CS04-019 Sustainable Agriculture for Future Economics (SAFE) The coastal counties of Alabama are experiencing high rates of growth and development. The pressures of growth due to sprawl is driving the loss of farmland to development. The coastal region has been through two visioning processes in the past six years and both recognize the need for long term sustainable smart growth planning. Healthy Coastal Communities Initiative (HCCI) was created to begin the process of bringing stakeholders together to discuss sustainable smart growth and what can be adapted to coastal Alabama. Open space and farm preservation is an important concept of smart growth. Presently leaders in both counties are being interviewed to gain their perceptions of growth and development. To continue gathering information from the community, HCCI wants to bring diverse groups together to connect the farming community with the economic and environmental groups to promote a more sustainable vigorous agricultural economy. The goal of Sustainable Agriculture for Future Economies (SAFE) is to bring the farming community to the table with municipal, county, and business interests to discuss the issue of farm preservation and sustainable farming practices. These discussions will link the farming community more directly to the quality of life for the whole area and encourage practices that will lessen the impact of farming on the environment. The goal will be achieved by assessing the current status of agriculture in the region, appraising indigenous knowledge, determining sustainable farming opportunities, and developing marketing linkages between farm and non-farm sectors of the coastal region. Wendy Allen Why did we pick it?
CS04-020 Women Taking the Lead for Kentucky Agriculture As documented in national agriculture statistics, the involvement of women in agriculture has been increasing. For the past four years, women from various walks of Kentucky's agriculture life have organized statewide and promoted small agri-business practices, value-added marketing, risk-management, alternative agriculture opportunities, sustainable practices, and networking with government and educational agencies through four state level meetings. Women farmers, many of who represent small and limited resource farmers in Kentucky, are wanting to learn more about how important decisions and policies that affect their future are made. This proposal outlines a public policy institute for building skills and expanding the efforts of a growing and significant group in Kentucky. It is this project's aim to strengthen the state's sustainable agriculture through policy and legislative avenues by preparing women in agriculture for new leadership roles. This will be accomplished by equipping them with the information and tools they need to express their views and concerns. Through the network of women in agriculture, women's organizations, and sustainable agriculture groups, this institute will provide information on how policy and legislative priorities are established, how to lobby on agriculture issues, what makes an effective public statement, and ways to work with the media to get the message out to the consumer as well as policy makers. Institute participants will then use these new tools and information to teach others how to make their voices heard-and make a difference for Kentucky's sustainable agriculture future. Gae Broadwater Why did we pick it?
CS04-021 A Strategy for Sustaining Henderson County Agricultural Communities This project funded by Southern Rural Development Center Henderson County is a network of rural communities built on agriculture but facing change both in agricultural markets and in rapid urban development. Despite a long history of producing outstanding agricultural products, there is mounting evidence that farming communities in Henderson County are threatened. Old apple varieties are less popular and processors are leaving. Dairy farms are closing. Agricultural land is facing rapid urbanization. Noting that agriculture is broadly supported in the county and the agricultural community is well organized, the coordinators of the project will put together an agricutlural strategy to be included in the Henderson County Comprehensive Plan. That inclusion will allow them to coordinate policies and actions to sustain the agricultural communities as the county grows. To develop that strategy the project coordinators will first produce a background document on the state of agriculture in the county. Then they will host four "listening" sessions around the county after which they will write a draft plan based on broad community input. After review, a final plan will be presented for consideration by the board of county commissioners. Why did we pick it?
