September, 1994 - Number 2
SOUTHERN SAWG TO MEET IN GULF SHORES, ALABAMA
by Renee Price
Envision yourself rising early one morning in mid-January and
gazing out onto the Gulf of Mexico from your bedroom window. Or,
picture you and a friend serenely walking along the Gulf shore
under the moon and stars of a midwinter sky. Such imagery can
become reality by attending the 1995 Annual Conference of the
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SAWG) on January
13-15, 1995.
The site of the 1995 conference will be at the Gulf State Park
Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Gulf Shores, Alabama. All
activities except the Farm Tour will be located within one
building at the center of the park. Guest rooms fan out along
one mile of natural beach, each room facing the Gulf. Combine
business, education and pleasure. Bring along your family and
plan a vacation. As proven in previous years, the Annual
Conference is an inspiring occasion where Southern SAWG members
mingle, share, dialogue, and collaborate with fellow farmers,
consumers, researchers, processors, environmentalists and
community folk.
"I was really surprised at the diversity of people and how, for
the most part, they contributed to the discussions while
respecting each other's opinion," says Heidi Carter, education
specialist at the Kerr Center in Poteau, OK, on attending the
1992 Conference in New Iberia, LA. "The panel discussion one
evening was one of the most powerful I've attended."
Farmer stories, workshops, strategy sessions, speakers and panel
discussions will provide valuable insight for advancing the
movement for sustainable rural life. Topics will include:
organic production techniques, greenhouse specialty production,
unique farm equipment, natural beef production, free-range
poultry, marketing through cooperatives, community supported
agriculture, the 1995 Farm Bill, the national organic standards,
and SARE/ACE program research.
In addition, the conference committee is organizing a trade show
with exhibits featuring unusual yet useful products and services.
You also will have an opportunity to join a farm tour to see
innovative concepts of sustainable farming in action.
The Southern SAWG Steering Committee encourages members of
Southern SAWG organizations to attend and participate in the
annual business meeting during the conference. Traditionally,
this time is allotted to reviewing progress over the past twelve
months, developing the agenda of the upcoming year, addressing
administrative and policy issues, and approving new projects.
Airline connections and Amtrak train service are available into
Pensacola, FL, one hour and 15 minutes from Gulf State Park.
Southern SAWG will provide shuttle service to and from these
depots. If journeying by private vehicle, remember that
carpooling will save resources and can be more fun.
The registration form and weekend agenda for the 1995 Annual
Conference are forthcoming in the November issue of Southern
Sustainable Farming. Invite family, friends, neighbors and all
other interested parties. Last year this event drew nearly 300
people. Be part of an awesome experience get connected and
endeavor together to assure the future of sustainable farming in
the South, for yourself and posterity. For more information,
contact: Keith Richards, PO Box 324, Elkins, AR 72727. Phone
501-292-3714 or e-mail to HN3551@handsnet.org.
NEWS FROM THE CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
The Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture will officially kick off
in mid-October with news conferences and press releases
highlighting the issues sustainable farm organizations identified
as priorities for the 1995 Farm Bill. A letter, signed by as
many organizations as possible, endorsing the principles of the
campaign will be presented to the media and Congress. Every
Southern SAWG organization involved in the campaign is encouraged
to hold a news conference or distribute press releases to their
local media at this time. This Fall is also the time to let
politicians running for office know that sustainable agriculture
is important to their constituents. Schedule personal meetings
with candidates and their staff to educate them about the issues,
or organize candidate forums.
For planning assistance or sample news releases, contact: Julie
Burns, 4 Lindsey Rd, Asheville, NC 28805. Phone 704-299-1922 or
e-mail to HN3897@handsnet.org.
Testimony From a USDA Field Hearing
On August 4, Wilma Subra from New Iberia, LA testified at a USDA
hearing in Columbus, GA concerning conservation issues in the
1995 Farm Bill. Excerpts from her testimony follow.
"The Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture envisions a farm and
food system that supports stewardship of the land and its
resources, and maximizes the social, environmental and economic
benefits from limited public funds committed to food and
agricultural programs. Policy should be designed to enhance
environmental quality, maintain viable rural communities, stem
minority farmers' land loss, reward sound resource management
practices, and assure consumers of healthy food while supporting
economic opportunity and a decent income for family farmers.
These goals are achievable if we are willing to redesign farm
commodity and conservation programs to work together more
efficiently.
