EcoFarm Insight: Reflection, Observation & Irrigation

Feb 26, 2025

By Patrick Murphy, Program Manager

I had the opportunity to attend EcoFarm’s 45th Anniversary conference this year and had a wonderful time. My colleagues and I attended a variety of presentations and participated in a number of wonderful discussions with people from around California who work on similar projects related to urban agriculture, local food, and creating connections in their community.

There were a number of wonderful presentations that affirmed going back to basics like water retention, soil health, building up organic matter and biological activity, as well as taking your time to plan each project.

Again and again I heard from folks working in agriculture, education, farms and gardens that they had the most success when they took their time to reflect and observe before acting. Taking deliberate and well-paced steps to mulch, to build up organic matter in the soil, to increase water infiltration, and to develop rich and biologically active soil were the most impactful things they did. They stressed the importance of avoiding jumping into an idea that sounds good but is untested — the sheer force of nature is too powerful to work against.

Some key recommendations:

  • Take your time when you’re planning, and revisit a site multiple times before beginning work, with and without your plans.
  • Install a flow gauge and Schrader valves (similar to bicycle tire valves) in your irrigation system, and use a pressure gauge to check your system for leaks and issues.
  • Heat stress can make plants more prone to pest issues.

Here is a breakdown of some of the presentations:

Regenerative Landscaper Erik Ohlsen gave a talk about the importance of getting to know a site. He said that to truly understand a location, you should be visiting it in the rain, at night and early morning, and you should always check and recheck your plans with the reality of what is on the ground. Ohlsen also stressed the number of career opportunities which exist in landscape design.

Cameron McDonald from Santa Cruz Resource Conservation District spoke about the importance of monitoring water systems using flow gauges and pressure gauges. McDonald spoke about how farmers (and homeowners) can balance design, operations and maintenance, and irrigation scheduling to maximize yield, conserve resources, minimize nutrient loss, ensure uniform crops, and reduce fuel costs.

The mantra was “You can’t know what you don’t measure” — measuring flow rates is essential, and tools like flow meters for home gardeners, or telemetry systems, data loggers, and remote data collection for large-scale operations provide an enormous amount of information. SRCD has a number of common recommendations they offer to improve efficiency on farms, (1) use pressure regulators (these $13 units have saved Sustainable Solano hours of work), (2) fix leaks, (3) add spaghetti lines to direct the flow of water and (4) opt for oval-shaped hoses to reduce accidental kinks.

McDonald reiterated the standard recommended pressures are 0-30 PSI for drip irrigation and 100 PSI for sprinklers. Proper pressure management is critical for uniform water application; use a hand pressure gauge and Schrader valves to check your systems pressure, use one hand gauge to check the whole system to ensure consistent calibration. Elevation changes also impact pressure — every 2.3 feet elevation changes PSI by 1 PSI (increasing PSI when descending down, decreasing PSI when going uphill). Be mindful of the water hammer effect, a rapid change of pressure caused by quickly turning on/off valves, and look for unexplained pressure loss. Everyone should be flushing their irrigation system more often (once per year at least) and install or use soil moisture sensors for better field or lawn management. By implementing these strategies, farmers and homeowners can optimize irrigation systems for efficiency, cost savings, and irrigation uniformity.

Bill Snyder gave a presentation on a study he and his graduate students conducted on whitefly infestations attacking squash crops. In a 2016-2017 drought, potato whitefly infestation exploded. They had a theory regarding bidirectional stress on cotton plants, where the larva of the whiteflies were born and developed. Cotton plants under extreme heat stress are unable to fight off white fly infections, while populations of bugs and animals which traditionally consume these insects are also decimated by heat stress and overuse of broad spectrum pesticides. Snyder and his team found correlation between these extreme droughts and high volumes of insecticide use (per acre). In a natural experiment using center-irrigated fields and increased mulching practices, the Georgia team feels confident that the combinations of heat stress on plants and insects were a driving cause in the rise of whitefly populations. Learn more about his research here.

Sustainable Solano would like to thank the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Solano County Public Health and CHIP (the Child Health and Improvement Plan) for their support to attend the 45th EcoFarm Conference. Their support allowed us to learn so much about the state of urban agriculture, local food, and what other folks in our state, community and nation are working on. Thank you to the presenters and all the friends we made along the way.

Building a Vision Together for Solano County & SuSol

Nov 1, 2024

By Taylor Collins, Development & Communications Coordinator

Last month, we celebrated our 25th anniversary at BackRoad Vines. Out on the lawn, we set up a vision board under the banner “Shape Our Future,” inviting the community to share your hopes and ideas for our work moving forward. The energy and ideas shared highlighted the power of collective intention. The themes that emerged reflect the spirit and values of our community, validate the importance of the work we’re already doing in these areas and gives us a guiding vision for the future. Here are the central themes we heard from you, our community members, and the dreams that will drive our work forward.

“More people growing and sharing food … building community.”

The theme of “community” resonated strongly with participants. Many noted the importance of creating spaces where people can come together and support one another.

“I envision neighbors sharing yields with each other.”

We share this vision. When people cultivate food, share resources, and care for the land, it naturally leads to a greater sense of purpose and belonging. Witnessing and participating in the abundance that nature can offer can lower stress and create a resilient foundation for mental well-being.

“Community Gardens in every city.”

The desire for more community gardens and green spaces reflects a commitment to sustainability and a wish for accessible spaces where people can gather, grow and enjoy nature. Community gardens are more than just places to plant — they are vibrant hubs for social events, learning, and exchanging skills.

“I wish for peace & respect for climate change.”

This vision reflects a desire for unity in the recognition that climate change is here. This wish, while large, feels reachable when we work together and take small, meaningful steps. We are all connected and “peace and respect” speaks to a willingness to be brave together no matter how different we are.

