Mar 25,26,27, 2008 - SARE's 20th Anniversary New American Farm Conference

Advancing the Frontier for Sustainable Agriculture

March 25-27, 2008 - SARE's 20th Anniversary New American Farm Conference - KCMO

Don't miss SARE's 20th Anniversary New American Farm conference. Tap into 20 years of groundbreaking SARE-funded research, experience and innovations.

• Learn the ins and outs of marketing and production
• Tour local farms to see sustainable agriculture at work
• Talk with state-of-the-art researchers and innovators
• Meet others, build partnerships
• Explore SARE grant opportunities for your cutting-edge ideas
• Help chart a course for 20 more years of SARE success!

Never before has the American public cared more about how and where its food is produced. New, lucrative markets are opening up: "natural", "organic", "local." People are growing more concerned about the quality of our nation's natural resources – and the communities they sustain.

More and more farmers and ranchers are turning to sustainable agriculture to boost profits, protect the land, air and water, and continue a rewarding way of life.

Learn more about how sustainable farming is rapidly changing the face of American agriculture. Come to the New American Farm conference – a gathering for farmers, ranchers, educators, researchers, students, advocates and the curious consumer. Meet others who share a passion for quality agriculture.

Who should come?

SARE's New American Farm conference is open to farmers, ranchers, teachers, researchers, students, advocates – or simply curious consumers. Anyone is welcome who wants to learn more about groundbreaking work in the exciting and rapidly expanding field of sustainable agriculture in America.

======= updated SARE Press Release - January 31, 2008 ======

SARE Announces 20th Anniversary Conference

The New American Farm: Advancing the Frontier of Sustainable Agriculture

Registrations are now being accepted for SARE's 20^th Anniversary New American Farm Conference, to be held on March 25-27, 2008 at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri. For a full schedule of events, visit www.sare.org/2008conference.

Intended to shine a spotlight on SARE's innovative projects and impact, communicate the program's vision for the next 20 years, and engage the sustainable community in dialogue to achieve common goals, the event will feature 20 years of groundbreaking SARE-funded research, experience and innovations in sustainable agriculture.

"SARE envisions an enduring American agriculture of the highest quality," said Jill Auburn, SARE Director. "This agriculture is profitable, protects the nation's land and water and is a force for a rewarding way of life for farmers and ranchers whose quality products and operations sustain their communities and society."

SARE's New American Farm conference is open to farmers, ranchers, teachers, researchers, students, advocates – or simply curious consumers. Anyone is welcome who wants to learn more about groundbreaking work in the exciting and rapidly expanding field of sustainable agriculture in America. Conference attendees will:

Gather new insights from pioneering producers, educators, researchers, and advocates.

Experience innovative production and marketing techniques featured on tours of over 35 farms and research facilities.

Learn about groundbreaking advancements and discuss emerging opportunities in 40 workshops and breakouts.

Explore nearly 100 posters displaying cutting-edge SARE funded research and education project results.

The closing plenary session will be presented by Shoshanah Inwood, the winner of SARE's New Voices Contest. Winning entries from SARE's Photo Contest will also be on display.

To register, call (573) 882-8320 or visit www.sare.org/2008conference. Call (614) 306-6422 or email
outreach (@) sare.org to request a print conference flier and registration form by mail. Individual registration rates are $250 per individual, inclusive of all conference meals. Registrations made after March 1 require a late fee and must be made online or by telephone. All registration closes March 19. Requests for refunds due to cancellation must be received in writing by March 1. Refunds will not be issued after March 1.

This release was distributed by the national outreach office of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. SARE's national outreach office is supported by a cooperative agreement between the University of Maryland and the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA. SARE works with producers, researchers, and educators to promote farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound, and good for communities. We encourage you to reprint items of interest and to share this information freely. For more information about grants and other resources available through SARE, visit www.sare.org.

### See www.KCFoodCircle.org/events/

### and http://groups.google.com/group/KCFC-Bulletin-Board ###

Kansas Senate Bill 595 - An Attack on Consumer Rights - Truth in Labeling

Please help us defeat Kansas Senate Bill - SB 595

This bill would ban any type of labeling that enables consumers to know if their dairy products contain rBGH (rBST), a genetically engineered hormone that induces cows to produce more milk. Under the guise of protecting consumers from misleading information, this bill actually censors truthful information consumers want and need. It even extends to all agricultural products.