Encourage Alternatives to Pesticides and Improve Pest Management
Practices
"Agriculture's heavy dependence on pesticides has resulted in
high input costs to farmers, increased health risks to farmers,
farm workers and consumers, and environmental degradation.
In Louisiana, in 1991, the aerial application of Azinphos-Methyl
on the sugarcane crop for the control of the borer resulted in a
large number of fish kill incidents and human health impacts.
The Azinphos-Methyl related fish kills resulted in 750,000 to 1
million dead fish. Individuals and entire communities adjacent
to vast sugarcane fields experienced classic Organophosphate
health symptoms. During the 1993 growing season, alternative
chemicals were used to control the borer and only a small
quantity of Azinphos-Methyl was utilized. Even with the reduced
quantity, two fish kills were documented. This is just one
example of the environmental and human health damages being
caused in Louisiana from the use of pesticides.
"Congress and USDA should strengthen and expand research and
technical assistance programs, such as the Integrated Crop
Management Program, which provide cost share help to develop and
implement environmentally sound pest and nutrient management
practices. Incorporation of pesticide reduction strategies into
farm planning initiatives should be required. Expansion of
record keeping to include all pesticide sales and uses should be
implemented. Access to these records should be provided to farm
workers and health care professionals.
Protect Conservation Reserve Program Acres
"The CRP currently protects over 36 million farmland acres-much
of which is highly erodible. The CRP will cease to exist as
contracts expire unless Congress acts to revise and expand the
program.
"Congress and the USDA are urged to reauthorize a smaller CRP to
enroll partial field conservation practices and other special
practices in priority areas with high environmental payoffs,
including buffer strips, sink holes, contour grass strips,
windbreaks and wildlife habitats. Contracts should be extended
on the most environmentally sensitive land, converting as many
contract acres as possible to long-term easements.
"Higher quality CRP land should be allowed to come back into
production without penalty prior to contract expiration, using
money saved to help pay for other options. Along these lines,
innovative CRP transition programs that would use the CRP to
assist beginning and organic farmers, in return for easements or
long-term plans that protect environmental benefits are
supported.
CAMPAIGN LEADERS NEEDED
In order to win true agricultural reforms next year, the Campaign
for Sustainable Agriculture needs organizations and individuals
willing to help coordinate the campaign in their regions.
Volunteers are especially needed in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas. People
are needed to organize media events, farm tours, and meetings
with members of Congress; to communicate with other
organizations; and write letters. Agreeing to a 15-month
commitment can help build your organization's visibility, create
links with other groups, and develop new skills for the future.
If you are willing to volunteer any amount of time, contact Julie
Burns, 4 Lindsey Rd, Asheville, NC 28805. Phone 704-299-1922 or
e-mail to HN3897@handsnet.org.
THE CARPENTERS: BUILDING MARKETS AS A FAMILY
by Keith Richards
Little Rock, Arkansas. By almost any measure, Abraham Carpenter,
Jr. and his extended family own a very successful farm-based
business. If you ask Abraham what the keys to his success are,
he won't talk about economic models or marketing strategies, he
will quickly mention two things: his family and the love of God.
Abraham says about 30 family members are involved in their
business-his parents, four brothers, three sisters, assorted
spouses, and 15 nieces and nephews. Together they raise fruit
and vegetables on over 1000 acres of land near Grady, AR, own a
thriving produce store in Little Rock, and are getting ready to
open a restaurant and market in Pine Bluff.
Started Marketing From a Pick-up Truck
Twenty years ago, Katie and Abraham Carpenter, Sr. moved their
family from Pine Bluff to a small farm near Grady. After losing
money on the traditional Delta row crops of cotton and soybeans,
they put in three acres of vegetables, selling them mostly at the
farmers' markets in Pine Bluff and Little Rock. They also
started coming to the corner of Wright Avenue and Martin Luther
King Drive in the heart of a Little Rock African American
neighborhood to sell produce off the back of their pick-up truck.
At the end of that first year, Katie figured they were making
more money on the farm than Abraham, Sr. did at his part-time
job, so they planted five acres and their business was born.
Over the next two decades they gradually expanded their farm to
20 acres, then 50, then 80, then 160, then 500, until they
reached their present size of 1000 acres. They tried growing a
wide variety of produce over the years until they settled on five
main crops that fit their markets-sweet potatoes, greens, yellow
squash, purple hull peas, and watermelons.
