Who we are
The Sacramento Valley Soil Hub was established in 2024 with the intent to build collaboration and capacity for Sacramento Valley resource conservation districts. This Hub is one of seven in the emerging RCD Regional Ag & Climate Hub network throughout California, developed in partnership with the Carbon Cycle Institute (CCI) and the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) to build capacity for RCDs.
The Soil Hub aims to:
Assess and respond to regionally-specific opportunities and needs
Collectively shape agricultural conservation programs and policies to support farmers
We accomplish this by coordinating collaborative funding and programming, hosting technical assistance meetings, providing staff training opportunities, and informing policy with on-the-ground observations.
The Sacramento Valley Soil Hub is made of 9 RCDs including districts in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, Shasta, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo, and Yuba counties. We partner with academic extension, research, local government, and non-profits across the region to better serve our farming and ranching communities. These strategic partnerships with county and statewide organizations allow the Hub to support collective work towards conservation on natural and working lands.
Current projects
Initial funding for the Soil Hub allows the Hub Coordinator to lead and supports funding applications on behalf of RCDs and partners that elevate RCD work in the region. The Soil Hub primarily seeks funding for conservation agriculture implementation, flexible technical assistance, needs and food systems assessments, and farmer outreach and education. Funding applications are often stronger with demonstrated partnership, and the Soil Hub provides a basis for interactions that can lead to successful collaborative funding proposals.
Bringing Funding to the Sacramento Valley
The Hub is engaged with the CFDN’s Sacramento Valley team—led by UC ANR—to support soil health research while training field staff in soil health assessments and analysis interpretation. This project also supports organizational capacity building at Sutter County RCD.
California Farm Demonstration Network
The Soil Hub is partnered with the Center for Land-Based Learning to support the expansion of SLEWS field days into the North Valley by applying for funding and helping coordinate high school field days focused on stewardship of agricultural lands. These days provide career mentorship and hands-on experience in conservation agriculture.
Supporting SLEWS
The Soil Hub was awarded funds from Western SARE in 2025 to provide educational opportunities and fund job shadowing for RCD technical assistance staff. The webinars associated with this project are open to any California technical assistance staff—see the TAP resources page for webinar recordings!
TAP Education
The Hub supports Colusa County RCD in planning for a county-wide food hub. This project will provide a food systems assessment, feasibility assessment, and business plan for the future Colusa Food Hub. The Soil Hub will work closely with the RCD to engage community members and identify distinct needs and opportunities for the Food Hub.
Food Hub Planning
Margot Flynn, Soil Hub Coordinator
Margot is an agricultural ecologist who has been working in community outreach, on farm research, and climate beneficial agriculture programs for the last 5 years. Margot holds a B.A. in Environmental Science from Colorado College and a M.Sc. in Ecology from UC Davis where she worked in almond orchards to measure the impacts of regenerative management on water use. Margot’s passion for sustainable food systems has drawn her to the Sacramento Valley where she is enthusiastic about merging her experiences in community engagement with her technical skills to support climate smart agriculture and work towards a healthy, harmonious, and resilient region. When she’s not at work, she enjoys baking, making ceramics, and exploring California’s diverse landscapes.
Email: margot@svsoilhub.org
Phone: (530) 501-8351