JOIN NEW INT'L ORGANIC FARMER EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (mesa@mailhost.hooked.net)
Tue, 5 Dec 1995 19:15:34 -0800


****MULTINATIONAL EXCHANGE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (MESA) SEEKS UP TO
30 U.S. ORGANIC GROWERS WILLING TO HOST INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE FARMERS FOR
NEW ANNUAL TRAINING PROGRAM*********

_______________
WHAT IS MESA?

MESA, a new non-profit organization and recently designated U.S.I.A.
educational exchange program, exists to promote cross-cultural sharing of
ideas and skills in sustainable agriculture by sponsoring an international
farmer-to-farmer training exchange. MESA's program is the first of its kind
devoted entirely to the needs of the sustainable and organic communities in
the US and abroad.
We are now seeking US organic farms (particularly in the Western US) who
would like to host an international farmer for one full year, beginning in
April-May, 1996. ______________________________________
WHO ARE THE INTERNATIONAL FARMERS?

MESA has co-sponsorship agreements with reputable organic institutions and
NGOs around the world. Our int'l co-sponsors select and prepare
agriculturally experienced applicants who seek to improve their skills in
alternative farming practices by living and working on a U.S. host farm for
one year. In 1996, MESA has agreed to find host farm placements for up to
30 young exchange farmers from Guatemala, Honduras, China, Russia and
Lithuania. Participants will return to their homelands as advocates for
sustainable agriculture, helping to re-invigorate and nurture their rural
communities.
_____________________________________
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF A HOST FARMER?

Host farmers must be willing to implement and supervise a varied
work-training schedule for the exchange farmer and engage the exchange
farmer in outside cultural and agricultural activities. In exchange for
reliable and experienced full-time work, the host farm will provide free
meals and living accommodations for the exchange farmer, and send a fee of
$675/month to MESA. MESA uses this fee to run the program, providing every
exchange farmer with a stipend ($300/month), health insurance, legal
documentation, educational seminars, domestic transportation and
administrative assistance. (For CSAs, the program fee can be budgeted as a
nominal cost to the shareholders, or taken as a tax-deduction by a few
"sponsor" members.)

MESA is also seeking outside funding to offset the program fee for a few
well-qualified small-scale farms. _____________________________________
TELL ME MORE ABOUT MESA

For further information about MESA, our community Advisors and
international affiliates, and/or for a host farmer application, please
contact:

Lauren E. Augusta, Executive Director
Tel#: (510)654-8858
Fax#: (510)845-0861
email: mesa@hooked.net

or write to:
Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture 5337 College Ave., Suite
508
Oakland, CA 94618

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

...................................END. 



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