Support local growers - Write or call-in to support the Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG)

See also: http://sustainableagriculture.net/publications/grassrootsguide/local-food-systems-rural-development/value-added-producer-grants/

Building New Markets for Farmers; Bringing Fresh Food to Consumers Hard times require smart investments. A faster financial recovery demands that we invest in the economic and health benefits of increasing access to fresh, healthy food and building new market opportunities for small and mid-size farmers. The Value-Added Producer Grant Program (VAPG) provides capital to farmers to develop new business enterprises that bring new local and regional products to market. It targets projects that strengthen the profitability and competitiveness of small and medium sized farmers and ranchers. It supports production that is inherently value-added such as organic, grass fed, hormone and antibiotic free. VAPG is under threat in this budget-cutting climate. Your Senator sits on the subcommittee responsible for funding agriculture and will be making important decisions about VAPG funding very soon. Please call Senator Roy Blunt today and urge him to ask for $30 million for the Value Added Producer Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2012. Calling is Easy: Call Senator Roy Blunt's office at (202) 224-5721 and ask for his aide, Zach Kinne. If he is unavailable, please leave a brief message on the voicemail with the following message (or leave your message with the receptionist): The Message is Simple: I am a constituent, calling to urge Senator Blunt to support funding of $30 million for the Value-Added Producer Grant Program. VAPG helps small and midsized farms develop new businesses and markets which lead to increased farm income, the creation of new jobs, and better and fresher food choices for consumers. In Missouri, 81 farms have received over $13 million in VAPG grants in the first eight years of the program! Click here to let us know how your call went. Your call is important, thank you! Learn More: Click here to read about how the Pinnows used their VAPG grant to build a market for Wisconsin lamb. Click here to read how a farmer in Ohio used the VAPG program. Click here to see how a farmer in Missouri used the VAPG program. Click here to learn more about the Value Added Producer Grant Program.

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

20110430 - Farmers' Community Market at BROOKSIDE - 63rd & Wornall - Saturdays, 8am-1pm

