New Volunteer Community Group Seeks “Common Ground” for the Future of Santa Barbara County Ag
The Santa Barbara County Ag Futures Alliance (SBCAFA) introduced a new approach to addressing the many complex issues surrounding the use of land and natural resources in Santa Barbara County. This is the culmination of a year-long process gathering interested members, from agricultural, labor, environmental, and community groups interested in tackling these very issues with an open mind and a willingness to find common ground.
The Alliance, with 12 founding members, represents viewpoints from a variety of community groups, professions, and perspectives; each group member has made the commitment to working within the collective to come up with real solutions to problems facing the county within the scope of their purpose.
Read More »AFA Calls Press Conference for September 22
At Noon on Monday, September 22, 2008, in the historic setting of the Rancho San Julian Adobe, the Santa Barbara County Ag Futures Alliance (AFA) will hold a press conference to introduce the community to this new organization pledged to finding solutions for many of the complex agricultural and environmental issues faced by our county today. A revolutionary concept for Santa Barbara County, AFA represents a unified force for change, initiated by a cooperative effort of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and the Environmental Defense Center following decades of mistrust and strife.
At the press conference, AFA spokespersons will introduce the purpose of the group and its process for reaching agreements and taking action.
Complete information is available in the Press Advisory (PDF file).
5 Reasons why Ag Matters in Santa Barbara County
As part of the formation process for the Santa Barbara County Ag Futures Alliance, members were asked to list five reasons why agriculture matters in Santa Barbara County. Jim Poett, 5th-generation Santa Barbara cattle rancher wrote this eloquent appeal for the long-term value of ag to the County
Why Ag Matters, Jim Poett, Santa Barbara County AFA member
- NO DEAD END JOBS: I would prefer that my kids do not end up in a dead end jobs. I did not encourage them to go into ag but I did not discourage them. Both of them in different ways, however, are making life decisions that are moving them in that direction. And both of them are more interested in ranching then sod busting. Ag matters because there are people who want to do it.
- MATRIX B: I participated for almost three years in the Gaviota Study Group. The idea was to find common ground on the future of the Gaviota Coast between environmentalist and landowners. For me one of the more enlightening moments grew out of a diagram Mike McGinnis, (Bren School) brought to a meeting. The diagram was labeled “Matrix A”. It showed a “core reserve” drawn as a circle connected to another core reserve by a corridor so that at its heart the diagram, looked like a dumbbell. This “Core Reserve” and “Corridor” was surrounded by two buffer zones called inner and outer. The whole diagram looked like three concentric dog bones. This was an environmental paradigm and a strategy for looking at environmental conservation. I drew what I labeled “Matrix B” as an alternative. I erased “Core Reserve” at the center of the dumbbells and replaced in with “Urban Areas. Ag matters in SB because it is a more holistic way of environmental conservation. Read More »
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