Gasper Farm Newsletter - March 2010 - AROUND THE FARM

Hello All!
Some days you just feel like you're going to fall over... Yesterday, we tossed and stacked over 200 small square bales of red clover. I'm feeling it today and Pete attempted to put himself out of commission a couple of times so he's REALLY beat up today. Otherwise, we also got several big round bales of straw for our garden. We have no qualms about using large round bales, cheaper anyway, and then we got a large square (3'x3'x8') of red clover for some added nitrogen. We also look for natural ways to fertilize our garden...

We've started broadcasting seeds all over the pastures. Mainly red clover but also things like turnips and oats. All these things do well in cooler weather and will start growing before any weeds do, which is helpful in that they'll act as a living mulch on places the pigs rooted during the winter. Otherwise, for my garden I'm just laying mulch down on an area we had the pig root up throughly. So spring is definetely in full swing.
The warmer weather has been greatly appreciated by my boys... It makes playing outside last a little bit longer, they'd stay out there all day if they could!
Investment opportunities Thank you to the two individuals who are investing in beef feeder cattle! Without your help we wouldn't have any beef to sell this year or next. But we still need help in other areas and have other investment opportunities available. The USDA recently stated that only 11% of all farmer income comes from farming, the rest being supplied by off the farm jobs. And its not just that they work part time, but often they sell their product below the cost of production. I got to thinking about it and even most of our direct local competators either have off the farm income or inherited land. But we don't have the benefit of other income streams or debt to finance the farm or allow us to farm at a loss. This is why we depend in part on you all to help us. But its not just about us. In addition to the environmental and community benefits some of these investments should see an annualized ROI of over 20%. Which is a whole lot better than you can get from the typical investments profered by the bankers and financial firms tetering on the edge of financial collapse.
We Still Have Chicken Available. They are available for $5/lb. Our chickens are first come, first serve. So if you want chicken you need to make your order as soon as possible.
Mark your calendars everyone! The 12th Annual Farmers Exhibition, hosted by the Kansas City Food Circle, is coming up fast! The Kansas side Exhibition is at the Shawnee Civic Center on March 27th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Missouri side Exhibition is at the Roger T. Sermon Community Center on April 3rd from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. So you can go to one or the other or both if you can! We'll be at the Shawnee Civic Center for sure! For more details visit 2010 Eat Local! Expos information page.
Small Square Bales of Red Clover Hay and Rye Straw! Its getting into garden season and we've had people asking about small square bales of straw for mulch. We managed to get some transitional organic straw in and have a limited amount available. If you can handle them we can also bring in big rounds of straw. We also have large quantities of cert. organic red clover for sale. This is very clean clover hay with no seeds. Straw with its high carbon to nitrogen ration can eat up soil nitrogen, but high quality red clover mulch has close to ideal c:n and will release nitrogen, fertilizing as it mulches. We'll also be able to get much larger quantities of certified organic straw in June/July and alfalfa in May/June. So contact us if you are interested in straw or hay from those baling as well.
It's time to think about lawn and garden supplements! Fertrell has a great line of products for lawn and garden as well as animals! We love their Poultry Nutri-Balancer, to name one.. Otherwise they have lawn and garden programs laid out for you available at the following website: Fertrell Programs. Everything they have is organically derived, no chemicals and most all certifiable organic or already certified.

(there's more to this newsletter... contact the Gaspers and have them send the whole thing)
Sign up for the Gasper Farm newsletter:
http://www.gasperfarm.com/newsletter.html

When you only have one tricycle what do you do?
- Give your brother a ride on the back.


Keep your eyes on the prize, folks... Engage your brain, and read, read, READ...


Budget; Climate Issues; Biofuels; Ag Economy; Food Safety; and Animal Agriculture

Posted By Keith Good On March 18, 2010

Budget

DTN Political Correspondent Jerry Hagstrom reported yesterday (link requires subscription) that, “Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln on Wednesday unveiled a bill to reauthorize the child nutrition programsthat would increase funding for school lunch and other programs by $4.5 billion over 10 years, with some of the money coming from the budget for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

“The bill covers a five-year reauthorization of the National School Lunch Program; School Breakfast Program; Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Although USDA operates these programs, this bill is separate from the farm bill, which authorizes the food stamp program as well as farm and conservation programs.

Lincoln, D-Ark., said the bill would pay for the increased funding for the meals programs through a $2.2 billion shift in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which would slow immediate spending but index it to inflation in the future, a $1 billion reduction in USDA purchases of commodities for school meal programs, and a $1.2 billion reduction in the food stamp nutrition education program.”

