Re: Help! Definition and catch-phrases needed!

J. S. (janebug@hotmail.com)
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 13:10:19 PST

I think you can also always include something in the definition about
using our resources wisely in farming so that we can continue to farm in
the future. Often an economic(!) description, but sustainable
agriculture can be characterized as agriculture that protects and
preserves our inputs(soil, water, minerals...) so that we can feed
ourselves today and still enjoy the planet tomorrow.

>From: "Michele Gale-Sinex/CIAS, UW-Madison" <mgs@aae.wisc.edu>
>To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu
>Subject: Re: Help! Definition and catch-phrases needed!
>Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 14:39:59 -0500
>
>Howdy, all--
>
>> I am putting together a brochure for our regional sustainable ag.
>> group. (SAFE - Sustainable Agriculture for Everyone). I need a
>> definition of sustainable agriculture that the average person can
>> understand that isn't too long.
>
>Here's the one we use in our CIAS publication "The Power Eater's
>Guide to Organic and Sustainable Food":
>
>"Sustainable agriculture includes any agricultural practice that
>strives to support the environmental, social, economic, or
>intergenerational viability of farming, farm communities, and the
>food system."
>
>This is in a little list of definitions, and it's followed by
>
>"The food system is the entire system of production, processing,
>marketing, transportation, packaging, preparation, consuming, waste
>management, and other activities around food."
>
>
>Yeah, Greg, various folks with Ph.D.s have pointed out that somebody
>could argue with these definitions till Tinky Winky marries Jerry
>Falwell with Barney officiating...but pish and piddle. The point is
>to help people think about sustainable ag. Not to make them feel like
>they can't think about it without getting into a major argument. In
>our not so humble opinion.
>
>I also like to remind people that the word "sustainable" comes from
>the Latin /sub-/ + /tenere/, meaning to support or to hold up from
>below.
>
>Or as the Earth First!ers say: We stand for what we stand on.
>
>
>peace
>misha
>
><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>Michele Gale-Sinex, communications manager
>Center for Integrated Ag Systems
>UW-Madison College of Ag and Life Sciences
>Voice: (608) 262-8018 FAX: (608) 265-3020
>http://www.wisc.edu/cias/
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>If you knew what life was worth, you
>would look for yours on earth. --Bob Marley
>
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