Conferences and Workshops
Speakers on Sustainable Agriculture Panel at the Solar Living Institute’s Green Careers Conference, November 18, 2006, San Francisco, CA
Speaker with a tri-county panel of experts on local foods at Locavore event with keynote speaker,
Jessica Prentice, October 21, 2005, Mill Valley, CA
Presentation to 80–100 people about LPCF, CSA, and relationship to Peak Oil, Willits Economic LocaLization (WELL), April 11, 2005, Willits, CA
Stephen participated in 3-person solar workshop, Gloria participated of 3-person workshop on CSA,
Eco Farm Conference, January 2005, Asilomar, CA
Speaker at Mendocino Alliance for a Community-Based Economy (MACBE) Founding Member Reception featuring Joanna Macy, December 2003, Ukiah, CA
Workshop leader, Solfest 2003, August 2003, Hopland, CA
Plenary speaker and workshop leader, 2002 Biodynamic National Conference, November 2002,
Eugene, OR
Plenary speaker, Successful Organic Farmers, Eco Farm Conference, January 2002,
Asilomar, CA
Keynote speaker and workshop leader, 2001 CSA Conference, December 2001, Frost Valley Conference Center, Claryville, NY
Workshop leader, Biodynamic National Conference, November 2001, Santa Rosa, CA
Plenary speaker, Oregon Biodynamic Group, February 2001, Eugene, OR
Initiator and organizer for annual Round Valley Harvest Festival, beginning September 2000, Covelo CA. Festival was a celebration of local agricultural bounty, with children’s activities to promote appreciation of the unique agricultural qualities of Round Valley
Workshop leader, Eco Farm Conference, 1999, 1994, and 1991
Workshop leader with Greenbelt Alliance Preserving Farmland and Forging Rural/Urban Linkages, Community Food Systems Conference, October 1996, UC Davis, CA
Speaker at Gaining Ground: How CSAs Can Acquire, Hold, and Pass On Land Workshop, presented by Equity Trust, Inc., The Trust for Public Land and Wisconsin Farmland Conservancy, May 1996, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA
Plenary speaker and workshop presenter, 1995 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Conference for the Western Region, November 1995, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
Planning committee member, 1995 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Conference for the Western Region, 1995, meetings in Mendocino County and the San Francisco Bay Area
Featured speaker, CSA Conference, co-sponsored by UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, the UC Small Farm Center, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) , UC Cooperative Extension, and Fiddlers’ Green Farm, December 1993, Davis, CA
Workshop leader, Small Farm Conference, 5 years
Community Organizations
Current and founding member since 1987, Biodynamic Association of Northern California hosting annual fall quarterly meeting at LPCF
Founding member since 1994, Biodynamic Association of Northern California Apprentice Training Program providing seasonal apprentices with opportunities to study the principles and practices of biodynamic agriculture in several farm settings
Advisory committee member, Equity Trust, Inc., CSA Fund, since 1996
Founding member, Mendocino Alliance for a Community-Based Economy, since 2003. MACBE is a pending local chapter of Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE)
Founding member, Round Valley Agriculture Development Group, 1997-1999. Hosted 15 workshops and lectures to encourage development and self-sufficiency for cottage industry in Covelo
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Programs
Founded the San Francisco LPCF CSA in 1988
The San Francisco CSA, established in 1988, was one of the first CSAs in California. CSA members make a commitment to Live Power for the growing season, May through early December, and in return receive a basket of vegetables equivalent to their share of the harvest each week. The CSA requires member participation for sorting and distributing vegetables, which fosters community consciousness. In 1988, 15 families in San Francisco were members. The CSA continues strongly today, with long-term member commitment, little turnover between seasons and over 100 households. The SF LPCF CSA includes other organic family farms providing shares which have included fruit, flowers, grain, poultry and dairy.
Founded the Covelo LPCF CSA in 1989
This CSA uses a similar model as the Bay Area LPCF CSA (except members visit Live Power to pick up their baskets each week, and members can choose to purchase either a full or half share of vegetables). In 1989, 10 families were members. The CSA continues to grow today, and is an important local link with families in Covelo.
Founded the Willits/Ukiah LPCF CSA in 1990.
This CSA uses a similar model as the Bay Area LPCF CSA (except members are not required to participate in sorting and distributing vegetables). With its inception, Live Power became a CSA-only farm, whereby 100% of its crops are sold through CSAs rather than at farmers markets or stores. In 1990, 10 families were members which has now grown to over 40 families.
Educational Programs
Founded the Farm Stay program in 1984
Each year 5 northern California Waldorf schools, Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito, and several local public schools participate in the Farm Stay program by sending classes to LPCF. Throughout the season more than 200 students, ages third grade through high school, stay for up to a week at the farm. The students participate in farming activities which include making compost, planting and weeding crops, shearing sheep, milking cows, plowing with horses, cooking meals and other farm related activities. The Farm Stay program has served as a model for other schools and farms as they developed similar programs.
Founded the Apprentice Training Program in 1990
Every season 5 to 8 apprentices live and work at LPCF. The apprentices learn sustainable farming skills, including field preparation, raising seedlings, planting, watering, weeding, harvesting techniques, composting, and farm maintenance, all of which are organic and biodynamic. Apprentices participate in monthly biodynamic workshops to discuss and study Rudolf Steiner’s writings and biodynamic agriculture. More experienced apprentices learn to work with draft horses, which is Live Power’s alternative to mechanized field preparation and planting. Since its inception, the Apprentice Training Program has trained over 100 future farmers in sustainable agriculture practices.
Awarded funding totaling $8,000 from Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation, 2002–2003, for educational program development and support.
Farm Infrastructure
Certified biodynamic farm since 1987
Created Agricultural Shared Equity model with Land Conservation Easement in 1995. Live Power Community Farm purchased 40 acres in a unique way to secure the land for agricultural use in perpetuity. In a large community effort involving CSA members and Waldorf parents, Live Power raised money for the nonagricultural value of the land, which is now held in a conservation easement by Equity Trust, Inc. Since the creation of this model, Equity Trust has worked with four other farms that have similar goals of preserving land for agriculture only. And this model has inspired and guided dozens of other farms in their pursuit of long-term land security.
Awarded grant for $15,000 from The Center for Ecoliteracy, May 2002, for a passive solar classroom utilizing natural building materials.
Awarded extensive grant from Skywards Foundation, 2002, for building a gray-water pond, recycling shed, pump house, solar shower house and water filtration system.
Completed 13-kilowatt photovoltaic solar electric system through the California Energy Commission Rebate Program. Project included rehabilitation of 100-year-old barn.