Flavor, Fun and Fresh this week at the Market! Thanks for coming out in mass to make last week such a great market opening! Some of our farmers had their best week ever thanks to you! There are a lot of activities and new stuff happening this Saturday, so be sure to read on… We would like to give a BIG shout out to our new vendors Oishii, Stony Crest Urban Farms & Muroak: Oishii means delicious! Lance Wade Duffin features fresh, organic confections and baked goods, along with beautiful food themed artwork and apparel. This week he will have a selection of hand-crafted caramels including Rosemary, Fleur de Sel, and Pasilla chili. He also will have artisan shortbread in traditional Scottish, Lemon and Chocolate-Kahlua flavors. We will also have hand printed t-shirts and aprons. http://lanceduffin.com/ http://foodieproject.blogspot.com/ http://borderstargarden.blogspot.com/ Muroak Farm Hello, from Muroak Farm. This week we should have, Freckles lettuce (this is a romaine type with red speckles) very tasty and pleasing to the eye. We will also have leaf lettuce, potted strawberry starts, potted blackberry starts, red Russian kale plants and also a number of beautiful clocks and mirrors made from cherry, oak, walnut, locust and ash. These wood items are all hand made here in our wood shop from wood selected in our local area by myself and a friend of mine. We will also have a few bags of grape vine smoker chips for those of you who like the good taste of grape smoked meats (featured in our chef’s demo). Please stop by and visit John Madina and take a look! Stony Crest Urban Farm Rodger Kube & Diane Hershberger We had a great time on opening day of the market! It was great to connect with people who love fresh local food. Red and green colors are no longer just for Christmas - they are the color of fresh spring vegetables we will be bringing to market this week.... Radishes, Spinach, Swiss Chard (both rainbow and butter varieties), Bibb, Mixed Leaf and Romaine Lettuces, Sweet 7-TopTurnip Greens, Baby Bulls Blood Beet Greens, Pak Choi, and Spring Garlic. In addition to the Beet Greens recipes, we have 4 yummy recipes for using Bibb lettuce. Our "City Salad Bowls" were a big hit last week. We will again have a selection of baby romaines, leaf lettuce and Mesclun to choose from. Finally, the ground might be dry enough to plant the healthy hosta and daylilies assortment we offer. See you Saturday! IN OUR CHEF’S TENT – Demo’s at 10 am & 12 noon The boys are back! Two young, hip local Midwest chef “mercenaries” are back for a rare appearance in support of the market and local food. Ben Johnson and Josh Rosen, formerly of Stonehenge catering in KC, and Zano’s Italian Restaurant, have returned from their respective US tours to show us where the BEEF is this Saturday (in the tent at Wells Family Farm – thanks, Kim!). Josh Rosen started young with Jasper Mirable, then went on to graduate from Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale. His most recent work was at the highly rated Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn, a diamond resort in Arizona. Ben started on the Country Club Plaza at Japengo, and went on to local Brookside favorite Joe D’s. He’s been knocking out healthy gourmet food at a private, holistic rehab center in Colorado. They will be dueling out the steaks on the grill with some beautiful fresh market produce dishes on the side! It promises to be a gorgeous plate – fit for an art fair weekend. IN CHILDREN’S CORNER Bring on the kids this weekend for their own Brookside Market Food Art! Children’s Corner will feature activities that showcase different kinds of edibles, where they come from, what they look like, etc. Kids can create original art, either painted or sculpted! Much thanks to Meri Bara for her volunteer efforts! Lastly, but most importantly, here are the treats from our favorite Brookside Market vendors: Blue Door Farm: Wow! What a great opening day. Thanks to everyone who came out and enjoyed the day, despite the chilly spring weather. It was wonderful to see everyone again. I spent this week planting, weeding and organizing the greenhouse. Everything is suddenly growing so quickly! The lettuce is really loving this cool spring weather, and I will have plenty of gorgeoushead lettuce and bagged leaf lettuce. I'll have the always mild and luscious butterhead lettuce, crispy romaine, beautiful red bibb/romaine, petite little buttercrunch and green leaf lettuce that is perfect for a burger or sandwich. The spring garlic, for those of you who missed me raving about it last week, is insane this year. The winter was apparently perfect for garlic growth, because the garlic is huge this spring. Also delicious, as demonstrated by Jasper last week. (Thanks Jasper!). Spring garlic is simply the garlic version of a spring onion - the garlic plant before it starts to bulb. You prepare it much as you would a leek - just coarse chop the white and pale green sections and use it in dishes that need a sweet, green, garlicky flavor. Excellent grilled! Because the garlic growing so quickly, the "window" for my spring garlic may be a little shorter this year - get it while it lasts! Once it starts to bulb we must wait for garlic scapes and then full sized garlic. I'm hoping that my radishes will finish sizing up before Saturday. As of Wednesday morning, your guess is as good as mine. :) I'll also have to see about the first picking ofarugula. With luck, it will be ready. I'll also be bringing more lambsquarter, which is young and tender (and everywhere in my high tunnel). I'll also be bringing a great recipe and some nutritional facts. This green is so healthy, so tasty, and grows great in our climate. It's not a weed, it's