Expanding Markets While Keeping Their Base
Over the years, the Carpenters continued to sell their produce at
the farmers' markets while adding accounts with small grocery
stores and then larger supermarket chains. Today they sell 50
percent of their crop to the regional warehouses of Kroger,
Affiliated Foods, and Harvest Foods. They also kept going back
to that corner in Little Rock, building customer loyalty and
becoming part of the community. A year ago, they had the "good
fortune," as Abraham, Jr. puts it, "to buy the property and build
a produce store." Now, Carpenter's Produce carries a full line
of fruit and vegetables from their farm and others year round,
along with deli meats and barbecue to go.
Abraham, Jr. and his family refuse to stop there. They recently
bought a catfish restaurant in Pine Bluff, where they will add
barbecue and their fresh vegetables to make a "nice family
restaurant." "Everyone talks about diversifying [and adding
value]," says Abraham. "The highest form is to cook the food you
grow and put it on a plate. That's what we'll be doing in Pine
Bluff." He also hopes to move the Pine Bluff farmers' market to
the parking lot surrounding the restaurant to give it a better
location.
Business Based on Good Life Principles
To the Carpenters, good life principles make the best business
practices. They respect their customers and treat them well
because their parents brought them up with love and respect.
Abraham says, "I was always told love, love, love in my family;
never hate." They stay involved in their community and
continually give back, donating food to the homeless and to
community programs.
The Carpenters make an extra effort to buy additional produce for
their store from small farmers who are just starting out or
trying to diversify. Abraham worked with the Arkansas Land and
Farm Development Corporation to set up an alternative crop
marketing program for farmers in Lee County, AR. He also serves
on several boards of directors for agricultural organizations.
It isn't always easy. "As our business grows larger, we have
larger problems," admits Abraham. "You have to accept this and
be willing to deal with it to be successful." He claims his love
of God helps him keep the faith through trials and tribulations.
With the Carpenters, it all comes back to family. Each member
shares the work and shares the profits. No one is on a big fixed
salary, so when times are lean they all tighten their belts.
"Family is the most important unit in American society,"
according to Abraham. "If I didn't have family support, I
couldn't do all this."
ORGANIC FARMING FOR LIVING SOIL AND A LIVING COMMUNITY
by Nessa Richman
Carrizo Springs, Texas. Thousands of acres of grapefruit,
oranges, carrots, and spinach used to grow in the fertile
farmland around here. Fruit and vegetables anchored the economy
of the area, providing a livelihood either directly or indirectly
for most of the residents of this small south Texas community.
Today, less than 400 acres of land is in fruit and vegetable
production near Carrizo Springs. Nearly a quarter of that land
belongs to Bay and JoAnn Laxson. Bay says there is one reason
why Orange Blossom Farm has survived while so many farms around
him have folded-he is a Texas state certified organic producer.
"Philosophically, I didn't want to use chemicals," says Bay, who
has worked to sustain his community by farming organically for
over 20 years. He saw once lush land around him become hard and
infertile on the farms using chemicals, and didn't want to treat
his own soil that way. "Extension said I couldn't do it," recalls
Bay of the time in 1974 when he started making plans for an
organic farm. They said he would never be able to afford the
expensive sustainable methods and increased labor costs
associated with organic production, and claimed his yields would
drop significantly. This condemnation of sustainable farming
only served to strengthen his will to succeed.
The Laxsons have 75 acres of land in production, with 25 under
fairly intensive irrigation. On this land they grow a wide
variety of vegetables including potatoes, greens, broccoli,
carrots and several varieties of onions. Twenty-one acres are in
citrus fruit production and pasture. On the remaining 29 acres,
they dryland farm hay, grasses, and watermelons. Bay and JoAnn
employ one other full time employee on the farm. In addition,
they employ 10 to 12 people on a seasonal basis as contract
laborers for harvesting, weeding, grading and packing.
Four Keys to Sustainability
When Bay started to farm organically, he sought out advice from
several proponents of sustainable farming. Malcolm Beck of
Garden-Ville, a manufacturer of organic farm and garden supplies,
was very helpful. With the help of others, Bay came up with four
keys to sustainability on his farm.
For fertilizer, he uses an all natural turkey compost mixed with
rice hulls or peanut hulls bought from Soil Amends Company in
Boerne, TX. He applies 2-1/2 to 3 tons per acre once every third
year for the vegetable production, covering 10 to 12 acres each
year. The citrus grove receives an application every year.
