PAST PROGRAM :: Lighthouse Farm Network

CAFF's Lighthouse Farm Network is building a community of farmers and other agricultural professionals who readily share information about farming systems that are profitable yet rely less on chemicals. Every month, farmers and other ag professionals meet at breakfast meetings, lunch meetings or field days to share technical information about biologically-based farming practices. Each month more than 2,000 people receive Farmer to Farmer, LFN's newsletter.

There have been monthly meetings in fifteen regions around the state. However, today many of the meetings are more sporadic. The Fresno/Tulare LFN group continues to meet monthly. Three essentials components draw farmers to the Network:

Technical Support
1. Organized forums for farmer to farmer information sharing.
2. Participation of university research and extension personnel with the Lighthouse Farm Network community.
3. Helping farmers develop long-term stewardship plans for their farms that include interaction between people, land and economics.

   Community Building

4. Building an inclusive (and fun) Lighthouse Farm community and social network.
5. Increasing access to and availability of products and services which benefit the Lighthouse Farm Network community.
6. Working with other CAFF programs to create linkages between farmers and ag professionals, organizations and institutions.
7. Focusing on policy in furthering the goals of the Lighthouse Farm Network.

   Public Outreach

8. Showcasing to a broad community successful and profitable farms that are part of the Lighthouse Farm Network.
9. Expanding the Network to all important agricultural regions in California.