a midwestern gourmet specialty! As I mentioned, the transplants are going wild in the greenhouse. I'll have lettuce, chard, broccoli and cabbage starts, as well as the warm season favorites: many, many varieties oftomatoes (including several that do well in containers) and peppers (sweet and hot). I'll have some new varieties available that I didn't have last week. I will once again be bringing artichoke starts, and a wide variety of herbs, including basil, thyme, savory, parsley and chives. I'll also have flowers to brighten up your yard or garden, including nasturtiums, marigolds, cosmos, calendula and zinnias. See you Saturday! Red Ridge Farms As I wander through the rows of baby plants coming up at Red Ridge Farms, I am very excited about the market season. A CSA member visited today and exclaimed about the wonderful fragrances she was experiencing- rows of herbs, kale, peas, cilantro all scenting the air and making her hungry! So come on out to the market and shop by scent! We'll have fresh cut cilantro, dill, chives and a few other herbs. Hopefully some fragrant bouquets, and all the sweet crunchy leafy greens you need: leaf and head lettuce, spinach, baby kale, arugula, baby greens, and microgreens (cut and by the tray). Our spring onion are delicious, and if you haven't tried some wild garlic, you need to grab a bundle before they're gone for the season. Of course we'll have our famous herb transplants, a few annuals, tomatoes, peppers, and mixed flower and herb containers- just in time for Mother's Day. Several of you found our rodent and rabbit repellent last week- come tell us how it worked for you. We created this product out of necessity- 11 ingredients (essential oils, food grade oils, and cedar chips) all with the purpose of keeping those pesky 4 legged vegetarians away from your garden and yard. It's working for us- a great, safe way to rid our garden of veggie predators. And one more product: go to www.chicketydoodoo.com and read all about this wonderful certified organic compost. If you want a bag, come see us Saturday! From the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture’s Gibbs Road Community Farm Thank you all ---each and every one---for coming out to what is being called the best opening day of the Brookside Farmers’ Market. It was a great day. We look forward to the summer and all it may bring. Thanks to Market Manager Pam Bramlett! Brookside is known as the place to get the city’s best produce and is growing into the place to hang out no matter what your age-- to listen to music, visit with friends, learn a thing or two and have some fun. Thanks, Pam! We appreciate your hard work and lovely presence at the market. In case you’re wondering…it is time to plant your garden! We’ll be bringing lots of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil and other herb transplants. Cool weather crops are loving this weather, so get your Swiss chard, kale, broccoli, lettuce and kohlrabi transplants this weekend. If you can’t wait to grow your own, then we’ll be happy to supply all your produce needs for the week. Come early to get the best selection! We’ll have spinach, Swiss chard, kale,lovely salad mix, lettuce mix, watercress, Funky Fresh stir-fry mix, head lettuce and romaine, collard greens, cucumbers, arugula, broccoli raab, Chinese broccoli, turnips, radishes, carrots, beets, spring onions, scallions and many fresh herbs. Always remember the advice Michael Pollen shares with us…EAT FOOD. Along with our own…HAVE SOME FUN! From Bread of Life Hi Brookside Friends, We loved being back at Market this year and look forward to the season of greens, tomatoes, squash ( I love zucchini bread!) and all the veggies in between. Luke and Josiah will be at market this week with all the breads, granolas, Gluten Free baked goods and breakfast burritos. Hope your week is sunny, Luke, Josiah and Kathy Bear Creek Farms Another cold wet week here - we are so ready for sun and warmth! The wood ducks, though, are enjoying swimming in the creek right behind the house and i am loving seeing them. Soon they will head off to lay their eggs in trees along the Bear Creek. The greenhouses are full of toads - one has buried himself in a big pot of herbs - we can only see his big toad eyes looking out. This week we'll have more of the beautiful red loose leaf and green romaine lettuces, green onions, crunchy dark green spinach, spring garlic, rhubarb, ASPARAGUS, and more! My golly, we've been having roasted asparagus every night this week - what a treat! We'll also have plants for your gardens - HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, 100's of varieties, PEPPERS, EGGPLANT, HERBS, and fruits - FIGS, RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, KIWIS, GRAPES, and more. Now is the time to fill yards with edible plants and this week is supposed to finally dry up and be sunny - so the perfect time to plant! Thanks for all the wonderful hellos after a long winter - and thanks for all of your support at market. We look forward to seeing you all Saturday! Lonnie and Jeanna Logan and Makayla Robbins, Jim and Austin From Back Acres - The Guenther's Hello Everyone, We will have head lettuce (red and green), red loose leaf lettuce, radishes, spinach, kale and arugula. We will also be bringing pasture pork and goat milk by pre-order/pre-pay. We will miss Benedict Builders this week due to a family function. See you at the Market! Pam Farmers' Community Market at BROOKSIDE - 63rd & Wornall - Saturdays, 8am-1pm http://www.farmerscommunitymarket.com/ IN FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/pages/Farmers-Community-Market-at-Brookside/115620695123742 In BLOGSPOT http://brooksidefarmersmarket.blogspot.com/

