Alameda Community Farm

By Mali McGee and Marisa Wood

Mali McGee

• BS from UC Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy and Management emphasizing Community and Environmental Health

• Owner/Operator of Milk Mama Goat Farm

• Animal Lover• Wildlife Enthusiast

Marisa Wood

• Home schooled• Animal Lover• Experienced Dog Trainer

and Professional Dog Walker

• Aspiring Vet

Definition

• Alameda Community Farm would be a community organization that would secure and maintain space on which people collectively own livestock

Alameda Community Farm

• Non-profit that holds a lease agreement with city of Alameda which relieves Alameda of responsibility of maintaining the land and mediation of issues among shareholders and members

Rotational Grazing

• Using electric fencing to recreate “herd effect”• Rotate multiple species of animals through an

area allowing some portions to rest and regenerate

Types of Animals

• Dairy Goats• Meat Goats• Laying Hens• Broiler Hens• Lambs• Pigs• Poultry• Rabbits• Bees• waterfowl

Benefits

• Local Food Security• Educational Opportunities• Tourist Attraction• Low to No Cost Maintenance for the city• Support Other Projects• Also Function as a Wildlife Habitat

Examples of Public Partnerships

• Tilden Little Farm

• Drakes Bay Oyster Company

• Ardenwood Historic Farm

Examples of Shareholder Farms

• Fiesta Farm, Elkhorn Slough, CA• Summer Meadows Farm, Watsonville, CA• Rocker Farm, Nevada City, CA

Examples of Farms Using Rotational Grazing

• Deep Roots Ranch, Watsonville, CA– beef, pork, lamb, poultry, eggs

• Fiesta Farms, Elkhorne Slough, CA– goat, pork, poultry, eggs

• Polyface Farm, Swoope, VA– beef, pork, poultry, rabbit, eggs

• Quivira Coalition, Santa Fe, NM

Examples of Farms that Sustain Wildlife

• Veta La Palma, Spain

• La Pateria de Sousa, Spain

Benefits

Local Food Security

• Create and maintain affordable meat and dairy products for community members– Minimal inputs– Not dependent on price of corn– Not dependent on price of transportation and fuel

Educational Opportunities

• School Field trips• Docent-led farm tours• 4H style after school programs• Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts• Home school Classes• Internships• Family Weekend Workshops

Tourist Attraction

• A working urban farm

• Become a pioneer in supporting sustainable agriculture and share economies

Low to No Cost Maintenance for Alameda

• A financially self sufficient project– Member dues– Grants, donations and annual fundraisers– Services

• Startup Capital– Brownfield Grants– Crowdfunding

Wildlife Habitat

• Increase ecosystem functioning– Enhance nutrient and water cycling

• Mimic natural rhythms and cycles– Clustering and stack animal functions

• Habitat trails/Pollinator Pathways

Other Benefits

• Support other regional projects– APC– Community garden– Land management for other

open space

Potential and Existing Support

• Alameda Backyard Growers• Alameda Backyard Chickens• Pollinate Farm Store• Watershed Nursery• Ploughshares Nursery• Growing Youth Farm• Encinal Nursery• Alameda Beekeepers

Ploughshares Newsletter Featuring goats and sheep as lawn mowers

Size and Location

• Southeast Corner• 5 Acres

Infrastructure Needs

• Water– Irrigation– Drinking water

• Power– Lights– Electric fencing

On 5 Acres We Could Support

• 10 dairy goats• 100 laying hens• 200+ broiler hens 200+ Families• 50 turkeys• 10+ pigs

Inclusive Organization

• Sliding scale memberships• Work-trade memberships

Next Steps?

Commissioner Meeting