www.southeastkingdom.net
Welcome to the web site of State Representative Mike Mrowicki -Windham 5 District-the heart of Vermont's "South-East Kingdom"...Westminster, Putney and Dummerston !
Home
End of 2007-8 Session
2008 Mid Session Report
Vermont Positive !
2007 Session Reports
A Bit About
Contact Us
About Us
Site Map
Neighbor to Neighbor
Social Justice
Education
Energy and Entergy
Senior Citizens
Hope
Wa Spirit of Unity
Agriculture
Vermont Links
7th Generation Environment Policies
Health Care
2008 Statehouse Reports
Be A Page
Campaign 2008
Agriculture

 

 

 

 

 

Vermont still prides itself as a rural agricultural state...and rightly so.

 

It's a part of the Vermont heritage that deserves support.

 

 

 

In a rapidly changing landscape though, Vermont farmers struggle balancing complex factors.Economic needs run up against the reality of increasing competition from larger states.Environmental concerns regarding safe farming practices

 

and groundwater supplies can be in conflict with how to sustain farming given the pressure on keeping land in agricultural use -along with encouraging our children to see agriculture as a viable way of life.

 

 

 

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Foods and Markets currently does much good  work to support  agriculture.

 

 

 

One way we can help those efforts is to further disseminate information-especially  to our  children as to agriculture's place in the Vermont economy, and the Vermont way of life.

 

 

 

4-H and Extension are essential to this and I would support increased efforts to continue to reach out beyond their core constituency and spread the word. 

 

 

 

 

 

GMO's

 

I support  the legislation passed by the legislature but vetoed by Gov. Douglas which would limit GMO's and make responsible the companies  that promulgate  it's use and damage caused by it's products.

 

Our organic food farmers and the markets they serve are a large and fast growing part of our agricultural economy, and deserve support.

 

 

 

 

 

The Vermont CSA Network

 

There are currently 44 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in Vermont that meet annually to share successes, failures and innovative ideas with each other. The Vermont CSA Network is coordinated by NOFA-VT. The current work plan of the CSA Network is to:

  1. Develop joint promotional materials to help consumers understand the concept of CSA, and
  2. Develop models for innovative CSA structures, including multi-farm or cooperative CSAs.

What Is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?

 

CSA reflects an innovative and resourceful strategy to connect local farmers with local consumers; develop a regional food supply and strong local economy; maintain a sense of community; encourage land stewardship; and honor the knowledge and experience of growers and producers working with small to medium farms. CSA is a unique model of local agriculture whose roots reach back 30 years to Japan where a group of women concerned about the increase in food imports and the corresponding decrease in the farming population initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This arrangement, called "teikei" in Japanese, translates to "putting the farmers' face on food." This concept traveled to Europe and was adapted to the U.S. and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture" at Indian Line Farm, Massachusetts, in 1985. There are now over 1,000 CSAs in North America.

 

CSA is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and a community of supporters which provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food. Supporters cover a farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest. CSA members make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. Members help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labor, etc. In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. Becoming a member creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it.

 

This mutually supportive relationship between local farmers, growers and community members helps create an economically stable farm operation in which members are assured the highest quality produce, often at below retail prices. In return, farmers and growers are guaranteed a reliable market for a diverse selection of crops.

Why Is Community Supported Agriculture Important?

  • CSA's direct marketing gives farmers and growers the fairest return on their products. When purchasing food in conventional markets, most of what we pay for food goes to companies who transport, process and market food - not to the farmers themselves.
  • CSA keeps food dollars in the local community and contributes to the maintenance and establishment of regional food production. Food travels an average of 1,300 miles from the farm to the market - Vermont buys 85% of its food from somewhere else. The value of a CSA is that it redirects the global food system towards a community food system - creating direct connections between producers and consumers, and keeping food dollars close to home to strengthen rural economies.
  • CSA encourages communication and cooperation among farmers.
  • With a "guaranteed market" for their produce, farmers can invest their time in doing the best job they can rather than looking for buyers.
  • CSA supports the biodiversity of a given area and the diversity of agriculture through the preservation of small farms producing a wide variety of crops.
  • CSA creates opportunity for dialogue between farmers and consumers.
  • CSA creates a sense of social responsibility and stewardship of local land.
  • CSA puts "the farmers face on food" and increases understanding of how, where, and by whom our food is grown.

 

Local Links-

 

http://www.walkerfarm.com/

 

Walker  Farm  in Dummerston  and Harlow Farm's,The Last  Stand are two  exemplary organic farms and farm  stands.Local fresh organic  produce  is  available, and it's one of  the best ways  we can support a  healthy lifestyle  and Vermont  small  farmers. 

 

Please  let me know of other  local farms  that can be added  to this list...