Although he is still experimenting, midsummer application seems
to be best for the citrus. Despite having this off-farm input,
Bay feels the fertilizer's superior quality makes it economical
and worthwhile.
Rotating crops is key number two. "I practice crop rotation as a
rule," says Bay, "because it keeps the land well balanced and
stops it from burning out." The first year after spreading the
turkey compost he usually plants onions, followed by carrots or
spinach in the second year when the fertilizer's effects are at
their peak. In the third year, Bay plants melons because they
need less nitrogen than other crops. Then he puts in a cover
crop for year four.
The cover crops are key number three, keeping down erosion and
for use as a "green manure." In October or November, Bay plants
a mixture of albon rye and hairy vetch to overwinter, sometimes
mixing in oats. For summer covers, he seeds "haygrazer," a
hybrid sudangrass. After the covers grow up, he shreds them to
apply as compost. Bay also tries to work with the native species
in his area, like malva. "Malva is a local weed," says Bay, "but
it has a tremendous taproot that goes down three feet into the
soil." This breaks any hardpan and pulls up otherwise hard to
get nutrients from below.
Finally, for insect control, he relies upon beneficial insects.
His organic practices encourage a large natural population of
ladybugs on the farm. Bay also purchases lacewings and
trychogramma wasps, releasing 150,000 of them twice a week for
worm control during the growing season.
Certification Has Been Valuable
Bay has been part of the Texas movement toward organic production
from the start. He served on the first task force to develop
organic certification standards for the state, and stood at the
front of the line when demand for organic citrus and other
produce began to pick up in the mid-1980's.
Even though he helped create the first state organic standards,
Bay is cautious about the development of nationwide regulations,
which will probably be finalized by early 1995. He worries that
the federal government will not be responsive enough to each
area's needs. Although he dislikes burdensome paperwork,
excessive government regulation, and loss of control over what he
can do on his farm, Bay says, "the organic certification program
has been very valuable for me." It provides informational
support as well as a label for marketing.
A large percentage of the produce off Orange Blossom Farm is sold
wholesale to Texas Health Distributors, and then delivered to
Whole Foods Markets throughout the Southwest. Wholesaling leaves
Bay and JoAnn subject to the whims of a few large buyers and
lowers their profit potential, but given their remote location,
it takes less time than direct marketing and increases customer
accountability. They continue to experiment with other markets,
though. Bay says, "We have dabbled in mail order, and we're
planning to expand the mail order business focusing on citrus and
onions." They have also advertised in local magazines and
newspapers for direct sales.
Buyers will seek out Orange Blossom Farm produce after hearing
about the farm, asserts Bay.
Rural Economic Vitality Linked to Farms
Carrizo Springs is a dramatic example of what has happened to
rural communities across the country recently. The loss of
farming families means the loss of businesses in surrounding
towns. In most areas, one non-farm business goes under for every
five to seven farmers forced out of their livelihood.
Rural towns are disappearing quickly, and this trend shows no
sign of changing. The survival of rural America is now up to the
individual farmers and those who help them.
Lowered input costs, along with the premium prices their organic
produce demands, are the primary reasons Bay and JoAnn have
survived while others failed. Although labor costs are
increasing and competition is greater since Mexico improved their
organic certification standards, Bay believes "some of the
farmers in this town could have been saved from foreclosure if
they had taken advantage of the organic market."
Resources:
Garden-Ville Fertilizer Co.
7561 E. Evans Road
San Antonio, TX 78266
210-651-6115
ORGANIC PRICE BULLETIN
A weekly price bulletin on organic commodities is now available
from the Organic Food Business News. The organic price bulletin
lists farm gate prices and wholesale prices paid by buyers for
nearly 100 items, including beans, grains, dried fruits, fresh
fruits, nuts, oilseeds, vegetables and herbs.
Editor and publisher Dennis Blank also includes market tips and
insights on trends with the weekly price list. His best
information is on beans and grains.
The Organic Commodity Price Bulletin is distributed by fax on
Monday mornings. Subscriptions are $187 per year, but you can
receive a $50 discount by subscribing now. Contact: Hotline
Printing & Publishing, PO Box 161132, Altamonte Springs, FL
32716-1132. Phone 407-628-1377 or fax 407-628-9935.