ROSEDALE FARMERS MARKET - Season Opening on Sunday - NOON

Double your SNAP & Vision $DOLLAR$
with the BEANS & GREENS program at RFM!

Opening Day of the Rosedale Farmers Market! May 1, noon - 3 p.m. 340 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66103 For more information: 913-645-7826 info (a) rosedalefarmersmarket . com

Dandelion Greens Salad Learn how to make this delicious dish made out of some of the most readily available greens around! Dig In! Rosedale Healthy Kids Initiative volunteers will help kids plant their own vegetables and flowers. The Rosedale Farmers Market will be open Sundays, May - Sept., from 12-3 p.m. May 1: Opening Day June 25-26: Urban Farms & Gardens Tour Kaye Johnston, songwriter & acoustic musician http://www.reverbnation.com/kayejohnston Kaye Johnston is a soulful and talented songwriter who performs her music with great emotion and grace. Musical from the tender age four, Kaye is classically trained in piano and voice and also plays mandolin and guitar.

Friend ROSEDALE FARMERS MARKET on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend

Lettuce Radishes Asparagus Local farm eggs Onions Homemade bread Sorghum molasses Vegetable transplants Flower transplants All natural body products

SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(Food Stamps, MO)

VISION = SNAP in Kansas

Kansas City Beans & Greens
$DOUBLE$ $DOLLAR$ = http://beansandgreens.org/
and on Facebook = http://www.facebook.com/beansgreenskc

SAN - 2011-04-26 - Sustainability Action Network - Announcements - Greater KC via Kaw River Valley (Lawrence, KS ~ K.C.))

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

26 April 2011

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SUBSCRIBER NOTICE

You won't get the Sustainability Announcements again ¤ unless you sign up for the "auto-send" system NOW. Next week we'll be on a new mail system.

To continue receiving the Sustainability Announcements, you will need to click here » Update your subscription to the Sustainability Announcements. Enter your name and e-mail address, and follow the instructions. The system will send you a confirmation message with a "Confirmation Link" which you MUST click in order to complete your subscription confirmation. If you don't get the confirmation message, check in your junk mail folder for blocked as spam.

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CHERNOBYL EXPLOSION AND CORE MELTDOWN ¤ 25 YEARS AGO TODAY
26 April 1986



At 1:23 a.m. on 26 April 1986, a catastrophic nuclear accident demolished Chernobyl Unit 4. Power plant operators lost control of the reactor while conducting experiments at low power. In a series of enormous explosion of the reactor core, a mammoth amount of heat and disintegrated radioactive fuel violently erupted into the atmosphere, 30-40 times the radioactivity of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs. A fire that burned for 10 days spread radioactive fallout over tens of thousands of square miles, driving more than a quarter of a million people permanently from their homes. Estimates of related deaths from cancer range from 4,000 to over 980,000. Additional information is available at Chernobyl: Basic Facts. And a series of sobering photos can be viewed at The Chernobyl Disaster: 25 Years Ago.
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FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ¤ DAY 46 UPDATE

Last Thursday, 21 April, a 6.3 earthquake struck Japan (#6 at last count). There are no reports of consequences at this time. The Japanese government has declared the 12 mile-radius evacuation zone to be a permanent exclusion zone, with anyone violating it subject to fines and jail time.

But at present, the little-mentioned fuel rod cooling pools are the critical concern. These cooling pools were designed into the roofs of the buildings (we're not making this up). And with the previous explosions, the structural integrity of four buildings are in danger from the weight of the water. These cooling pools contain radiation 20-times greater than in the reactors themselves, and because there are no pumps operating to circulate the water, the temperatures are reaching boiling. So TEPCO keeps adding tons of water to the pools. Meanwhile, this water is also leaking into the turbine buildings and the groundwater. in this YouTube video, Dr. Helen Caldicott makes a very clear comparison of this dire situation to that of Chernobyl - Dr Helen Caldicott - Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Far Worse than Chernobyl. You can also read the latest reports at - Nuclear Crisis in Japan - Updates.

