AGRICULTURE OPPORTUNITIES 2010

The August 2010 Ag Opportunities is now available online at http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/agopp/index.htm

• Program Offers Incentives to Reduce Energy Costs on Small Farms
• Farm Lease Agreements - What's Important and Why?
• Control of Worms in Goats
• Holistic Management Training Sessions
• Growing Growers
• 2010 Regional Grazing Schools
• Grants and Assistance
• Green Hills Farm Project
• IN PRINT/ON-LINE/IN THE NEWS
• ON THE CALENDAR

Past Issues

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Is your farm growing? Ask me about the Grow Your Farm course.

Missouri Beginning Farmer Links: Program Website * Blog * Facebook Group

Debi Kelly, Extension Associate

University of Missouri

234 Ag Eng Bldg Columbia MO 65211-5200
573-882-1905 or 800-433-3704 (MO only)

kellyd@missouri.edu Missouri Alternatives Center Website

"not every family needs a lawyer, not every family needs an accountant, but every family needs a farmer…do you know yours?" (Kathleen Merrigan, USDA Deputy Secretary)

RALLY TODAY - 1:30pm at BLUE VALLEY NORTWEST H.S. -

Sunflower Coal Plant Hearing and Rally

Time	Today · 1:30pm - 9:00pm
Location	Blue Valley Northwest High School 135th and Switzer Overland Park, KS
Created By	Mary Candice Shindler, Scott Allegrucci, Margaret TranShow all (7)
More Info	It’s game time! Public hearings for Sunflower Electric’s coal plant announced – we need you there! *** Join GPACE and Sierra Club for a clean energy rally before the hearing in Overland Park with Bruce Nilles, a national figure in the nation’s shift beyond coal, recently named “Big Coal’s Worst Nightmare” in Rolling Stone magazine’s “Top 100 people Who Are Changing America.” When: 1:30 pm on August 2nd Where: Blue Valley Northwest High School – same location as the hearing (Note: the hearing will be in the auditorium, we will meet in the Commons Area, through the main entrance by the flag poles.) We need to have a strong presence at these hearings. Will you attend? • Overland Park - Monday, August 2 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Blue Valley Northwest High School, 135th and Switzer, Overland Park • Salina - Wednesday, August 4 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Highway Patrol Training Center Auditorium, 2025 East Iron, Salina. • Garden City - Thursday, August 5 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. 801 Campus Drive, Garden City If you are unable to attend a hearing, you can still provide comments on this project to KDHE. Submit your comments at www.sierraclub.org/coal/ks/ For factsheets, talking points, and carpool information, visit our Kansas Beyond Coal website: www.sierraclub.org/coal/ks/ CONTACT: Stephanie.Cole@sierraclub.org

"Volunteers reported they "had a blast" helping the low-income urban farmers..."

KU Med students help out KCK urban farmers

Posted by on August 2, 2010 - 9:35am

Tagged in

• University of Kansas Medical Center
• Volunteerism

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Courtesy of Paul Grahovac

On Thursday, July 29, 14 University of Kansas Medical Center students descended on two vacant lots in northeast Kansas City, Kan., previously the site of drug houses, and in a torrent and flurry of work over a period of five hours weeded, harvested, washed, weighed, recorded, and packaged organically-grown vegetables to be sold in suburban farmers markets throughout the Greater Kansas City area.

Nineteen students worked at the New Roots for Refugees farm in the Juniper Gardens public housing project just off the Fairfax Exit on Interstate 70.

The other 35 students worked on eight other urban farms in the KCK area.

Diane Hentges, Director of the United Way of Wyandotte County Volunteer Center, made the match based on a smaller event she arranged this spring – after nine KUMC volunteers reported they "had a blast" helping the low-income urban farmers.

She recognized when she was contacted by Grahovac's Army of Volunteers that helping urban farmers was a worthwhile cause and volunteer opportunity.

Paul Grahovac's group is focused on helping urban farmers in KCK's inner-city -- the Oak Grove neighborhood around 5th & Quindaro.

"We knew we could handle 20 volunteers, but when Diane asked if we could handle up to 75, I got KCCUA involved," says Grahovac.

The Oak Grove Farm Business Program is led by Isaac Jefferson and is an Affiliate Farm of the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture (KCCUA) located in KCK.

Katherine Kelley, KCCUA Executive Director, quickly tasked Ami Freeberg and the rest of her staff with allocating volunteers to ten urban farms in Wyandotte County.