SOUTHERN SARE OFFERS GRANTS TO FARMERS
by Keith Richards
Many farmers feel that university and experimental farm research
doesn't address some of the most basic problems facing them on
their farms. Limited grant money is now available through the
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
Program for producers who want to pursue research on their own
farms, or have valuable information to share about a practice
they are already doing.
After reviewing 66 proposals last year, the Southern SARE
Program, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, awarded 19
grants to producers in 1994. The average award was approximately
$5,700.
Good Ideas Get Funded
Luane Schroeder, who raises cattle and sheep in Newton County,
AR, believes farmers using management intensive grazing systems
could generate good information fast if they got together.
Schroeder says, "I had been very discouraged that users never
seemed to be queried [by researchers] about what we wanted and
needed." So she contacted about 40 farmers and agricultural
agency people in her area and invited them to a meeting to
discuss the barriers to management intensive grazing. Four
producers and seven agency representatives showed up. Out of the
notes from that meeting, she wrote a proposal for a support group
and was awarded one of the SARE producer grants earlier this
year.
Jean Mills, a partner in an organic CSA farm near Tuscaloosa, AL,
needed to find a way to lower her off-farm inputs for fertility.
She had been using clover clippings more and more to replace the
non-organic chicken litter she still relied upon, so she wrote a
proposal to study the economic and agronomic feasibility of
converting wholly to clover. Mills recalls, "Writing the grant
was very intimidating. It was hard to know if the amount of
energy it would take was worth it. I didn't know if I was
wasting my time." Apparently, in her case it was worth it, since
her proposal also received one of the 1994 Southern SARE grants.
Both Schroeder and Mills wrote their proposals without much
assistance, using the guidelines provided by Southern SARE.
Mills felt the budget was the most difficult part. "They want
very specific budget information," says Mills. "I just don't
know some of what they asked for." She suggests that the program
provide an optional budget template and possibly a list of
general costs of services, like compost analysis, for applicants
in the future.
Each proposal is required to have an outreach component to let
other producers know about useful results. This part can also be
challenging to grantees, forcing them to work with sustainable
agriculture organizations, local land grant universities, and
extension to make use of outside resources.
First Year of Program Off to Rough Start
Unfortunately the biggest problem with the program in its first
year was confusion over when producers would receive the money.
Producers who were awarded grants in January didn't receive their
first checks until August, so their projects were delayed, some
of them missing a whole season. Paula Ford, Southern SARE
program manager, at first said the money problem was due to
delays in Washington; she later learned that this would be the
time line for getting money every year.
Schroeder was aggravated that the SARE staff failed to stay in
contact with her during the delay. She suggests that in the
future SARE staff needs to keep in constant communication with
the producers about the status of the program. She also hopes
that they will send out copies of the other proposals funded to
help producers network among themselves.
A sore point with Mills is that the grant forbids farmers to be
paid for their time spent on the project. Mills says, "The
people who set up the program need to change their attitude about
farmers. They don't want to pay farmers for our expertise or our
labor, but they will pay for hired labor. For us to hire
somebody else to run our program seems bizarre."
Both Mills and Schroeder were quick to point out that Paula Ford
has been very helpful. Mills says, "Paula has been more than
willing to talk and help whenever I call. She's even given me
her home phone number to talk to her at night, knowing I am busy
during the day."
Ford is working to resolve some of the problems of the past year,
like working with SARE Communications Specialist Gwen Roland to
make the proposal form more user-friendly this year.
The deadline for 1995 producer-initiated grant proposals is
December 2, 1994. For specific information and proposal
guidelines, contact: Paula Ford, Southern SARE/ACE Program, 1109
Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223-1797. Phone 404-412-4788 or
fax 404-412-4789.
Producers awarded grants for 1994 include:
Jean Mills, AL: clover clippings as replacement for chicken
litter.
Sunny Bradshaw, AR: intercropping peas and beans to improve soil
for blueberries.
Luane Schroeder, AR: farmer-to-farmer transfer of knowledge about
rotational grazing.
Ted & Trudi Winsberg, FL: biological control of flower thrips in
pepper fields.
Chris & Lamar Harper, GA: plant tissue analysis and beneficial
insects in no-till cotton.
Andy Hickox, GA: nutrient evaluation and on-site composting of
poultry litter.
Mark & Carolyn Straw, KY: shrimp polyculture in existing farms.
Norman & Karen Jordan, NC: perennial warm season grasses as
summer pasture.