The DTN article noted that, “Environmental groups expressed dissatisfaction with the use of the EQIP program to pay for child nutrition programs. ‘The farm bill should not be used for offsets,’ said Ferd Hoefner, the policy director of the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. ‘But if it is going to be used, then the cuts should be distributed in a proportional manner to all titles: commodity, crop insurance, energy and conservation.’”

“Senate Agriculture ranking member Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said in a news release that he supports the bill, but has ‘concerns with some of the offsets,’” the article noted.

Mr. Hagstrom indicated that, “The $4.5 billion increase in funding for nutrition programs is less than half of the $10 billion increase over 10 years that President Barack Obama proposed in his fiscal year 2011 budget, but Lincoln said it would provide ‘a path’ to achieve Obama’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015. The biggest increase in the past has been $500 million over 10 years, Lincoln said in a news release.”

A statement on this development released yesterday by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack noted in part that, “Though we believe that additional access and nutrition goals can and should be accomplished by passing a more robust bill that supports the President’s request of $10 billion in additional funding, the bipartisan announcement today is a very positive step forward.”

Jane Black stated yesterday at the All We Can Eat Blog (The Washington Post) that, “The bill would allocate $1.2 billion to increase the number of children receiving food, an effort to meet President Obama’s pledge to end childhood hunger by 2015. The remaining $3.2 billion would be used to improve the quality of meals. This includes an extra 6 cents per meal per student for schools that meet new, stricter nutrition standards and funding for schools to establish school gardens and to source local foods.

“The bill also would mandate that the Department of Agriculture develop nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools, not just what is served in the lunch line. Standards for so-called ‘competitive foods’ have long been controversial in previous years. Some school districts argued that the money earned from vending machines and a la carte lines helped to support sports and arts programs. Food companies were concerned about losing access to millions of school children. But, Lincoln said in a conference call with reporters, this time, ‘there was a lot of common ground around that.’”

Philip Brasher reported yesterday at the Green Fields Blog (The Des Moines Register) that, “Legislation unveiled in the Senate would allow the government to start restricting what’s sold in school vending machines and increase subsidies to schools that offer more healthful meals.

“Much of the extra money for the schools would come from reducing the planned growth of a program that helps crop farms and livestock operations pay for measure that conserve water and soil and reduce runoff of manure and other pollutants.

The proposal spares subsidy programs for grain and cotton farmers from cuts.”

Mr. Brasher added that, “Conservation groups were not pleased, however, that Lincoln proposed rolling back the spending increases for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program that had been authorized in the 2008 farm bill. The Obama administration had already proposed some reductions in EQIP and other conservation programs in its proposed 2011 budget.”

An update posted yesterday at the Ag Mag Blog (The Environmental Working Group) stated that, “Senator Lincoln’s proposal is an impressive move toward breaking the cycle of obesity that plagues America’s children.Unfortunately, however, it wrongly pits kids against conservation. In a critical miscalculation, she would cap the amount of money spent on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to pay for the nutrition increase. EQIP, a program chronically underfunded and repeatedly targeted for cuts, helps ensure cleaner water, soil and air for the children in rural communities.

“The senator would be much smarter to look to the bloated farm subsidy program.

“According to the US Department of Agriculture, average farm income is well above US household income. Despite this, Lincoln declined to make even small cuts in the lavish commodity subsidy program that could have easily paid for her nutrition initiative.”

Sen. Lincoln was a guest on yesterday’s AgriTalk Radio Program with Mike Adams, and the budget was a topic of discussion. To listen to a portion of the conversation between Mike Adams and Sen. Lincoln on this issue yesterday, just click here (MP3-4:13).

House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) was also on yesterday’s AgriTalk Radio Program. To listen to a portion of his comments from yesterday regarding budgetary issues and the farm bill, just click here (MP3-3:12).

In more general news regarding the agricultural budget, an update posted on Tuesday at WALB News Online (Georgia) (video included) stated that, “South Georgia agriculture leaders are lobbying against proposed budget cuts to the 2008 Farm Bill.”

“The Obama Administration has proposed cutting more than one billion dollars from mandatory funding, especially in farm conservation programs. Peanut programs want to make sure the government pays peanut handling and storage payments for the farmer.

“Peanut Buying Points Association Executive Director Tyron Spearman said, ‘The contract that we had with the Congress for five years, if they will leave that alone and we can maintain that with no increase in costs, we will be lucky farmers and lucky people in agriculture.’”