"With the growing interest in healthy eating, chemical-free vegetables, and local food production, I think we're going to see more and more people want to be part of it through volunteering," said Grahovac, who led the Oak Grove KUMC volunteers when they met at 5th and Haskell in KCK.

http://www.kansascitykansan.com/blogs/ku-med-students-help-out-kck-urban-farmers/7953

SAN Announcements (Kaw River Valley Area)

SUSTAINABILITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Lawrence Kansas
3 August 2010
Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy

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ECO RADIO KC ¤ WEEKLY ECOLOGICAL ISSUES RADIO SHOW
Tuesday, 3 August 2010, 12:00noon ¤ on Kansas City Community Radio
Listen at KKFI-FM 90.1, or on web-streaming at http://www.kkfi.org/

On Eco-Radio KC this week, host Steve Mann will explore edible forests gardens, edible landscaping, permaculture examples, followed by a review of the Second Annual Kaw Permaculture Tour highlights.

Stay tuned at 12:30 when the Bioneers radio series presents "Sisters in Spirit: Women Transforming the World". H istory is a tale told by the winners. How then can we reclaim the voices of those who have been historically written out - silenced through the ages? Perhaps as women write “herstory” into history, we’ll see clearly the eternal power, brilliance and unique value of women’s contributions. Join media innovator Jensine Larsen and feminist historian Sally Roesch Wagner as they share the emerging landscape of an inclusive, sustainable and just society at whose heart is the leadership of women.
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KDHE PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS WEEK ON SUNFLOWER ELECTRIC COAL PLANT
Permit public hearings:
Monday, 2 August 2010, 2:00pm & 6:30pm
Blue Valley Northwest Highschool, 135th and Switzer, Overland Park (find a map here)

Wednesday, 4 August 2010, 2:00pm & 6:30pm
Highway Patrol Training Center Auditorium, 2025 East Iron, Salina (find a map here)

Thursday, 5 August 2010, 2:00pm & 6:30pm
801 Campus Drive, Garden City (find a map here)

Advocates for clean renewable energy, rural economic development, and green jobs advancement are hoping to convince the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) to deny the latest permit application by Sunflower Power for a coal fired power plant in Holcomb Kansas.

After wasting two years of Kansas Legislature time spent debating, revising and finally defeating two coal fired power stations, a proposed Sunflower Electric 895mw Holcomb Station coal plant is up for new permit hearings. Governor Sebelius vetoed the initial coal plants, but within a week of assuming the Governorship, Mark Parkinson made a deal to allow Sunflower to file another application. Meanwhile, serious and productive plans are languishing for wind power support, transmission line upgrades, consumer financing for renewable energy, true net metering, etc.

Kansas has a choice of a dirty energy path (clean coal is an oxymoron), or a clean energy path. The Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy says it best: "The dirty path would saddle us with a fifty year commitment to imported, dirty coal with an influx of temporary construction jobs starting in about six years, limited permanent jobs starting in about ten years, and no access to the coming renewable energy economy. The clean path would open up investment in native, cleaner fuels like natural gas and wind that will provide Kansans ongoing job creation, broad revenue opportunities, and the foundation to attract manufacturing and service industries for generations to come…starting in less than two years."

Go to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Kansas web site to learn more info about submitting comments to the KDHE.
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DESIGN YOUR PERMACULTURE DREAM ¤ PERMACULTURE CONVERGENCE

"The Next Industrial Revolution" screening ¤ guest speaker Warren Brush
Wednesday, 4 August 2010, 7:00pm - $
Liberty Hall, 644 Mass St., Lawrence KS 66044

This is the opening of a five day permaculture series. The Karlin Family Farms and Films For Action will feature a film exploring the ecological design concepts of revolutionary thinker William McDonough, followed by guest speaker Warren Brush who advocates green jobs and community design based on permaculture principles. View the trailer at The Next Industrial Revolution. Warren Brush's presentation is titled "Sustainable Vocations and Emerging Green Economies". Check out his web site athttp://www.permaculturedesign.us/.

