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Subject: Market Farming
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- From: BBGREGSON AT cs.com
- To: market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
- Subject: Fwd: Peddlers at Markets (Extension discussion)
- Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 23:16:03 EST
This never got posted during the melee...and some of our Extension people
deserve real credit.
Bob and Bonnie Gregson
--- Begin Message ---As an organic farmer I was also a complete Extension basher for years.
- From: BBGREGSON AT cs.com
- To: market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
- Cc: feise AT wsu.edu, mtate AT wsu.edu
- Subject: Re: Peddlers at Markets
- Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 13:37:23 EST
Ten years ago it was legitimate to categorize almost all ag extension
activity as backwards looking and hostile to those of us trying life-centered
growing techniques. No longer, at least in Washington!
We have: a significant number of extension personnel personally committed to
small scale sustainable ag; administrators who are now willing to at least
negotiate with us about our concerns; a (new-hire) statewide small farm and
organic outreach specialist; a developing organic course element at our land
grant (WSU); and a sub-unit of the university (Center for Sustaining Ag and
Natural Resources) whose director is aggressively pursuing a broad organic
training package that will cover major parts of the state ag scene if he can
get funding.
All this has come about because of a show of strong grass roots political
organizing by the sustainable ag community (especially a local food co-op
with a large constituency in the urban area----use those mailing lists!).
It's not been easy or quick or painless, nor is it even close to where it
ought to be, but we are nurturing a developing positive relationship.
Some within the university have quietly supported our efforts, possibly to
the detriment of their careers, but now can actively pursue more sustainable
programs. It has been an immense pleasure to see this happen and hope it is
happening elsewhere. The bottom line seems to be that we biologically-based
farmers must get organized and work in partnership with other stakeholders
who are concerned about food quality and the future of the planet---including
faith-based groups, food co-ops, environmentalists, etc.
Bob Gregson
Island Meadow Farm
Vashon Island, WA
--- End Message ---
- Fwd: Peddlers at Markets (Extension discussion), BBGREGSON, 02/09/2001
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