Blog

The New Economics Institute just launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to fund travel and housing scholarships for young people attending their big summer event, reRoute: Building Youth and Student Power for a New Economy. They aim to raise $15,000 to ensure that any young person passionate about transforming our economy can attend. Watch the video […]

Just released! A new documentary, about the hearts and hard work of queer farmers in the U.S. Out Here.  A note from the filmmaker: It's been almost exactly 4 years since I put out the call looking for participants in the Queer Farmer Film Project. After touring the country several times around, and with the […]

Dear Artists and Water Workers: In the case that you know international artists working in water reuse, here's a magazine article submission call out.  I am the guest editor for this issue on Art, women, social justice and water reuse, and identifying international artists doing very striking artistic work in water reuse is my task.  Have […]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-D-9ZUvaZtg] from the Oakland Institute.  Ethiopia has been the focus of aggressive foreign agricultural investment, leasing out nearly 3.6 million hectares of land for commercial farm ventures from 2008-2010. This investment has corresponded with widespread human rights violations. Most egregiously, the Ethiopian government's villagization program will displace 1.5 million people by 2013--with the five administrative […]

Moss Brook Growers has an amazing resource: an online farm manual, compiling their thoughts from years farming. Check it out here! Here is a sampler from Section 6, "Recruitment and Labor": an extended discussion of how to keep an eye out for happy, healthy, and dedicated farmhands. And for farmhands, a model to aspire to! […]

This year's Quivira Conference will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico in November. Register now!

These good folks lost their beanery in a fire in May, and are fundraising to rebuild. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swWicROEHY0] Check it their indiegogo campaign  HERE Cayuga Pure Organics is a small farm near Ithaca, New York that grows organic, non-GMO dry beans and grains, including several heirloom varieties. Working with a few other local organic farmers, they distribute […]

Mott Green, a Free-Spirited Chocolatier, Dies at 47 By WILLIAM YARDLEY, Published: June 9, 2013 Mott Green, who emerged from a hermitlike existence in a bamboo hut in the jungle of Grenada to produce a coveted Caribbean delicacy — rich, dark chocolate bars that he exported around the world with the help of sailboats, bicycles […]

The Wolpertinger is pleased to announce that the World Premiere for In the High Country has been set on July 19th and 20th at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder, Colorado. Tickets will be available in about a week, June 17th: thedairy.org  [vimeo http://vimeo.com/58457574] - - - In the High Country is a […]

A new series from HeritageRadioNetwork.org HeritageRadioNetwork.org (HRN) debuts Summer of Food, a special program giving voice to our Nation’s emerging network of student leaders.  From New York to California students are heading out of the classroom and onto the frontlines of the food world, using their summer break to engage in a radical rethinking of our […]

another important film seeking funding. Real Value. Real Value is a feature length independent documentary that explores real, profitable businesses that choose to focus not just on the bottom line, but on the health of their surrounding communities and the environment.

Calling all farm interns, apprentices, students of agriculture! Ever wish you had an opportunity which would fill the gap between coursework and internships and the experience of independently owning a farm? The Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design is forming a farmer residency program which gives journeyman farmers access to the technical, managerial, […]

Great video, great farm, great tractor. [vimeo http://vimeo.com/67822326] http://www.mudcreekfarm.com/

We love these guys! Check out This is the Farm podcasts from the Texas Young Farmer Coalition Episode #4: Marysol Valle and Jeff Wiley of Fat Frog Farm enlighten us with their wisdom on this installment of This Is The Farm. Marysol and Jeff have extensive experience growing fruits and vegetables, as well as raising […]

In this round up of new forms of grocery distribution. A New Wave of Grocery Distribution Models Takes on FreshDirect As New Yorkers grow ever more interested in where their food comes from, a new wave of distribution models has emerged to take on FreshDirect, community-supported agriculture, and the farmers’ market by combining elements of […]

Some of you with commercial kitchens might benefit from this. Gredio.  Software applications for tiny food companies. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMDhOptzSxI]  

We'll continue to post MOFGA's weekly Farm Training Project Workshops because it's such a terrific model. If you're anywhere in the area, check them out!  This week: Selling what you Grow: Marketing Basics Wednesday, June 12, 5pm at Morning Dew Farm, Newcastle Thursday, June 13, 5pm at King Hill Farm, Penobscot Small farmers need to […]

Krispijn van den Dries (28): biodynamic farmer, activist and entrepreneur, he does it all! Read more here.