Tony Kern & Linda Creekmore, NC: meat goats for weed control and
alternative income on cattle operations.
Richard Morgan, NC: plant shelters to extend the growing season
for herbs.
Judy Rose & Vickie Stambeck, OK: cut flowers as a sustainable
agricultural alternative.
Curtis Inabinett, SC: vegetable marketing strategies for a small
farm coop.
Horace & Shaw Skipper, SC: clover cover crops, weed management
and consumer tolerance to insect damage.
Alma Love, TN: production and marketing strategies for shiitake
mushroom growers.
Kenneth Moore, TN: swine lagoon management system.
B. Michael Adams, TX: controlling aphids with Harmonia lady
beetle in pecan orchards.
Ricky & Beckie Meinen, TX: site specific applications of
seed/fertilizer/chemicals.
Norma Ann Wilson, VA: composting yard/animal waste for on-site
use and resale.
SUSTAINABLE AG INFORMATION ON THE ELECTRONIC HIGHWAY
Over 50 sustainable agriculture groups are linked by computer,
modem and telephone line within an electronic network called
HandsNet. Many Southern SAWG groups are now using e-mail and the
electronic bulletin board features of this network to share
information and work together more effectively across great
distances.
In the Agriculture Forum of HandsNet, anyone with a subscription
can post and read a wealth of information on sustainable
agriculture. Postings include excerpts from newsletters, case
studies, legislative updates, action alerts, information about
new publications, statistics, job announcements, funding
information, policy briefings, and news of upcoming events.
Betty Bailey of the Rural Advancement Foundation
International-USA says, "Unlike other telecommunication networks,
this one uses very friendly software and organizes information so
that it is easy for new users to find."
If you would like more information on how to be part of HandsNet,
contact: Betty Bailey, RAFI-USA, PO Box 655, Pittsboro, NC 27312.
Phone 919-542-1396, fax 919-542-2460 or e-mail to
HN1348@handsnet.org.
LOCALLY-OWNED VALUE-ADDED ENTERPRISES KEY TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT?
The U.S. lost another 24,520 farms last year, according to a
recent report from the Department of Agriculture. Especially
hard hit were four Southern states-Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky
and Tennessee-losing over 2,000 farms each.
With the death of rural communities directly tied to the loss of
farms, sustainable rural development is one of the dominant terms
in early Farm Bill debates this year. How can agriculture
policy, research, and education efforts help make rural
communities more sustainable?
According to the results of recent "State of the South" surveys,
focus groups and farmer-researcher workshops; part of the answer
lies in encouraging locally-owned, value-added farm enterprises
(LOVAs).
With this in mind, 35 farmers, researchers, and policy-makers
from Washington and throughout the South gathered in Memphis on
July 6-7 to determine how to spur the development of LOVAs. The
participants identified the need for research, education and
policy efforts in the following six areas:
1. Creation of accessible, flexible LOVA technical assistance
from public and private sources directed by farmers experienced
in LOVAs themselves.
2. Enhance markets for sustainable products at the retail buyer
level, starting with education for buyers on consumer trends and
labeling research.
3. Transition from present commodity programs to the creation of
LOVAs, first by challenging the myth that ever-bigger farms
producing least cost raw commodities is the only future for
Southern agriculture.
4. Understand and change local power structures to encourage LOVA
creation and resilience.
5. Short-term public policy education-making LOVAs central to the
1995 Farm Bill.
6. Design a successor to the USDA Agricultural Cooperative
Service to provide easy access to pros and cons of various
alternative business structures, including partnerships,
public/private linkages, employee stock option plans, and
cooperatives.
The Memphis workshop was the tenth and final opportunity workshop
of the "State of the South" project. For a copy of the "State of
the South" Memphis session report, contact: Community Farm
Alliance, 200 Short St. #10, Berea, KY 40403. Phone 606-986-7400
or fax 606-986-4273. The full "State of the South" report will
be out sometime in the Fall.