Advanced Permaculture Design Workshop taught by Warren Brush
Thursday-Friday, 5-6 August 2010, 7:00am-9:00pm - $$$
Karlin Family Farms, 3033 Kasold Drive, Lawrence KS 66047

Entitled "Designing Your Dream", the two day intensive will cover design methods of: patterns and process, energy design flows, site assessment, concept planning, urban strategies, agroforestry, wholistic management, design tools, and permaculture as a business model. Prerequsite is a Permaculture Design Certificate or equivalent experience in permaculture applications. Warren Brush is co-founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis & Permaculture Farm near Santa Barbara CA, and he does permaculture consulting around the world. A $25 down payment is due by 31 July. For more info and to register, contact , orcall 785-371-4700.

1st Annual Midwest Permaculture Convergence
Saturday-Sunday, 7-8 August 2010, ST 8:30am-11:00pm, SN 7:30am-6:00pm - $$
Karlin Family Farms, 3033 Kasold Drive, Lawrence KS 66047

This is to be a celebratory and creative event with a bioregional council, visual and performance arts, networking and information sharing, and featuring Open Space principlesof self-organizing assembly. Warren Brush will also be there over the weekend. There will be workshops on cob building, organic gardening, compost privies, solar showers, and more, and technology resource sharing of electronic files, DVDs, PPTs, etc. (bring your flash drives). Meals and camping will be provided. For more info and to register, contact, or call 785-371-4700.
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LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 11 August 2010, 5:30pm
Recycling and Resource Recovery Annex, 320 N.E. Industrial Lane, Lawrence KS

The August agenda will be available soon. The S.A.B. meets monthly to discuss any and all aspects of furthering sustainability policies and practices by the City of Lawrence government and private persons. The public is welcome. Minutes are finalized in about a month after each meeting http://www.lawrenceks.org/wrr/envadvisoryboard
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KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Wednesday, 11 August, 4:00-6:00pm
Mid America Regional Council, Rivergate Center 2nd floor, 600 Broadway, KC MO

The Environmental Management Commission promotes environmental awareness and resource efficiency to the City's leader and staff, to assist the progress of Kansas City toward sustainability. Members of the general public are encouraged to attend and observe meetings and to join and participate in its efforts. More information and the EMC April 2009 minutes are available at http://www.kcmo.org/manager.nsf/web/emc
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FOOD NOT LAWNS ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2210 A
Wednesdays, 4,11,18,25 August & 1 September 2010, 5 sessions, 7:00-9:00pm
UMKC School of Medicine, Theatre C, 24th & Charlotte Streets, KC MO

Grow food not lawns! Increase local food security, improve your diet, beautify your surroundings, build community, reduce pollution and energy use (It takes 87 calories of fuel to transport one calorie of perishable fresh fruit from west coast to east coast). As supporters of the Food Not Lawns national movement, we will hold five sessions dealing with topics that include whole system design, garden preparation, permaculture, water-wise gardening, seed saving, planting, and free resources. Presenters include master and highly-qualified gardeners. Class fee is $16, plus $5 for materials. Register at UMKC Communiversity. Bring a picture ID. Limit 40. More info at Food Not Lawns KC, or .
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URBAN FOOD PRODUCTION ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2301 A
Tuesdays, 17 & 24 August 2010, 2 sessions, 7:00-9:00pm
UMKC School of Medicine, Theatre C, 24th & Charlotte Streets, KC MO

Learn about a new model for urban sustainable food production. We’ll explore food production possibilities in the urban forest, abandoned urban lots, yards, commercial lands, roofs and flood plains. We’ll discuss holistic ecology based on managing sustainable urban agriculture systems that protect and restore our place on Earth. Please bring $20 for a reference book (optional). Class fee is $16. Register at UMKC Communiversity. Bring a picture ID. Limit 20. More info at Food Not Lawns KC, or .
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LAWRENCE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, 17 August 2010, 6:00pm
Public Works Conference Rm., City Hall Ground Floor, 6th & Massachusetts St.

