farmers/farming information

The Crop Hop: Celebrating Family Farmers & Supporting Farm Advocacy

The Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA’s mission is to cultivate markets, policies, and communities that sustain thriving, socially just, and environmentally sound family farms. RAFI works nationally and internationally, focusing on North Carolina and the southeastern United States. RAFI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pittsboro, North Carolina and incorporated in 1990.

Learned about this excellent organization on my last visit to Carrboro North Carolina while I was there working with my colleague Sarah Blacklin, (she late of the Carrboro Farmers Market and now working on statewide analysis of meat production); RAFI’s excellent deep work with farmers is one of the reasons that North Carolina are seeing entrepreneurial farming in larger numbers, and I am sure that they are more than willing to share that credit with a host of other NGOs and universities as well.

This fundraiser idea is a great one and no matter where you are in the US, you might want to look into it and support their work more closely.

The Crop Hop: Celebrating Family Farmers & Supporting Farm Advocacy.

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Southern SAWG still searching for new executive director

The Southern SAWG Board of Directors has initiated a search for excellent candidates for this key position. The Executive Director will be responsible for leading the organization in its work of empowering and inspiring farmers, individuals, and communities throughout the South to create a sustainable agriculture and food system. Southern residence is required for the successful candidate.
The deadline for applications is July 31, 2013.

For a full job description, please visit their website. The position start date is no later than April 1, 2014.

Southern SAWG – Home.

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Cuba Jan 2014

Fact finding mission is in order. Anyone?

Cuba Jan 2014.

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The MOON magazine | The Future of Food

This month we gather around the topic of food—a subject everyone loves. Food is the great convenor, the global common denominator, the alchemical substance that pulls parties into the kitchen, makes friends out of strangers, puts flesh on our bones and smiles on our faces.

But all is not well in food land, despite the colorful array of products on U.S. grocery store shelves. One third of Americans are overweight; diet-related diseases are skyrocketing; our food is being designed to addict, rather than nourish; bees are dying; biodiversity is being lost; and modern agriculture is based on massive inputs of petroleum—a finite resource.

The MOON magazine | The Future of Food.

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Risk Management Training for Beginning Farmers in Kentucky

A 2 1/2 day workshop focused on business planning, identifying markets, and specialty crop production. Activities will include classroom instruction, a farm tour, and hands-on high tunnel construction experience.

Friday, July 12, 2013
through
Sunday, July 14, 2013

Registration is $65 and includes all meals for the workshop, workshop activities, educational resources, and local transportation.

Free lodging may be available at the nearby Christian Appalachian Project Service

National Center for Appropriate Technology Training and Events Registration | NCAT | The National Center for Appropriate Technology.

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Food & Farm Bill of Rights

This came up on a listserve today. Thankfully by opening that email I was reminded of this page’s existence and reassured by the possibility of a stray elected official doing something right for all Americans.

Food & Farm Bill of Rights | Congressman Earl Blumenauer.

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The Dallas Farmers Market is no longer controlled by the city. What happens now?

The Dallas Farmers Market is an interesting version of a public market. Almost a decade ago, I was invited to Dallas for a set of public meetings (along with DC/Fresh Farm founder Ann Yonkers) to help the chefs, farmers and food entrepreneurs get to the next step in reorganizing this market.It seemed then that a lot of competing ideas were on the table and that to get it moving, they would need both deep design options and mission development. This news may signal that they have taken the necessary next step.

The Dallas Farmers Market is no longer controlled by the city. What happens now? (And what becomes of Pecan Lodge?) | City Hall Blog.

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Creamery settles dispute with feds

“Randy and Karen Sowers will forfeit $29,500 to the government. U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein accused the couple in mid-April of violating federal currency reporting requirements — known as structuring — by depositing money in increments of less than $10,000 so they would not have to fill out forms required under the Bank Secrecy Act. The statutes are meant to curtail money laundering.
The Sowerses have owned a farm off Bolivar Road in Middletown for more than three decades and have operated it as the South Mountain Creamery since 2001. They have maintained their innocence and said they learned what structuring was only when Treasury Department officials showed up at the farm in late February to question them about the deposits.
The couple deal with a lot of cash at farmers markets, they said, and the deposits totaled similar amounts every time.”

