Over its 20-year history, SAGE has advocated for our region’s food system, farms and future. We have promoted regenerative agriculture at all scales, supported the viability of diverse farming and food businesses, incorporated food systems planning into local and regional planning frameworks, and connected urban communities with the people and places that grow their food. Collaborations with numerous partners and support from multiple funders provide the foundation for our accomplishments. The work summarized in this portfolio is testament to the positive impact of these relationships.
Featured Project
The Bay Area Food Futures Roadmap presents a vision and actions to advance a sustainable, equitable, healthy local food system as an integral foundation of the Bay Area’s regional resilience and shared prosperity.
Bay Area Agricultural Plan Framework
The Bay Area Agricultural Plan Framework is a planning framework for multijurisdictional coordination and investment to make the Bay Area’s agricultural sector a foundation of regional resilience. It was developed through the engagement of a 7-member Advisory Council and 60-member Work…
Land Access and Land Tenure for Limited Resource Farmers: Assessment of Conditions and Opportunities in Sonoma County (2022-23)
Client/ funder: Sonoma County Ag + Open Space District Partners: University of California Cooperative Extension Date: 2022-23 Download the Study The Land Access and Land Tenure for Limited Resource Farmers: Assessment of Conditions and Opportunities in Sonoma County was produced for…
Coachella Valley Land Access & Farm Business Viability for Limited Resource Farmers Study (2021)
Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE) and California FarmLink and produced the study, Land Access & Business Viability for Limited-Resource Farmers: Assessment of Conditions in the Coachella Valley. The study developed and demonstrates a much-needed, replicable framework for assessing various agricultural areas in…
100+ Jobs Project, Workforce Development in Sustainable Agriculture Sector (2020 – present)
The 100+ Jobs project aims to advance good, green jobs in the agriculture & food, natural & working lands, and natural resource management sectors. From fall 2020 to June 2022, the project was developed and managed as a collaboration between the…
Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Planning projects (2021-23)
SAGE participates as a subconsultant on multidisciplinary consultant teams developing Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation program (SALC) plans for California counties. These efforts share the goal of investing in agriculture as a long-term strategy to enhance community resilience and minimize the impacts…
SAGE 20th Anniversary Brochure
overview and add link
Feasibility Study for a Food Manufacturing and Wholesale Center in San Jose (2020)
The Feasibility Study for a Food Manufacturing and Wholesale Center presents an analysis of the rationale and opportunity for developing a Food Manufacturing and Wholesale Center in San José, and at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in particular. The core concept…
Bay Area Food Futures Roadmap (2019)
The Bay Area Food Futures Roadmap presents a vision and actions to advance a sustainable, equitable, healthy local food system as an integral foundation of the Bay Area’s regional resilience and shared prosperity. The Roadmap has a three-fold purpose: 1) Make…
Bay Area Food Economy white paper (2018)
The purpose of the Bay Area Food Economy white paper is to highlight economic and other contributions of our regional food economy, propose strategies and investments needed to protect and strengthen its contributions, and encourage increased investment in the agricultural resources…
Risk and Resilience: Building Disaster Preparedness in the Bay Area Food System (2018)
This paper, prepared by UC Berkeley Goldman School masters student Beth Leuin for SAGE, assesses disaster risk across Bay Area food system businesses and makes recommendations to strengthen resilience in the regional food system.
Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan (2017)
Funded through the California Climate Investments Program, the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan is a collaboration between the County of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and multiple stakeholders. The consultant team was led by Cultivate-CA. The…
Collaborative Farming: A Toolkit for Farming in Community (2017)
SAGE announces the publication of Collaborative Farming: a Toolkit for Farming in Community. The Toolkit is designed to help new, beginning, and small-scale farmers make business decisions that best support their financial, social, and operational goals. It explains business basics that…
San Jose Food Works (2016)
Food Works is an assessment and call to action. It provides a compelling vision and actionable recommendations for a food system that serves all San Jose communities, now and into the future. The report identifies specific needs and opportunities for food…
Vision for a San Mateo County Food and Farm Bill (2015-16)
In San Mateo County, SAGE led research and stakeholder engagement to develop a vision to support a strong and resilient food and farm system. This project, recently concluded, was contracted by the County of San Mateo Health System and was produced…
Agricultural Workforce Housing Needs Assessment for San Mateo County (2015-16)
The Agricultural Workforce Housing Needs Assessment for San Mateo County is soliciting extensive input from farm employers, farm workers and agricultural experts. The result will be a report describing existing conditions, needs and challenges and outlining recommendations, which will be presented…