AUDIOTAPES ON MARKETING
Audio Productions has several cassette tapes available of
workshops from the Ecological Farming Conference and the North
American Farmers' Direct Marketing Conference. A sampling of the
recordings on direct and value-added marketing includes:
Adding Value (K 263)
Connecting With the Media & the Consumer by Ward Sinclair and
Cass Peterson (K 945)
Cheeses for Local Distribution by Boree, Topham and Steinkamp (K
981)
Mail Order by Eichten and Breeden (L 003),
Connecting To Your Customers by Gail Berger and Dori Molletti (L
090)
Why Sell Wholesale When You Can Retail? by Kelso Wessel (L 092)
Direct Marketing Farm Animals in the 90's by Lee & Susan Kelley,
Ester & Harlan Peterson, and Wesley Baker (L 104)
Tapes are normally $8.00 each plus $1.00 for shipping, but Audio
Productions has offered to sell them for $6.00 each plus $1.00
for shipping if you mention that you saw the listing in this
newsletter. Phone toll-free 800-356-2834 to inquire about other
titles or to order.
CALENDAR OF SOUTHERN SUSTAINABLE EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 30: Southern Region SARE/ACE preproposals due for
research and education projects. Phone 404-412-4787.
OCTOBER 10-15: National Organic Standards Board meeting, Red Lion
Inn, Rohnert Park, California. Phone 202-720-2704.
NOVEMBER 4-5: Small Farm Today Seminar & Trade Show, Midway
Exposition Center, Columbia, MO. Phone 800-633-2535.
NOVEMBER 4-6: "Seed Saving," Tennessee Alternative Growers Assoc.
Annual Conference, Standing Stone State Park, TN. Phone
615-653-4402.
NOVEMBER 18-20: Carolina Farm Stewardship Assoc. Annual
Conference, Winthrop College, Rock Hill, SC. Phone 919-968-1030.
DECEMBER 2: Southern Region SARE producer-initiated grant
proposals due. Phone 404-412-4787.
JANUARY 13-15, 1995: Southern SAWG Annual Conference, Gulf State
Park, Gulf Shores, AL. Phone 501-292-3714.
FEBRUARY 2-5, 1995: North American Farmers Direct Marketing
Conference, Knoxville, TN. Phone 615-694-6545.
Rural/Ag/Sustianble
10/10/94--Handsnet Forum--HN1348
SOUTHERN SUSTAINABLE FARMING
September 1994 Issue Number 2
Published by the Community Farm Alliance, 200 Short St. #10,
Berea, KY 40403 Please send all editorial inquiries
and information to:
P.O. Box 324
Elkins, AR 72727
501-292-3714
E-Mail: HN3551@connectinc.com
Interim Editor: Keith Richards
Pioneer Editorial Board: Janet Bachmann, Don Bixby, Heidi Carter,
Wade Howell, Jean Mills, Renee Price, Michael Sligh, Andrew
Stocklinski, Jim Worstell
Southern Sustainable Farming is the voice of the Southern
Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, 47 member organizations
working for more sustainable agriculture in 13 Southern states.
The Southern SAWG assists family farmers and farm communities to
prosper in a healthy environment by helping to remove technical,
institutional and economic barriers to sustainability.
SSAWG Steering Committee:
Jean Mills, 14430 Jackson Trace Rd., Coker. AL 35452.
205-333-8504.
Janet Bachmann, Rt. 8, Box 406, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
501-443-9388.
Wade Howell, Rt. 1, Box 116, Jennings, FL 32053. 904-938-2045.
Andrew Stocklinski, 1300 Pioneer Cir., Watkinsville, GA 30677.
706-769-8688.
Kim Switzer, Rt. 1, Box 18, Cynthiana, KY 41031. 606-234-5263.
Helen Vinton, 5002 Old Jeanerette Rd., New Iberia, LA 70560.
318-367-3277.
Hollis Watkins, PO Box 10433, Jackson, MS 39289. 601-352-1500.
Betty Bailey, PO Box 655, Pittsboro, NC 27312. 919-542-1396.
Shawn Gralla, PO Box 538, Lexington, OK 73051. 405-527-6283.
Tom Trantham, 330 McKelvey Rd., Pelzer, SC 29669. 803-243-4801.
Bob Shine, 450 Davidson Chapel Lane, Bloomington Springs, TN
38545. 615-653-4402.
Gus Townes, 7010 Beckett Rd., Austin, TX 78749. 512-305-9443.
Archer Christian, PO Box 178, Belspring, VA 24058. 703-639-0160.
Contact the representative in your state for more information on
the Southern SAWG.
Michael Sligh, SSAWG Coordinator, PO Box 727, Mauldin, SC 29662.
803-297-8562.
This publication has been made possible through the help of the
Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation,
the Ford Foundation, the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, the Pew
Charitable Trust, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the James C.
Penney Foundation, and Farm Aid.