Climate Issues

Darren Samuelsohn of Greenwire reported yesterday at The New York Times Online that, “Lawmakers at the heart of Senate energy and climate negotiations revealed key details today of their legislative proposal during a closed-door meeting with major industry groups they are courting in hopes of winning over Senate moderates and avoiding an expensive advertising war.

“Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) shared an eight-page outline of their draft legislation that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next four decades, including provisions to limit business costs while ramping up domestic production of oil, gas and nuclear power.

“According to several sources in the meeting room, the bill calls for greenhouse gas curbs across multiple economic sectors, with a 2020 target of reducing emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels and an 80 percent limit at midcentury. Power plant emissions would be regulated in 2012, with other major industrial sources being phased in starting in 2016.”

The article stated that, “In a bow to industry demands, the senators’ proposal would pre-empt U.S. EPA climate regulations under the Clean Air Act and halt dozens of state climate laws and regulations now on the books. Also, only facilities that release 25,000 tons per year of greenhouse gases must participate in the climate program.”

“Overall, the bill will include eight titles: Refining, America’s Farmers, Consumer Refunds, Clean Energy Innovation, Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear and Energy Independence. And it will set up new nationwide standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as ideas on carbon market regulation crafted by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).

The senators collected their eight-page document from the industry officials before the meeting ended, and they declined comment on those details as they left the session. Nonetheless, several sources at the meeting confirmed the specifics shared by the senators,” the article said.

Mr. Samuelsohn explained that, “Kerry said a full outline of the bill will be delivered Tuesday to a larger group of senators who have been working over the last year on the climate and energy issue. The senators also hope to send their proposal to EPA and the Congressional Budget Office by the end of next week for a five-to six-week interagency analysis, although the timing on that depends in part on two legislative counsel staffers who are out on maternity leave.

“‘It’s just the logistics of getting the language done,’ Kerry said. ‘So I’m not going to tell you exactly. But our target is somewhere toward that period of time or during the break.’”

Meanwhile, Ben Geman reported yesterday at The Hill’s Energy and Environment Blog that, “The top lobbyist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday that the broad climate change and energy bill under construction in the Senate is moving in a direction that’s ‘largely in sync’ with industry goals.

“Bruce Josten, the chamber’s top lobbyist, spoke to reporters Wednesday after a host of industry trade group officials met in the Capitol with Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) about the bill the senators are crafting.

“Josten’s comments were hedged and careful, but they were far removed from the Chamber’s strong criticism of the climate bill the House approved last year.”


Biofuels

Jim Snyder reported yesterday at The Hill’s Energy and Environment Blog that, “A number of groups are asking EPA for the chance to challenge any new information the agency weighs as it decides whether to raise ethanol blend limits to 15 percent.

“It’s a diverse bunch. Forty-one associations — from the American Petroleum Institute to the less well known Association for Dressings and Sauces — ‘respectfully but strongly’ urged EPA to give them additional time to comment any new ‘data, tests, or studies’ that EPA may consider in its rulemaking.

“In a separate letter, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers also asked for more time to comment. Alliance spokesman Charles Territo said the concern was that they public record would not include reaction to recent tests designed to measure the effect of higher ethanol blends on engines.”

The Hill update added that, “Ethanol groups like Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association have lobbied the administration and Congress to allow higher levels of ethanol be blended with gasoline. The current threshold is 10 percent, which ethanol producers contend functions as a cap on their market.”


Ag Economy

Reuters news reported earlier this week that, “Fertilizer maker CF Industries expects U.S. corn prices to range from $3.50 to $4.00 a bushel for the long term, Chairman and Chief Executive Stephen Wilson said on Tuesday at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit in Chicago.

“‘We know it is a commodity,’ Wilson said. ‘We know it will be lower than that at times, and will be higher than that at times, but it seems like we have settled into a range where it is high enough to provide incentive to farmers to plant, and it is low enough to make ethanol producers at least cash-positive.’

Corn prices have fluctuated wildly during the past few years amid growth in the ethanol industry and concerns about crop size due to variable growing conditions around the United States.”

Recall that recent analysis by agricultural economists at the University of Illinois provides a closer look at potential corn production and price scenarios for 2010, “Alternative 2010 Corn Production Scenarios and Policy Implications.”


Food Safety

Reuters writers Christopher Doering and Roberta Rampton reported yesterday that, “Congress will pass a new law to overhaul the antiquated U.S. food safety system by the end of the year, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, an influential House lawmaker, said on Wednesday.

