Re: NOW: I'm looking for Articles on CSA

2003-03-12 Thread Scakya
Hi Allan,
 Have you tried bioneers.org?
Pat
> A quality holistic health publication that has just started in 
> Washington, DC (Integrated Health) has asked me for an article on CSA 
> for their next issue. The rub is that the deadline is this Friday. 
> This means that I have to find an article that I can get permission 
> to have reprinted and submit that to them.
> 
> The best slant of the article w.b. one that hilights the value of CSA 
> to people in holistic health care situations. This is about food 
> quality and the healing quality of food rather than about social 
> interactions and economics.
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> -Allan
> 



Hugh's in Moriarty, NM!

2003-01-24 Thread Scakya
Hi everybody,
 Been frantically busy with last minute details on the conference tommorrow.
Hugh called to let me know he was in Moriarty this evening and let me know
everything was OK. 
Pat Maas
Moriarty Farmer's Market Conference




Re: BD Farming in America

2003-01-05 Thread Scakya
Hi Allan,
 Just in from chores for the day, and think you are quite right about doing
things ourselves as far as mentoring/cooperative efforts go. Although what I'm
doing on the local level is very intensive(pre-school to senior citizens) it
does take cooperation, effort and persistence. Without these ingredients and a
handful more(community interest, benefit(short and long term) and environmental
aspects)you  can kiss what you're doing goodbye. People don't always get what's
good for them.
  In our community, severe economic trama makes my way easier. It's sad that
it takes a situation so bad to bring change, but it seems it takes the negative
to bring change for mankind. 
  So let me ask one thing, if you know people here in NM who farm using BD,
let them know about me and my project. Personally, I need a mentor for BD. My
efforts to find someone to teach me via an apprenticeship have gone unanswered.
No matter the long hours I can put in the farm/field, doing the books or selling
at markets, none has gotten me the one thing that would make me happy, hands on
BD experience. Learning out of book is one thing, doing it is another. Nuances
are everything.
Pat




Re: BD Farming in America

2003-01-05 Thread Scakya
Hi all,
 Couldn't help but comment on this topic. With my conference only a few
weeks to go, I've been busy setting up classes (8 from Feb.to May), 5 farm trips
this year, mentoring programs for newbies,and so on. Living at 6200+ feet with
extremely alkaline soils(9+) and strong west winds continually; the surest way
to discouragement is get a newbie excited and then let them figure it out for
them selves. Grant some have done it,but most fail. 
 What I'm doing is making it clear right from the git go that if people want
to farm, wether it be bd, organic,permaculture or something else
sustainable-they will have a mentor. Success is essential due to our goal of
providing our local schools with 75% of their food needs within 5 years, thereby
keeping millions of dollars in our local economy. When you have got that kind of
incentive, mentoring is more than a whim, it is a must.
Pat




Re: NM Sustainable Ag Conference update

2002-12-31 Thread Scakya
Hi Hugh,
Hope you enjoy Hawaii, it's on my must visit list. I'm the gal doing
everything, so it's me that everything is sent to. Next week I was sending out
the directions to the location for the conference, but if you want them sooner,
no problem.
 You might want to get here Friday afternoon January 24th.The setup for
booths needs to be done by 7:50 am Saturday.The community center will be open
5:30 am, facilitating setup. Hot drinks and morning munchies will be available
at no cost for conference participants. The tables being used will all be set up
Friday night, making life easier for folks with booths. I can send you a list of
local motels or can find a friend for you to stay with.
Have an outstanding day,
Pat
 I do need a short bio, will take care of everything else though. 




Re: NM Sustainable Ag Conference update

2002-12-30 Thread Scakya
Hi Hugh,
 Here is the latest on the conference.

Moriarty Farmer?s Market Conference Update

12-30-2002
Hi to everyone presenting and/or having a booth,
Everything is moving along nicely for the conference and with little less than a
month to go, several items need to be addressed. If you are a presenter, I need
your bio (25 to 50 words) by January 7th as will be printing the conference
program January 10th. Also needed for the program is any advertising ad copy for
donors/sponsors. If you are a speaker/sponsor/donator and are going to have a
booth, I need to know by the 7th so your booth is located on the program map for
booths. This may seem like a lot to some of you, but remember it is one person
who is putting all this together and timeliness is imperative. 

