Friday, December 31, 2004
Exemplary Resources / Research Links
Quick Reference Bits to Small Scale Food Production in BC
VANCOUVER ISLAND, Dec. 2004 (SSFPA) – LINKS - http://www.ssfpa.net/pages/sound_bits_read_more.htm#Quick_Bits. And links to related sites: http://www.ssfpa.net/pages/links.htm.
Quick Reference Bits to Small Scale Food Production in BC
VANCOUVER ISLAND, Dec. 2004 (SSFPA) – LINKS - http://www.ssfpa.net/pages/sound_bits_read_more.htm#Quick_Bits. And links to related sites: http://www.ssfpa.net/pages/links.htm.
Our Shifting Focus / Social Innovation
Moving the World
E-letter, Dec. 2004 (News At Ashoka) - Social visionary, Bill Drayton is seeking a future where everyone is a change maker. Read more. http://www.ashoka.org/news/04december/fastcompany2.html.
Moving the World
E-letter, Dec. 2004 (News At Ashoka) - Social visionary, Bill Drayton is seeking a future where everyone is a change maker. Read more. http://www.ashoka.org/news/04december/fastcompany2.html.
Local Living Communities / Food Funding
Overcoming Finance Barriers
NORTH CAROLINA, Oct. 2004 (SSFPA) - Finance and income issues are recurring themes in this month's issue of Sound Bits - http://www.ssfpa.net/pages/sound_bits.htm. There are some valuable lessons for us in BC from this American research. Funding the New Harvest (Oct., 2004) is an in-depth examination of the credit needs and barriers for small and sustainable farms in North Carolina. Based on a survey of 400 organic farmers and extensive interviews, this report found that while lender bias against non-commodity and organic farmers is rare, financing remains a major barrier to the growth of the sustainable farm movement. The report lays out the major sources of farm finance and offers recommendations to improve farmer access to capital. http://www.ssfpa.net/documents/pdf/south_carolina_credit_barriers.pdf.
Overcoming Finance Barriers
NORTH CAROLINA, Oct. 2004 (SSFPA) - Finance and income issues are recurring themes in this month's issue of Sound Bits - http://www.ssfpa.net/pages/sound_bits.htm. There are some valuable lessons for us in BC from this American research. Funding the New Harvest (Oct., 2004) is an in-depth examination of the credit needs and barriers for small and sustainable farms in North Carolina. Based on a survey of 400 organic farmers and extensive interviews, this report found that while lender bias against non-commodity and organic farmers is rare, financing remains a major barrier to the growth of the sustainable farm movement. The report lays out the major sources of farm finance and offers recommendations to improve farmer access to capital. http://www.ssfpa.net/documents/pdf/south_carolina_credit_barriers.pdf.
Self-guided Learning / Training for Sustainability
Online Seminars Address Concerns Over Farm Incomes
VANCOUVER ISLAND, Dec. 2004 (SSFPA) - One innovative approach to the challenge of falling incomes (http://www.cfa-fca.ca/english/whats_new/symposium_docs/FASTFACTS.pdf ) could be the set of on-line farm management training seminars, sponsored jointly by CFA and the Canadian Farm Business Management Council. Designed for both dial-up and high speed connections, these four, 45-minute "webinars" will be free to Canadian Farmers and will be held early next year. Check back at the CFA web site for information on topics and dates. http://www.cfa-fca.ca/english/whats_new/index.html.
Online Seminars Address Concerns Over Farm Incomes
VANCOUVER ISLAND, Dec. 2004 (SSFPA) - One innovative approach to the challenge of falling incomes (http://www.cfa-fca.ca/english/whats_new/symposium_docs/FASTFACTS.pdf ) could be the set of on-line farm management training seminars, sponsored jointly by CFA and the Canadian Farm Business Management Council. Designed for both dial-up and high speed connections, these four, 45-minute "webinars" will be free to Canadian Farmers and will be held early next year. Check back at the CFA web site for information on topics and dates. http://www.cfa-fca.ca/english/whats_new/index.html.
Community Ownership / Green Sourcing
Local Import Substitution Strategies - The Time to Plan is Now!
WEB Reference, Dec. 2004 (SSFPA) - Many Locally-owned Import Substitution Strategies work extremely efficiently with food and beverages, yet not for commodities and the majority of industrialized production sectors. As the externalized costs of shipping fuels make global food miles uneconomical in the next five to ten years, the efficiency of developed localized food systems can support food security for all, rich and poor. Do we want to start planning and developing now? Read about AMAZING SHRINKING MACHINES: The Movement Toward Diminishing Economies of Scale, by Michael H. Shuman.
Local Import Substitution Strategies - The Time to Plan is Now!
WEB Reference, Dec. 2004 (SSFPA) - Many Locally-owned Import Substitution Strategies work extremely efficiently with food and beverages, yet not for commodities and the majority of industrialized production sectors. As the externalized costs of shipping fuels make global food miles uneconomical in the next five to ten years, the efficiency of developed localized food systems can support food security for all, rich and poor. Do we want to start planning and developing now? Read about AMAZING SHRINKING MACHINES: The Movement Toward Diminishing Economies of Scale, by Michael H. Shuman.
Training for Sustainability / Events – Jun.20–Aug.13 – Dexter, OR
EcoVillage & Permaculture Certificate Program
PORTLAND, OR, Dec. 15, 2004 (EFSWN) - This dynamic residential program provides a holistic introduction to ecovillages, in addition to a full Permaculture design certificate course. Bringing together an expert group of guest instructors, we explore the ecological, physical design and social aspects of creating ecovillages and sustainable communities. Academic discussion and lecture is combined with experiential design work and outdoor hands-on projects. The program takes place from June 20th to August 13th 2005 at the Lost Valley Educational Center in Dexter, Oregon and costs $2000 - $2700 (sliding scale, with a 10% discount for early registration by March 1), including room and board. College credit may be available.http://www.lostvalley.org/EPCPhome.html.
EcoVillage & Permaculture Certificate Program
PORTLAND, OR, Dec. 15, 2004 (EFSWN) - This dynamic residential program provides a holistic introduction to ecovillages, in addition to a full Permaculture design certificate course. Bringing together an expert group of guest instructors, we explore the ecological, physical design and social aspects of creating ecovillages and sustainable communities. Academic discussion and lecture is combined with experiential design work and outdoor hands-on projects. The program takes place from June 20th to August 13th 2005 at the Lost Valley Educational Center in Dexter, Oregon and costs $2000 - $2700 (sliding scale, with a 10% discount for early registration by March 1), including room and board. College credit may be available.http://www.lostvalley.org/EPCPhome.html.