“The first major reform of the system in 50 years could be followed by another close look at how meat and poultry are inspected, and the changes may create friction with trade partners, said the chairman of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.

“‘I have every confidence that we are going to pass food safety legislation and this legislation is going to get to the president for a signature and that that’s going to happen this year,’ said Connecticut Democrat DeLauro, who was speaking at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit.”


Animal Agriculture

The AP reported yesterday that, “Some Michigan agriculture organizations have a beef with Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm over her proclamation encouraging residents to not eat meat for a day.

“Granholm declared this coming Saturday ‘Meatout Day’ in Michigan earlier this month. Her proclamation encourages residents to choose not to eat meat in observance of the day and to try different recipes rich with vegetables, fruit and whole grains.”

The article added that, “The Michigan Farm Bureau blasted the proclamation as ‘unconscionable and an insensitive slap in the face’ to livestock farmers and meat-eating residents. The Republican-led Michigan Senate passed a resolution Wednesday urging the Democratic governor to rescind the proclamation.

“‘This is like telling people not to buy Fords or Chevys that are made here in Michigan,’ said Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three Oaks.”


--
Keith Good
President
FarmPolicy.com, Inc.
Champaign, IL

(t) 217.356.2269

FarmPolicy.com is a FREE newsletter and is made possible by the generous support of McLeod, Watkinson & Miller- Attorneys at Law.

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A Spring Reading from the Nourished Kitchen






Real Food & Community


The snow is starting to melt, ever so slightly, under the weight of the bright springtime sun despite the persistent cold weather. Sometimes, as the winter wanes, we forget just how bountiful the earth can be.

I'm taking a little time from Nourished Kitchen this week and celebrating winter's end with a Spring Harvest Supper, sharing locally prepared, real food with residents of and visitors to our community. Chicken liver pâté, fresh whole-grain sourdough breads, fresh greens, mineral-rich broth dotted with fresh spring vegetables, fresh goat cheese, fresh yogurt and even a sour cherry compote. (Don't worry, recipes will be up and posted eventually - in the meantime, checkout the archives).

We're serving real food, nourishing food sourced, prepared and served locally. Truly intended to serve the community, we priced the dinner affordably. Those that could donated food. Those whose finances are challenged will donate time, and in this way - through a bountiful spring meal - our community is both nourished and supported.

For me, the true growth in the real food movement rests in the celebration of our foodsheds and in dedication to serving the needs of everyone in our communities. So when spring officially begins this coming weekend, I'd ask you to consider how you can help sow the seeds of nourishment in your own community by growing your foodshed. Plant a garden. Teach a class. Share some sourdough with a friend. Volunteer at your farmers market. Spread the love - with a healthy dose of butter on the side.

Thanks for Reading!

-Jenny

Nourished Kitchen

The Nourished Kitchen Facebook Page

Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy


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

NOTICE: Sustainability Announcements will be on hiatus over the next week. Staff will be out of the office and traveling, returning the last week of March. We apologize for the inconvenience.


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

On
EcoRadio KC this week, host Reenie Carmack will will have as her guests Delena Stout and Debra Manfield, co-owners of Brookside Barkery & Bath, discussing holistic care for pets. They will explain how a pet diet of whole foods and natural health care is essential for their health, longevity and behavior.

Stay tuned at 12:30 when
the Bioneers radio series presents "Ecological Design: The Architecture of Nature and Democracy". John Todd, an ecological designer in the field of biomimicry, imitates nature's evolutionary genius to serve human ends harmlessly, using nature's processes as the design for buildings, technologies and practical solutions to environmental devastation. Educator David Orr suggests that true ecological design can take place only in a society willing to ask, "How would nature do it?"
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FUNERARY HYMN FOR THE HUMMER ¤ "GOOD RIDDANCE!"
September 1992 - 24 February 2010

Though not the only example of auto-erotic-addictive excess, the GM Hummer has to be the
foremost SUV icon of planet peril. It died last month - Requiem for a Hummer. After a year cajoling a cash infusion from an obscure Chinese machinery company, the GM sale to Tengzhong Machinery fell through - GM Hummer sale to Tengzhong Machinery fails. GM announced that they were shutting down production of the Hummer at their Shreveport LA factory. Now if only other icons of schizophrenic macho and climate advocacy would get rid or their hummers! - Schwarzenegger: Go Hummer Free!.
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WAKARUSA WETLANDS GROUPS FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST TRAFFICWAY
Wednesday,
12 March 2010

Twenty five years ago, the
South Lawrence Trafficway was planned in secret meetings of the Chamber and public officials, and the western leg was built in the face of community opposition. In a classic act of hubris, the Kansas Dept. of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration built the road to a "temporary" eastern end, the "bridge to nowhere" over Iowa Street, intent on taking full aim at the Wakarusa Wetlands one mile to the east.

