July 2009

Sunday, July 5 - Saturday, July 18: 10th Annual International Agroecology Shortcourse, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

This year's International Agroecology Short Course has a special focus on conceptualizing and applying participatory action research (PAR) approaches in agroecology to develop and support sustainable food systems. In addition to providing a solid introduction to the field of agroecology, the course presents a critical overview of participatory approaches and methods, illustrated with long-term, ongoing PAR processes in the U.S., Latin America and Spain. This year's setting in beautiful Vermont will allow participants to learn about one of the strongest locally-driven food systems in the United States.
For more information contact Ursula Georgeoglou at vtagroecology@gmail.com.

Sunday, July 5 - Saturday, July 11: Bringing Science to Life, Ghent, NY

Course for high school science teachers offered by the Nature Institute in Ghent, NY. For more information, visit natureinstitute.org, email info@natureinstitute.org, or call (518) 672-0116.

Sunday, July 5 - Saturday, July 11: Community Building: Meeting the Challenge of the Time through Creative Cooperation, Easton, MA

ONE-WEEK INTENSIVE: JULY 5–11. 3 SESSIONS PER DAY. 8:30–10:00 • 10:30–2:00 • 4:30–6:00. With Robert Karp. For more information, visit the Rudolf Steiner Institute's website.
Profound new social and spiritual impulses are emerging within humanity. In the last thirty or so years, for example, thousands of new “communities of interest” have sprung up that are working in one way or another for the ecological, economic, social and spiritual renewal of civilization. The coming decades will determine whether these communities can evolve and work together in such a way as to forge a worldwide movement capable of giving civilization an upward turn, or whether they will prove too fragmented, competitive, narrow and sectarian to meet the challenge of the times. In this course we will draw on the insights of Rudolf Steiner as well as contemporary thinkers in order to penetrate the mysteries of this decisive time and what it is asking of us.
Some of the questions we will take up include: Where do we see new social and spiritual impulses emerging in twenty-first century America? How can those who carry the impulse of anthroposophy best work together with those from other movements who share our goals? What are the principles of community building and social transformation from a spiritual scientific perspective? How can we begin to embody these principles more fully in and between our initiatives, businesses, and organizations? Can a new community building impulse emerge from the heart of the anthroposophical movement?
The course will be a balance of experiential exercises in the community building arts, in-depth conversation and short, concentrated presentations of esoteric content. Our goal will be to practice coming together as a conscious community, drawing forth inspired answers to the existential questions that are living within each of our hearts about the future of the earth and the future of our own communities. We will also devote one or more sessions to conversations with leaders of social change initiatives in order to extend our sense of community into the wider region and deepen our understanding of that which is trying to emerge within culture at this time.
Suggested Reading: Rudolf Steiner, Toward Social Renewal; Otto Scharmer, Theory U: Leading from the Future as it Emerges. A course packet of additional lectures by Rudolf Steiner will also be provided.

Wednesday, July 15 - Friday, July 17: 3rd National Conference on Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture Education, Iowa State University

The Sustainable Agriculture Education Association (SAEA) is proud to announce our 3rd National Conference held at Iowa State University. Come join us in the heartland to learn about key issues of the sustainable agriculture education research and practice community! Students and faculty in the Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, in cooperation with Marshalltown Community College and Michigan State University, have organized three days of cutting-edge, participatory-based programming. Visit www.sustainableaged.org/

Sunday, July 26: Oregon Biodynamic Group Summer Farm and Garden Conversations, Myrtle Point, OR

Summer Farm and Garden Conversations -- Getting Started in Biodynamics, Sunday, July 26, 2009
La Terra Vita (Art, Lucie, Mimi and Antonio!), 43550 Thomas Creek Dr., Scio, OR 97374
503-859-2922
Let's keep talking! La Terra Vita will be a great place for continued discussions and for new topics to be brought forth....
10:00am - 4:00pm Discussion Topics to include:
- Getting started in BD
- Weed discussions - identifying, what is the soil telling us, what is beneficial and how do we work with those that are not....
- Woodland Restoration
- BD Farm and plant improvement ideas - growing tips, what are particular plants' needs, when do we spray,etc.....
- Farm Tour - Social walk and talk
* Potluck lunch
* Call ahead if needing overnight arrangements
Questions for either summer mtg: call Beth Weiting 503-774-8764 or Andhi Reyna 541-942-2241

