Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

The New Farm Newsletter, September 14, 2007
http://www.newfarm.org/

 Hello Paul. Between harvest plans, county fairs, starting school,
attending football games and soccer matches, marketing crops and
stockpiling forage, think about the human connections that are important in
order for sustainable and organic farming to prosper, expand and benefit
more people, watersheds and local economies.
Old school agriculture thinking: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

New school food system thinking: All who eat can be our friends.

Never in North American history since the Industrial Revolution have so
many non-farmers thought as seriously as they do now about farmers, where
their food comes from or how it is grown. There are more allies, in higher
places, thinking in more profound ways than ever before about how to
liberate farming from the limitations of the failing industrial model.
Consider:

Three planning groups (news) recently recommended that sustainable food
systems be included in long-term planning at state, regional and municipal
levels, structurally connecting farms to their communities in new and
lasting ways.

New York’s governor and New York City’s council president both spoke
knowingly at Farm Aid 2007 about on-going efforts and future practical
policies to connect upstate farmers and downstate eaters by way of
strengthening farms, fighting obesity and decreasing urban hunger.

In Heirloom tasting (slideshow), see how five organizations dedicated to
connecting farmers to eaters recently rallied at a central Pennsylvania
farmers’ market. They highlighted the role of online farmer directories
in building direct access to high-quality local and organic food by tasting
local pies and heirloom tomatoes in a celebration of color, flavor and
story.

In our feature story Recipe for success, learn how local chapters of the
international Slow Food movement in North America are finding that great
food with flavor worth savoring depends on farmers who know how to
fine-tune their farm’s natural resources to create the highest quality
crops and livestock. Respectful attention to farmer needs by these cultural
leaders has significant impact in raising popular expectations for a whole
range of food issues that provide opportunity for enterprising farmers.

Video shows flood damage (news) illustrates how even in disaster
situations, non-farmers are leading efforts to bring relief to the organic
agricultural community that was hit hard by the floods in the upper Midwest
this summer.

Yes, there are huge market-access and farm-policy hurdles remaining, and
lots of folks who are contentedly clueless. For people looking for new
allies in sustainable connections, however, autumn 2007 is a wonderfully
promising time to take action.
Grow on.
Greg Bowman
Managing Editor
PS: Coming next month...your next chance to support NewFarm.org’s role in
growing more sustainable farmers during our “”Harvest Celebration”
fund drive.

Fresh today from The New Farm®


case study: transitioning to organic
Organic transition goes smoothly for this conventional cow specialist
Careful management, grass-based dairying, a commitment to cow health and a
stubborn independence serve him well.

Recipe for success
Despite growing pains, Slow Food is helping to change the way people
consider their dinner plates—and the farmers who fill them.

Boston common
Nonprofit community farm strives to make good food a bridge between culture
and class.

West African rice farmers explore alternatives to cheap, dangerous
insecticides
Farmer-to-farmer training and on-farm research grow local adapted knowledge
of biologically based integrated pest management that embraces
biodiversity, careful observation and beneficial insects.

Cheap biofuel feedstocks take a toll on soil health
Biofuel experts are already looking beyond grains for cheaper feedstocks
such as straw or corn stover. But there is a price to be paid when you
remove biomass that normally goes back to the soil.

Reader Mail
This month features questions and answers about wild rice, the OPX, ethanol
and more.

News & Views
• Livestock diversity critical for changing climates
• Aurora Organic Dairy agrees to alter practices
• Library offers extensive sustainable ag expertise
• Groups call for food-systems in public plans
• Video boosts flood fund for organic farmers
• Goal: 10 percent organic by 2010
• Low wheat stores threaten famine relief

at the rodale institute®