Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE, Feb. 24, 2005
Hello:
This is the 20th issue of "Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE," the Land Stewardship Project's e-mail newsletter. We send this out periodically to provide an update on activities and information related to LSP's work. We hope you enjoy this service, and are looking for feedback. Please send your comments to Brian DeVore at bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org.
If you prefer not to receive this newsletter, please e-mail lspwbl@landstewardshipproject.org and write, "remove LIVE-WIRE" in the subject line.
IN THIS ISSUE
1) Fresh Faces-Fresh Farming
2) Study: More Year-Round Plant Cover Could Produce Environmental, Economic Green
3) Star Tribune Criticizes Pawlenty Livestock Proposal
4) Stop Factory Farming’s Free Ride
5) See you in La Crosse This Week
6) Pride of the Prairie Spring Local Foods Meal March 3
7) Buy Fresh Buy Local Event March 8 in White Bear Lake
8) Community Food & Farm Festival April 30 & May 1
9) Jackson to Speak on Local Food
10) Check the Calendar
11) 2005 CSA Directory
12) Abundant Harvest Art Show on Display
13) Frances Moore Lappé Event a Big Success
14) Worth Repeating
15) Worth Repeating II
16) Picture Clean Water
17) Join LSP
1) FRESH FACES-FRESH FARMING
Who says people aren’t interested in getting started in farming? Check out LSP’s new “Farm Beginnings™ Profiles” section (http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/programs_farmbeginnings.html#profiles) and read about a few of the people that have graduated from the Farm Beginnings™ program over the years.
Their stories illustrate how these people are using creativity, hard work and a passion for farming to get established on the land.
2) STUDY: MORE YEAR-ROUND PLANT COVER COULD PRODUCE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC GREEN
Farming systems that rely on perennial plants such as grass while incorporating hay, small grains and other resource-conserving crops could significantly improve water quality, according to a new modeling study of two watersheds. But these improvements are not likely to occur without significant changes in federal farm policy, concluded the study, which was part of the Multiple Benefits of Agriculture
initiative being led by the Land Stewardship Project. For details, see http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/05/newsr_050208.htm. Speaking of the many public goods sustainable farming practices can produce, check out LSP’s recently revamped “Multiple Benefits of Agriculture & Pasture-Raised Livestock” Web page at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/programs_mba.html.
It’s chock full of research results, fact sheets and other material that tell the story of how farming can help the land and our communities.
3) STAR TRIBUNE CRITICIZES PAWLENTY LIVESTOCK PROPOSAL
On Feb. 12 the Star Tribune newspaper editorialized on Gov. Pawlenty's Livestock Task Force, calling his proposal to weaken local democracy a "...breathtaking affront to communities' right to decide their futures..." To view the entire editorial, see http://www.startribune.com/stories/561/5236415.html.
This is the latest in a long line of critiques that have been directed at the Governor’s attempts to gut local control. However, anti-local democracy initiatives are still moving through the Minnesota Legislature. For the latest action alerts related to legislative issues, visit http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/news-alerts.html. For more information
on LSP’s efforts to promote legislative initiatives that are positive for family farms and the environment, contact Bobby King at 507-523-3366 or bking@landstewardshipproject.org.
4) STOP FACTORY FARMING’S FREE RIDE
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments on its program to give factory farms immunity from air pollution regulations and lawsuits if they sign up to be part of an air quality study. The arrangement, known as the "Safe Harbor Agreement," would allow thousands of factory farms across the county to pay a few thousand dollars to participate in the study and
in return they would be granted a free pass to pollute the air without any repercussions—for at least the next six years. For details on now you can tell EPA that this is a bad idea, see http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/alerts/05/newsr_050203.htm.
5) SEE YOU IN LA CROSSE THIS WEEK
LSP staffers and members will be participating in the Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference on Feb. 24-26. For more information on the conference, visit http://www.mosesorganic.org. If you attend the conference, make sure to stop by LSP’s booth and say hi.
6) PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE SPRING LOCAL FOODS MEAL MARCH 3
The Spring Pride of the Prairie Local Foods Meal will be Thursday, March 3, at the University of Minnesota-Morris Food Services Building (East 2nd Street; free parking in all lots). This event will feature food from western Minnesota farms and the meal will be served from 4:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults; off-campus students and children are $6. Children 5 and under are free
and on-campus students can eat using their regular meal plan. That same day there will be a Local Food Expo and Farmers’ Market from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Minnesota-Morris Student Center (Oyate Hall). This should be a great opportunity to shop for local products and meet farmers and others who are passionate about local food systems. Pride of the Prairie is a local foods
initiative involving several western Minnesota partners and led by LSP. For more information on Pride of the Prairie, visit http://www.prideoftheprairie.org, or contact LSP’s western Minnesota office at 320-269-2105 or lspwest@landstewardshipproject.org.
7) BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL EVENT MARCH 8 IN WHITE BEAR LAKE
Want to know where you can buy local, organic and sustainably-produced fresh food in the Twin Cities area? Come to LSP’s White Bear Lake office on Tuesday, Oct. 8 for a special Buy Fresh Buy Local sneak preview of the 2005 season. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and refreshments will be served. Our White Bear Lake office is located downtown 2200 4th Street, upstairs from Sherburne Jewelers.
