I will be stepping down as Executive Director on December 31, and so am using this space to say farewell--especially to those who may not be able to attend the Annual Conference in January. Primarily, I want to express my deep and sincere thanks to the whole Southern SAWG community for your tireless and inspired efforts to bring about equity, community, and viability in our food and farming system. You--farmers, educators, community activists, policy-change advocates--have all been my touchstones for these past fifteen years. I have been deeply moved and inspired by your actions, and have learned much and well from you. I will carry with me your heart and hopefulness, your ingenuity and generosity, and your commitment to that vision we share. May your fields yield plenty, your connections be nourishing, and your reflections be on the good we continue to seek. Namaste.
--Archer Christian
When a bureaucratic snafu in Lynchburg, Virginia, led to the bulldozing of an intellectually disabled man’s treasured garden, Michael Van Ness, an attorney, and Dereck Cunningham, a disabled stained glass maker, joined forces to find Paul Lam a new garden. In doing so, they sowed the seeds for Lynchburg Grows.
Seeing how Paul's new parcel not only provided fresh vegetables for his group home, but also served a therapeutic purpose, Michael and Dereck decided to create community gardens where fresh organic vegetables could be produced, and the disabled and disadvantaged could work in dignity.
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| Lynchburg Grows co-founder Michael G. Van Ness (left) along with Paul Lam (the inspiration for the organization) and residents of his group home, in one of their greenhouses. Scott Lowman, another co-founder, is on the far right. |
Lynchburg Grows, a non-profit organization, was formed. They acquired a 6 ½-acre farm with nine dilapidated greenhouses in downtown Lynchburg and transformed them, with much ingenuity and support from the local community, into the H.R. Schenkel Urban Farm and Environmental Center. This inspiring community is a place where disabled people, students, senior citizens, at-risk-youth, and other local citizens work together and learn about each other and healthy living and eating. The organic vegetables and flowers they produce are sold to local restaurants, the community farmers’ market, and through Lynchburg Grows' own CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Surplus production is donated to the local food pantry.
The organization is one of fourteen community food groups
that received intensive technical assistance through Southern SAWG's Community
Foods Project, funded by USDA/CSREES. This project provided critical support
during the early stages of Lynchburg Grows' development, including cross-visits
with its peer mentor, Milwaukee's Growing Power, a two-day organic agriculture
workshop in Lynchburg, and attendance at Southern SAWG's annual conference.
(Southern SAWG’s Community Foods Project generated a handbook on starting and
growing community food projects and food system assessments. To view the handbook
or order a CD visit the Southern SAWG website.)
The gardens have served as the centerpiece for the Lynchburg
Grows vocational training program, focused on empowering the disadvantaged and historically
underserved. The program emphasizes technical skills, life skills, and support
and placement services.Lynchburg Grows continues to expand, working in elementary schools with the Roots and Shoots program, incorporating hands-on urban agriculture activities and a food systems and nutrition education curriculum. The group is also addressing the childhood obesity epidemic through gardening and promoting lifestyles that are more active. And Michael Van Ness and Dereck Cunningham, who found themselves devoting most of their time as volunteers during the start-up of the organization, now work full-time with Lynchburg Grows, with Michael as director, and Dereck as president and market manager.
Recently, Lynchburg Grows was awarded the Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Award by the Charlottesville Waldorf Foundation, following in the footsteps of Joel Salatin and Appalachian Sustainable Development.
For more information on Lynchburg Grows click here.
We have two exciting new Southern SAWG resources coming out next month:
- A comprehensive, interactive, and fun CD-ROM on organic vegetable production that can run on almost any PC system, produced in part through a partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA)
- The next video in the Natural Farming Systems in the South series, covering pasture-based dairying, produced under a grant from Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
Wishing You Peace and Joy Throughout the Holidays!
Southern SAWG's January 16 - 19, 2008 Galt House Hotel and Suites Louisville, KY |
The deadline to get the lowest rates for
Southern SAWG conference and pre-conference offerings is rapidly
approaching. To receive the early-bird rates, you must pre-register for
the conference before December 20, 2007. You can still pre-register
after that until January 7, 2008 (although not at the early-bird rate).
After January 7, you will need to register on-site.
Remember also, space is limited for field
trips, short courses, and mini courses. These excellent learning
opportunities sell out quickly so it’s best to register as
early as possible--just another
way the pre-registration early bird gets the proverbial worm.
Click here to learn all about the outstanding pre-conference and conference program
offerings and to find a registration form. Your check, made payable to Southern
SAWG, or your credit card information, must accompany your registration form.
| “We have attended this conference for years and always learn new ways
to help us improve our farming operation. The number of sessions and
the breadth of topics are amazing, and, of course, the networking with
other farmers is invaluable! We wouldn’t miss it!” —Paul and Alison Wiediger |
Seeking Silent Auction Donations
Help Southern SAWG raise funds, demonstrate that you are a
committed partner in sustainable agriculture, and provide great entertainment by making a donation to our popular
silent auction.
Even if you can't make it to the conference this year, you can help Southern SAWG by donating to the auction. See the Silent Auction conference page for more details.
Everyone who donates by January 1, 2008 will be listed as a contributor in conference materials.
Even if you can't make it to the conference this year, you can help Southern SAWG by donating to the auction. See the Silent Auction conference page for more details.
Everyone who donates by January 1, 2008 will be listed as a contributor in conference materials.
 |
| A conference attendee considers one of the items up for auction. |
Are you in search of a last minute gift during this holiday season?
Give the gift of healthy food, a clean environment, viable
family farms, and thriving communities by donating to Southern SAWG in the name
of a family member, friend, or colleague!
Help us reach our $25,000 Take Back Our Food campaign goal by the end of this year.
Donate by December 31 and your gift will be equally matched by our anonymous donor, up to $10,000. Thank you in advance for your generous support.
To make a donation online or download a form to mail to us with your check click here now!
Donate by December 31 and your gift will be equally matched by our anonymous donor, up to $10,000. Thank you in advance for your generous support.
To make a donation online or download a form to mail to us with your check click here now!
As Southern SAWG updates and improves communications, we need your ideas and suggestions for the e-newsletter and website. Your opinions are vital and will help us focus on the news and information that is valuable to you, as well as shape the way we present it. Click here to complete a brief 5-10 minute online questionnaire.
Thanks for letting us know what you think.
The Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI) has announced a new project, funded by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), which pays experienced grantwriters to assist producers in submitting proposals to federal agencies to support their work. The project places priority on serving socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
MFAI seeks to increase the number of successful applications to RMA and other USDA programs from immigrant and other underserved farmers and ranchers; assure that language and culture are not a barrier to successful application; build ties between communities of underserved producers and local institutions; and engage other USDA programs in coordinating with the RMA to build capacity to provide such assistance.
For more information about how this project can help underserved producers, or if you are an experienced grantwriter interested in helping, please contact the Southern Coordinator, Keecha Harris: keecharris@gmail.com; 205.678.3120.
Visit Southern SAWG online at
We welcome your feedback and suggestions--
please write to us at news@ssawg.org
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Southern
Sustainable Agriculture Working Group,
Inc. (Southern SAWG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in
1991 to promote sustainable agriculture in the Southern United States.