Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE, December 13, 2005
Hello:
This is the 30th 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) Western LSP Open House Dec. 15
2) White Bear Lake Open House Dec. 15
3) LSP’s Audio Magazine Podcast Launched
4) Gov. Trying to Weaken Environmental Review
5) Voices of Minn. Farm Women Packets Available
6) ‘Family Farms’ Art Show Jan. 9-Feb. 10
7) ‘What is the Future for Family Farms?’ Panel Jan. 30
8) The Real Dirt on Farmer John Jan. 20
9) Farm Beginnings Featured at PFI Meeting Jan. 13-14
10) Missed Lappé’s Talk? No Problem
11) LSP Intern Needed
12) Food For Folk Benefit Dinner
13) Midwest Organic Farming Conference Feb. 24-25
14) Check the Calendar
15) Give the Gift of Stewardship
16) Worth Repeating
17) Worth Repeating II
18) Join LSP
1) WESTERN LSP OPEN HOUSE DEC. 15
LSP's western Minnesota office has moved to the historic Montevideo Depot. This is the same train depot that's featured in the movie Sweet Land (http://www.builtbybeautiful.com), which was recently filmed in the area. The new address is: 301 State Road, Suite 2, Montevideo, MN 56265. The telephone number (320-269-2105) and fax (320-269-2190)
remain the same. Check out the new star-studded office on Thursday, Dec. 15, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., during LSP's holiday open house for western Minnesota. There will be a depot tour, treats and a drawing for half-a-hog. For more information, contact Michelle Skogrand at 320-269-2105 or lspwest@landstewardshipproject.org.
2) WHITE BEAR LAKE OPEN HOUSE DEC. 15
Okay, LSP's White Bear Lake office isn't something you'll see featured on the big screen anytime soon, but it's still pretty cool. See for yourself on Dec. 15 when that office hosts its own holiday open house. There will be a silent auction, a prize drawing, and a showing of the Voices of Minnesota Farm Women film--and treats of course! The office is located at 2200 Fourth Street in downtown
White Bear Lake, just upstairs from Sherburne Jewelers. You can see the entrance to LSP's office from the parking lot behind the jewelry store. The open house will be from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Louise Arbuckle at 651-653-06187 or lspwbl@landstewardshipproject.org.
3) LSP’S AUDIO MAGAZINE PODCAST LAUNCHED
LSP’s Ear to the Ground audio magazine is now available on our website. This podcast features interviews, reviews and special features related to LSP's work. Ear to the Ground was launched Dec. 5 with a three-part series on Frances Moore Lappé's visit and the idea of "living democracy."
Despite the name, you do not need an iPod to listen to a podcast such as Ear to the Ground. Using programs that are often available for free via the Internet, Ear to the Ground can be listened to through a computer or MP3 player. Programs can also be recorded onto CDs or cassette tape so they can be played later in a car or on a portable boom box.
For a step-by-step guide on how to subscribe to the free Ear to the Ground service, visit http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/podcast.html.
4) GOV. TRYING TO WEAKEN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
LSP and 26 other environmental and family farm groups are calling on Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to withdraw his proposal to significantly weaken the rules governing environmental review of the largest feedlots in the state. The proposed rule change, which could be considered by the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) as early as January, would double the size feedlots can be before environmental
review is required. The EQB will review the proposed rule and decide whether or not to begin the rulemaking process. The rulemaking process can require that the state defend the proposed change before an administrative law judge.
Currently, environmental review is required for proposed feedlots that are 1,000 animal units or larger. This has affected only the largest 4 percent of feedlots in the state. One thousand animal units are equivalent to, for example, 3,333 hogs weighing between 55 and 300 pounds or 714 mature dairy cows. Eighty-three percent of the state’s livestock farms are less than 300 animal units,
according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. For details, click here. For information on how to contact Governor Pawlenty’s office about this issue, contact LSP’s Bobby King at 612-722-6377 or bking@landstewardshipproject.org.
5) VOICES OF MINN. FARM WOMEN PACKETS AVAILABLE
Educational packets for use in programs featuring LSP's film documentary, Voices of Minnesota Farm Women, are available from the White Bear Lake office (651-653-0618). LSP is seeking volunteers to present programs in their communities this winter and spring. Training and materials will be provided. To volunteer or for more information, contact Dana Jackson at 651-653-0618 or danaj@landstewardshipproject.org.
6) ‘FAMILY FARMS’ ART SHOW JAN. 9-FEB. 10
“Family Farms: A Tribute” will be presented at the Northfield (Minn.) Arts Guild from Jan. 9 to Feb. 10. This is the third and final stop of this traveling art show dedicated to the family farm. An opening reception/gallery crawl will be held Friday, Jan. 13, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Arts Guild, which is at 304 Division Street (phone: 507-645-8877) in Northfield. The gallery’s
regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. On Thursdays, it’s open until 8 p.m.
Through this exhibit, a group of l4 artists from around the state have come together to give us a glimpse into the rural landscape as they see it--the farm families, the livestock, the fields of grain, the small towns and their main streets. This show is not meant to celebrate a bygone day, but inspire hope for the future. This event is sponsored by LSP, Minnesota COACT, Minnesota Farmers Union
and Clear Water Action Alliance.