Monday, July 27 thru Friday, July 31: School Garden Teacher Training, Occidental, CA

This five-day intensive residential training at the 80 acre OAEC site offers hands-on skills and theoretical approaches to create and sustain school garden programs. The course includes sessions on integrating the garden into curricula and state standards, as well as nutrition, recycling and vermiculture, composting, project-based learning, art, team building and fundraising.
These residential trainings are offered to teams of teachers, garden coordinators and core parent volunteers who have a relationship with a specific school or school district. In addition to lectures and presentations, participants receive 20 hours of hands-on learning in the garden, as well as written materials, curricula and a resource binder. The training is followed by 18 months of technical support offered to each participating school by OAEC staff, including site visits, consultations, and two one-day skills workshops in the spring. On completion of the course, participants can receive Academic Credits through Sonoma State University. visit www.oaec.org for registration information.

Thursday, July 30th to Sunday, August 2nd: 2009 Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society in Madison, Wisconsin.

This conference might be of particular interest to Sustainable Agriculture and Food System researchers, organizers, and other professionals, as substantial conference attention is consistently devoted to topics of agriculture and food systems. See the 2008 meeting program for a flavor of previous conference content: http://www.ruralsociology.org/annual-meeting/2008/program/sessions.html
Please consider attending the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Rural Sociological Society in Madison, Wisconsin.
The meetings will occur July 30th to August 2nd and the theme for 2009 is Climate Change and Societal Response: Livelihoods, Communities and the Environment. For those less familiar with the Rural Sociological Society or the character of the conference, please check out the 2008 program for some insight: http://www.ruralsociology.org/annual-meeting/2008/program/sessions.html. Academic research papers, posters and organized sessions related to the theme as well as other topical matters of interest to rural sociology and related social sciences are invited. Contributions from all social science disciplines with topical interest in matters related to the environment, agriculture, community, agriculture, food systems, development, etc. are welcome.
Go to http://www.ruralsociology.us/ for more information about the 2009 conference and to find information about how to submit a paper/poster abstract. You will need to create a login account to submit an abstract (and please note due to the use of a new submission system for 2009 you will need to create an account even if you have created an account to submit for earlier meetings).
Planning for the 2009 meetings is on-going, but here are some highlights:
--There will be a plenary address focusing on this year's theme of Climate Change and Societal Response and other thematic special panels and sessions are planned
--Students are especially welcome at the meetings and a number of student-oriented social and professional development activities will take place. Be sure to check out the conference website for further details in the coming months.
--Pre-meeting activities will take place on Thursday, July 30th, including some pre-meeting workshops and interest group sponsored field trips. These pre-meeting activities are generally open to anyone to participate as space is available and by registration. More detail about these activities will be available in late winter at http://www.ruralsociology.us/
--Several conference wide social activities are in the planning, including an evening of music and dancing and don't forget the world-famous Madison Farmers Market on Saturday morning.
Below are the important deadlines to keep in mind.
February 2: DEADLINE for submitting proposals for individual research papers or posters as well as for workshops and organized paper sessions or panels. The on-line submission system can be found at www.ruralsociology.us.
March 2: Volunteer by this date to be a session chair or discussant (to volunteer, e-mail RSS2009@osu.edu).
July 13: DEADLINE for uploading papers on the conference website and making papers available to session chairs or discussants.
A few additional notes regarding the types of submissions for which we are soliciting:
Abstract submissions for individual research papers will be considered for inclusion in a paper session allowing for 15-minute academic presentations. Thematically related paper proposals will be grouped appropriately by the program committee to create the sessions. Notification of the acceptance of individual papers will occur no later than March 9th.
Abstracts for posters will be considered for inclusion in a 2-hour poster session. The poster session will be the only scheduled conference activity during this 2 hour period to maximize interaction between presenters and conference attendees. All posters presented will be considered for awards, including an award for outstanding poster by a faculty and outstanding poster by a graduate student.
Proposals for workshops, organized paper sessions and panels will be considered for 75 or 90-minute sessions. Proposals for these activities will be reviewed by the program committee and notification of acceptance will occur no later than March 9th. Proposals are encouraged that address current or emerging topical research, teaching, extension, or policy matters. Organized paper sessions should be comprised of at least three papers and include geographically and intellectually diverse presenters.
Please direct questions to RSS2009@osu.edu and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Thank you,
Jeff Sharp
2009 Rural Sociological Society Program Chair
phone: (614)292-9410 e-mail: RSS2009@osu.edu

August 2009

Aug. 1-2: Florida Small Farms Alternative Enterprises Conference, Kissimmee, FL

"Sustaining Small Farms; Strengthening Florida's Communities," Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, FL. The conference will be useful to small farmers, allied industry representatives, researchers, educators, institutional members, policy-makers, small farm commodity associations, foundations, and others interested in strengthening the small farm community in Florida. To find out more, visit smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu.