“Intergenerational Education”
“Plant roots rise above the noise, connect children to nature + families to divine purpose”
“Meditate in Nature”

These visions call for programming that incorporates fresh ideas as well traditions. Mutual exchange among different generations fosters respect and strengthens social bonds, all while empowering each generation to contribute meaningfully to the community’s future.

Together, these themes give us a shared roadmap for the future. By building community, sharing food, tending the land, and respecting each other, we’re not just dreaming of a better world — we’re actively creating it. Thank you to everyone who contributed your thoughts and visions; your voices will continue to inspire our work as we move forward.

Fairfield Residents Invited To Track Their Air Quality With Free Monitors

Oct 31, 2024

By Alex Lunine, Resilient Communities Program Manager

Sustainable Solano is seeking four households or businesses in Fairfield, especially those in city districts 2,3, and 5 (see map below), to receive a free outdoor PurpleAir Monitor to help create a community-led air monitoring network. These sensors give live readings of particulate matter concentrations in the air, which is especially useful during rush hour traffic, dusty/windy days, and during wildfire season. By contributing to this air monitoring network, you can help your neighbors protect their health.

If your address qualifies, you will receive a free PurpleAir Classic Air Quality Monitor and outdoor-safe power cable. These monitors do require a wireless internet connection (to upload the data to their map), a consistent outdoor power supply, and a place to mount the monitor (either via ZipTie or nail). Sustainable Solano can help with the setup and installation of the monitors (not including permanent mounting methods), and answer any questions you may have. Sustainable Solano has distributed six monitors to Fairfield residents and organizations as part of its Youth Air Protectors program.

If you are interested, please fill out this form, and we will reach out to you shortly. For any questions, please feel free to email alex@sustainablesolano.org.

Selection for the monitors will be determined by relevance of address and ability to properly set up the monitor in your space, but will otherwise be granted on a rolling basis.

The Sustainable Solano Youth Air Protectors is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Meals on Wheels Partnership a Breath of Fresh Air

Oct 28, 2024

By Sustainable Solano

SuSol’s Alex Lunine and Meals on Wheels Solano County’s Tyler Dorman get air purifiers and materials ready for distribution

With everything from wildfires to vehicle emissions, Solano County residents face a number of sources of air pollution that not only make the outside air sometimes dangerous for those who are particularly vulnerable, but also can affect indoor air quality.

That’s why an indoor clean air zone is important at home, a fact that is true for those with asthma or cardiovascular disease, but really something that can be beneficial to us all.

To help more Solano County residents understand the hazards of air pollution and the importance of clean air zones at home (or in public spaces that have been identified as somewhere to go during days when wildfire smoke threatens public health), Sustainable Solano was fortunate to receive grant funding through the Solano Community Foundation. This funding is intended to provide information and resources to some of the county’s most vulnerable residents, support coordination and collaboration around addressing air quality and support Sustainable Solano’s ongoing air quality programs, such as our Youth Air Protectors.

As part of the Climate Disaster Impact on Solano Air Quality program, we were fortunate to partner with Meals on Wheels Solano County to help with distributing 40 home air purifiers and educational materials on air quality and environmental hazards to community members who most needed them.

It was a big undertaking — starting with the lengthy process of bulk ordering 40 air purifiers! But it was well worth it when they were finally delivered to Meals on Wheels and prepared for distribution along with the air quality information kits and N95 masks.

Meals on Wheels Solano County serves 850 seniors daily, providing vital services of delivered meals as well as check-ins with volunteers and staff. We are grateful that they could provide both their expertise and distribution capabilities to help get air purifiers in people’s hands. We were able to work with Meals on Wheels to identify some of its most vulnerable recipients — whether historically underserved, low-income and/or with health concerns exacerbated by poor air quality — who could best use the purifiers.

We look forward to checking in with them later to learn how the seniors used their air purifiers and how similar distributions could be improved in the future!

We continue to work on other parts of the program, which also provides supplemental funding for SuSol’s ongoing air quality work in the cities of Fairfield and Rio Vista. We held one DIY air purifier workshop in Rio Vista back in August, and we’re planning the next one for Nov. 12 (You can register here.). Any county resident is invited to attend, where you will learn about the importance of air quality for our health and communities and learn how to create a homemade air purifier with filters and a box fan. Participants will be eligible to receive their own materials to take home and try out their new DIY skills.

Keep an eye out for other workshops and distributions in the coming months!

Celebration Gratitude from Sustainable Solano

Sep 30, 2024

By Sustainable Solano

Attendees could view a timeline of SuSol’s 25-year history (Photo credit (all): Luke George)

We would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who attended our 25th Anniversary celebration! Your presence truly made the evening special, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet new friends who share our passion for the mission of our organization.

A special thank you to Assemblymember Lori Wilson, and the representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi for attending our event. We are grateful for the state Legislature recognition, Congressional commendation, and recognition from Wanda Williams with the Board of Supervisors. Your support means the world to us and helps us continue our work!

Assemblymember Lori Wilson recognizes SuSol / Attendees enjoy a farm-to-table dinner from Chef Lindsey Chelini

It was fantastic to witness everyone coming together, sharing their insights, and contributing to our vision board. Your ideas and perspectives are invaluable as we shape the future of our programs. Look for a blog in November where we will share some of the insights we received from attendees, how they intersect with our current work and where they guide us to look in our future work.

We’d love for you to stay involved! Whether it’s attending future events or making a donation to keep this work going, your support is crucial in helping us continue our mission. Every little bit counts and makes a difference.

SuSol staff and a Youth Leadership Council alum discuss programs with attendees

Thank you once again for being part of our journey. We’re excited to move forward together, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!