Alameda Point Main Street Specific Plan, Agriculture Consultant (2015-16)
Lead consultants: Urban Planning Partners; Cultivate Studio; Community Design + Architecture; BAE Urban Economics; McKinney; Page & Turnbull Client: City of Alameda The 100-acre site is part of the conversion of a former Naval Air Station. The program includes new housing…
Growing Roots: Deepening Support for Diverse New Farmers and Ranchers in California (2015-2018)
Funder: United States Department of Food and Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (Sub-award of UC Berkeley) Partners: UC Berkeley, The National Center for Appropriate Technology, (NCAT), Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE), the Alameda County Resource Conservation…
Public & Farmers Market Consultation Projects (2001- 2010)
Clients and Partners, include: Project for Public Spaces, Detroit’s Eastern Market, Creative Housing Associates, BAE Urban Economics Date of projects: 2006-09 SAGE’s staff has considerable expertise in the arena of public markets and farmers’ markets, based on many years of experience…
Sunol Water Temple Agricultural Park
Primary Partners: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Alameda Resource Conservation District (ACRCD) Funders: SFPUC, Columbia Foundation, USDA Risk Management Agency, San Francisco Foundation, Clorox Foundation, Banberry Fund, Robertson FamilyFund Dates of project: 2006 – 2016 The Sunol Water Temple AgPark…
Revitalizing Specialty Crop Agriculture in the Coyote Valley (2013-2016)
Funder: California Department of Food and Agriculture, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Partners: Santa Clara County Open Space Authority; Silicon Valley Land Conservancy; Santa Clara County Farm Bureau; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS); Guadalupe-Coyote Resource Conservation District (RCD); Loma Prieta RCD; Santa…
Sunol Water Temple AgPark Case Study (2014)
Download: Sunol Water Temple Agricultural Park Case Study (2 MB) Download: Sunol AgPark Case Study Appendix Supplement PDF (24 MB) The Sunol Water Temple Agricultural Park provides a model for collaborative beginning farming integrated with public education and natural resources stewardship. The Sunol AgPark Case…
Bay Area Farm Trail Feasibility Study (2014)
Funder: Mary A. Crocker Trust Partner: GreenInfo Network Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE) conducted a Feasibility Study for a Bay Area Farm Trail. The purpose of the Bay Area Farm Trail would be to promote as an integrated resource the existing farm,…
Cultivating a New Generation of Farmers at the Urban Edge (2011-2014)
Funder: United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Partners: Alameda County Resource Conservation District (ACRCD) Date/time period of project: 2011-2014 In collaboration with the Alameda County Resource Conservation District, SAGE managed…
A Call for New Ruralism (2013)
This paper proposes the concept of “New Ruralism”—the preservation and enhancement of urban edge, rural agricultural areas as places that are indispensable to the economic, environmental, social, and cultural vitality of cities and metropolitan regions—as a framework for creating a bridge…
Mid Peninsula Regional Open Space District Vision Plan (2013)
Client: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Date of Project: 2013 The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District preserves a regional greenbelt of open space land, protects the natural environment, and provides opportunities for public recreation and environmental education for the San Francisco…
Santa Clara County Open Space Authority Conservation Vision (2012-2013)
Partner: Santa Clara County Open Space Authority Date of project: 2012-2013 The Greenprint, developed by the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority, is a long-term Conservation Vision for Santa Clara County that identifies critical areas for land conservation and comprehensive…
Economic Feasibility Study of San Mateo County Agriculture (2013-14)
Client: Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) Date of Project: 2013-14 SAGE produced the Economic Feasibility Study of San Mateo County Agriculture in partnership with BAE Urban Economics and SAGE consultant, Brett Melone. The purpose of the research project was to help…
The Social Dimensions of Sustainability and Change in Diversified Farming Systems (2012)
Synthesis article in Ecology & Society, part of a Special Feature on A Social-Ecological Analysis of Diversified Farming Systems: Benefits, Costs, Obstacles, and Enabling Policy Frameworks
Sustaining Agriculture and Conservation in Coyote Valley (2012)
SAGE initiated the Conserving Coyote Valley Agriculture Feasibility Study to assess the potential for creating a sustainable agriculture resource area within the 7,400-acre Coyote Valley. The final report concluded that it is feasible to sustain agriculture and conservation in the Coyote…
Chino Hills Open Space Management Plan (2012)
The Chino Hills Open Space Management Plan was a multi‐faceted effort to preserve, enhance and manage the City of Chino Hills’ 3,000 acres of community open space. Funded by a Sustainable Communities Grant from the State of California Strategic Growth Council,…
Bay Area Food Landscapes (2011)
SAGE produced a supplement for Bay Nature magazine featuring a large-format map and articles highlighting Bay Area food landscapes from urban farms to open range.
Sustaining our Agricultural Bounty: An Assessment of the Current State of Farming and Ranching in the San Francisco Bay Area (2011)
SAGE and partners produced the report Sustaining Our Agricultural Bounty: An Assessment of the Current State of Farming and Ranching in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of a larger Bay Area Agricultural Sustainability Project.