Below are verified donations for the door prizes and raffle items with more
coming in:
Harris Seeds: $100 gift certificate for seed purchase
Broomes Feed: 10 ½ lb. packets of pepper seeds
Farm to Table: 2 T-shirts
NM Farmer?s Market Association: 1 apron and 1 hat
NM Organic Commodity Commission: 2 tickets for a seminar at Glorietta 
Barefoot Farmer: 1 Book ? The Barefoot Farmer? ISBN 0-9721378-0-7
The Rodale Institute: 1 Book ? Empty Breadbasket; The Coming Challenge to
America?s Food Supply and What We Can Do About It.?, and 1 Video ? A World of
Sense; The life journey of Bob Rodale?
Indiana Berry and Plant Company: Good and generous assortment of cucurbit seeds
Peaceful Valley: TBA
Johnny?s Seeds: TBA 
Seeds of Change: TBA

Many thanks must also be given to local sponsors Estancia Cooperative Extension,
NM Farmer?s Market Association, Organic Commodity Commission, Edgewood Soil and
Water Conservation District and East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation
District. We still have some tentative sponsors and those that add sponsorship
will be listed in the conference program.

Only two changes to the conference schedule. John McMullin of Embudo Turkey Farm
will not be presenting. He has had a once on a lifetime opportunity offered to
him visiting Antarctica and has all my blessings on going on that adventure. He
will be speaking at one (or more) of the classes that will be held in
conjunction with the Farmer?s Market.

Replacing him is Theresa Gonzales Connaughton, newly elected President of the
Santa Fe Farmer?s Market Institute and wife of Martin Connaughton, owner of
Wilderness Flowers. She will be taking the 8am slot in Room B with the
presentation ?The role of Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute in Sustaining NM
agriculture?.

The 1 pm, Room B slot is being filled with longtime La Montanita produce manger
Dan Schuster. Look for an exciting announcement from Dan in the near future! His
presentation is ? From the Field to Your Pocket, Marketing for Profit?.

On the Farmer?s Market side of things, I?m organizing 5 trips throughout NM this
year. These are for the benefit of farmers participating in NM?s Farmer?s
Markets. If you have or know of a farm that would be a good location to visit,
let me know. 

That?s it for now. Look for another update next Monday, as we get closer to this
awesome event.

Pat Maas
Moriarty Farmer?s Market Conference
505-832-1989




Re: WENDELL BERRY: The Agrarian Standard + FRESH AND LOCAL

2002-12-08 Thread Scakya
Hi Allan,
Alas, tis true. I don't know when this took place, but that's how it is now.
I know from what my boys tell me how bad the school food tastes, smells and
appears that something had to be done and now I'm doing it. I'll fight tooth and
nail to make it happen for the farmer's of this area and at the same time
improving my(and everybody elses here) children's diet by eating good healthy
local food.
Pat
> >Hi,
> >  Depart of Defense is DOD. They handle the food supplied to public schools
> >as well as bombing other countries.
> >Pat
> >  > Pat - What's a DOD contract? -Allan
> 
> Are you serious? When did this happen? I thought it was USDA or some 
> education department that handled school lunches. (Where have I 
> been?) -ALlan
> 




Re: WENDELL BERRY: The Agrarian Standard + FRESH AND LOCAL

2002-12-08 Thread Scakya
Hi,
 Depart of Defense is DOD. They handle the food supplied to public schools
as well as bombing other countries.
Pat
> Pat - What's a DOD contract? -Allan
> 




Re: FRESH AND LOCAL

2002-12-08 Thread Scakya
Hi Perry,
I would greatly appreciate you sending me that file. At this time I have
Cooperative Extension, Edgewood Soil and Water Conservation District, NCSS,
USDA, Sandia Labs, Farm to Table, NM Farmer's Markets Association, NM Organic
Commodity Board and a number of other organizations helping me put everything
together. I love the Head Start community garden ideas mentioned in the article
you sent and hope to implement a like program here.
 The incubation program for kitchen use is a great idea. Right now, I've
been cataloguing all the organizations who have certified kitchens for use for
farmers' market participants and the associated costs. Also collecting names and
numbers of people who have awesome reps for their products that would be an
asset to the market or co-op. 
 My biggest problem now, is finding the people with equal enthusiasim to my
own to aid in all of this. Most people have no idea of what can be done, so I've
had to be careful in talking with people so not to overwhelm them. 
 I'm in the process of getting a number of interesting technologies brought
here to aid in all of this process, and as I get them lined up will share them.
An example is a simple sustainable system such as a large dairy producer
producing his own green matter for his livestock; the manure being used in a
methane digesting system, which once the manure is digested and the methane is
"scrubbed" and has split off the CO2-- can be used to heat the greenhouse
growing the green stuff. The CO2 is used to aid in plant growth and thus
completes the nearly closed system. This is just one example of what I'm
bringing here. I have no desire to put the hay guy out of business, just want to
eliminate a horrendous problem with manure lagoons that poison our environment.
This may not sit with some people well, but I for one don't care for the stench
or the water table being contaminatd--and I come from a dairy farming family!
Many thanks Perry,
Pat




