Reflections from the First Annual LEAF Conference
Scaling Impact not Acreage
This past week, I had the honor of presenting at the first annual LEAF Conference — a gathering designed to bring together leaders in land, energy, agriculture, and forestry to strengthen the Sierra region’s natural economy. From producers and processors to educators and policymakers, participants spent two days exploring innovation, workforce growth, and sustainable resource management across the region.
I originally planned to head to Jamestown for the event, but the weather had other plans. In true Sierra fashion, things shifted quickly — so instead of making the drive, I presented remotely.
What I Presented:
I opened with a belief that guides everything we do at Blue Heron Farm:
Human-scale, regenerative farms can and will transform agriculture right here in the Sierra.
From there, we explored the potential of small farms in the region — not as marginal operations, but as smart, nimble, deeply connected systems capable of feeding communities, restoring ecology, and shaping a resilient future.
The Best Technology in Agriculture Is Biology
One of the core messages of the talk was that farming with nature — instead of against it — is foundational to long-term success in our region.
We walked through the ecological principles that guide our work at Blue Heron Farm:
Minimize Soil Disturbance
Keep Soil Covered
Maximize Plant Diversity
Integrate Animals
Reduce Synthetic Inputs
Steward Water Wisely
Community & Culture
These aren’t abstract concepts — they are daily farm practices that build structure, biology, and resilience in the soil. And in a high-desert environment, soil health isn’t optional; it’s the center of the whole system.
A Resilient Farm Stands on Many Roots
Another key theme was diversification — not just of crops, but of income streams, community engagement, and ways of connecting people to food.
We talked through the “many roots” that make Blue Heron Farm resilient:
CSA
Farm Stand
Farmers Markets
Wholesale
Value-Added Products
Agritourism
Education
Each of these is a pathway to both financial viability and deeper community connection.
How Do We Scale Small Farms?
This was the question at the heart of the presentation.
And the answer wasn’t “get bigger.”
We scale small-scale farms by multiplying small-scale farmers.
Mentorship, apprenticeships, community involvement, education, and lowering barriers — those are the levers that expand our region’s capacity to grow food.
To keep small farms viable we need
I closed with the broader landscape of support small farms need — from flexible zoning to land access to streamlined value-added regulations.
When policy supports small farms as infrastructure, community resilience follows.
And everyone in the region has a role: producers, consumers, institutions, and decision-makers.
We need to change the cultural narrative — to show that farming can be viable, meaningful, and central to the Sierra’s future.
What I Took Away from LEAF
Even while presenting remotely, I felt deeply connected to the momentum in that room. LEAF wasn’t just about challenges; it was about possibility — about what we can build when land, energy, agriculture, and forestry are treated as interconnected, not siloed.
The conference underscored something I feel in my bones every day on the farm:
Small farms are not small players.
They’re essential threads in our region’s ecological and economic future.
If You Missed the Talk
Check out the full slide deck so you can explore all the concepts and graphics from the presentation.