We Are Committed To Protecting The Community
Foxworthy Farms is committed to protecting the community and watershed where we live and work. Our Community Benefit Plan promotes safety, sustainability, and the Sonoma County economy. We are certain that the neighborhood and watershed are safer because of our plan. We look forward to working with the County, our neighbors, and other stakeholders to fully implement this plan when our application for a Conditional use Permit is approved.
Our Community Benefit Plan is designed to:
We worked with professionals from Cal Fire and Wildfire DefenseWorks to create a fire risk analysis that includes vegetation management, fuel reduction, defensible spaces, ingress and egress improvements, and the construction of a 830,220-gallon irrigation and emergency fire suppression pond. Our pond will provide 120,000 gallons of water dedicated for emergency use – enough to fill 240 Type 3 fire engines.
The property currently contains a mixture of native, non-invasive and ornamental vegetation. We are already removing invasive species of plants across the site, and specifically focused on areas around structures where they could contribute to wildfire combustibility and spread. We have also started an ongoing vegetation clearing and thinning to help reduce the wildfire risk around the developed portion of the land.
Foxworthy Farms voluntarily incorporated the 2018 Upper Mark West Watershed Community Wildfire Protection Plan, developed by our neighbors, into our operational plan. CAL FIRE Battalion Chief in Santa Rosa highly supports the elements of a plan like ours, including vegetation management, road improvements, and emergency water supplies.
Water is one of the community’s most precious resources. We worked with the engineers and geologists at Brunsing & Associates to create a water management plan, including a 2.55 acre-feet irrigation pond. The pond would receive some surface water runoff during a normal year and would anticipate approximately 441,475 gallons of surface water runoff during a normal year and approximately 379,327 gallons in a drought year to replenish the pond. This would leave approximately 479,708 gallons in a normal year or 513,853 in a drought year respectively to be pumped from ground water during the winter months. Our plan calls for “net zero” water use. That means we limit our consumption of water resources using responsible irrigation and conservation measures and return the water back to the same watershed so as not to deplete the resources of that region in quantity or quality over the course of the year.
Our beautiful 82-acre property is ideally situated for optimal cultivation conditions. It is also at an elevation of approximately 2,000 feet and accessed most directly by one mile of winding and mostly unpaved road. Emergency vehicles can access the property now, but we want to be sure the road is as accessible as possible for the safety of our two owner occupants, staff, and neighbors. We propose improvements to Puff Lane and Mattei Road that include 10-feet of vegetation clearance, filling holes, and adding pavement where necessary. We joined our neighbors earlier this year to get that work started on our primary ingress and egress, Puff Lane.
We have identified an alternative egress route that could be improved to allow a secondary emergency egress for residents along Puff Lane, as well as a secondary access for emergency responders in the event the upper half of Puff Lane becomes inaccessible. An older access road currently exists that travels through the northwest portion of the applicant’s property, and eventually reconnects to Mattei Road. This “road” has not been maintained over the years, and is currently in poor condition. We propose an agreement with the neighboring property owners to make improvements to this existing roadway that would provide an emergency access/egress route from both Mattei Road as well as from the end of Puff Lane.
Foxworthy is absolutely dedicated to operating in a safe and legal manner, including compliance with local and state safety regulations. We use state-of-the-industry video assessment and surveillance equipment, solar powered motion-activated security lighting, and strict access control procedures. Neighbors can be confident about safety. We scored 100% on our initial inspection by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Light and odor pollution is an issue at some licensed cannabis farms in Sonoma County. We cultivate less than one acre of cannabis in a valley at the center of our 82-acre property. No cultivation is visible from any adjacent property. If approved for the proposed mixed-light cultivation in greenhouses, we will use existing structures designed to eliminate light pollution. Given the geography and location of the parcel, light pollution or odors are simply not an issue.
Our total commercial footprint, including outdoor cultivation and the two proposed greenhouses, is less than two acres. That measurement includes a driveway, walkways, storage shed, and other support uses that are not actual cultivation. Two of the owners of Foxworthy Farms live in existing homes on the property. It is our intention to keep the remainder of this property undeveloped and in its natural state. This includes the original headwaters of the Mark West Creek, a natural spring, acres of virgin forest, and wildlife.
The environment was the first factor we took into consideration when choosing a home to cultivate our patients’ crop of medicine. We looked at many sites in different Counties. We thoroughly researched the land use ordinance and zoning laws and cross referenced all local and State guidelines regarding the environment. Our first step was to investigate the potential of endangered species onsite. We had a thorough discussion with former Agricultural Commissioner Tony Linegar and learned that we were miles away from the Red-Legged frogs and Tiger Salamanders habitats and obtained more material to research further. We contracted Jacobszoon and Associates to conduct a biological assessment which shows we are cultivating in a way that is safe to our surrounding habitat.
Our site has also undergone third party certification by Envirocann to ensure best management practices have been met. We have carefully picked a place for our pond that is far away from any waterways. All cultivation is located outside of the buffer zones regulated by the Waterboards and The Department of Fish and Wildlife. Watering is done at agronomic rates so there is no run off.
Foxworthy Farms contributes between $80,000 and $100,000 in cannabis taxes to the local economy each year, in addition to more than $44,000 in state cultivation tax that supports public health, environmental remediation, and law enforcement. Five of our seven employees live in Sonoma County and participate in the local economy, including the two owners who live on the premises.
We have long-term business relationships with many of our colleagues in the community’s agricultural economy. We source soil, nutrients, farm equipment, labor, fixtures, supplies, and more right here in Sonoma County. Some of the local businesses we routinely patronize include Growbiz Rohnert Park, Friedman’s Santa Rosa, Home Depot, Chevron, Aaction Rentals, The Rental Place, and Grab N Grow Soil. Foxworthy Farms is a proud member of the Mark West Area Chamber of Commerce.
Foxworthy Farms has a deep connection to the grassroots movement to protect and expand the rights of medical cannabis patients. This did not change after voters legalized adult-use of cannabis. Our customers are still using cannabis to treat HIV/AIDS, cancer, chronic pain, and other serious conditions. However, many choose to do so without obtaining the documents needed before Proposition 64 passed. The principals in our company have engaged the community and elected officials at all levels of government, implemented public education efforts, and provided financial support to advocacy efforts. We are proud to be sponsors of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the nation’s leading medical cannabis advocacy organization. Our Chief Operations Officer is a founding member of ASA’s Board of Directors.
Sonoma County made a big investment in developing the cannabis industry and our local brand. Foxworthy Farms has an important role to play in realizing the community’s goals for this emerging industry. We are working with some of the leading cannabis businesses in Sonoma County, including Marley Naturals, SPARC, Organicann, Nor Cal, Mercy, Sonoma Pack, and others. Foxworthy Farms has already established itself as a regional favorite that is noteworthy for quality and value. Our brightest days are yet to come. We look forward to contributing to the
Sonoma County cannabis mystique, growing sales, employing more of our neighbors, and contributing more to the local economy. Foxworthy Farms has the elements for a unique appellation. The altitude, temperature and humidity along with proprietary cultivars makes a unique bubble of supply of demand for our product. The future will bring a whole new world of connoisseurs traveling to regions to taste the best Sonoma County has to offer.