Our community’s land and its resources affects everyone

This was acutely demonstrated a few weeks ago when the Emmi Roth USA and its Cypress Grove Chevre subsidiary entered escrow for the Gilardoni property just west of the City of Arcata’s boundary.

The community south of and surrounding the 23-acre parcel voiced its strong opposition; and the company halted escrow and plans for expansion onto the site for its intensive goat dairy. For the short term the property is in limbo; but in the long term we must take action to preserve, in perpetuity, this rich agricultural heritage and its uniquely rich treasure of topsoil.

The Gilardoni property is prime agricultural soil sandwiched between a subdivision to the south -- along with four schools and two churches-- and to the north some small holdings and vestiges of the old Simpson Mill now occupied by Sun Valley Floral.

This land has resisted change over the years including Janes Creek West in the mid-90s, where it was included in a “smart growth” proposal to build 964 houses and a commercial plaza west of the city limits. In spite of this growth pressure, the parcel has retained its agricultural use as grazing land for an average of 25 to 40 dairy cows for nearly 100 years. And it quietly serves the community as a breath of fresh air every time we take the turn at 17th Street and transcend from our daily grind to venture out and enjoy that precious place we all know as the Bottom.

This parcel's rich topsoil, the best in Humboldt County and in California, drains well, holds nutrients, and grows fine crops. And yet, to the surprise of many, there is not much left of it on the Bottom. The further west we go, soil quality diminishes becoming less suitable for row crops and other farming.

Beginning in the 1970s, the City of Arcata’s visionary leaders educated themselves about the remaining prime agricultural resources left in and surrounding the community, and took steps to try to preserve it for future generations.

The current General Plan 2020 has furthered this commitment by retaining protective Agricultural Exclusive zoning, and shrinking our urban services away from these vital resources. The current City Council recently approved the following goals:

1) Evaluate and recommend open space funding mechanisms and options to generate revenue, and develop a management plan for the West Arcata greenbelt and open space & agriculture property purchased during the past five years.

2) Explore opportunities to acquire property or secure easements from willing sellers around the community forests and other open space lands.

As a member of the City’s Agriculture and Open Space Committee I have hoped that someday an opportunity like this might come where the community would see this particular property as significant and vulnerable, and endeavor to take action to preserve it for future generations of farmers.

Agricultural incubators that assist start-up farmers are becoming more common in communities that hope to assist young farmers. Sonoma County's Open Space District Small Farms Program leases land in its greenbelt to farmers who grow vegetables, flowers, herbs, and berries --- these are farmers who would not otherwise be able to find property to farm.

In the 1990s, UC Cooperative Extension at the Humboldt County Agriculture Department ran a similar program called the Farm Incubator Project on Dow's Prairie. This project provided first leases to some of our favorite farmers who now sell wholesome fruits and vegetables at Farmer's Market. This very successful program was discontinued due to the loss of their lease in 1996. When asked to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, all participants were positive and thankful for the experience. Earth and Sky Garlic owner, Liz Kinnaman stated, “As of the end of this year I can graduate from the incubator project to my own piece of farmland because the past five years has given me the confidence and experience to buy farmland and increase my efforts.” When asked if a program like this is currently needed, Deborah Giraud from UCCE, who started and maintained the incubator until it’s closure, said, “most definitely!”

The Gilardoni land is a prime candidate for such a project. The soil is excellent, the terrain flat, it has ample water, and requires no fencing for deer. It would be an excellent next step for farmers who manage the Bayside Community Farm who want to continue to farm, as well as for others who have difficulties finding land.

My hope is that the city, the neighbors, and the community will embrace a project like this.

This Wednesday, July 20th at 6 p.m., the Arcata City Council will consider whether or not to direct staff to seriously explore possibilities for acquisition and/or a conservation easement for this property.

It is my hope that the community will come out and encourage the council to move forward with this exploration and implement its own goals and policies and those of previous councils, so that we may secure a western agricultural greenbelt, which will be preserved for future generations.