The bill is scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, Feb. 26 in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Please take a minute to e-mail or call the members of the Committee before Feb. 26 to express your opposition. And if you have time, please contact your own state senator.

One other thing you can do – please pass this message along to anyone you think might be willing to help.

Some suggested wording is below, but please feel free to put your message in your own words. And if you have a particular perspective, such as a farmer, business person, mother, doctor, etc., it's always good to personalize:

###

Dear Senator ___________________

Please vote NO on SB 595. This bill is anti-consumer and anti-business. (If you're a constituent of this particular senator, BE SURE TO SAY SO!)

Consumers have a right to know what's in their food and how it's produced and dairies and farmers have a right to tell them. Food companies have the right to make factual statements on their labels – this is a freedom of speech issue.

Thank you,

Katy Kansan

###

If you're short of time, that's all you need to say. If you'd like to elaborate, here are some other good points:

• A Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) survey found that 88% of people agreed that "milk from cows raised without synthetic bovine growth hormone should be allowed to be labeled as such." Another professional survey by Lake Research Partners for Food and Water Watch found 80% feeling the same way.
  
  
• This hormone increases the rates of 16 different harmful medical conditions in cows and there is substantial scientific evidence that it may increase antibiotic resistance and cancer rates in humans.
  
  
• Most industrialized nations of the world have banned rBGH, and the Codex Alimentarius, the U.N.'s main food safety body, concluded there was no consensus that it's safe for human health.
  
  
• Health Care Without Harm, an international coalition of over 440 organizations that promotes safe and healthy practices in hospitals, adopted a formal position statement opposing rBGH. Already, over 100 hospitals throughout the country have declared they will move toward serving rBGH-free dairy products.
  
  
• Similar bills or rules have been proposed in other states which have been instigated by Monsanto, the hormone's only manufacturer, and its supporters. One corporation shouldn't have the right to take away our right to know and freedom of speech. This bill is not representative of Kansas citizens.

· Again, a personal touch is great – a mother not wanting rBGH products for her kids, a business protecting commercial free speech, a doctor or nurse concerned about health effects, etc.

Please contact these senators on the Agriculture Committee before this Tuesday, Feb. 26

R - Mark Taddiken – Chair

taddiken@senate.state.ks.us
(785) 296-7371

R - Roger C Pine - Vice Chair
pine@senate.state.ks.us

(785) 296-7372

D - Marci Francisco - Ranking Minority

francisco@senate.state.ks.us
(785) 296-7364

R - Stephen R Morris – Member

morris@senate.state.ks.us
(785) 296-2419

D - Janis K Lee – Member

lee@senate.state.ks.us
(785) 296-7366

R - Terry Bruce – Member

bruce@senate.state.ks.us
(785) 296-7300

R - Tim Huelskamp – Member

huelskamp@senate.state.ks.us
(785) 296-7359

R - Derek Schmidt – Member

schmidt@senate.state.ks.us
(785) 296-7374

R - Ralph Ostmeyer – Member

ostmeyer@senate.state.ks.us

(785) 296-7399

###

e2 on Kansas City Public Television

Tonight on PBS
(5:30 PM - Sun 02/17/2008 - KCPT - Channel 11 - Kansas City)

e2 - Harvesting the Wind
-- The Season 2 opener examines wind energy.
Included: its use in southwest Minnesota.

e2 is an ongoing PBS documentary series that chronicles efforts to solve the world's most pressing ecological challenges. From energy consumption to design efficiency, policy to industry, the series documents the innovators whose work is reducing humans' impact on the environment. Interviews with experts, policymakers and pioneers across a variety of disciplines offer a firsthand account of the complex environmental challenges that we face, as well as the possibility that pragmatic solutions are within reach. The series is narrated by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman. Each episode is supplemented by a video podcast featuring exclusive interviews and footage, taking viewers beyond the television broadcast and deeper into the issues of sustainability. Produced by kontentreal - Check your local listings. Major corporate support for e2 is provided by Autodesk.