In 25 years, it has gotten no farther. KDOT's and FHWA's presumptuousness of getting more Federal dollars fell flat. Their lack of a valid Environmental Impact Statement prompted Wetlands advocates to file the
first lawsuit in which the FHWA was roundly defeated. Grudgingly completing an EIS, the FHWA proclaimed an arbitrary justification for paving through the heart of the Wetlands, rather than skirting around it. And now this second lawsuit has challenged that EIS for making clearly erroneous assumptions, applying arbitrary double standards, misrepresenting impacts on historic properties, and conducting a procedurally defective noise study. This second lawsuit filed Friday may take a year to go to trial, and then more time to work it's way through the appeals process.

The money stubbornly squandered by officials on defense attorneys could have been used years ago to build an acceptable highway south of the Wetlands. And 1990 dollars would have gone much further to boot.
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LAWRENCE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Tuesday,
16 March 2010, 6:00pm
Public Works Confr. Room, lower level, Lawrence City Hall, 6th & Massachusetts St.

The
agenda will be: Bicycle Safety Month activities, rideability map, and a proposal for a 7th & Iowa St. bridge into Centennial Park. 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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LAWRENCE FRUIT TREE PROJECT ¤ PLANNING MEETING
Tuesday,
16 March 2010, 6:00pm
Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave., Lawrence KS 66044

The LFTP
Lawrence Fruit Tree Project is a co-operative group of pomiculturists who have organized themselves to establish community orchards, and teach folks how to grow and care for fruiting trees and shrubs. They also are setting up a fruit tree register to list existing neighborhood trees that are underutilized, so they can be cared for and harvested. Anyone is welcome who is interested in relocalized food security, environmental literacy, permaculture, fruit tree propagation, etc. Come to our meetings and help our grass roots organization grow!

The
agenda will include: fruit tree plantings at Free State High School and Park Hill Park and the Social Service League; progress report on plantings for the Burroughs Creek Park & Trail; planning for a grafting workshop; and more.
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FED UP WITH E-MAIL ACTIVISM? ¤ RATTLE THEIR CAGE IN PERSON!

So many causes, such little access to power. E-mail's good, letters are better, and
phone calls are best (short of face-to-face meetings). Officials don't read your e-mails, some staff person simply tallies the pro's and con's. But a phone call will register a greater impact, when you make the effort.

If you want to avoid running up your phone bill, put it on someone else's dime with a
toll-free number! This very handy web site - US Government toll free - contains a list of toll free numbers to reach elected representatives, including one to the official US Capitol switchboard! - (866)220-0044. Other listed toll-free numbers are funded by various lobbying groups including the AMA. Some are temporarily funded, so the list is periodically updated (with user's help). Use it! Call to state your views! Dial early, and dial often!
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CITY OF LAWRENCE COMPOST SALE
Thursday-Saturday,
18-20 March 2010, 8:00am-3:00pm (til 4:00 on Sat.)
1420 E 11th Street, Lawrence KS (east of 11th and Haskell, over the tracks)

The material is composted from leaves, grass clippings, and prunings collected by the City. Quantities are restricted to pick-ups and small trailers for residential use, not commercial use. Cost is $10 per load if loaded by tractor, or free if self-loaded by hand.
For more info, contact the Waste Reduction and Recycling Division at 832-3030 or visit www.LawrenceRecycles.org.
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PERMACULTURE FIELD TRIP ¤ COMPOSTING & BIODYNAMIC PREPARATIONS
Saturday,
20 March 2010, 1:00-4:00pm

As part of
of the Kaw Permaculture Collaborative series, Steve Moring will give a tour of his own Vajra Farm permaculture operation. For more information contact Steve Moring at 785-691-7305 or
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THE GREAT AMERICAN MEAT OUT ¤ LAWRENCE
Saturday,
20 March 2010, 2:30-5:30pm
Lawrence Public Library, 7th & Vermont St.