Aug. 7-9: Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Summer Conference, UMass/Amherst, MA

Over 170 workshops on organic farming, gardening and land care, homesteading, sustainability, nutrition, spirituality, food politics, activism, and much, much more.... Keynote speakers: Paul Stamets and Will Allen. For more information, visit www.nofasummerconference.org.

Saturday, August 8 thru Tuesday, August 11: Inner Transformation and Social Renewal Conference and Art/Science Exhibition, Chestnut Ridge, NY

What spiritual capacities must we develop to address today's crises, and create a renewed political, economic, and cultural life for the future? How can a spiritualized art and science help to develop these capacities and create a community life that fosters peace and prosperity? Mac Mead of the Pfeiffer Center and Henrike Holdrege of the Nature Institute will be featured presenters on "Inner Transformation through Science and Agriculture." Other presenters include Michael Howard, Gerald Karnow, Gary Lamb, Michael Steinrueck, and Laura Summer. Visit www.threefold.org/events/index.aspx for registration information or contact Lory Widmer, 845-352-5020 x18, events@threefold.org

Monday, August 10 thru Friday, August 14: School Garden Teacher Training, Occidental, CA

This five-day intensive residential training at the 80 acre OAEC site offers hands-on skills and theoretical approaches to create and sustain school garden programs. The course includes sessions on integrating the garden into curricula and state standards, as well as nutrition, recycling and vermiculture, composting, project-based learning, art, team building and fundraising.
These residential trainings are offered to teams of teachers, garden coordinators and core parent volunteers who have a relationship with a specific school or school district. In addition to lectures and presentations, participants receive 20 hours of hands-on learning in the garden, as well as written materials, curricula and a resource binder. The training is followed by 18 months of technical support offered to each participating school by OAEC staff, including site visits, consultations, and two one-day skills workshops in the spring. On completion of the course, participants can receive Academic Credits through Sonoma State University. visit www.oaec.org for registration information.

Monday, August 24 - Friday, August 28, 2009: How to Transform a Northeast Homestead Into a Model of Sustainability, New Lebanon, NY

A five day intensive, hands-on design and implementation of Permaculture and Biodynamic principles taught by Andrew Faust, one of the premier Permaculture teachers in North America.
Dates: August 24th-August 28th, 2009
Location: The School of Living Arts for Creativity & Ecological Culture,
New Lebanon, NY
To register or for further information, contact:
Angela Manno, Founder/ Director
School of Living Arts for Creativity & Ecological Culture
amanno@SchoolLivingArts.com 970-275-1525 or visit www.SchoolLivingArts.com to learn more.

Tuesday, August 25 - Friday, August 28, 2009: IFOAM Conference on Organic Animal and Plant Breeding, Santa Fe, NM

IFOAM and Seeds of Change will jointly host the Breeding Diversity conference to bring together experiences and views from a wide range of perspectives on organic breeding. IFOAM solicits abstracts for papers to be presented as well as seeds to be planted in the Seeds of Change demonstration plot.
IFOAM invites farmers and scientists, traders and certifiers, gardeners and animal breeders, professionals and dedicated hobby breeders to submit their papers by February 1, 2009. Topics will be methods, socioeconomic aspects, and legal aspects of both animal and plant breeding. For details on submitting an abstract, please visit www.ifoam.org/events to learn more.

September 2009

Saturday, Sept. 19: Natural Beekeeping Workshop: The Harvest, Fair Oaks, CA

Natural Beekeeping Workshop Series Session 3: The Harvest, Rudolf Steiner College, Fair Oaks CA with David Basile. This final workshop in the series furthers our studies and experience to the point where we can understand how to care for the honeybee year round. We will explore what is required before and during winter, including hive size, ventilation, overwinter feeding, and preventing mites. We culminate our experience by enjoying products of the hive as we taste the honey of the year and dip beeswax candles. $95 (Full), $75 (Students/Seniors). For information and registration contact Rudolf Steiner College • 916.961.8727 • www.steinercollege.edu.