Biophysical Context:
The plot I have chosen is a 100-acre field in a diversified landscape (38.52787, -121.90653). The field is located in Solano County, CA right alongside Putah Creek. Temperatures in Solano County range from a high of 89°F in July and a low of 38°F in January with approximately 14 days when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing. The average amount of rain is 23 inches in a year and there are zero days of snowfall. The soil is Yolo Loam and comes from an alluvial parent material, meaning the soil is well drained with slow to medium runoff and natural high fertility. This land is optimum for intensive row, field and orchard crops with native vegetation consisting of annual grasses, forbs, and oaks. The surrounding area is full of diversified farming landscapes with orchards and other managed forested areas. The presence of Putah Creek creates a riparian zone along the Northern edge of the field allowing for water and nutrients to seep into the soil.
Cropping System and Management Practices:
For my 100-acre field in a diversified landscape, I am planning on creating a permaculture system consisting of a riparian forest buffer along the creek, a ground-water fed aquaculture system and an intercropped vegetative crop system. Since my plot is located in a riparian zone along the creek, I want to create a buffer to help in sustaining water quality as well as increasing soil stability. This forest buffer will also provide a foundation for my mushroom cultivation operation as I can use both saprobes such as Lion’s Mane as well as ground covering mushrooms which can increase farm profitability. This agroforestry technique also helps to create a cooler microclimate to mitigate the heat from the hot summers in the area. My proximity to the creek also allows me to create a groundwater fed pond which will form the basis of my aquaculture system. This system will help to increase biodiversity as well as helping to diversify my products by including fish and fish byproducts as well as other aquatic species. In the remaining section I will implement an intercropped vegetative crop system which will differ depending on season and rotation.
Benign Laughter 