The Great American Meatout is the world's largest and oldest annual grassroots campaign to help people learn how to "kick the meat habit", and explore a wholesome diet of non-animal protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Lawrence will join communities in all 50 U.S. states and two dozen other countries with a free celebration at the Lawrence Library. Volunteers will be there to share food samples, recipes and literature, and to discuss plant based diets. There will also be a mini film festival and a cooking demonstration. A vegetarian diet requires only one tenth of the land area, energy, and water compared to that of a meat based diet. For more info go to Great American Meatout.
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AL GORE IGNORES MEAT DIET AS CLIMATE CULPRIT

According to a 2006 report published by the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent—18 percent—than transport. The most fossil-energy intensive diet is red meat, followed closely by poultry. And while Al Gore proposes technical fixes for climate disruption, he won't discuss meat - Al Gore Still Won't Talk About Meat.

The FAO report says livestock production is one of the major causes of the world's most pressing environmental problems, including global climate change, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. This is attributable to factors such as: confined animal feed operations (CAFO), tropical deforestation for grazing expansion (60-70% of it), industrial agriculture feed-grain growing, factory food processing, degradation of ecological services, and the huge expansion of the livestock sector to meet expanding meet demand -
Livestock a Major Threat to Environment.

On the other hand, the FAO report also points out that one billion of the world's poor have few options other than livestock for their survival. These people on the margins are in no position to use industrial livestock methods, but raise their animals by mostly traditional methods. The chief problems can be traced to affluent industrial societies cravings for more steaks and burger joints. Pamela Rice of the Viva Vegie Society wrote: "The world is on a trajectory to double its consumption of meat by mid-century. Indeed, all of our efforts to cut greenhouse emissions will be wiped out if we don't reduce our meat consumption." -
Al Gore, Let's Talk About Meat
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ORGANIC TRANSPLANTS CLASS ¤ HOW TO START YOUR OWN
Sunday,
21 March 2010, 3:00-5:00pm - $$
Badseed Market, 1909 McGee, Kansas City MO

In this class, you will get down and dirty (literally) mixing homemade potting soils and planting seeds of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and herbs. You will also receive garden plan charts and planting schedules, and learn where to buy local ingredients and supplies. For more info go to
Classes & Events « Badseed Farm.
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INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE DESIGN ¤ 4TH LECTURE
Wednesday,
31 March 2010, 6:00-9:00pm - $$
East Lawrence Community Center, 1245 E. 15th St., Lawrence (15th at Brook St.)

Steve Moring of the Kaw Permaculture Collaborative will describe how we can learn from the natural patterns of living systems to mimic nature in creating sustainable landscapes and food production. We will explore the basic design principles as taught by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison, and will outline the basic steps in planning a permaculture site, assessing land resources, and designing and implementing projects, including earthworks and swales. This lecture is the fourth in a nine-session permaculture lecture series, presented every two weeks. Interspersed with the lectures will be occasional field trips.

The lecture will be followed by a viewing of the film "Introduction to Permaculture Design" by Gepff Lawton. A $30.00 admission fee will be requested at the door. The fees will support both the K.P.C. and it's parent organization, Sustainability Action Network. For more information contact Steve Moring at 785-691-7305 or
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KANSAS CITY EAT LOCAL! FOOD EXPO, 12th ANNUAL

TWO VENUES:

Saturday, 27 March 2010, 9:00am-2:00pm
Shawnee Civic Centre, Phlumm & Johnson Dr, Shawnee KS


Saturday,
3 April 2010, 9:30am-2:30pm
Sermon Community Center, 201 N Dodgion St, Independence MO (near Truman & Noland Roads)

There will be local organic and free range producers selling their wares, including garden plant starts, as well as free organic gardening information and free
2009 Producers Directory. There will be a free workshop on CSA's and Organic Farmers Markets, food preservation, and cooking demonstrations by two local restaurants - blue bird bistro and Justus Drugstore - Restaurant.