More e2 this month on KCPT:

e2 (The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious) -- Energy for a Developing World

KCPT 11

02/24/2008 5:30 PM

e2 Documentary Page from PBS:
http://feeds.pbs.org/pbs/e2-video

Feb 21 - Closing the Food Gap - Mark Winne - KC Healthy Kids

The Kansas City Public Library and KC Healthy Kids
host food policy expert
Mark Winne
for a presentation called
Closing the Food Gap:
Resetting the Table in the Land of Plenty
on
Thursday, February 21, at 6:30 p.m.
at the
Central Library
14 W. 10^th St. Kansas City, MO 64105

http://www.kclibrary.org/rsvp/2008/markwinne/

"Americans spend less as a percentage of their annual income on food than any other nation. As a result, U.S. consumers have unknowingly accepted agricultural pollution, social disruption, and the decline of family farms in return for cheap food."

This is how Mark Winne views the American food system, which he analyzes in Closing the Food Gap. Winne tells the story of how Americans get their food: from poor people at food pantries and convenience stores to the more comfortable classes, who increasingly seek out organic and local products. Along the way, he presents evidence to support his notion that the current food system is racist, classist, and sexist and confronts the complicity of both government and big business in this dangerous network.

A 6 p.m. reception precedes the event. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Call 816.701.3407 or RSVP online.

Winne will be in Kansas City to assist with the KC Healthy Food Policy Initiative, a project of KC Healthy Kids. The initiative brings together diverse stakeholders to align local food-related policies with national health and nutritional goals while supporting a sustainable food system.

Winne is the Food and Society Policy Fellow for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. After serving as executive director of the Hartford Food System in Connecticut for 25 years, he is now a widely recognized government consultant on food policy and received the 2001 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Plow Honor Award, the USDA’s highest honor.

This event is co-sponsored by KC Healthy Kids,
a charitable foundation focused on
promoting fit and healthy kids in Greater Kansas City.
www.KCHealthyKids.org

Make it through life with your sanity -- and values -- intact.

Wake Up and Smell the Planet

The Nonpompous, Nonpreachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day

Yep, that's right, Grist is leaping off the screen and onto the (100 percent post-consumer recycled) page with a handy, helpful companion for making it through life with your sanity -- and values -- intact.

Wake Up and Smell the Planet is available now! Inside its colorful covers, you'll find loads of information and tips on everything from shaving to shopping, from greening your office to greening your video games. And all of it delivered with the good humor and bad puns that are Grist's trademark.

What's that you're asking? Why should you buy Wake Up and Smell the Planet? We'll give you 8.5 good reasons:

1. You'll always have answers to the peskiest eco-questions at your fingertips.

2. It's better than The Secret.

3. Little-known fact: a book uses only half the electricity of a computer!

4. Buy it for your friends, to spread the green love.

5. It makes a handy flotation device.

6. Where else can you get the real dirt on the Jolly Green Giant?

7. Books make you look wicked smaht.

8. Did we mention you'll always have answers to the peskiest eco-questions at your fingertips?

8.5. Grist's employees like to eat.

Wake Up and Smell the Planet

Protect Truth in Labeling - Your Consumer Rights are Under Attack

Monsanto Tries to Ban rBGH Labeling in Kansas

A new bill, SB 595, has been introduced in the Kansas Senate. While it's primary purpose is to prevent the labeling of dairy products as being "rBGH free" (Monsanto's genetically engineered hormone injected into dairy cows) it actually covers any food. The following analysis of the issue is provided by Rick North of the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and Craig Volland of the KC Food Circle & Kansas Sierra Club CAFO Committee.

Rick North of the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility:
SB 595 bans two types of labels. The first is a label based on composition of the food product that can't be confirmed through lab analysis. There is no current commercial lab test that can detect rBGH. Therefore, this would knock out labels such as rBGH-free, rBST-free, or Does not contain artificial hormones.

The current industry standard requires that farmers sign an affidavit swearing that they don't use rBGH. The second provision in the bill knocks that out. In both instances, the bill makes an illogical leap that just because something isn't demonstrated by a lab test or is sworn to by affidavit or other sworn statement, then its misleading. This would knock out any production-related labels, such as "Our farmers pledge not to use rBGH (rBST, artificial hormones)."

