Women and Sustainable Ag
Deborah A. Cavanaugh (CAVANAUGHD@idea.ag.uiuc.edu)
Wed, 1 Feb 1995 13:19:00 CST
The Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Network (a statewide
coalition of 14 farmer organizations, government agencies,
nonprofits and universities that "promotes the development and
implementation of sustainable agriculture by facilitating the
education, research and political activities of sustainable
agriculture organizations and institutions in Illinois") is
planning our second Farm Family Workshop.
The workshop offers ISAN families the opportunity to share
ideas and get acquainted. We will have several workshops at the
March 31-April 1 meeting. One workshop will focus on women's
experiences when families make the transition to sustainable
farming systems. The Practical Farmers of Iowa had a similar
workshop at the annual meeting held January 6-8.
At last year's workshop we asked folks what issues would
they like to see addressed at the following year's workshop.
Many people wanted to discuss stress management and "surviving as
a minority group when no one around you farms like you."
My question--during this one-hour workshop we would like to
provide information about research in the area of women and how
they adapt to changes when the family shifts to sustainable
farming systems. My sense is that there is literature out there
about the impacts of change on farm families? Is there any work
specific to sustainable ag?
Also, does anyone have information about support groups
specifically for women involved in sustaianable ag? I would appreciate any
information that will make our workshop more successful. Thanks.
Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant
ISAN Director