Both Food Expos are free admission with free parking and free music. More information on the KC Food Circle and the two food expositions can be found at
Kansas City Eat Local Food Expo
or (913)334-0556 or
email to
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SUPER GREEN HOME SEMINAR
Saturday,
3 April 2010, 9:00am-3:30pm - FREE
Discovery Center, 4750 Troost, Kansas City MO

Super Green Homes are called Passiv Haus (Passive House), NetZero, and Near NetZero, and the technology is feasible today. There will be vendors of applicable building products, and speakers all day. Some of the speakers will be: Bob Berkebile from BNIM Architects speaking on 21st Century Living at the community scale; Mark Grantham from Innovative Designs speaking on deep retrofit remodeling and sustainable living models; Dustin Jensen from Metropolitan Energy Center speaking on the energy rebates, incentives and the payoff times; Ryan Abendroth from Passive House Institute speaking on the Passive House concept, and Robert McLaughlin from McLaughlin Designs on The Greensburg NetZero Eco-Home. Event is free but reservations are recommended.
RSVP Dayna McDaniel dthrumc (a) sbcglobal.net
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BOOTH & PARADE SIGN-UP DEADLINE ¤ LAWRENCE EARTH DAY
Monday,
5 April 2010, 5:00pm
320 NE Industrial Lane, Lawrence, KS 66044

The Lawrence Earth Day parade and
celebration will be on 17 April starting with the parade at 11:00am. The celebration in the park features live music, food, vendors and children’s activities. Vendor booths are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more info go to Earth Day Celebration 2010.
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KANSAS GREEN ENERGY SUMMIT
Thursday-Friday,
8-9 April 2010 - $$
Independence Community College, 1057 W. College Blvd., Independence, KS 67301

This year's conference is sponsored by Labette Community College and Independence Community College. Conference themes are: wind, solar, and geothermal energy; renewable energy cost accounting; energy auditing; green initiatives for businesses and schools; and greening school curriculums.
Speakers will include: Mr. Gary Hogsett, on building energy analysis; Mr. Bill Hanlon, on energy efficient and tight construction; and Dr. Ruth Douglas-Miller, on the Kansas wind industry.

For information or registration materials, contact Chenoa Bosch at (620)332-5621
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LAWRENCE FARMERS' MARKET OPENS
Saturday,
10 April 2010, 7:00am-11:00pm
800 block of New Hampshire St., Lawrence KS

The Lawrence Farmers' Market is the oldest in Kansas, and is open on Saturday mornings, and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (weekday markets will begin on 5 May). This is a "growers' only market": all fruits, vegetables, and meats are raised by the vendor, and there are more than eighty vendors. For more info go to
Lawrence Farmers' Market.
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KC EARTH WALK & BRUSH CREEK GREEN FESTIVAL
Sunday,
11 April 2010, 9:00am-3:00pm (10:00am Earth Walk)
Volker (Theis) Park, Kansas City MO (just south of Nelson Gallery-Atkins Museum)

Sponsored by
Bridging the Gap, this festival will celebrate the planet with ART! A full stage of entertainment including StoneLion’s environmental puppet shows, make-and-take art activities, and environmental information to help make your life more green. The walk is an "all species parade", and you are invited to dress as your favorite species, with prizes for the most creative costumes. For more info visit http://www.earthdaykc.org/
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PRAIRIE VILLAGE EARTH FAIR
Saturday,
17 April 2010, 10:00am-3:00pm
Shawnee Mission East High School (75th and Mission Rd)

At this 9th annual Earth Fair, there will be over 40 vendors from all types of environmentally focused organizations, and a farmers' market. For more info contact
Katie Nixon, coordinator, at (816)809-5074.
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LAWRENCE EARTH DAY ¤ PARADE & SOUTH PARK CELEBRATION
Saturday,
17 April 2010, 11:00am parade, 11:30-4:00pm park festival

The Lawrence Earth Day Parade begins at the Train Park, and is sponsored by K.U. Environs -
http://groups.ku.edu/~environs/ The Earth Day Celebration will be held in South Park, and is sponsored by the City of Lawrence Waste Reduction & Recycling Department - Earth Day Celebration 2010. The celebration in the park features live music, children’s activities and food vendors. Attendees are invited to learn from exhibits about waste reduction, recycling, composting, alternative fuels and vehicles, energy conservation, land preservation, wildlife and habitat preservation, and more.



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.


We welcome suggestions for items to be included. Please send items to

To subscribe to this list, please send an e-mail to
(a) ixks.com> with the subject line reading
“Subscribe to Sustainability Announcements”.


rBGH- / rBST-FREE ICE-CREAM - If we all scream... "TAKE BACK OUR ICE CREAM"


Campaign For Safe Food Update

March, 2010

Take Back Our Ice Cream


As most of you know, we’ve had a continuing, very successful post card campaign to Breyers and Dreyer’s ice cream asking them to go rBGH-free. Nationwide, thousands of post cards have been sent. They’ve got the message that consumers are upset and we know discussions have been held at both companies.


Now it’s time to take this viral, and we need you to help.