Monsanto is getting clobbered in the marketplace. Dairy after dairy is going rBGH-free, all over the country. We estimate that at least one third, and probably 40-50% of all fluid milk sold in the U.S. is rBGH-free, and its going higher all the time. This is costing Monsanto millions of dollars and they are pulling out all the stops to reverse the trend. Their strategy is simple prevent consumers from knowing whether dairy products are rBGH-free or not by censoring label information.

Whats even more incredible about this bill is that it would appear to cover ANY food, not just dairy products. This is beyond what we've seen in bills/rules we've been fighting in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. I'm not even sure it's intended to go that far. There are all kinds of food labels that can't be verified by lab tests state of origin, country of origin, bottled water claims (such as spring-fed or from a particular location) and (possibly) organic, to name a few.

Craig Volland:
I believe this bill would also ban the label "free range" for meats which is critically important to small farmers in Kansas who sell direct to eaters or to restaurants. That's because it is verified to our customers by testimonial or affidavit, not certification. Also, depending on how they define "agricultural product" it could snag baked goods and jams and jellies, for example, that use some or all organically grown inputs but the processor may not, her- or himself, be certified organic.

Regardless of the science, this is, fundamentally, a consumer right- to- know issue. Also Monsanto has a long history of intimidating farmers with lawsuits (ie. Percy Schmeiser case) and

otherwise attempting to get their way through undue governmental influence. Because of their power and influence, product labeling is one of the few ways a consumer can exercise freedom of choice in this matter. Missouri growers may be seeing this shortly in the Mo. legislature.

Action against the Kansas bill must be swift because the Senate must act on it in the next week or so to abide by certain rules to get it through the Kansas House before the session ends.

Please call your state reps immediately and object to this bill. It's your right to know what is in (or not) your food. Monsanto has already failed to get this objective past the FDA at the national level, this new effort is a state-by-state attempt to circumvent that ruling and prevent consumers from being able to know if their dairy products contain growth hormones.

Please feel free to use this text for your email to Kansas Legislators:

Dear Senator _____ and Representative _____

I vehemently oppose the passage of SB 595, which has been introduced in the Kansas Senate. It's primary purpose is to prevent the labeling of dairy products as being "rBGH free" and to keep consumers from being able to make choices regarding the food we consume. The FDA denied this effort by Monsanto to ban rBGH-free labeling at the national level, and I oppose Monsanto's attempt to get around the ruling by going state-by-state.

Consumers have a right to know what is in their food, how it has been produced and where it has been produced. Yet through efforts like this, Monsanto and others deny consumers a fundamental right to choose and to understand what is in the food we eat.

Please stop this bill and the abuse of consumer rights that it represents.

Thank you,

Kansas Resident

Kansas Legislature Members you need to write are:

Senator John Vratil jvratil@lathropegage.com
Representative Tim Owens towens10@kc.rr.com

Also: julia@senatorjulialynn.com, allen@senate.state.ks.us, lynn@senate.state.ks.us, vratil@senate.state.ks.us, jordan@senate.state.ks.us, jordanforcongress@nickjordan.com, wilson@senate.state.ks.us

This Alert was posted at Eat Local KC and has generated some interesting action and commentary:

http://eatlocalkc.typepad.com/eatlocalkc/2008/02/monsanto-tries.html

KC LOCAL WORKSHOP - Saturday, Feb.16, 2008

COMING HOME TO EAT

"HOW DO WE BUILD
A REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM?"

a WORKSHOP featuring
KEN METER
INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED EXPERT ON
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND
COMMUNITY SELF-SUFFICIENCY

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2008

ALL SOULS
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

4501 WALNUT STREET
KANSAS CITY, MO 64111

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP...
Every year, more of us are figuring it out: With greenhouse gas emissions rising, global oil production likely at or near its peak, and North American natural gas production past its peak, we need an alternative to the oil and natural gas-dependent industrial food system. If we want to eat well in the future, now it the time to create a regional food system that will rapidly reduce our dependence on fossil fuel inputs in the production, processing and distribution of food.

The workshop features Ken Meter of the Crossroads Resource Center, Minneapolis, MN. The Crossroads Center works to strengthen local communities by building wealth that stays in the region. He will speak about the important use of local economic analysis in building regional food systems.