If you agree that our climate solutions don't need nuclear energy, you might consider signing the following - A Simple Statement On Nuclear Power and Climate Change.
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"I start off with the premise that nuclear energy is not optimal and so I am not a nuclear energy proponent,"

President Barack Obama's support this week for the construction of more nuclear power plants in the United States, amid the ongoing nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, must be considered as among the most wrong-headed and irrational positions ever taken by a US president

President Barack Obama's support this week for the construction of more nuclear power plants in the United States, amid the ongoing nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, must be considered as among the most wrong-headed and irrational positions ever taken by a US president

DR. HELEN CALDICOTT ¤ FOUNDATION FOR A NUCLEAR FREE PLANET

For more than three decades, Dr. Caldicott has been exposing the fallacies of "safe" nuclear power generation and the claim of low-level radioactive exposure being safe. In this article from The Guradian UK, she once again debunks the cavalier views of nuclear apologists, in context of both Chernobyl and Fukushima. "By reassuring the public that things aren't too bad, Monbiot and others at best misinform, and at worst misrepresent or distort, the scientific evidence of the harmful effects of radiation exposure. Internal radiation emanates from radioactive elements which enter the body by inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. The grave effects of internal emitters are of the most profound concern at Fukushima. It is inaccurate and misleading to use the term "acceptable levels of external radiation" in assessing internal radiation exposures. To do so, as Monbiot has done, is to propagate inaccuracies and to mislead the public." Her statements are well researched and supported, and her reasoning is hard to challenge - How nuclear apologists mislead the world over radiation.

She has established the Foundation for a Nuclear Free Planet to further public education about the often underestimated and poorly understood medical hazards and public health dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear power. She is the author of the book "Nuclear Power is Not the Answer", available at her website.
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KKFI COMMUNITY RADIO ¤ ECOLOGICAL SHOWS THIS WEEK
Listen at KKFI-FM 90.1, or web-streaming at http://www.kkfi.org/

Tuesday, 26 April, 5:00am ¤ New Dimensions Media
Dr. Jean Bolen, MD, tells us that trees are our essential partners in life on this planet. She also makes the connection between the oppression of women and girls and the devastation of forests by man. Bolen believes, "If this world was a good place for children and women it would be a hugely different world."

Tuesday, 26 April, 9:00am ¤ GRIT Radio
This wide-ranging show will cover the Universal Declaration of Rights for Mother Earth (see article below), as well as environmental crusaders Antonia Juhaz, Tracie Washington, and water activist Maude Barlow.

Friday, 29 April, 9:30am ¤ Bioneers Radio Series
Bioneers presents "Energy Security: The Growth of Soft Energy". The 2002 California electricity crisis triggered the worst reflexes of many business and political leaders, who clamored for more fossil fuel power plants and fewer environmental limits. With the September 11th attacks has come the increased recognition that how we make and distribute energy is nearly impossible to protect. The Rocky Mountain Institute’s Hunter Lovins and renewable energy expert David Katz examine how these challenges present opportunities for dramatic shifts in energy production.

Monday, 2 May, 6:00pm ¤ locally produced Eco-Radio KC
Host Steve Mann will be discussing the new book, Deep Green Resistance with two of the authors, Lierre Kieth and Aric McBay. They describe how our industrial society is the most destructive to ever exist, and offer a strategy to stop the destruction and transition to a ecologically sustainable society.
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TRANSITION KAW VALLEY ¤ TOWARDS AN ENERGY RESILIANT COMMUNITY
Wednesday, 27 April 2011, 7:00pm
700 Mississippi St., Lawrence KS 66044 (Michael's office above garage)

The Kaw Valley Transition Initiative is addressing climate disruption and peak oil inflation at the local level, a relocalization effort similar to hundreds around the globe. Wednesday's meeting will be a round table sharing of people's vision, resources, and skills that can contribute to furthering Transition Kaw Valley.

