‘A milestone’: Mendocino cannabis cultivators awarded state grant funds for sustainable farming

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA, 7/19/2022 – Some Mendocino County cannabis cultivators who have committed to environmentally sustainable farming practices became the first to receive sizable grants from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) new Qualified Cultivator Grant Program in July. As licensed cultivators face financial challenges in the regulated cannabis market, this $6 million in possible funding, available until April of 2023, is designed to help small farmers who prioritize such sustainable farming practices as outdoor growing, water collection and retention, and cultivating diverse gardens. 

“[These cultivators] are going beyond the minimum of what you need to get your local permits and your state license,” explained Ukiah-based consultant Chantal Simonpietri, who collaborated with the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD) to secure a $1,388,181 grant for three local cannabis farmers. In her words, they’re “living the homestead lifestyle with the least impact possible, in a way that still supports what they need to do on the land.”