CLICK HERE for the WORKSHOP agenda, details and a registration form

Sponsored by:

• Green Foundation of Kansas City

• Kansas City Food Circle

• Kansas Rural Center

• Missouri Farmers Union
  

• J-14 Enterprises

• Kansas Farmers Union
  

• Green Network

• Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture

• Green Sanctuary of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church

Scholarships Available to SARE's New American Farm Conference

Thanks to the support of sponsors, a limited number of scholarships are now available from the National Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) office for the 2008 New American Farm Conference, March 25-27 in Kansas City. Their priorities are to fund farmers/ranchers and nonprofits, particularly those from under-served/minority audiences and those who are new to SARE and/or sustainable agriculture: emerging leaders, beginning farmers and ranchers, and those who have never attended a SARE regional or national conference.

Scholarships will be awarded as free registration (including registration for a tour), plus up to $700 allowance that can be used for specified expenses. Scholarship applications are due by February 15, 2008.

http://www.sare.org/2008Conference/scholarships.htm

www.kansasruralcenter.org

SARE CONFERENCE LODGING and other UPDATES

Squash Blossom Food Buyer Club of Kansas City

http://groups.google.com/group/SquashBlossomKC

From the Squash Blossom FAQ:

How do you provide local produce in the winter ? Kansas Organic Producers Assn have a storage facility for the sweet potatoes. Pure Prairie also has storage. The spinach producer is growing it in 30 ft by 90 ft high tunnel greenhouses. We will have a supply all winter till the spring growing season. We are also challenging area growers to feed us with a wide variety of 'winter vegetables' at the Food Circle Grower Expo in March and April. There will be tomatoes and micro greens available in April from local growers.

Is it organic? We strive for organic, healthy, sustainable food. Locally/regionally produced when possible.

Steve Mann
AKA Squash Father

EAT LOCAL! - Kansas City Food Circle Expo 2008

Our 10th Annual Exhibition of Farmers will be a double-header this year. Mark your calendars, now!

West-side EAT LOCAL! Expo
Saturday, March 29th (9am-2pm)
Shawnee Civic Centre (Shawnee, Kansas)

East-side EAT LOCAL! Expo
Saturday, April 5th (9:30am-2:30pm)
Roger T Sermon Community Center (Independence, Missouri)

EXPO 2008 will Feature...

...A Chef's Demo with Kiersten Firquain

"Chef K" of InHome Bistro

See: http://www.InHomeBistro.com
and http://www.BistroKids.com

"Eat Smart. Play Hard. Healthy Kids Learn Better!"

Growers and Vendors click HERE to register.
http://www.kcfoodcircle.org/events/expo/EXPO-08-FMINQ.doc

WINTER FARMERS MARKETS

BRrrrr.... Kansas City locavores can still find local organic, natural and free range food at a few Winter Farmers Markets

Some die-hard market organizers have taken on the bitter KC winter, providing healthy meat, dairy, garden produce and other food products supplied by local organic, natural and free range growers. They hope to supply locavores (local food eaters) until the spring thaws allow the regular farmers markets to open again.

Many products are limited in quantity, so phone ahead to verify supply...

Grand Court Retirement Center Winter Market

Saturdays - 10:00am until 1:00pm
indoor/outdoor, in the courtyard and lobby

Items will include organic meat, milk, bread, produce, honey, soap, sauces, and jellies from local vendors:

• ShroomHeads Organic Farm - Mushrooms, produce, canned goods
  
  
• Bread of Life Bakery - Bread, pies, jellies, and jams
  
  
• Ambrose BeePharm - Honey
  
  
• Pearly Gates Soapery - Soap and lotions
  
  
• Cassie - jewelry
  
  
• Back 40 Farm - Goat, lamb, pig, chicken, beef, and eggs
  
  
• Doug and Milo - Goats milk, cow milk, butter, keifer, and eggs
  
  
• KCOrganics - fair trade coffee
  

Grand Court Retirement Center is located south of I-435 on the West side of Wornall Road, 501 West 107th Street. (KCMO)

Managed by:
ShroomHeads - Tena Bellovich
tena (@) shroomheads.com
Ph. 816 966 9446


=== === === === ===


Wells Family Farms has organized a split-venue Winter Market, Saturdays until the regular markets open...

Saturdays...

