INTRODUCTION

gathering information, monitoring, history, liaising, informing, educating, involving local government members

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Permalink Reply by Felicity on March 4, 2009 at 7:44am: I could use assistance and would be glad to help others. I have a farm 2.5 acres in Nipomo that I would like to find funding for the 10,000 fees I need to go commercial. Also I have a creek running thru the property. I have let the creek restore itself the last 20yrs and I let the 3/4 of an acre go fallow on the other side. Looking for an easy way to get across the creek to restore habitat.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eric Greening on November 9, 2009 at 12:13pm: Hello!

By "go commercial," do you mean change your zoning, open a farm stand or store selling products from the farm, solicit CSA subscribers, or what? If the creek has been "restoring itself" for the last 20 years, what has been lacking from this self-restoration that motivates you to cross the creek to "restore habitat?" Or is it the non-riparian habitat on the other side that you wish to restore? By "easy way to get across the creek," do you mean a bridge, and, if so, do you mean a footbridge or something bigger? The answers to these questions would help determine what fees, approvals, etc. may or may not be required. By "find funding" do you mean sell produce, receive donations, or rent gardening space on the other side of the creek? Are you trying to make a profit from the farm, or do you have, or wish to set up, a non-profit organization to carry out some public benefit role using the farm as a base? Are you either certified or de facto organic? What are the neighboring land uses and are they compatible with what you do now and with what you wish to do? Fairview Gardens, in an urban setting in Goleta, actually has both a commercial operation AND a non-profit foundation, but they also have more acreage, although they are still smaller than the standard agricultural parcel in either of our counties.

Sorry to bombard you with questions, but coming up with the precise answers to these could help you and any who help you find more precise and tailored solutions to the issues you face.; ▶ Reply to This