Farming in the Watershed (2011)
SAGE developed a curriculum called “Farming in the Watershed” that engages children with the farmers and landscape of the unique, 18-acre Sunol AgPark through a variety of hands-on activities. The curriculum has 18 lessons in 3 units which were all tied…
California Agriculture Almanac (2011)
Calagalmanac.org Funder: California Department of Food and Agriculture, Specialty Crop Block Grant Partners: GreenInfo Network, The Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, Community of Alliance for Family Farmers, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, KnowACaliforniaFarmer.com, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Om Organics, UC Small…
Oeste Farms Agricultural Conservancy Feasibility Study (2010)
Client: Oeste Ranch Partners, LLC Date of project: 2010 Oeste Ranch is a 600-acre parcel of land located in Yolo County, at the edge of the city of Davis. Formerly part of the historic, multi-generation farm holdings of the Oeste family,…
Green Valley Agricultural Conservancy (2008-2009)
Client: Solano County Planning Department Partners: Hart Howerton (lead), Economic Planning Systems Date of project: SAGE provided consultation services on the agricultural component of the Specific Plan for Middle Green Valley, a 2,000-acre plan area in Solano County, that balances limited…
San Francisco Foodshed Assessment (2008)
SAGE, in collaboration with the American Farmland Trust (AFT), produced a feasibility study about the potential of the City of San Francisco to get more of its food from local sources as a means to increase urban public health, regional agriculture…
Agricultural Conservancy for Angwin Ecovillage (2005-2008)
SAGE assisted in the development of a business plan for a 70-acre working farm as an integral part of the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of a proposed Ecovillage infill/expansion project in a small college town in Napa County.
Fresno’s South East Growth Area Plan (2008)
SAGE consulted with Calthorpe Associates on the development of community farming and local food systems as significant, integral elements in the sustainability of a proposed 13,000-acre City expansion. SAGE’s report included case studies and a typology for a range of urban…
Sacramento Local Market and Multifunctional Agriculture Assessment (2008)
SAGE contributed to the production of an assessment on the potential of Sacramento region agriculture to increase its own viability and the sustainability of the region.
Sustainable Agriculture in California Parks (2007)
SAGE conducted a study to assess the feasibility for expanding sustainable agriculture operations in the California State Parks. Of the seven State Parks investigated in detail, several showed considerable promise as potential AgPark sites. If implemented, this program could bring numerous…
Proceedings From: New Ruralism and Other Urban-Rural Sustainability Strategies (2007)
The “New Ruralism & Other Urban-Rural Sustainability Strategies” symposium was held at UC Berkeley on April 5 – 6, 2007. The Symposium brought together over 200 leading policy makers, scholars, farmers, planners, and activists involved in bridging sustainable agriculture and smart…
Martial Cottle Park Master Plan (2007)
SAGE provided agriculture and food systems consultation for a master plan for a 290-acre AgPark located in a San Jose residential area.
History of the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market, by Sibella Kraus – Prologue for the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market Cookbook (2006)
History of the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market, by Sibella Kraus – Prologue for the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market Cookbook, 2006
Festival Ranch Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems Assessment (2006)
SAGE prepared a Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems Assessment for Festival Ranch, a master-planned community near Phoenix, Arizona. The development considered ‘food’ as a major element that impacts sense of place, natural resource stewardship, education, environmental footprint, and public health and…
Grant Road Farm Concept Plan (2006)
SAGE assisted in the development of a conceptual plan to preserve a 5-acre farm, as a remnant of the last remaining farm in Mountain View, within a new residential development.
Urban Edge Agricultural Parks Toolkit (2005)
The Urban Edge Agricultural Parks Toolkit is a comprehensive guide for public and private landowners who want to revitalize or establish agriculture as a valued urban-edge amenity.
Urban Edge Agricultural Parks Feasibility Study (2005)
The Urban Edge Agricultural Parks Toolkit is a comprehensive guide for public and private landowners who want to revitalize or establish agriculture as a valued urban-edge amenity.
Farmers Market Resource Kit: A Step Toward Making San Francisco a Market City (2005)
A guide to farmers’ market history, policies, governance, operations, and educational programs, produced to help city agencies, policymakers, and neighborhood groups better understand the role of markets in San Francisco.
Coyote Valley Greenbelt Report (2005)
Coyote Valley Greenbelt Report- Greenbelt Research for Coyote Valley Specific Plan Client: City of San Jose, Planning Department Date of Project: June 2005 SAGE developed the Coyote Valley Greenbelt Report for the City of San Jose, as part of the Coyote…
Agricultural Roots Fair (2004)
SAGE developed the AgriCultural Roots Fair, featuring educational booths, ethnic food and dancing, and special programs for the Oakland and East Bay community.
Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Foods (2002)
Kids Cook Farm Fresh Foods is a sustainable agriculture curriculum for students in grades 2 – 7. The book includes recipes, activities and farm profiles.