The agenda will be available soon. The Committee works to improve bicycle safety and awareness through education of motorists and non-motorists, develops bicycle plans and maps, and advises the City and County Commissions on bicycle priorities and needs. The agenda and information can be downloaded at Bicycle Advisory Comm | agendas & minutes.
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"SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS DESIGN" ¤ K.U. ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING 665
Thursday, 19 August 2010, K.U. classes begin

ARCE 665 is one of the only renewable energy classes taught at the University of Kansas. A quantitative and qualitative study of active, passive, wind, and photovoltaic energy conversion systems for buildings. Solar radiation and system performance prediction. Prerequisites: thermodynamics, programming, and math. Taught by Prof. Brian Rock.
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SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK - MONTHLY MEETING
Sunday, 22 August 2010, 11:00am
Location TBA, Lawrence KS

Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy
S.A.N. organizes societal scale action for ecological sustainability both in our personal lives, and through public policy changes. "Be the change you want to see". The S.A.N. meeting agenda will include:

• upcoming Transition Kaw Valley small group presentations
• Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair participation
  
• designs for a solar food dehydrator; workshop plans
  
• S.A.N.web site developments
• Lawrence Peak Oil Plan, draft review
  

Please join us
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RESILIENCE: PERSONAL PREPARATION ¤ BY CHRIS MARTENSON

Chris Martenson has researched and produced some of the most comprehensive information on the triple crises of climate disruption-peak oil-economic crash, as well as how to prepare yourself and your community. His latest effort RESILIENCE: Personal Preparation is in conjunction with the Post Carbon Institute, and gives a practical perspective on how each of us can transition to a sustainable lifestyle. It includes a video and a downloadable PDF.

For background data on the triple crisis, he has prepared The 3E Crash Course which is packed with three hours and twenty minutes of valuable information. An abbreviated version is also available at The Crash Course 45 minute version, and you can keep up with his latest developments at Chris Martenson - global economy, environment, & energy challenges.
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LAWRENCE PEAK OIL TASK FORCE
Thursday, 26 August 2010, 4:00pm
City Manager's Conference Rm., City Hall 4th Floor, 6th & Massachusetts St.

The draft Peak Oil Plan is going through revision and fine tuning. More of that will be addressed at this meeting. The public is welcome at the meetingsto provide input. Meetings are open to the public, and the public is encouraged to attend. And the Peak Oil Task Force web page has developed anextensive list of resources (click on "resources") including other cities' action plans such as San Francisco and Portland, videos, advocacy groups like Post Carbon Institute and Transition Boulder County, and key data and reports.
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MARAIS DES CYGNES WATERSHED BASIN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
Thursday, 29-31 August 2010, 9:00am-4:00pm - $$
Spring Hill KS, and Butler MO

This is a three-day leadership series emphasizing the consideration of water quality in the basin. Residents, landowners, city and county elected officials, government and agency staff and other civic leaders are invited to enroll. The series will cover: identified threats to basin water quality, best management practices, vegetation and buffer zones for water clarification, grant availability for program implementation, and developing leadership skills. It is unclear whether the program will address prevention or minimization of water quality threats, or simply to mitigate those threats that land development creates. For more info go tohttp://hwqp.org/Brochure2010.pdf or contact Leslie Rigney at or 913-219-3566.

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The SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Inc. is a Kansas not-for-profit organization. DONATIONS ARE APPRECIATED, and checks can be mailed to P.O.Box 1064, Lawrence KS 66044. Our mission is to advocate and organize societal scale action to address sustainability issues. The triple crises of Energy-Ecology-Economy are building so rapidly that large scale action is needed immediately and methodically to overcome institutional barriers and advance public policy that preserves ecological sustainability. Our focus is to build a relocalized economy-ecology in concert with the Transition Town movement occurring in many other communities. To join the Sustainability Action Network please contact us at

Our current projects include:
1) Transition Kaw Valley - initiating transition to a relocalized post-carbon economy, and municipal level Peak Oil response planning.
2) Kaw Permaculture Collaborative - developing skills and resources for poly-cropping sustainable food production.
3) Energy Conservation & Renewables - advancing a green economy through decentralized technologies and regulations, for conservation and renewable energy.
4) Land Consortium - organizing interested stakeholders to acquire prime farmland in the urban fringe for land-based economic development and regional food security.
5) Water Rights and Watersheds - protecting the water commons, the source of all life, from privatization and contamination, and restoring our watersheds.
6) Electric & Human Powered Vehicles - promoting neighborhood electric vehicles and utility tricycles, including infrastructure and pro-active regulations.
7) Weekly Sustainability Announcements - informing and encouraging others to become active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action driven groups.
8) Collaboration with sister organizations - such as: The Light Center eco-village; Kaw Valley Food System farm-based economic development; Citizens for Responsible Planning; Films for Action; Kansas River Valley Growers fighting for local water rights; national efforts by the Sustainable Energy Network; KC Metro groups like the Kansas City Food Circle and the All Species Project, etc.

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