Eric Caine is a brilliant and talented writer. He has written many columns for the Modesto Bee and is an English Instructor at Merced Junior College. His insightful and common sense approach to our Valley problems is a welcome breath of fresh air for readers who care about sustaining a quality of life for residents in Merced County and the Central Valley of California.

Between Friends - Entre Amigos

Between Friends/Entre Amigos is dedicated to providing the families of Merced County with information pertinent to everyday life. Their goal is to promote ideas, family values and pride in the family through information while supporting the business community and local organizations.

California Farmlink Website

California FarmLink works to ensure the future of family farming in California. The future of agricultural production and the viability of productive, diversified, and sustainable farms is far too important to be left to a random process of "marry or inherit". California FarmLink provides a range of services to facilitate a transition from one farmer or landowner to the next generation of farmers.

Local Choices

Connecting our community to local small organic and natural farms and ranches in the Central Valley of California, providing information on local farm news, events, healthy lifestyles, the benefits of organics and the farmers who feed us!

John Holland's Blog: The Hive

Modesto Bee writer, John Holland, tracks farming news and stories in his informative blog.

American Farmland Trust: California - Paving Paradise

One out of every six acres developed in California since the Gold Rush was paved over between 1990 and 2004, concludes a new AFT report, Paving Paradise: A New Perspective on California Farmland Conversion. In all, more than a half million acres were urbanized during this period, almost two-thirds of it agricultural land. Among AFT's other findings: More than 60% of the land developed in the San Joaquin Valley, which accounts for half of California's agricultural production, was farmland of the very best quality. The attached report includes both a database and text that explains and analyzes the data.

Plumas Sierra Counties: Land Use Information

18 Different Fact Sheets (1 to 4 pages each) written in layperson terms to help us all better understand aspects of community land use planning.

Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association

The Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA) provides educational and business opportunities for farm workers and aspiring farmers to grow and sell crops grown on two organic farms in Monterey County, California.

The Story of Stuff.com

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns.

Worth Watching

Are we in danger of running out of water? California's population is growing by 600,000 people a year, but much of the state receives as much annual rainfall as Morocco. The pressures on California's water resources are only increasing. (Courtesy of KQED) ... Quest Video

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Valley Land Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization. EIN:61-1496419. Donations are tax deductable to the fullest extent of the law.