CS04-022 Linking Small-Farm Agriculture to Community Development Efforts in Northern Louisiana This project is funded by the Southern Rural Development Center The purpose of this project is to investigate the degree of interest that farmers, community leaders, and agriculture and community development technical assistance providers in Northern Louisiana have: (1) in enhancing and developing local markets for produce grown in Northern Louisiana, and (2) in engaging in value-added activities such as processing and agritourism. It will use this information as the starting point to develop projects in the region to improve the profitability of small-scale and limited resource farms and to enhance local markets as an economic development strategy in a low-income, rural region of Louisiana. The project will have three components: (1) the development of a database of small farmers who are currently engaged in, or are interested in, direct marketing, value-added processing, or agritourism; (2) three focus groups of farmers in order to get input as to the barriers and opportunities that they perceive in marketing or processing in the region; and (3) the development of a committee of stakeholders in the region who are committed to working to improve the incomes of small and limited resource farmers or who are interested in developing local processing or enhanced marketing of locally-grown agricultural products. This committee will have representatives from the major research universities; farmers, extension and other technical service providers; the department of economic development, consumer and community representatives and small business experts. The grant would fund four meetings of this stakeholder group. Elizabeth Higgins Why did we pick it?
Providing a platform for citizens to gain knowledge and make decisions regarding integral life choices requires a well-trained group of leaders to act as community builders and activists. The Youth as Community Organizers project will utilize youth farmers to educate, and train local citizens in concepts of sustainable agriculture, and practical use of sustainable agriculture techniques such as value added production. The project will take place in three phases: 1) training of youth farmers as leaders, 2) hosting of a farm educational activity for the general public 3) hosting a follow up event to train local citizens in value added production. The project will utilize partnerships with citizen leaders, farmers, local government and sustainable agriculture organizations in order to train 12 youth farmers. Training will consist of workshops and service opportunities for youth to learn about the workings of the local government, community development agencies and the local food system. Workshops will be held in conjunction with partners including the North Florida Local Food Partnership, the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, and Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA. Ellen Huntley Why did we pick it?
The Comer Farmers' Market, now completing its second year of operation, shows great promise as a mechanism for community development for the city of Comer and surrounding areas in the Broad River Watershed area. Organized by a group of new residents and business owners in the historic downtown district along with established local leaders and growers, the Market is intended to link growers more directly with the community and local businesses. This community revitalization effort has been successful but needs to be expanded and enhanced through outreach and education efforts in the local community of Comer as well as the surrounding 11 counties that make up the Broad River Watershed. Tina McCullough Why did we pick it?
CS04-025 Aquaculture Development in the Pine Mountain Region of Southeast Kentucky Located in rural Appalachian Kentucky, the economy of the Pine Mountain region has for years depended on the declining coal industry. Of necessity, community leaders are seeking new and diverse jobs to support its workforce. The idea of aquaculture development in Southeast Kentucky has been in its formative stage for the last five years. As a component of its Rural Community College Initiative, Southeast Community College (SECC) established a small-scale Rainbow Trout production facility to test the theory that impaired water from abandoned underground coal mines could be used to grow marketable fish. That environment proved to be ideal for production and the trout have thrived. In partnership with the Conservation Fund's Freshwater Institute, SECC obtained funding from the Steele Reese Foundation to construct a facility at James A. Cawood High School for rearing tilapia. That project has likewise thrived and is now also producing red-clawed crayfish. Building upon these efforts the collaborators now believe that local farmers can benefit from the developed technology and enter commercial ventures capable of generating a sustainable income. As outcomes for this project, the collaborators will seek to develop a regional strategic plan for aquaculture, which will address market capacity, processing alternatives, and other factors affecting the industry. To encourage citizen input, Leadership Harlan County United will adopt sustainable industries such as aquaculture as its central theme for economic development in its 2004 annual eight-month academy. Local farmers will explore the formation of a cooperative and identify seed-funding to initiate individual ventures. Paul L. Pratt Why did we pick it?
