I wholeheartedly join you in recommending The Crows Nest as it's one of my favorite Substacks, too!
I loved this piece about inventive ways of establishing and supporting small-hold farms. I'm very interested in the creative ways we can get back to a non-corporate model of farming, ensure the food supply is clean, and the environment is protected. Where I live, we have the Maine Orgainic Farmers and Gardeners Association or MOFGA as its fondly known in across the state. They are concerned with creating a sustainable food system by supporting small hold farmers through education, assistance, and such, as well as connecting them with the public, their clients and customers. Among the many things they do to support their mission , they run outreach programs that build a connection between farmers and their local non-farming community, and facilitate ways for farmers to make a living from their work at farm stands and farmers markets, deals with local restaurants and supermarkets, community coop shares, etc. They also have a rigorous vetting process for the farmers to ensure the land is sustainably and organically farmed.
I love hearing about the ways different other areas and countries are addressing this - how they are responding to the specific challenges in their area. I think we can learn a lot from the different models. Thank you for bringing this up!
I don't know if you've seen it but @Kim Peach also shared some gems too in the Chat space. Like I said in my reply to Susannah, I will compile an area where they are more accessible and easily seen. The reason for hope area!!
I haven't yet made checking the Chat space a habit! Not just yours, but the whole section. I keep meaning to, but end up forgetting then, when I do, the conversation has moved on. I must schedule this!
I love the idea of a 'reason for hope' area. There is much hope, after all.
I find the Chat space difficult to navigate. Comments aren't nested like at the ends of post. However, Chat is a good place to pop a link to something relevant.
I feel the same way, I keep meaning to get better at using the space, but always forget or never find the time. You are right though, about the use of Chat for links, that makes it worthwhile.
That sounds a very proactive and interesting association, Susannah. I think one of the elements of this discourse which has really come to the fore in this and last week's post is that direct link between farm and the consumer, the rural and the urban.
When mothers knock wild berries out of a child's hand not because they are poisonous (they weren't) but because it's dirty to do it (yup, I witnessed that), something has gone terribly wrong. That connection is a form of re-education and rebuilding of community.
Thank you for sharing, Susannah, I am currently creating a community area where readers' stories and shares are collated. So will add this if that's ok?
Another wonderful post, thanks! And thank you for the mention too, that really made my day.
One thing you do so admirably here is show the hope which exists in the world. Too often, we are preprogrammed by the media (whether social or mainstream) to only look at the negatives but, when I read something like this, I am reminded that there is a lot of good in the world, too. Thank you for sharing!
(We have friends from Thailand who you might also be interested in, they run Punpun, which is a small organic farm, but also teaches widely, whether on seed saving or natural building, for example. There really are so many wonderful initiatives, on a global scale. We just need to keep spreading the word.)
Actually, seed saving and seed banks is next week's topic. I'll check out Punpun before then. Thanks Alexander!
I agree there really are so many, and by demonstrating that, I think it'll spur on the action, make the smaller projects feel like they are part of something extraordinarily huge.
Ooh, looking forward to that one. I've been saving a lot of seeds this year (the first we've grown a few experimental crops in our very small space), it just makes sense. I've also been sneakily collecting them from elsewhere too.
The internet really does bring together disparate groups, in a way which our species has never had before. People often forget this, forget how new it is, and how we are still only just learning to use it.
Wonderful. Shifting land ownership from individuals (read: investors) to trusts working in the common good would be a game changer if it could get traction. Inspiring, as always! Thank you for reading the other posts in the Enchanted Forest and giving a boost to the whole kaboodle! :-)
I happy to have found it, Duane.
I wholeheartedly join you in recommending The Crows Nest as it's one of my favorite Substacks, too!
