Tools & Resources

If you’re planning new construction, improvements, or need to permit a structure due to a Compliance Plan on a rural property, wildfire resilience may become part of the building permit process—not just something you choose to do afterward. In Mendocino County, Planning and Building Services may require CAL FIRE preliminary approval as part of the building permit process when applicable. The ⁠Mendocino County Building Permit Application Checklist specifically identifies a CAL

Photo Credit: Marvin Meyer, Unsplash In rural communities, services may exist—but accessing them can be another challenge entirely. For people impacted by the War on Drugs and criminal justice system involvement, rebuilding stability can require navigating housing, employment, transportation, healthcare, benefits, identification, legal issues, and other systems at the same time. In a rural county like Mendocino, those challenges are compounded by geography, limited transporta

Photo of plant, pot, and aloe by Huy Phan - Unsplash The end of the growing season doesn’t mean your work is done—it’s the beginning of next year’s success. Off-season protocols are essential for managing pests and diseases like Fusarium , restoring soil health, and setting the stage for a productive spring. The secret? Keeping your soil alive all year long. When soil is biologically active, natural competition and predation maintain balance within the microbial community. Nu

Zdeněk Macháček for Unsplash Water is life in California — for our farms, families, and ecosystems. But knowing whether you have the right to use water on your land can feel complicated. California’s water law has deep roots, and there are different rules depending on where your water comes from and how you use it. At the Rural Resilience Project, we want to make this topic easier for our community. Here are the basics every small water user should know. Groundwater vs. Surf

Photo: Meg Stha - Unsplash As the rainy season approaches, Mendocino cultivators face a crucial task: preparing their sites for winter....