeorgiPavlov-FarmRoadways:Design&Construction-TomRyan-WaterfromFarmRoads-ErikNissen-Petersen-WaterHarvestingfromLow-StandardRuralRoads-BillZeedyk-Water/RoadInteraction:IntroductiontoSurfaceCrossDrains-USDA-RuralRoads:AConstructionandMaintenanceGuideforCaliforniaLandowners-UniversityofCalifornia-HandbookforForest,Ranch&RuralRoads-PacificWatershedAssociates

5. Forestrya. Orchards

i. Whatresourcesexistonorcharddesign,establishment&maintenanceforourclimate?-TreeFruits&NutProduction-OSU(includes-TreeFruits-BCMinistryofAgriculture-WestCoastFoodForestry-RainTenaqiya

b. AlleyCropping,Silvo-Pasture,Shelterbelts,Windbreaks,Nitrogen-FixingSpecies&ShadeTrees


i. WherecanIfindinformationonusingtreestoperformmultiplefunctionsonthefarm?-Shelterbelts-BCFarmPractices&ClimateChangeAdaptation-Agro-ForestrySystemsinBC-BCMinistryofAgriculture-OkanaganFarmDemonstratingAlleyCroppingwithBlackWalnutandPawpaw-AgroforestryProjectsinBC-UBC

6. Buildingsa. Design

i. Whataresomeresourcesfordesigningmulti-functional,resilientfarmbuildings&structures?Manyregenerativefarmenterprisesaremovingtowardsmulti-functionalandmoveableinfrastructure,particularilywhenitcomestolivestock.Examplesincludechickentractors,moveablegreenhousesthatdoubleaswinterchickenshelter,moveablemilkingstationsandportableshadestructures.Thereisalsogrowinginterestinmobileabbattoirs.Herearesomeresourcesonthesetopics:

-ChickenTractorPlans-BCAbattoirRegulation-Mobileabattoirs:theBCexperience-MobileEggMobile–RidgedalePermaculture-Makingaveryinexpensivegrainsilo–RidgedalePermaculture-Chickens&moveablegreenhouses–RidgedalePermacultureOthergreenbuildingresourcesinclude:-Magwood,Chris.MakingBetterBuildings.ChelseaGreenPublishing,2014-Snell,Clarke,andTimCallahan.BuildingGreen:aCompleteHow-toGuidetoAlternativeBuildingMethods.LarkBooks,2009.


7. Fencesa. Design

i. Whataresomeresourcesfordesigningandusingmulti-functional,resilientfarmfencing?-DeerFencingGuide-BCMinistryofAgriculture-Kiwitech-InnovativeGrazingManagementTechnologyfromNewZealand-GallagherFencingCanada-PremierFencingSupplies

8. Soilsa. SustainingSoilFertility

i. Whatresourcesareavailabletohelpfarmersbetterunderstandbuildingandmaintainingsoilfertility?-ComprehensiveAssessmentofSoilHealth-CornellUniversity-GuidelinesforSoilQualityAssessmentinConservationPlanning-NRCS-SoilQualityIndicatorfactSheets-NRCS-BuildingSoilsforBetterCrops-SARE

b. DIYSoilTesting&Monitoring i. WhatresourcesareavailableforDIYsoiltesting&monitoring?

-SoilInfiltrationTesting-OSU-SoilTextureFieldTest-BCMInistryofAgriculture

c. LabSoilTestingi. Whatisthedifferencebetweenvarioussoiltestingservices

availableinWesternCanada?-SoilNutrientTesting-BCMinistryofEnvironment

d. DealingwithCompaction


i. Whatinformationisavailableonkeylineplowingorsubsoilingtoreducesurfacecompactionoraplowpan?-CRKeyline.ca:FinalReport-BeforePermaculture:KeylinePlanning&Cultivation-KeylineCultivationFieldMonitoringResults(Vermont)

ii. Whatothermethodsareavailabletohelpallieviatecompaction?-Thereisstrongevidencetosuggestthatplantrootsandtheirsubsequentbiologymaybeas,ormoreeffectivethansteelimplementstobreakupcompaction.Alfalfaandradishesaretwowellestablishedexamplesofthis.-PlantsAreBetterThanSubsoilersForReducingSoilCompaction-OnPasture

e. NoTill&ConservationTillage

i. WherecanIfindinformationonno-tillandconservationtillagefarming?-ConservationTillage,BCClimateActionfactsheet-BeyondBlackPlastic,RodaleInstitute-ConservationTillage/SeedingEquipment-BCMinistryofAgricultureFactSheet

f. CoverCroppingWherecanIfindinformationoncover-cropping?-BeyondBlackPlastic,RodaleInstitute-WinterCoverCroppingonFraserRiverDelta-DeltaFarmland&WildlifeTrust-CoverCropping&RelayCrops-AgricultureandAgri-FoodCanada-PlantsAreBetterThanSubsoilersForReducingSoilCompaction-OnPasture

g. GrazingManagementWherecanIfindinformationongrazingmanagementforsoilhealth?-Bullseye:TargetingYourRangelandHealthObjectives-KirkGadzia&ToddGraham-UsingManagement-IntensiveGrazingforAdaptingtoandMitigatingClimateChange-BCFood&AgricultureClimateAction


-BCManagementIntensiveGrazing-BCFood&AgricultureClimateAction

9. Economya. EnterpriseBudgeting

i. WherecanIfindsampleenterprisebudgetsfordifferentcropsinourregion?-EnterpriseBudgetBlog&Webinar-YoungAgrarians-EnterpriseBudgetsforSmallScaleOrganicFarming-InstituteforSustainableFoodSystems,KwantlanPolytechnicUniversity-EnterpriseBudgets-BCMinistryofAgriculture-OrganicGrainsTransitionEnterpriseBudget-PlanningforProfitseries

ii. WherecanIfindotherbusinessresourcestohelpmakemyfarmasuccess?-SmartFarmBC:BuildingBusinessSuccess-YoungAgrariansBusinessTools-ManagingRiskontheSmallFarm-SARE-SAREBookResources

iii. Whatinnovativepracticesexistfordirectlocalmarketing?-IslandFarmFresh-DirectMarketingAssociation-Cow-op.ca-CowichanValleyCo-operativeMarketplace(CVCM)inpartnershipwithCowichanGreenCommunity

10. Energya. Consumption

i. Howcanourfarmdecreaseourenergyuseandcost?-SavingEnergyonYourFarm,BCAgriculture&FoodClimateActionInitiative-RemovingGHGEmissions,BCAgriculture&FoodClimateActionInitiative


-ReducingGHGEmissions,BCAgriculture&FoodClimateActionInitiative

b. Productioni. Howcanrenewableenergyplayaroleonourfarm?

-Woodgasificationsystemsmaybeanoptionforfarmswithexcesswoodydebrisandthemeanstoprocessit.Hereareacoupleofcommercialmodelsavailableforproducingelectricity:-http://www.gocpc.com/biomax-systems.html-http://www.allpowerlabs.com/products/20kw-power-pallets-Reportonthechipping&screeningrequirementsforcottage-scalewoodgasificationenergyproduction,byHatchet&SeedSolarenergyisbecomingincreasinglycost-effective,especiallywhencombinedwithmorefrugalandefficientenergyusage.-TheBackwoodsSolarCatalogueprovidesanexcellentplacetostartlearningmore

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