The Transition movement was begun by Rob Hopkins in Great Britain, and in the U.S. is coordinated by Transition US based in Sebastapol CA. They help local initiatives with resources and publications, and they have trainers available to conduct local training sessions. For more info, or to get on the S.A.N. Transition Kaw Valley e-mail list, contact them at <morlinc@sunflower.com>.
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DISCOUNT DEADLINE FOR A PERMACULTURE DESIGN SERIES WITH WARREN BRUSH
Saturday, 30 April 2011 - $$$
(see event listing below - 17-21 May)

Warren Brush is returning to Lawrence to teach a four day Advanced Permaculture Design course from Tuesday-Saturday, 17-21 May. Tuesday evening is "Intro to Permaculture" lecture; Wednesday, Delaware Street Commons hosts a fundamentals session; Thursday's urban intensive session is at Forest Floor Permaculture; Friday-Saturday culminates with broad acre design at Karlin Family Farm. But you need to register NOW to receive the discount. To register and get more info, go to Advanced Permaculture with Warren Brush, or call (785) 371-4700. More details are further below.
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MYCORRHIZAL SOIL BIOREMEDIATION WORKSHOP
Saturday, 30 April 2011, 10:00am-1:00pm - $$
12th Street Homestead, 1145 Pennsylvania St., Lawrence KS 66044

This hands-on workshop will address concerns of cleaning up contaminated soils in urban brownfields, specifically for urban food gardeners. With special guest speaker, Trish Jackson PhD. Mycelia are the filamentous organism present in all soils for which mushrooms are the fruiting body. Paul Stamets of Fungi Perfecti calls mycelia the "grand dissemblers of nature" because they break down complex substances into simpler components. And that's how mycelia remove contaminants from soil, including petroleum byproducts, plastic residues, PCBs and even dioxin. Come with appropriate gardening attire. Please RSVP at <12sthomestead@gmail.com>.
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BOLIVIA'S "MOTHER OF ALL LAWS" TO ENSHRINE RIGHTS OF NATURE

Bolivia is set to pass the world's first laws granting all nature equal rights to humans. The Law of Mother Earth, now agreed by politicians and grassroots social groups, redefines the country's rich mineral deposits as "blessings". The law draws deeply on indigenous concepts that view nature as a sacred home, the Pachamama (Mother Earth) on which we intimately depend. Specific rights of nature are defined as the rights to life and regeneration, biodiversity, water, clean air, balance, and restoration. The law will be backed up by a new Ministry of Mother Earth. Read more at Bolivia enshrines natural world's rights with Law of Mother Earth and The Law of Mother Earth: Behind Bolivia's Historic Bill.
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NATIVE MEDICINAL GARDEN PLANTING AT K.U. SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
Tuesday, 3 May 2011, 3:00-5:00pm
School of Pharmacy patio (south side of building), 2010 Becker Dr., west campus, Lawrence KS

The faculty and staff of the Native Medicinal Plant Research Program at the University of Kansas will host this public planting of a medicinal plant garden. The garden will have five themed beds of medicinal plants, about 70 species total. The event will open with a short presentation about the new garden as well as KU’s first medicinal garden, planted by the School of Pharmacy in the 1920s. For more info contact Kirsten Bosnak, nativeplants@ku.edu or 864-6267
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COTTIN'S FARMERS' MARKET ¤ REAR PARKING LOT
Thursday, 5 May 2011, 4:00-6:00pm
Cottin's Hardware, 1832 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS

In their second year, this weekly market on Thursdays typically has about a dozen vendors, as well as Indian tacos, bar-B-que, children's events, and live music (Bill Crahan this week). For bands to book a date, or just for more info, call (785)843-2981.
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SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK - MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING
Sunday, 6 May 2011, 7:00pm
1317 Vermont St. Apt.B, Lawrence KS 66044 (Lori's home)

Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy
Organizing societal scale action in our personal lives, and through public policy changes.
The meeting agenda will include:

• S.A.N. newsletter auto-send report
• S.A.N. social media - policy proposal Growers' Land Trust Community Garden Warren Brush permaculture course
• organize volunteers for Warren Brush permaculture course
• sweet potato order: coordinators lined up and ready
• community workshops: super adobe, solar food dehydrator, cold frames, rain barrels, etc. S.A.N. web site: list serve, content, pay pal, etc.