Re: WENDELL BERRY: The Agrarian Standard + FRESH AND LOCAL

2002-12-08 Thread Scakya
Hi Allan,
 Part of what I'm doing with the Estancia Valley market is expanding those
very items. We have been invited to the Santa Fe Family Farmers co-op, which
wholesales members produce at a very comfortable price. We are also setting up a
co-op for going after DOD contracts as there is an intiative to displace the big
corporate entities and allow the producers to provide fresh produce to their own
local schools.
 Part of what I've planned will include all aspects of farm and value added
products for our markets. From seed saving to seed sales (local and internet);
baking of all types; jams and jellies; off season fruits,veggies and greens; GH
forage for dairies and feed lots;and much more. My goal is to keep this valley
rural and turn around the local economy from one falling into the great black
abysss to one highlighted in the state as being a rural success model within the
sustainable movement.
 Can I do this? You bet your bippy! Years worth of contacts in the Farmer's
Markets, knowledge of groups such as Food to Table that are leading the movement
for farmers to get those big contracts from DOD, membership on a panel promoting
rural ag business and a strong ability to network. What I do is only limited by
my own ability to create an awesome group of opportunities and then follow them
up and get them done!
 So is it possible for "Local and Fresh"? My answer is a resounding YES!!!
Pat  




Re: getting worried

2002-12-07 Thread Scakya
Hi Allan,
 Great advice here from Hugh, please listen as he's right on the money. What
you don't take care of now may haunt you for a lifetime. I don't know how old
you are, but at thirty-nine I broke my leg and badly wretched my ankle and it
was during planting season. Had thousands of starts to plant and just couldn't
do anything. I planted crawling on my hands and knees and needed help to stand,
the pain was horrible and it would take months more to heal than it should have. 
 Right now you have time to heal Allan.A friend got me to slow down and take
the stuff already mentioned. Within a month I was back up and at it, but I took
the time to take care of myself--something you need to do now. Need to mention
here though, that by pushing myself at the wrong time, I pay the price now in
discomfort at times when I need to push-something that could have been prevented
had I taken the time at the time to let my body heal.
Pat 
> >Allan, how long has it been since you've been in the cast, how long
> >do the doctors think you need to be wearing it, and how fast do you
> >think you're actually improving? (Remember, grumpiness is a sure
> >sign of being on the mend )
> >
> >If the doctors are saying 6 - 8 weeks and it's only been 3 then
> >you're probably pushing it. Work with your doc and tell him your
> >agenda. he may allow the cast to be removed if it's not all that
> >early (by the time you're due to leave.)
> > It's possible you or he could call ahead and arrange for someone
> >from the hotel/facilities/airport to help you with baggage,
> >transporting yourself, etc. Help may come from unexpected
> >sources but you will probably have to ask for it.
> >If the foot is really still that painful, it may be telling you that you
> >shouldn't push it and try to travel until it's rested and healed. I don't
> >know how involved you are with ACRES USA but you may have to
> >delegate your jobs this year and sit this one out.
> >
> >If you saw the cast off yourself, be careful! They use a bone saw in
> >the hospital. (I can see Allan now, chainsaw in hand !)
> 
> Visit our website at: www.unionag.org
> 




Re: Getting Worried

2002-12-07 Thread Scakya
Hi Allan,
 Did you get the Tisue Mend I told you about? If nothing else it will get
you up and attom a hell of lot quicker than not using it. I understand the
itching and the irriatition you are experiencing, but you'll find your own
attitude will reflect how much this stuff bothers you.
 And Allan, I'm not saying this to hurt your feelings or in any way
negative, but you've got work to do and people that rely on you-heal thy
self!!!) That doctor is doing what he knows works, he doesn't give a damm about
you going to "Acres", so please don't take it out on him. He is looking after
your "best" interest.
 Just remember this is from a friend that holds you in high esteem and wants
to see you at your best.
Pat




Re: NM Sustainable Ag Conference

2002-12-02 Thread Scakya
Hi Hugh,
Can only apologize for misspelling your name. I know how annoying it can be
as it is something that happens to me on a rather constant basis.You'll find it
corrected on the flyer I've included.
Pat



MORIARTY FARME2.doc
Description: MS-Word document


NM Sustainable Ag Conference

2002-12-01 Thread Scakya
Hi all,
On January 25th in Moriarty, NM I've organized a conference on Sustainable
Agriculture at the Moriarty Community Center. Admission is $5 and goes toward
creating a local farmer's market. There will be sixteen speakers, some speaking
on BD topics(Hugh Lovell, Steve Warshawer and possibly a third).If you want more
information email me and I'll give you the list of speakers and topics we have
right now.
Pat Maas
Moriarty Farmer's Market manager
Earthwalker Farm owner