Maker Faire has announced their Call for Makers for New York's festival! Maker Faire showcases the amazing work of all kinds and ages of makers—anyone who is embracing the do-it-yourself (or do-it-together) spirit and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience. The open call will close on Sunday, July 29, 2013 at 11:59pm PST.Whether you’re a […]

Have you considered a subscription with the Small Farmers Journal? It is a fantastic publication in large format with exclusive articles, beautiful photos and great artwork. You can read an issue online for free and see if you like it: http://smallfarmersjournal.com/welcome-to-the-small-farmers-journal/

[vimeo=https://vimeo.com/48406956]

Check out these gals in New Mexico, they gather seed stories from people --> cultural memorybanking. http://seedbroadcast.blogspot.com/

The Ranching For Profit School July 28 - August 3, 2013 Wichita, KS The Ranching For Profit School is best known for its emphasis on business economics and strategic management. But that is only part of the story.  At the school you will learn how to create a vision for the future and create a […]

Family bequeaths farm to PFI By Jean Caspers-Simmet, Published 3/05/2013 AMES, Iowa —Tom and Irene Frantzen's desire to preserve their New Hampton land for generations to come led them to bequeath the 300-acre certified organic farm to Practical Farmers of Iowa. They announced the transition plan at the recent PFI conference in Ames. Their voices […]

26 hours to go on this great project, which we've mentioned before.  They are just over $2k from their goal! Boone - The Documentary Three young farmers risk land and friendship to stand up to the USDA. An experiential film about living a life of self reliance.

For over 50 years Baltazar Ushca has harvested the glacial ice of Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo. His brothers, both raised as ice merchants, have long since retired from the mountain. This is a story of cultural change and how three brothers have adapted to it. [vimeo http://vimeo.com/66507747] http://thelasticemerchant.com/

Another worthwhile kickstarter campaign: Meat @ Grain Station Marketplace We enthusiastically invite you to join in McMinnville's growing craft food scene. Our community needs a source for local, pastured meats sold fresh year round. Kyle Chriestenson and Amanda Perron plan to give you just that at MEAT. Our butcher counter will proudly feature pastured animals […]

MOFGA's Low-Impact Forestry Workshop  Low-Impact Forestry Level II -- Logging with Draft Animals Bethel, Maine -- July 26-28, 2013 Join MOFGA’s Low-Impact Forestry Project in Bethel, Maine, for a weekend intensive focusing on the practices and principles of managing a woodlot with draft horses.

Waihuena Farm, North Shore Oahu July Internship/Immersion & Live-on Farm Positions ALOHA!   With 17 new acres to expand into we are looking for great teammates.  Waihuena Farm currently operates a small 20 share per week organically grown (non-certified) Community Supported Agriculture Program, hosts permaculture & wellness related events and has long-term as well as vacation […]

blackfoxfarm.wordpress.com Black Fox Farm in Montville, Maine is seeking 2 full-time live-in farm workers or a couple for the 2013 growing season. We are looking for individuals with at least one-year prior experience working on a farm and with a basic understanding of organic vegetable production. The ideal candidates would also have some basic experience […]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8LNaECqH2q0]   Watch the full movie here.

The Berkshire Food Guild is a community of local food crafters with a mission to support and celebrate the regional foodshed. We partner with area farms to host seasonal feasts and workshops that explore food in the context of the field, the kitchen, and the table.  

Hello. I am happy to announce that a bill relating to access to viable agricultural land for new and beginning farmers has been introduced  in both the New York State Assembly and Senate. Thanks to all of you for your input during our conversations over the winter to develop the bill language. The bill is […]

Stone Soup Institute is offering a Fall Semester to four students who are curious and adventuresome enough to explore the experiential learning opportunities on a small homestead in Maine. Animal Husbandry Butchering pigs Daily care of laying hens Butchering broiler chickens Daily care of draft horses Logging with draft horses Craft Wild harvesting mushrooms Wine […]

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TED is a non-profit devoted to "ideas worth spreading" and you can find literally thousands of free--inspiring and awesome--talks from experts and innovators around the world. We've decided to highlight 24 TED talks specifically around food issues that we found compelling and worth sharing.  Please check out and watch as many of these as you can. […]

Wenatchee recognized for lunchroom makeover By K.C. Mehaffey World staff writer  Saturday, May 25, 2013 WENATCHEE — Efforts to improve school lunches offered in the Wenatchee School District have gained statewide attention. Best known is the district’s farm to school food program, which, in its third year, purchased about $70,000 worth of fresh fruits and […]

Modified Wheat Is Discovered in Oregon By ANDREW POLLACK Published: May 29, 2013 Unapproved genetically engineered wheat has been found growing on a farm in Oregon, federal officials said Wednesday, a development that could disrupt American exports of the grain. The Agriculture Department said the wheat was of the type developed by Monsanto to be […]

For all of the apprentices in their system and other aspiring farmers.  Such a great model.  Here's what they're up to this week: Greenhouse Management. Wednesday, May 29, 5pm at Peacemeal Farm, Dixmont Thursday, May 30, 5pm at Broadturn Farm, Scarborough The greenhouse is a key part of any organic farm. As “the place where […]