7) ‘WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR FAMILY FARMS?’ PANEL JAN. 30
The Northfield League of Women Voters will moderate a panel discussion called, “What is the Future for Family Farms?” on Monday, Jan. 30, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (snow date is Jan. 31). This will be held at the Northfield Arts Guild in conjunction with the “Family Farms: A Tribute” art show (see item 6). For more information, contact Stephanie Henriksen at 507-645-7086
or dkamis@rconnect.com.
8) THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN JAN. 20
The Twin Cities premiere of the award-winning film, The Real Dirt on Farmer John, will be the weekend of Jan. 20. LSP will be involved with activities related to the film event, including a farmer panel discussion. The Real Dirt on Farmer John (www.therealdirt.net) is a character study/docudrama depicting a 55-year span in the life of
John Peterson and his Illinois farm. Filmmaker Taggart Siegel documents how despite numerous obstacles and setbacks, Peterson’s conventional farm was successfully reinvented as Angelic Organics, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operation that serves the Chicago area. Join us for what promises to be an evening of cinematic inspiration and good conversation. For more information,
contact LSP’s Dana Jackson at 651-653-0618 or danaj@landstewardshipproject.org.
9) FARM BEGINNINGS FEATURED AT PFI MEETING JAN. 13-14
Kate Twohig will speak on LSP’s Farm Beginnings program at the annual meeting of the Practical Farmers of Iowa, Jan. 13-14, in Des Moines. Her presentation fits the conference’s theme: “Growing our Future: Tools & Inspiration for Beginning & Transitioning Farmers.” For more information on the conference, call 515-232-5661 (ext. 108), or visit www.practicalfarmers.org.
10) MISSED LAPPÉ’S TALK? NO PROBLEM
Frances Moore Lappé gave an inspiring talk on “living democracy” to a standing room only crowd at an LSP fundraiser Nov. 18. If you missed the talk (after all, it WAS standing room only), there are plenty of opportunities to still hear it. Clcik here and follow the links to listen to the Minnesota Public
Radio recording of the talk. Her talk and work was also featured on three editions of LSP’s new Ear to the Ground podcast.
11) LSP INTERN NEEDED
LSP is looking for an intern to help organize the Community Food and Farm Festival at the 2005 Living Green Expo, May 6-7. Good communications skills are required. Send a letter and resume to: Dana Jackson, Senior Program Associate, Land Stewardship Project, 2200 4th Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. For more information, contact Jackson at 651-653-0618 or danaj@landstewardshipproject.org.
For more on the Community Food and Farm Festival, click here.
12) FOOD FOR FOLK BENEFIT DINNER
Food for Folk is hosting a benefit salmon dinner this spring in the Twin Cities metro area. The April/May/June 2005 Land Stewardship Letter featured an article about the initiative, which is working to get local, high-quality food to low-income people. The benefit dinner will not only raise awareness and money for the
Food For Folk Project, but also be a great way to enjoy a night of fabulous food, great music and enlightening speakers on sustainable farming. Food For Folk is looking for volunteers to help organize this benefit dinner. To help out, contact Gary Brever of Ploughshare Farm at gjbrever@midwestinfo.net or 218-267-5117. Further information is also
available from Sheila Barsness at 320-763-3191 (ext. 5) or Sheila.Barsness@rcdnet.net.
13) MIDWEST ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE FEB. 24-25
LSP is helping sponsor the 17th annual Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference, Feb. 24-25, in La Crosse, Wis. Over the years, this conference has evolved into one of the nation’s premier gatherings for organic agriculture. The conference’s organizers are now accepting volunteer and scholarship applications. For more information, call 715-772-3153 or visit www.mosesorganic.org.
14) CHECK THE CALENDAR
Winter’s here, and that means a blizzard of meetings, workshops and other events. Check out the LSP calendar. Details on events can also be found on our Press Releases page.
15) GIVE THE GIFT OF STEWARDSHIP
As 2005 winds down, consider giving stewardship gifts in honor of your friends and family:
-Give a gift of hope to your loved ones -- and to beginning farmers eager to make a living on the land.
-In the name of your favorite cooks, invest in work to produce more healthful food for our communities.
-Honor those active citizens in your life with a gift that empowers people to fight for family farms and the environment.
Make a donation to LSP of any size and we'll send your loved ones beautiful, personalized certificates notifying them of your gifts and giving them more information about the work your gift helps accomplish in their honor. With gifts of $35 or more, we will give them a one-year membership in LSP. More information is available at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/index-joinus-gift.html.
You can print out an order form to mail in from here, or do your shopping securely on-line at http://www.applyweb.com/public/contribute?lspmemb.
16) WORTH REPEATING
"And this is where democracy comes in. It’s our ability to…stand up and be heard, and that’s exactly what happened." – Dodge County farmer Evan Schmeling, speaking about his community’s successful battle against a mega-dairy proposal (http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/podcast.html)
17) WORTH REPEATING II
"A healthy livestock industry and meaningful environmental protection are not incompatible. Weakening the rules for environmental review will harm Minnesota’s environment and is out of step with values important to Minnesotans,”—from a letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty written by a coalition of environmental and family farm groups. (http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/05/newsr_051123.htm)
18) 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, see 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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