• 11:00am to 12 noon (short, but sweet)
  at 39th Street Community Market
  (39th Street and Genesee, KCMO)
  
  
• 12:30pm-ish to 4:00pm
  at Farmers Community Market at Brookside
  (Montessori School - 6321 Wornall Road - KCMO)

Our market will run through spring and the beginning of the regular farmers markets. Stay tuned for exact dates. We'll all try to be out for each and every Saturday market day, and we will be happy to keep you updated if you will send us your email.
Kim (@) wellsfamilyfarms.com

Some of the vendors only go to the a.m., others only the p.m. market - we'll update this info regularly, but you should phone particular vendors if you want something in particular.
Here is a list of those we have participating now (not all vendors will have products available every market day, so (again) do phone ahead if you are looking for something specific. We'll post more farm/vendor names and more details, soon...):

• Alice H. (Ph. 816-934-2549), 39th Street only, is a wonderful baker and does many things on request. If you want a special pie, cookies or cakes, just give her a call during the week, and she'll bake it to order. She also makes delicious jams and jellies.
  
  
• Rick H. (Beau Solais) 39th Street only, will have Oyster Mushrooms and micro greens for sale whenever they are available. He is starting a new batch these days so will hopefully have some available soon.
  
  

Selling at both markets are:

• Rachel - maker of fine jewelry of Jade and Agate - and beautiful aprons made from recycled materials. They are lovely and useful!
  
  
• Barbara & Eddie Scott of Monegaw Garden Natural Soap will be on hand with their awesome soaps.
  
  
• Kathy & Family - Bread of Life Organic Bakery - wonderful breads, cinnamon rolls, pizza crust, granola along with other goodies. Again if you want something special just let us know, and we'll bring it to the market! Telephone: 816-669-1344 Fax: 816-669-1345
  
  
• Brooke Salvaggio - Bad Seed Farm, has fall veggies, fun & unique bags for carrying your purchases, and other useful items.
  
  
• Sherri Harvel - Root Deep Urban Farm - Fall veggies as available.
  
  
• Kim & Steve Wells - Wells Family Farms - Certified Organic Grass Fed Beef, by the pound or by the side! Cryovac shrink wrapped so you can see what you are getting. Many useful farm items available - compost from horse leavings, berry plants and berries this next spring. A variety of trees are available, help dig your own or we will.
  
  
• TARA - The Animal Rescue Alliance - Alice and her group have made a wonderful impact on the community with their efforts. Be a doner, a foster home or adopt a pet! Many fine gifts also available. The rescue efforts of these folks has been wonderful - donations are always helpful.
  
  
• Jim & Mary Wood - Wood Mood Farm - Depending on timing (mine, Kim) there are times I am able to pick up EGGS from them. Order eggs ahead of time, only.

We are all very excited about being able to bring what we can to the winter market. We will give you more info on this as we arrange it. Thank you for any help in passing the word.

We have begun building a Wells Family Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. If you join you will receive 15% off all your future beef purchases with Well Family Farms. The $30 membership fee is used completely to promote the markets and sustainable farming.

Steve & Kim Wells
Wells Family Farms
4009 State Hwy UU
King City, MO 64463
660-783-2930/660-562-7892
info (@) wellsfamilyfarms.com
www.WellsFamilyFarms.com


###


A NOTE FROM THE WEBMINION:

Most of the growers listed above are KC Food Circle members - many of them will participate in KCFC's EAT LOCAL! Exhibition of Farmers (March 29th and April 5th) and/or they will be selling their products all season at one (or more) of KCFC's featured (organic, natural and free range) Farmers Markets found in the Greater Kansas City area.

If you know of other qualified growers who might benefit from membership in the Kansas City Food Circle (or one of our featured markets), please let us know. We'll do all we can to help them succeed.

Dave Lawrence - WebMinion@KCFoodCircle.ORG

MISSION STATEMENT: The Kansas City Food Circle is building a community food system in which farmers, eaters, chefs, and grocers know and trust each other. Our network enables us to share our knowledge and experience while we work together promoting the benefits of locally-grown organic and free-range foods. We cooperate in nourishing each other today while seeking to sustain the ability of future generations to nourish themselves through healthy farming practices.

(NOTE from the WebMinion: This blog replaces the KC Food Circle's original interactive bulletin board - if you have local food events, articles or ad items to post, please feel free to do so. If you want us to post them, send them in to WebMinion@KCFoodCircle.ORG)