The Boulder Belt Blog: CSA Conference, Michigan

Sunday, October 29, 2006

CSA Conference, Michigan

Raising Vegetables and Civic Values: CSA in the 21st Century

Second Biennial Conference for Community Supported Agriculture

When: November 10-12, 2006

Where: Kettunen Center near Tustin, Michigan (Just south of Cadillac)

Contact: CSA-MI

3480 Potter Rd

Bear Lake, MI 49614

231-889-3216 (toll free 877-526-1441)

Email csafarm AT jackpine.net

(replace AT with @ and paste into your mail program)

November 1 is the deadline to register for the CSA conference without a late fee. We can extend that to November 6. Register today!

Keynote Speakers
We have two exciting keynoters coming to the CSA conference:

Steven McFadden
Farms of Tomorrow Revisited – Community Supported Agriculture and Agriculture Supported Community

Scott Chaskey
Peconic Land Trust at Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett, New York and This Common Ground – Seasons on an Organic Farm

A Mini-school for new and prospective CSA growers still has a few openings.

WORKSHOPS led by experienced growers and other professionals include sessions on animals and the CSA, Seeds for the CSA, Distribution strategies, a CSA Council Circle with Steven McFadden, biodynamics, permaculture and more. See schedule at http://csafarms.org/csafarms5558009.asp

Vendors, like MACSAC (order your A to Z Foodbooks), Crop Services International, Fertrell products, Morgan Composting, Higher Grounds Trading Company, Steve and Sons Grassfields Cheese and more will be on hand.

A Silent Auction offers great stuff for the farm and home (Planet Jr Seeder, hand-knit items, maple syrup, books, art, CD's, gift certificates and lots more). See http://csafarms.org/csafarms9557788.asp

Time for meeting and mixing with your fellow CSA farmers and farm advocates, and great entertainment on Saturday eve with NW Michigan favorites Seth and Daisy Mae.

Much more information at the website!

http://www.csafarms.org

There are a few stipends remaining for growers who need financial assistance to attend. Reply to this email for more information.

CSA Conference in Michigan, November 10-12, 2006 http://www.csafarms.org
Five Springs Farm
The Community Farm newsletter

No comments:

12 Reasons to Buy Local (and Organic)

1)Freshness.
Locally-grown organic fruits and vegetables are usually harvested within 24 hours of being purchased by the consumer. Produce from California can't be that fresh.

2)Taste.
Produce picked and eaten at the height of freshness tastes better.

3)Nutrition.
Nutritional value declines, often dramatically, as time passes after harvest. Because locally-grown produce is freshest, it is more nutritionally complete.

4)Purity.
Eighty percent of American adults say they are concerned about the safety of the food they eat. They worry about residues of pesticides and fungicides. These materials are not permitted in an organic production system either before or after harvest.

5)Regional Economic Health.
Buying locally grown food keeps money within the community. This contributes to the health of all sectors of the local economy, increasing the local quality of life.

6)Variety.
Organic farmers selling locally are not limited to the few varieties that are bred for long distance shipping, high yields, and shelf life. Often they raise and sell wonderful unusual varieties you will never find on supermarket shelves.

7)Soil Stewardship.
Soil health is essential for the survival of our species. Conventional farming practices are rapidly depleting topsoil fertility. Creating and sustaining soil fertility is the major objective for organic growers.

8)Energy Conservation.
Buying locally grown organic foods decreases dependence on petroleum, a non- renewable energy source. One fifth of all petroleum now used in the United States is used in Agriculture. Organic production systems do not rely upon the input of petroleum derived fertilizers and pesticides and thus save energy at the farm. Buying from local producers conserves additional energy at the distribution level.

9)Environmental Protection.
Soil erosion; pesticide contamination of soil, air, and water; nitrate loading of waterways and wells; and elimination of planetary biodiversity are some of the problems associated with todayís predominate farming methods. Organic growers use practices that protect soil, air, and water resources; and that promote biodiversity.

10)Cost.
Conventional food processes don't reflect the hidden costs of the environmental, health and social consequences of predominate production practices- of, for instance, correcting a water supply polluted by agricultural runoff, or obtaining medical treatment for pesticide induced illness suffered by farmers or consumers. When these and other hidden costs are taken into account, as they should be, locally grown organic foods are seen clearly for the value they are, even if they cost a few pennies more.

11)A Step Toward Regional Food Self Reliance
. Dependency on far away food sources leaves a region vulnerable to supply disruptions, and removes any real accountability of producer to consumer. It also tends to promote larger, less diversified farms that hurt both the environment and local economies/communities. Regional food production systems, on the other hand, keep the food supply in the hands of many, providing interesting job and self-employment opportunities, and enabling people to influence how their food is grown.

12)Passing on the Stewardship Ethic.
When you buy locally produced organic food you cannot help but raise the consciousness of your friends and family about how food buying decisions can make a difference in your life and the life of your community; and about how this basic act is connected to planetary issues.

The Boulder Belt Blog

Total Pageviews

Sunday, October 29, 2006

CSA Conference, Michigan

No comments:

Boulder Belt Farm Share Initiative

About Me

Follow Us On HomeGrown.org

Popular Posts

Followers

Feed the Fish

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

Farm Blogs and Websites

Farming Links

Foodie Links

Raw Milk Blogs and Sites

Friend's Blogs and Websites

12 Reasons to Buy Local (and Organic)

Amazon

Green People

Top 50 farm blogs

What's on my food

Loaded Web

CO2Stats