More and more people are finding out that the artificial hormone rBGH (rBST) in dairy products harms cows, leads to increased antibiotic resistance in humans and may increase cancer rates. Its use has been banned by Canada, Australia, New Zealand and all 27 nations of the European Union. The American Public Health Association, American Nurses Association and Health Care Without Harm all have taken official positions opposing rBGH. The American Medical Association doesn’t have an official stance, but its past president asked that all hospitals serve only rBGH-free milk.

There has been a consumer revolt against this hormone and dozens of retailers and dairy processors and have stopped using it completely, including Starbucks, Chipotle Restaurants, Darigold, Tillamook and many more. Walmart, Kroger, Kraft and others have started offering rBGH-free product lines and last year, Yoplait and Dannon yogurts both went completely rBGH-free in response to consumer demand.

But not Breyers and Dreyer’s, the two largest ice cream producers. Breyers, whose labels say “All natural,” also includes Good Humor, Klondike Bars and Popsicle. Dreyer’s includes Haagen Dazs, Nestle and Edy’s.

· Please contact them today and ask them to stop using rBGH!

· If you have stopped buying their product(s) or will stop because they use rBGH, let them know!

· And please forward this message through e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and good old face-to-face conversations with family members, friends and neighbors!

Feel free to tell them who you are (such as a mother, nurse, business owner, teacher, etc.) and to ask for a response. Tell them you don’t accept the FDA’s misguided opinion that rBGH is safe.

To e-mail U.S. Ice Cream, which includes Breyers, Good Humor, Klondike Bars and Popsicle, go to http://www.icecreamusa.com/contact_us/comment.cfm. If you’d rather call, the separate numbers are:

BREYERS

(800) 931-2826

GOOD HUMOR

(800) 931-2854

KLONDIKE

(800) 931-2830

POPSICLE

(800) 931-2849

To e-mail Dreyer’s, which includes Haagen Dazs, Nestle and Edy’s, go to http://www.dreyersinc.com/contact.asp. For separate phone numbers:

DREYER’S (877) 437-3937

EDY’s (888) 590-3397

NESTLE (800) 225-2270

HAAGEN DAZS (800) 225-2270

Every e-mail, phone call or post card brings us one step closer to these companies going rBGH-free. THANK YOU for taking a few minutes to participate in this great cause, and please forward this message to family and friends!

Rick North, Project Director
Campaign For Safe Food
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
503-968-1520
hrnorth (a) hevanet.com
www.oregonpsr.org

###

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone

In 1993 the FDA approved a controversial GE product, rBGH (also known as rBST), for use in dairy farming. This genetically engineered hormone is injected into cows to increase their milk production. Many animal health problems arise from this practice including fertility issues in cows, birth deformities in calves, increased levels of somatic cell count (pus) in milk, diarrhea, and greater rates of mastitis (a clinical udder infection). To read more about the effects of rBGH on dairy cows, read the POSILAC® insert (the commercial name for rBGH).

Beyond an animal welfare issue, increased health problems in dairy cows may result in greater use of antibiotics in herds supplemented with rBGH. This contributes to overuse of these drugs and can ultimately lead to antibiotic resistance in humans. Additionally, a number of studies showed that rBGH increases amounts of IGF-1 in milk. This is a hormone that, when present in higher than naturally occurring levels, promotes increased prostate, breast, colon and other cancers in humans.

At Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility we believe it is imperative to advocate for precaution when dealing with risk to human health. Therefore we are working to raise consumer awareness about rBGH and discontinue its use nationwide through promoting grassroots citizen action.

To learn more about rBGH please review our numerous fact sheets and downloads. There are many steps consumers can take to both avoid this genetically engineered product and help get it off the market. The Campaign for Safe Food encourages everyone to purchase rBGH-free products and ask companies who do use it to stop.

Know Your Milk Brochure

Consumers Guide (.doc)

APHA Opposes rBGH Press Release (pdf)

A Public Health Response to Elanco's rbST: a Safety Assessment" (pdf)

AMA Past President Statment on rBGH

ANA Press Release on Working to Address Public Health Issues

HCWH Position Statement on rBGH

Yogurt Nutrient Comparison Chart (.xls)

Institutional Guide for rBGH-Free Yogurt Companies

Consumer Demand for RBGH-Free Products: Professional Surveys

Consumer Demand for RBGH-Free Products: Quotes

rBGH-Free Dairies in Top 100

GMO and rBGH PowerPoint

Power of the Postcards

Scientific American on rBGH and the environment

click here for more...