Press Release Archive
North County Cannabis Farmers Endorse Working Group’s Recommendation
January 23, 2020
“Yesterday’s marathon workshop hearing at the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission revealed some good news and proper guidance for the entire agricultural community – ‘Be good Neighbors.’
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We stand committed to continuing to work collaboratively with the Ag Commissioner’s Office to both act as Ambassadors and demonstrate “Best in Class” community outreach strategies that invite all stakeholders and build trust.”
John De Friel and Sara Rotman
Planning Commission Sets January 22nd Special Hearing for Proposed Zoning Amendments
January 17, 2020
Santa Maria, CA – For over a year, prohibitionist forces in Santa Barbara County have fought independent, compliant cannabis farmers, appealing approved zoning permits and wasting local funds to undermine County ordinances. On January 22nd, Planning Commissioners have set a special hearing in Santa Maria to review a report from the Ag/Cannabis Stakeholder Working Group and discuss proposed Cannabis Zoning Ordinance Amendments prompted by last year’s planning commission meetings.
Second Conclusive, Science-based Study Shows No Evidence of Terpene Migration between Cannabis and Wine Grape Crops
December 17, 2019
“A key finding from Vizuete’s modeling and research is that it requires 1,121 continuous days of flowering for cannabis plants to release enough terpenes for grape taint to occur. However, cannabis plants only emit monoterpenes for 21 days prior to harvest. Even on a farm that plants and harvests three yields, monoterpenes would only be emitted for 63 days of each year, a fraction of the emission rate necessary to taint wine grapes.”
Good Farmers Great Neighbors Supports Progressive Federal Cannabis Legislation
November 25, 2019
“We look forward to the advancement of the MORE Act to conference committees in the House and Senate where our nation’s elected leaders will deliberate upon vital elements of the bill that we support being signed into law,” said Sara Rotman, a co-chair of Good Farmers Great Neighbors (GFGN). She went on to say, “It is our hope that House and Senate leaders will confirm our belief that hemp and cannabis are well within the scope of traditional agriculture and as such are ‘Right to Farm’ commodities.”
Community Farmers and Neighbors Rally Around Busy Bee’s Organics
November 19, 2019
We are immensely proud of cannabis farmers Sara Rotman and her husband, Nate Diaz, for their exemplary hard work in earning unanimous support from the Santa Barbara County Planning Commissioners in a 5-0 vote, including a strong recommendation to approve from the County’s Planning Department Staff and Consultants.
After Lengthy Appeal Process, North County Cannabis Farm Prevails
November 8, 2019
Buellton, CA – After an appeal hearing on October 30th that resulted in a continuation on November 7th, Sara Rotman and husband Nate Diaz can finally get back to farming. Sara and Nate have operated Busy Bee Organics, a legal cannabis farm in Buellton, since 2015. But their farm, both business and sole source of income, as well as their family home, became jeopardized by an appeal against the farm’s land use permit.
Cannabis Farmers Release “Informational Toolkit” to the Public
October 30, 2019
Buellton, CA – As an emerging crop, farmers and elected officials alike are navigating the waters of regulated cannabis. Establishing advanced farming, operational and resource management practices, cannabis farmers are identifying best practices to share with other crop farmers, catalyzing growth in the local economy and creating a new source of revenue to fill municipal budget shortfalls. In a new informational presentation, Good Farmers Great Neighbors seeks to promote transparency around how cannabis has impacted Santa Barbara County, from acreage used to jobs created.
Cannabis Farmers Work to Engage Community: New Videos Demonstrate Commitment to Santa Barbara County’s Agricultural Economy
October 18, 2019
Buellton, CA – Good Farmers Great Neighbors, a coalition of legal cannabis farmers in North County, has released a series of videos in an effort to help underscore their agriculture roots, commitment to science and pesticide-free farming, community support and economic vitality within the local region.
Cannabis Cultivation to be Recognized, Measured, and Valued Like All Other Agricultural Crops in California
October 4, 2019
Buellton, CA – John De Friel, a founding member of the Good Farmers Great Neighbors, stated that “California Cannabis farmers, especially many [of us] who have transitioned from traditional crop farming and are moving toward a more diverse cultivation model that is more sustainable are very pleased, and applaud the Governor for signing SB 657 and SB 527.”
Is a New Tourism Trend on the Horizon in Santa Barbara County?
September 9, 2019
Buellton, CA – Good Farmers Great Neighbors, a collective of North County cannabis cultivators and advocates, is working with community residents and businesses to find new ways to enhance Santa Barbara County’s agritourism. The County’s unique climate yields ideal conditions and terroir for both wine and cannabis cultivation, along with a variety of other crops. Using Sonoma County as an example, it is clear that the wine and cannabis industry can both thrive together and complement one another.