CS04-026 Four County Farmers Market Webster County Development Council (WCDC) is requesting $10,000 to initiate a farmers market for Choctaw , Grenada , Montgomery, and Webster counties. This region is economically depressed. The area is rural, median household income is lower than the state and federal levels, and great disparity exists between per capita incomes of white versus black residents. This project is an integrated strategy which is being used by local citizens, private enterprise, and government to solve this severe economic problem . Implementation of this project will create and support sustainable agricultural and community life and educational opportunities in health and nutrition as well as improved agricultural business practices. The goal of this project blends sustainable agricultural practices with community economic development strategies to increase our ability to build resilient farms, businesses, families, and communities. This goal will be accomplished through the following objectives : (1) To benefit local farmers by increasing disposable income and encouraging entrepreneurship; (2) To generate economic impact in the community from dollars spent and retention of these inputs within the region; (3) To assist producers to implement sustainable agricultural practices; (4) To provide an economical supply of wholesome foods for consumption; (5) To assist homemakers to prepare nutritious and healthful food products for their families; and (6) To develop a sense of community relationship among citizens, private enterprise, and government for the common good by applying strategies that create and support sustainable agricultural and community life. Relevancy may be measured in increased disposable income to farmers and businesses, adoption of methodology which contributes to agricultural sustainability, available supply of nutritious food, and ability to collectively resolve economic problems. Steve Anderson Why did we pick it?
CS04-027 Agricultural Community Support Across Boundaries In our region, agriculture is stressed by changing markets and land development. We are not maximizing collaborative opportunities to serve farm communities because talented and creative people - and existing support services - are often separated by professional, organizational and political boundaries. We aim to assemble a working group representing a variety of professions, organizations and political perspectives to focus on collaborative projects that will directly benefit our agricultural communities. Great progress often results when people can bridge professional, organizational and political boundaries. Working across these boundaries will help keep the efforts of the working group relevant to the communities it serves. Our proposal describes past collaborative successes and possible future opportunities. Tom Elmore Why did we pick it?
CS04-028 Farming and Conservation Easements: A Win-Win Partnership With an ever-increasing human population, urban environments are dramatically expanding into rural lands. As a result, farming communities are often being displaced and the local citizens often do not realize that the health/character of their community is compromised with the loss of surrounding rural landscapes. Conservation easements are one option that is available to help farmers develop sustainable agriculture on their land. A conservation easement is a legal agreement to limit the amount of development on a property. Conservation easements help farmers maintain their land for agricultural production by reducing their estate, property, and income taxes. In turn, the conservation easement enhances the environmental quality of the area and conserves natural resources. This unique strategy is a mutual collaboration between local environmental organizations and the farmer. However, most people are not aware of the social, environmental, and economic benefits to conservation easements for both the local community and the farmer. Further, most are not aware of what a conservation easement is and how it can work. We propose producing and distributing a ½ hour video that educates farmers and the community about what conservation easements are and how they work. We plan to film success stories about conservation easements implemented on working farms, discussing the challenges, solutions, and benefits in establishing a conservation easement. The University of Florida's WUFT TV, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, and Conservation Trust for Florida are collaborating to produce this documentary that ultimately will be distributed throughout PBS affiliates and University Extension programs in the southern United States. Viewers will come away with a deeper appreciation and understanding of conservation easements. Mark Hostetler Why did we pick it?
CS04-029 Battlefield Farmers' Market - Growing New Opportunities Walker County , and the surrounding region in northwest Georgia , Alabama , and Tennessee are experiencing rapid urban and suburban growth. The area is still primarily rural but residential developments are influencing the conversion of farmland to non-farmland and placing additional strains on agricultural communities due to complaints associated with farming practices. These land use changes are affecting the livelihood of farm communities and will require farmers to make adjustments to maintain their way of life in the future. The Walker County Young Farmers recognize the above changes but also recognize the potential opportunities associated with the changes. To address the issue, they are proposing a regional, tri-state "locally grown farmers market". The market will provide a venue to support local agricultural communities by providing an outlet for locally grown crops, educating growers on sustainable farming practices, identifying important environmental issues, identifying local products desired by the consumer, and by providing outreach to citizens on nutrition and fresh foods. The interaction between the farmers and the new communities at the market will serve to foster an environment of mutual respect for both communities. The market location, the tri-state service area, support of numerous partners, planned marketing and outreach plans, all provide a unique opportunity for the Battlefield Farmers' Market to be successful and to help promote sustainable agricultural for the area. David Matteson, Advisor Why did we pick it?