I loved this piece about inventive ways of establishing and supporting small-hold farms. I'm very interested in the creative ways we can get back to a non-corporate model of farming, ensure the food supply is clean, and the environment is protected. Where I live, we have the Maine Orgainic Farmers and Gardeners Association or MOFGA as its fondly known in across the state. They are concerned with creating a sustainable food system by supporting small hold farmers through education, assistance, and such, as well as connecting them with the public, their clients and customers. Among the many things they do to support their mission , they run outreach programs that build a connection between farmers and their local non-farming community, and facilitate ways for farmers to make a living from their work at farm stands and farmers markets, deals with local restaurants and supermarkets, community coop shares, etc. They also have a rigorous vetting process for the farmers to ensure the land is sustainably and organically farmed.
I love hearing about the ways different other areas and countries are addressing this - how they are responding to the specific challenges in their area. I think we can learn a lot from the different models. Thank you for bringing this up!
Thank you!
And I found this addition, about MOFGA, also really interesting. I love that these exist, and across the world. Hope is a good thing indeed.
I don't know if you've seen it but @Kim Peach also shared some gems too in the Chat space. Like I said in my reply to Susannah, I will compile an area where they are more accessible and easily seen. The reason for hope area!!
I haven't yet made checking the Chat space a habit! Not just yours, but the whole section. I keep meaning to, but end up forgetting then, when I do, the conversation has moved on. I must schedule this!
I love the idea of a 'reason for hope' area. There is much hope, after all.
I find the Chat space difficult to navigate. Comments aren't nested like at the ends of post. However, Chat is a good place to pop a link to something relevant.
I feel the same way, I keep meaning to get better at using the space, but always forget or never find the time. You are right though, about the use of Chat for links, that makes it worthwhile.
Note to self: try harder to use Chat!!
That sounds a very proactive and interesting association, Susannah. I think one of the elements of this discourse which has really come to the fore in this and last week's post is that direct link between farm and the consumer, the rural and the urban.
When mothers knock wild berries out of a child's hand not because they are poisonous (they weren't) but because it's dirty to do it (yup, I witnessed that), something has gone terribly wrong. That connection is a form of re-education and rebuilding of community.
Thank you for sharing, Susannah, I am currently creating a community area where readers' stories and shares are collated. So will add this if that's ok?
Absolutely okay and I’m looking forward to perusing that area of your Substack.
Another wonderful post, thanks! And thank you for the mention too, that really made my day.
One thing you do so admirably here is show the hope which exists in the world. Too often, we are preprogrammed by the media (whether social or mainstream) to only look at the negatives but, when I read something like this, I am reminded that there is a lot of good in the world, too. Thank you for sharing!
(We have friends from Thailand who you might also be interested in, they run Punpun, which is a small organic farm, but also teaches widely, whether on seed saving or natural building, for example. There really are so many wonderful initiatives, on a global scale. We just need to keep spreading the word.)
Actually, seed saving and seed banks is next week's topic. I'll check out Punpun before then. Thanks Alexander!
I agree there really are so many, and by demonstrating that, I think it'll spur on the action, make the smaller projects feel like they are part of something extraordinarily huge.
Ooh, looking forward to that one. I've been saving a lot of seeds this year (the first we've grown a few experimental crops in our very small space), it just makes sense. I've also been sneakily collecting them from elsewhere too.
The internet really does bring together disparate groups, in a way which our species has never had before. People often forget this, forget how new it is, and how we are still only just learning to use it.
By a lucky coincidence, I'll be talking to our local land trust and organic farm school this week. I'll plant this seed!
Fingers-crossed, it'll germinate and grow! Good luck with your talk, John. 🍀
Thanks for the mention, and for the amazing work you're doing for sustainable farming, the environment, and the future.
It's The New Now, Russell! Thank you for stopping by 🤝
Wonderful. Shifting land ownership from individuals (read: investors) to trusts working in the common good would be a game changer if it could get traction. Inspiring, as always! Thank you for reading the other posts in the Enchanted Forest and giving a boost to the whole kaboodle! :-)