Re: NOW: I'm looking for Articles on CSA
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!
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
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: BD Farming in America
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: NM Sustainable Ag Conference update
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
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
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: WENDELL BERRY: The Agrarian Standard + FRESH AND LOCAL
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: getting worried
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 G) 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 G!) Visit our website at: www.unionag.org
Re: NM Sustainable Ag Conference
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
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