CS04-030 Healthy Livestock Agriculture & Healthy People: Connecting Local Pasture-Raised Food and Consumers in Central North Carolina Consumers, farmers, health professionals, and scientists are increasingly concerned about our food quality and safety, and its relationship to the environment, public health, and farm profitability. These concerns have created a growing market for locally produced, pasture-raised eggs, meat, and dairy products in central North Carolina . This project will develop informational materials to facilitate health professionals and consumers knowledge and use of healthy, pasture-raised livestock products. This project's four specific objectives are: (1) to collect producer information and publish findings in a local food guide; (2) to develop and disseminate educational materials about sustainability, nutrition, and food safety as it relates to the consumption of locally produced eggs, meat, and dairy products; (3) to develop new partnerships to outline further projects and outreach opportunities; and (4) to document and evaluate project activities and outcomes. The Advisory Committee for the Livestock Production Methods Survey pilot, which will provide guidance to this project, includes experts in farming methods, breeds conservation, public health, science, and the environment. This project will raise awareness of the connection between food production and health and will build an important foundation for future efforts to build a vibrant local and sustainable food market in this region. It also will serve as a model for similar efforts in other regions where an urban market potentially exists for local foods. Sally Norton Why did we pick it?
CS04-31 Sustaining a Growing Economic and Natural Resource Community: Shenandoah Women in Agriculture There are more women farmers in Virginia and in the Northern Shenandoah Valley than ever before, reflecting a national trend. Women are increasingly the primary decision makers of their lands, deciding on crops, livestock, equipment, and product sales methods. Women also are concerned about farm sustainability, ecosystem health, and keeping farmlands in families for future generations. Historically, women have been underserved by agricultural and conservation support programs, as evidenced by unequal access to credit and other resources. Consequently, women are not taking advantage of opportunities to combine farming with natural resource restoration, management and conservation. Women farmers need access to information about cooperative buying and selling groups, niche farming, and other resources for sustaining the agricultural economy. Project goals are to link women farmers to conservation resources to facilitate their participation in natural resource restoration and conservation; increase their knowledge and utilization of best management practices; and provide tools and training to help them increase long-term farm profitability and sustainability. Elizabeth Stoffel Why did we pick it?
CS04-032 Developing a Marketing Network for Central Alabama Alabama 's farmers and ranchers are struggling to make a living; in many areas of rural Alabama low wages, high unemployment and poor health are standard fare. A number of farmers in Alabama are turning to sustainable production methods and alternative marketing options to improve their farms and their incomes. The demand for organically-grown produce in the state is far beyond the current supply. ASAN and its partners will use SARE/SRDC funds to create a part-time seasonal position of marketing coordinator for the next two years. This person will help streamline the current efforts to connect rural growers to markets in the Birmingham area and beyond. With two years to develop and grow this market, we hope to have enough growers and buyers to create a marketing cooperative with a democratic decision-making process and producers as owners. With this program and others, we expect to see an increase in the number of farmers in Alabama taking advantage of alternative markets and more environmentally benign production methods. We hope to help create role models and farmer-trainers in many rural areas. By increasing the number of successful small farmers, we hope to help reinvigorate rural communities throughout the state. Karen Wynne Why did we pick it? This is a good project that meets the criteria of the grant. It does a good job of linking sustainable agriculture to community development issues. It has a good mix of stakeholders involved that have "parallel projects currently in place" that this project will complement. These organizations include a non-profit Urban Farm organization that reclaims urban lots for productive use, a non-profit perishable food distribution organization, Heifer International, and a religious community organization that work with low-income, mostly minority, farmers to produce organic vegetable methods, pastured poultry, goat, and egg production (also WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program). Heifer is helping these other organizations get access to restaurant markets. These groups are linked to the Alabama Sustainable Ag Network that provides technical/educational assistance to increase the adoption of sustainable ag practices. These actions have helped create more sustainable communities at the producer level as well as link to consumers via the markets. |
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