Displaying items by tag: Gold Country

Friday, 18 July 2014 03:55

Senator Tom Berryhill and Assembly Member Frank Bigelow to visit Amador Centers for Higher Learning

When: July 18, 2014 beginning at 1:30 PM

Where: HHS Building 10877 Conductor Blvd., Suite 700, Sutter Creek and concluding at the ACTC Center 117 Valley View Way, Sutter Creek.

What: The Amador Community College Foundation Board will conduct a tour for Senator Tom Berryhill and Assemblyman Frank Bigelow of both facilities and showcase business, community, and college partnerships that support the centers offering over 100 choices in certificate and degree programs for Amador County residents.

Posted Thursday, July 17, 2014 8PM

Published in Local

Friday, 18 July 2014 03:52

Grass Fed Beef Marketing Opportunity Comes to the Amador County fairgrounds

The Amador County Fairgrounds now offers a collection point for local beef. Foothill ranchers can drop one to eight cows from Tuesday to Thursday at the fairgrounds in Plymouth for pre-arranged transport to the newly opened Marin Sun Farms slaughterhouse in Petaluma for slaughter and cutting if desired. Overnight care is provided for a fee.

As Troy Bowers, CEO of the Amador County fair puts it, “The Amador County Fair was founded in 1938 to put together markets and bring people together for the purpose of promoting agriculture.” This program does exactly that. The USDA regulations for slaughter of grass fed cows have long kept small producers from being able to bring their product to market. Instead cattle are often sold at auction and moved to feedlots where they are held for 90 days and grain finished.

Marin Sun Farms in Marin County has become a key player on the artisan meat scene. Recently they acquired a slaughterhouse in Petaluma and have upgraded the plant to process 100 beef and 100 hogs per week. Their goal is to “integrate processing and distribution channels to connect the best ranches and ranchers in California to consumers.” It is a sustainable food model that inspires an agrarian culture that conserves our landscapes, supports the health of its inhabitants, and restores the vitality of a region. Marin Sun Farms’ focus is the production of local pasture based food to nourish our community and families and to return farming to its roots.

There are a variety of options once the animal reaches the plant. It can become a part of the Marin Sun Farms label or can be cut and packaged under a rancher’s private label. Farmers can choose to sell their beef on their own or it can be sold by Marin Sun Farms. They can have the meat cut and packed by Marin Sun butchers or cut elsewhere. There are three different labels available at Marin Sun: Green for 100% grass fed, Yellow for pasture raised, and Black for “Foodshed”, locally sourced livestock.

Marin Sun Farms founder David Evans’ commitment is contagious. He states, “We will continue our dedication to bringing locally sourced, humanely raised and healthy meat to our customers. Our livestock will remain foodshed sourced, synthetic growth hormone and antibiotic free, and raised with care by our greater foodshed community livestock producers.”

Amador County’s cattle ranchers should contact Troy Bowers at the Amador County fairgrounds for more information. The next time you are in San Francisco you might find meat labeled Amador County.

Posted Thursday, July 17, 2014 8PM

Published in Local

Friday, 18 July 2014 03:48

Mandatory Water Conservation Required by State

Following three critically dry years in California, the State Water Resources Control Board is requiring local water agencies to take emergency action to conserve water in landscaping, fountains, washing vehicles and other outdoor uses.

State regulators met in Sacramento Tuesday and approved the proposed rules for all Californians late in the day. The rules prohibit the watering of landscaping to the point that runoff spills onto sidewalks or streets. Hosing down sidewalks and driveways is also banned, along with washing vehicles without a shut-off nozzle. Using drinking water in a fountain or decorative water feature is banned unless the water is recirculated.

The emergency action by the state requires the Amador Water Agency to immediately implement mandatory water restrictions on outdoor irrigation after the rules go into effect, which is expected to be on August 1, 2014.

The state can take action against water agencies that don’t comply with the new regulations. Up to this point, AWA has encouraged voluntary water conservation by customers.

The AWA Board of Directors will consider the issue of mandatory conservation and enforcement at their regular board meeting at 9 am, Thursday, July 24, 2014.

According to the State Water Resources Control Board, extreme drought now covers nearly 80 percent of the state and these conditions will likely continue into the foreseeable future. The state board estimates that its proposed restrictions could save enough water to supply more than 3.5 million people a year.

Posted Thursday, July 17, 2014 8PM

Published in State

Thursday, 17 July 2014 01:24