Creamery settles dispute with feds – The Frederick News-Post : Archive.

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The Farm Bill Deserved to Fail

“By rejecting reforms and doubling down on mean-spirited cuts in nutrition and the SNAP program, a critical mass of people across the political spectrum couldn’t stomach this bill. The result was a strong ‘no’ vote, leadership looking embarrassed, and the House in disarray.”

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Representative from Oregon

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Southern SAWG Searches for new Executive Director

Jim Lukens will be retiring soon as the Southern SAWG Executive Director,
and the Board of Directors is initiating a search for candidates for that position.

Position Announcement
Executive Director
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
http://www.ssawg.org

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (Southern SAWG) is seeking to hire a new Executive Director. The Executive Director will be responsible for leading the organization in its work of empowering and inspiring farmers, individuals, and communities throughout the South to create a sustainable agriculture and food system. Whereas relocation to Arkansas is not necessary for the successful candidate, southern residence is required.

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (Southern SAWG) has been one of the lead organizations working for the past 22 years to foster a more sustainable food and agriculture system throughout the Southern region – one that yields dignity and economic viability for farmers and farm workers, and provides safe and secure food for all, produced in harmony with nature. We are engaged in extensive outreach and education over a broad and diverse region, both geographically and demographically. Southern SAWG links more than 150 organizations and many individuals throughout the 13 Southern states of AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, & VA.

Ideal candidates for this position will:

Provide visionary leadership to a 22-year old dynamic and growing organization in the sustainable agriculture movement.
Be capable of effective resource development for and sound fiscal management of diverse income streams
Be an experienced and effective leader within a virtual and dynamic work environment that includes some travel.
Have exceptionally strong relationship-building skills.
Enjoy the complexity and rewards of leading a multi-faceted, regional organization covering a wide diversity of demographics and agro-ecosystems.
Be an effective manager of a dedicated team that is comprised of diverse professional staff and contractors.
Be able to effectively engage and work with the board of directors.
Understand the relationship of local and regional efforts to effect systemic change in the farming and food system, particularly where resources are scarce.
Be an excellent communicator dedicated to transparency and accountability for and within the organization.
Be computer literate, with proficiency using Microsoft Office, Internet and email.
Currently, Southern SAWG has an administrative office in Fayetteville, Arkansas. However, a majority of the staff and contractors operate out of their home offices.

For a full job description, see PDF. SSAWG is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every current and prospective employee. Substantial efforts are made to seek out potential candidates among women, minority groups, and individuals with disabilities.

To apply: Send a resume, a substantive cover letter highlighting why you would be good for this position and this position would be good for you, three writing samples that demonstrate the ability to write for differing audiences and handle the content with differing levels of technical detail, and contact information for three professional references to Southern SAWG Board President Stephan Walker at stepwalkfarm@live.com. Contact (870) 575-7237 for questions.

Application deadline is July 31, 2013.
Position start date is no later than April 1, 2014.

Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, Inc. (Southern SAWG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1991 to promote sustainable agriculture in the Southern United States.

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Organic growers lose decision in suit versus Monsanto over seeds | Reuters

“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a previous ruling that found organic growers had no reason to try to block Monsanto from suing them as the company had pledged it would not take them to court if biotech crops accidentally mix in with organics.”

sure a “pledge” should be fine; why worry?

Organic growers lose decision in suit versus Monsanto over seeds | Reuters.

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Link to data collection slideshow

Gave this presentation recently to the University of Virginia Morven Institute’s “Farmers Markets and Applied Food Systems Research” course. Slideshow

Here is more on this exciting summer course that I am thrilled to be associated:

Morven Institute

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