For more information, contact Louise Arbuckle at 651-653-0618 or lspwbl@landstewardshipproject.org. Come and find out where to get local meat and fresh produce, as well as learn about the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) concept. Herman Hendrickson from Whole Farm Coop will talk about the growers located in central Minnesota that are
dedicated to sustainable farming practices and who aim to provide wholesome food, a vibrant rural economy and a healthy environment. Chris James from Fresh Earth Farms will talk about his CSA operation and how it works for consumers and the farmer.
8) COMMUNITY FOOD & FARM FESTIVAL APRIL 30 & MAY 1
Another news item from the local foods front: The Community Food and Farm Festival will be happening again this year in conjunction with the Living Green Expo. The expo will be held April 30 & May 1 at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds, Grandstand Building. For more information, visit http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/foodfarm-main.html#links.
9) JACKSON TO SPEAK ON LOCAL FOOD
Speaking of local food, LSP Associate Director Dana Jackson will be talking about that very subject at several venues during the next several weeks:
- March 1, 7 p.m.: Jackson will speak at Unity Church, 732 Holly Ave, St. Paul, Minn. Contact: 651-228-1456.
- March 4, 6:30 p.m.: She will speak on “Eating as if Nature Mattered" at a local meal and discussion at the Northland Arboretum, 101 7th St., Baxter, Minn. The cost is $10 for adults and $4 for kids. Contact: 218-330-9612 or kblann@unm.edu.
- March 15, 7 p.m.: Jackson will be speaking and discussing with farmers, chefs and authors on "Why locally grown matters" at Micawber's Books & Trotter's Cafe and Bakery, 232 North Cleaveland Ave, St. Paul, Minn. Contact: 651-645-8950 or http://www.trottersstpaul.com.
- April 6, 12:15 p.m.: She will be a keynote speaker for the “Feeding Our Community: Local Food Production, Consumption & Community Building” conference at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. Contact: 1-800-782-9519 or http://www.uni.edu/contined/ces/localfood.
10) CHECK THE CALENDAR
There are many other great events on tap during the next few weeks--ranging from talks on globalization and book readings, to meetings, workshops and annual conferences. Louise Arbuckle has typed her fingers numb updating our Web calendar, so for the latest on meetings, field days and other activities, check out
http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/index-calendar.html.
11) 2005 CSA DIRECTORY
It’s hard to believe when the ground is still covered with the white stuff, but vegetables do lurk in our not-so-distant future. The 2005 Twin Cities Area CSA Directory will be available the first week in March. This is the ninth year of this popular publication and copies are distributed via mail and the Internet. It lists two dozen CSA operations that deliver fresh, sustainably-raised
vegetables to the Twin Cities on a weekly basis during the growing season. For a free copy, visit http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/foodfarm-main.html. For information on getting a free paper copy, call Louise Arbuckle at 651-653-0618 or e-mail her at lspwbl@landstewardshipproject.org.
12) ABUNDANT HARVEST ART SHOW ON DISPLAY
With all this talk about local food, it’s fitting that the current “show” featured at LSP’s Stewardship Art Gallery (http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/index-gallery.html) is “Abundant Harvest.” Thanks to all who contributed to this particular show. We are now accepting entries for our spring 2005 show. The theme is
“New Life on the Farm,” and the deadline is June 1. Please submit them to Louise Arbuckle at lspwbl@landstewardshipproject.org. If your entry is chosen to appear on our Web site, you will receive a free LSP membership for you or as a gift for someone else.
The entries should celebrate new life on the farm, whether it is plants, animals or humans. We will accept any kind of artwork: sculptures, paintings, illustrations, photos, etc. For photos, candid shots work well, black and white or color is fine. Tell us when and where you took the photo. Please provide a title for all entries.
Send entries as digitals or scanned files. Do not send originals. If you are using pictures from your digital camera, they will work just fine if they are JPEG
files. If you are scanning the images yourself from photographs or
artwork, it is better to save them in either TIFF or EPS format. When
scanning, use a 150 PPI ("pixels per inch") setting.
If you have any questions, e-mail Louise or call her at 651-653-0618.
13) FRANCES MOORE LAPPE’ EVENT A BIG SUCCESS
Frances Moore Lappé spoke to a standing room only crowd in Winona on Feb. 11. Thanks to all of you who attended and helped make this event a great success. Special kudos to LSP’s southeast Minnesota steering committee members for all their work.
14) WORTH REPEATING
''I knew what I wanted to do, so anything short of going bankrupt there was nothing that could stop me.'' --Farm Beginnings™ graduate Matt Fendry (http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/programs_farmbeginnings.html#profiles)
15) WORTH REPEATING II
"As a farming culture we've got to create viable paradigms for young people to enter agriculture." -- farmer and Farm Beginnings™ mentor Dan French (http://www.newholland.com/na/news/nhn/Oct01/V47No7_1.htm)
16) PICTURE CLEAN WATER
What happens when row crops that cover the land for only a few months out of the year are replaced with grass and other perennial plant systems? For charts in pdf format showing the relationship between perennial plant cover and water quality, visit http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/mba/water_qlty_chrts.pdf.
17) JOIN LSP
The work of LSP, including the LIVE-WIRE, is supported by the donations of people like you. To become a member, give a gift membership, or donate an extra gift above your membership, visit http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/index-joinus.html. If you have questions about membership, contact cathye@landstewardshipproject.org.
LSP_LIVE-WIRE is Land Stewardship Project’s e-mail newsletter. To unsubscribe or to change your options or password visit: http://www.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/lsp_live-wire.
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