______________________________________Please join us_____________

"DEEP GREEN RESISTANCE: STRATEGY TO SAVE THE PLANET" ¤ BOOK DISCUSSION
Saturday, 7 May 2011, 2:30pm
Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 7th & Vermont St., Lawrence KS 66044

Moving from the premise that industrial society is the most destructive to ever exist, Derek Jensen and co-authors, Aric McBay and Lierre Keith, provide a strategy to stop the destruction and transition to a ecologically sustainable society. The information is compelling, and their solutions range from depriving the powerful of their ability to destroy the planet, to defending and rebuilding just and sustainable human communities nestled inside repaired and restored landbases. The book discussion will explore how to do this. There are lots of resources at Deep Green Resistance, and they ask that participants read about it before the discussion meeting.
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LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 11 May 2011, 5:30pm
Recycling and Resource Recovery Annex, 320 N.E. Industrial Lane, Lawrence KS

The May agenda is unavailable to date. 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 May 2011, 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. The general public is encouraged to attend and observe meetings and to join and participate in its efforts. More information go to http://ww4.kcmo.org/manager.nsf/web/emc
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PERMACULTURE-INTEGRATED SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE ¤ 9TH LECTURE
Friday, 13 May 2011, 6:00-9:00pm - $$$
Dreher 4-H Building, 2110 Harper St., Lawrence KS 66044

This ninth session will present a comprehensive survey of approaches to the construction of energy efficient structures and of buildings using sustainably produced materials. We will explore the construction of passive solar, attached solar greenhouse, berm, cob, cord wood and SIPS structures. The lecture will be followed by a viewing of the film "Green Architecture".

Steve Moring of Vajra Farm Permaculture Center is teaching this Design Certification Course with assistance from Michael Almon and Michael Morley. Preregistration is required, and a percentage of the fees will support the Kaw Permaculture Collaborative and it's parent organization, the Sustainability Action Network. For more info go to Kaw Permaculture Collaborative, or contact Steve Moring at (785)691-7305 or <smoring@grasshoppernet.com>.
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LAWRENCE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT
Saturday, 14 May 2011, 9:00am to 1:00pm
Free State High School (north parking lot), 4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence KS

Electronics devices typically contain toxic heavy metals like lead and mercury and cadmium, and precious metals like silver and gold. If recycled properly, these metals can be materials feed stock for new industrial processes, not to mention saving production costs, and keeping them out of the landfill.

This one day event will provide Lawrence residents and businesses a way to conveniently recycle old, unwanted electronics equipment. Items accepted for recycling are computer monitors, desktops, laptops, keyboards, printers and other peripherals, televisions, copiers, scanners, telephones, cell phones, pagers, fax machines, VHS/DVD drives, hand held devices, and small appliances like micro wave or toaster ovens. There is a recycling fee for computer monitors ($10.00) and televisions ($10.00-$20.00). There are no charges for other electronic equipment. Items not accepted are large appliances such as refrigerators and AC units. Fees may be paid by cash or check.

Electronic recycling will be provided by the Surplus Exchange http://www.surplusexchange.org/, a Kansas City not-for-profit that recycles the E-waste in accordance to Federal and Kansas Electronic Waste Processing Regulations. The event is sponsored by the City of Lawrence Waste Reduction & Recycling Division http://www.lawrencerecycles.org/
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6th ANNUAL REALLY, REALLY FREE MARKET
Saturday, 14 May 2010, 10:00am-1:00pm
Clinton City Park, 5th & Alabama St., Lawrence KS

The gift must always move! This free and open market will be a celebration of the cooperation and gift-giving that make life possible beyond the constraints of capitalists markets. Everyone is invited to give and receive clothing, household items, books, plants, seeds, crafts, information, skills, music, services, art, performances, stories, food, etc. There is no buying, selling, bartering, or exchanging involved-in this market, everything is strictly FREE!

