BUTTE COLLEGE FARM & WILDLIFE REFUGE

Our 926-acre campus provides a wonderful outside laboratory for our Ag and Natural Resource classes, as well as other programs the college offers. We definitely teach the hands-on approach.

Farm

Our 85-acre farm produces:

• Hay- oat, wheat, alfalfa and sudan grass hay.
• Cool season vegetables.
• Produce- variety of melons, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Also peaches and apples- have around 120 trees
• Seed- vetch, oat and bell bean.
• Vineyard- 6 acres- 3 varieties red wine grapes 

Out of the 85 acres, 17 acres are certified organic with the California Certified Organic Farmers. We produce hay, seed, vegetables and fruit. 

Wildlife Refuge

The entire campus is designated as a wildlife refuge. We are fortunate to have a great diversity of habitats:

• Over 2 miles of Clear Creek Riparian
• 320 acres of Blue Oak-Gray Pine Woodland
• 220 acres of grassland
• Over 50 acres wetlands- includes 10 ponds, a marsh and many vernal pools and drainages
• Our farm fields provide food and lodging for many critters also. 

These areas provide habitat for black-tailed deer, beaver, river otters, coyotes, foxes, ring-tailed cats, possum, raccoons, coyotes and an occasional mountain lion and rarely a bear.  Over 150 species of birds have been observed on campus.

Over 220 plant species have been identified on the refuge- 64% native and 36% introduced.

Some of the wildlife refuge projects conducted by our students include:

• Pond and marsh construction/ restoration
• Riparian restoration with goats                      
• Native plant restoration/ plant studies
• Road construction, fire breaks
• Nest box program for Wood-ducks and Bluebirds
• Biological monitoring – grazed/non-grazed areas