On Mon, 27 Nov 1995, mary hallock morris wrote:
> Where I live in Rural Ohio, anything that has to do with sustainable ag is shunned
>or considered a way to make
> money off of environmentalists. I am not sure why environmentalists have such a bad
>name around here -- it's
> odd. One problem is that we (meaning those who support wetlands restoration, etc)
>are undoing all the "work"
> (or in my opinion, damage) that their ancestors did.
I grew up in a place called Lost Nation, Iowa and I can relate to this!
There were few people who appreciated any balance in nature, much less
anyone who might be termed an "environmentalist." The land was seen
as a way to make a living without having to report to a boss -- and the
consequence of this extremely independent (we might even say pig-headed)
behavior was that farmers never had the political power they might have
had to preserve the family farms. The agricultural colleges also
encouraged the "American" way of "bigger is better" and the use of
more mechanized equipment (read major capital expense), commercial
fertilizers, and intensive farming practices that were short-sighted
and incredibly arrogant.
Perhaps some of the same farmers who now see agribusiness usurping
their independent way of life might grasp some connections here --
I'm sure you have read Wendell Berry (or is it Barry?). But then
again, maybe not.
I was back in the Midwest a year ago and some of the practices --
such as the hog-raising factories -- are unbelievable! Animals
with barely room to stand and with their tails chopped off so that
they won't chew them off in frustration and rage. Doped up,
pumped full of additives -- every time I think of them I move
to the vegetarian section of the store.
> > This would be a great discussion topic!
>
> Mary
> -------------------------------------
> Name: mary hallock morris
> E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mary hallock morris)
> Date: 11/27/95
> Time: 21:52:10
>
> Check out my WEB page at http://www.bright.net/~mtmorris/index.html
>
> Grad Student at The McGregor School of Antioch University
> Yellow Springs, Ohio
> Majoring in: Community and Environmental Education
>
> "...In Nature, Nothing Exists Alone" -- Rachel Carson
> -------------------------------------
>
Lorraine Pozzi
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tue Nov 28 08:02:53 1995
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 9:59:05 +0100
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Sustainable Ag.
Hello!
I found your comments about the lack of interest, or even
the negative attitude towards sustainable ag. in the
mid-west very interesting. I work for Volunteers in
Overseas Cooperative Assistance, a non-profit implementor of
USAID's Farmer-to-Farmer program. My organization sends
volunteers overseas (in my department it's to CEE/NIS) to
help farmers and new agribusiness entrepreneurs update their
techniques and methods. USAID strongly encourages us to do
projects which emphasize sustainable ag. (even when sus. ag.
is not the primary goal of the project). We often find
ourselves in a situation where we're encouraging farmers to
change their methods to be more environmentally friendly,
when in our own country, people have used "unsustainable"
practices for years.
For the most part, however, our clients are very open to the
ideas produced by sustainable ag., and very eager to
implement the new practices. I think a key difference in
the attitudes, is that we approach these farmers with the
knowledgethat they are economically desperate, so we make a
special effort to make any suggested changes economically
viable for the host country. In the United States, not so
much emphasis is placed on the economic viability, but,
instead, on the end result of sustainable ag, without much
concern as to how the farmer gets there.
What do you think?
Taryn Bussewitz
Washington, DC
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tue Nov 28 10:31:26 1995
Subject: Re: Green Ideas/Red Flag/fwd
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 12:31:21 -0500 (EST)
From: "Paul William Wise" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.3.89.9511271933.B18438-0100000@scn> from "Lorraine Pozzi" at Nov
27, 95 08:04:04 pm
>
>
> On Mon, 27 Nov 1995, mary hallock morris wrote:
>
> > Where I live in Rural Ohio, anything that has to do with sustainable ag is s
hunned or considered a way to make
> > money off of environmentalists. I am not sure why environmentalists have su
ch a bad name around here -- it's
> > odd. One problem is that we (meaning those who support wetlands restoration
, etc) are undoing all the "work"
> > (or in my opinion, damage) that their ancestors did.
>
I can relate! Last year, while standing in a cafeteria line at
Bowling Green State (NW Ohio), I overheard two workers discussing the report
on the previous evening's news that Ohio's drinking water showed one of the
nation's highest percentages of agricultural chemical contamination. "I wonder
if we have it around here?" said one. A third then jumped into the conversation
and said "I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it! My husband is
into farming." As in so many situations, whatever threatens the status quo
seems evil...
----------------------
Paul Wise
Dept. of English
Michigan State U.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tue Nov 28 15:27:56 1995
From: "Suzanne N. Linkowitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 95 17:26:28 -0500
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the blessing! I hope you had a wonderful holdiay!
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tue Nov 28 15:56:44 1995
id <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Wed, 29 Nov 1995 11:48:23 +1300
; 29 Nov 95 11:47:32 +1300
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 11:46:31 +1300
From: "STEFANIE S. RIXECKER" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RFP: Conservation Technology Support Program/fwd
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Organization: Lincoln University
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Conservation Technology Support Program
The Conservation Technology Support Program (CTSP) is requesting
proposals from qualified applicants to be considered for its 1996
grant program. Successful applicants, which must be 501(c)(3)
organizations active in biodiversity conservation and conservation
education, will receive an in-kind grant of hardware, software,
training and support to establish a geographic information system.
Approximately 55 major grants valued at more than $1,000,000 will
be awarded by CTSP in 1996. Hardware will be provided by Hewlett-
Packard Company and Apple Computer. Software will be provided by
Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). Training and support
will be provided by the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological
Park Conservation and Research Center, the Conservation GIS
Consortium and the World Wildlife Fund. Co-sponsors of CTSP include
Trimble Navigation, GTCO Corporation, Iomega Corporation,
ERDAS, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation. Co-sponsors will award
approximately 70 additional hardware and software grants.
The CTSP was created to provide support for those
conservation organizations that recognize the importance of
spatial data to enhance their conservation programs, are committed
to providing the technical and staff support to maintain those
programs once initiated, but lack the funds and expertise to get
the program underway. CTSP was initiated in 1994, and granted in-kind
donations of hardware, software and training to more than 40
conservation organizations in 1995.
A digital copy of the application form (including appendices) is
available now by sending an email message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
In your message please include only your name, organization,
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the latest information about the CTSP and how to retrieve the
application materials via return e-mail. Please do *not* send
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Applications must be postmarked on or before January 16, 1996.
CTSP award announcements will be made by March 15, 1996.
PUBLISHED 11/15/95. POST IN ALL APPROPRIATE ONLINE FORUMS.
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