Small items and clothing not taken from the Really, Really Free Market will be donated to the Penn House or Social Service League thrift store. However, large items cannot be transported to the thrift store. People are asked to take responsibility for any large items they bring that are not taken by the end of the event.
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ADVANCED PERMACULTURE DESIGN SERIES WITH WARREN BRUSH
Tuesday-Saturday, 17-21 May 2011, one evening & four full days - $$$
Lawrence, Kansas

Join world renowned permaculture instructor, Warren Brush, Director of Quail Springs Permaculture Center, and presenter at the September 2011 International Permaculture Conference in Jordan. Warren Brush is a certified permaculture designer and teacher as well as a mentor and storyteller, who has worked for over 25 years in permaculture education and sustainable systems design. This design series will include:

• Tuesday, 17 May, 7:00pm, lecture "Intro to Permaculture", Lawrence Public Library
• Wednesday, 18 May, 8:00am-5:30pm, "Permaculture Design Fundamantals", Delaware Street Commons
• Thursday, 19 May, 8:00am-5:30pm, "Urban Intensive Permaculture Design", Forest Floor Permaculture
• Friday-Saturday, 20-21 May, 8:00am-5:30pm, "Broadacre Permaculture Design", Karlin Family Farm

The course will cover: food-water-energy security, soil building, agroforestry, wholistic range management, earthworks, aquaculture, appropriate technology, and more. For more info and to register, go to Advanced Permaculture with Warren Brush. Discount rates apply up through 30 April. This design series is sponsored by Karlin Family Farms, the Kaw Permaculture Collaborative, the Sustainability Action Network, Forest Floor Permaculture, Delaware Street Commons, ALL-N-1 Landscape, and Films for Action.
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5th ANNUAL KANSAS CITY PLANT, SEED, & BULB EXCHANGE
Saturday, 21 May 2011, 9:30am to 12:00pm - FREE
Discovery Center of MO Dept. of Conservation, 4750 Troost, K.C. MO

Bring your labeled extras to put in the group, and it's all available to choose take home. And at 10:00am, Diane Whealy, co-founder of the Seed Savers Exchange, will be speaking. Herbs, heirlooms, veggies, trees, seeds, bulbs, cuttings - you name it people bring it. It is all free and they do it to encourage gardening and growing locally. For more info contact <dthrumc@sbcglobal.net> or call (816)356-9892.
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EDIBLE FOREST GARDEN DESIGN WORKSHOP ¤ K.C.C.U.A.
Sunday, 22 May 2011, 12:30-5:30pm - $$
5425 Mastin St., Merriam, KS, 66203

Rising food prices due to rising energy prices have sparked a wide interest in urban farming and local/regional food. The Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture has been growing annual vegetables for many years and helping K.C. urban farmers to make small-scale urban agriculture more profitable. However, with funding from the Audubon Society in alliance with Toyota, the KCCUA has recently embarked on a permaculture food forest project, to grow perennial tree and fruit crops.

In order to use this food forest as a catalyst for increased urban permaculture, the KCCUA will be holding a design workshop with local permaculture teachers and practitioners. Workshop presenters will be: Michael Almon, Matt Bunch, Cathy Bylinowsky, Daniel Dermitzel, Steve Mann, and Steve Moring. The workshop will cover theory and design of edible forest gardens, including a model design exercise. For more info go to KCCUA Food Forest, or call (913)831-2444.

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The SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization. DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Mail checks 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 <paradigm@ixks.com>

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 and Kansas Permaculture Institute - developing skills and resources for polyculture sustainable food production.
3) Eco Village Land Trust - Designing and focalizing a sustainable intentional community near Lawrence.
4) Growers' Land Trust - organizing interested stakeholders to acquire prime farmland in the urban fringe for land-based economic development and regional food security.
5) Weekly Sustainability Announcements - informing and encouraging others to become active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action driven groups.
6) Water Rights and Watersheds - protecting the water commons, the source of all life, from privatization and contamination, and restoring our watersheds.
7) Electric & Human Powered Vehicles - promoting neighborhood electric vehicles and utility tricycles, including infrastructure and pro-active regulations.
8) Energy Conservation & Renewables - advancing a green economy through decentralized renewable energy and conservation.
9) Collaboration with sister organizations - such as: The Light Center eco-village; Kaw River 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, Transition Kansas City, and the All Species Project, etc.

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We welcome suggestions for items to be included. Please send items to <paradigm@ixks.com>

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