<h2 class="ql-align-center">With Scott Murray</h2><p><strong>In This Podcast:    </strong>In this episode, returning guest and 50-year organic agriculture veteran&nbsp;<strong>Scott Murray</strong>&nbsp;shares the remarkable story of how coffee is commercially being successfully grown in Southern California. Scott explains how a single houseplant sparked a multi-variety coffee trial, eventually producing a Geisha harvest that sold out in one day at&nbsp;<strong>$796 per pound</strong>. He walks us through polyculture design, coffee’s surprising climate tolerance, and how California could become a boutique coffee region.</p><p><strong>Our Guest:  Scott Murray</strong>&nbsp;has over 50 years of experience in organic agriculture across the U.S. and Mexico and has served as a California conservation official for 33 years. He specializes in farm creation, farmland preservation, and regenerative polyculture systems. Scott now leads pioneering research and consulting on California-grown coffee, managing multi-variety trials and agroforestry-based plantations.</p><h3><strong>1. Who is Scott Murray?</strong></h3><p>Scott Murray is a farmer, consultant, and conservation leader with 50 years of organic agriculture experience in the U.S. and Mexico. He has been a California conservation official for 33 years and specializes in farmland preservation, smart-growth planning, and farm creation. He has recently become a pioneer in growing coffee in Southern California.</p><h3><strong>2. Are people really growing coffee in California?</strong></h3><p>Yes! Scott and his collaborators have successfully grown multiple varieties of coffee in Southern California. Their first commercial harvest in 2018 sold out in one day at&nbsp;<strong>$796 per pound</strong>.</p><h3><strong>3. How did coffee production begin on Scott’s farm?</strong></h3><p>It started as a houseplant experiment when Scott’s son Sam bought a coffee plant from a nursery. When it produced cherries, it sparked curiosity. Later, Scott interplanted coffee into a rejuvenated avocado orchard, creating a thriving polyculture system.</p><h3><strong>4. Why grow coffee under avocado trees?</strong></h3><p>Coffee thrives with protection, partial shade, and companion plants. Avocado trees provide a microclimate that buffers wind, sun, and temperature swings. This intercropping also enhances biodiversity and farm resilience.</p><h3><strong>5. What is the difference between monoculture and polyculture?</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Monoculture:</strong>&nbsp;Growing only one crop (e.g., avocados alone).</li><li><strong>Polyculture:</strong>&nbsp;Multiple crops grown together (e.g., avocados + coffee + bananas).</li><li>Polycultures support pollinators, beneficial insects, soil health, and long-term productivity.</li></ul><br/><h3><strong>6. How do they protect young coffee trees?</strong></h3><p>Scott developed a “coffee protection structure” using:</p><ul><li>A gopher basket</li><li>A chicken-wire cage</li><li>Agricultural shade fabric</li></ul><br/><p>This boosts early survival and results in fast, healthy establishment.</p><h3><strong>7. How many varieties of coffee are they testing?</strong></h3><p>Scott is currently trialing&nbsp;<strong>48+ varieties</strong>, including rare and exotic types such as Geisha and Whoosh Whoosh.</p><h3><strong>8. What’s special about Geisha coffee?</strong></h3><p>Geisha is one of the highest-value coffees in the world, known for its floral, tea-like flavor profile. Scott’s California-grown Geisha fetched $796/lb—demonstrating the potential for a specialty coffee industry in California.</p><h3><strong>9. How does California’s climate affect coffee quality?</strong></h3><p>Because California coffee cherries often stay on the plant for&nbsp;<strong>up to 12 months</strong>, the beans can accumulate more complex flavor compounds, potentially elevating specialty coffee quality.</p><h3><strong>10. Why is biodiversity important in coffee farms?</strong></h3><p>More plant diversity means:</p><ul><li>Better pollination</li><li>More predator insects to control pests</li><li>Improved soil health</li><li>Greater climate resilience</li><li>Enhanced flavor complexity in coffee</li></ul><br/><h3><strong>11. What role do avocados play in the system?</strong></h3><p>Pruned avocado trees create space and light for coffee. Multiple avocado varieties also lengthen the harvest season and improve pollination, boosting overall grove productivity.</p><h3><strong>12. Where can people learn more or see these systems?</strong></h3><p>Scott has created short videos with NCAT/ATTRA showcasing the coffee-avocado polyculture. They are available at: <a href="https://www.edgeofurbanfarm.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>EdgeOfUrbanFarm.com</strong></a></p><p><strong>Key search - </strong>California coffee, Scott Murray, organic farming, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, polyculture, avocado grove, Geisha coffee, climate-resilient crops, specialty coffee, coffee varieties, on-farm experiments, Southern California farming</p><p>Visit <a href="https://UrbanFarm.org/919" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UrbanFarm.org/919</a> for the show notes and links on this episode! </p><blockquote class="ql-align-center"><strong><em>Need a little bit of advice or just a feedback on your design for your yard or garden?</em></strong></blockquote><blockquote class="ql-align-center">The Urban Farm Team is offering consults over the phone or zoom. Get the benefits of a personalized garden and yard space analysis without the cost of trip charges.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote class="ql-align-center">You can chat with Greg, Janis or Ray to get permaculture based feedback.</blockquote><blockquote class="ql-align-center"><strong>Click&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://theurbanfarm.as.me/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>HERE</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;to learn more!</strong></blockquote><p class="ql-align-center"></p><p class="ql-align-center">Become an Urban Farm Patron and listen to more than 900 episodes of the Urban Farm Podcast without ads. Click <a href="https://www.urbanfarm.org/patron" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a> to learn more.</p><p><strong class="ql-size-small">*Disclosure: </strong><span class="ql-size-small">Some of the links in our podcast show notes and blog posts are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, we will earn a nominal commission at&nbsp;</span><strong class="ql-size-small">no cost to you</strong><span class="ql-size-small">. We offer links to items recommended by our podcast guests and guest writers as a service to our audience and these items are not selected because of the commission we receive from your purchases. We know the decision is yours, and whether you decide to buy something is completely up to you.</span></p>

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