A Message for Climate Change Negotiators: Small Farmers Key to Combating Climate Change

by Annie Shattuck

As world leaders meet in Poznan, Poland this week to work out a foundation for a new international climate change treaty, they would do well to seek the council of some unconventional advisors: peasant farmers. Agricultural policy has been virtually ignored in "official" discussions of climate change. One place it hasn't been ignored is by farmers themselves. In October hundreds of small farmers from all over the world met in Maputo, Mozambique for the fifth international conference of La Via Campesina, a global movement of peasant farmers. A sense of urgency around climate change featured prominently in their final declaration.

It's little wonder. The Via Campesina Declaration casts small farmers in the developing world as both global warming's victims and a potential solution. They are right! While industrial agriculture is one of the world's biggest climate culprits, small-scale farmers actually cool the planet.

Agriculture is responsible for 13.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions - largely from synthetic fertilizers and large animal operations. GHG emissions-soil carbon loss, methane, and nitrous oxide-are largely results of large-scale agricultural operations in which soil carbon is depleted, methane from large animal feedlot operations is released unchecked, and synthetic fertilizers release nitrous oxide-a gas with 300 times the warming power of CO2.

The agricultural sector, including land use change for agriculture, has been estimated to make up anywhere from 28-33% of global emissions. Combined with the emissions created transporting food in our increasingly globalized food economy where the average bite to eat travels 1200 miles from field to fork, the industrial food system may be the largest single contributor to global warming.

In small-scale organic farming systems however, carbon is actually stored in the soil at a rate of about four tons per hectare. The Rodale Institute estimates that if the U.S. converted to organic agriculture on all its farmland, 25% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions could be saved.

Small-scale sustainable agriculture is also vastly more resilient to climate change. After Hurricane Mitch devastated much of the Central American countryside, a study of over 1800 conventional and sustainable farms showed that farmers using sustainable practices suffered less "damage" than their conventional neighbors. Diversified plots had 20% to 40% more topsoil, greater soil moisture, less erosion, and experienced fewer economic losses than their conventional farm neighbors. Not only can small-scale sustainable agriculture help cool the planet, it can provide a buffer against the worst effects of global warming.

The small farmers of La Via Campesina know this. They are calling for an international shift towards food sovereignty - the right of all people over the resources to produce and consume abundant, culturally appropriate food. Their vision is one of agroecologically balanced, sustainable, family farms supported by local markets. Not only will this vision confront the injustices of a world food system where one billion people will go hungry this year while another billion are obese-it could help stave off climate disasters.

Any "vision" that may emerge from negotiations in Poznan, Poland this week must include creating a food system that is more resilient, less polluting, and ultimately more just. Peasant farmers, who comprise more than half of all farmers worldwide, have much to offer a warming world. The fact that greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture was on the agenda of farmers themselves before it is talked about on the world policy stage should send a strong message to Poznan: It is time we opened the climate debate to the ills of industrial agriculture, and the home-grown solutions that could save us.


Annie Shattuck writes for Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy. The purpose of the Institute for Food and Development Policy - Food First - is to eliminate the injustices that cause hunger.

Published on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 by CommonDreams.org

Seminar on Traditional Foods and Healthy Communities

The Center for Rural Culture, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Goochland County, Virginia, in conjunction with Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market, is hosting a seminar on Traditional Foods & Healthy Communities with keynote speaker Sally Fallon – author of Nourishing Traditions and President, The Weston A. Price Foundation, on Saturday, January 10th, 2009.

This daylong seminar will raise awareness and educate communities about their health, their food supply and sustainable farming practices for environmental preservation. There will be other experts who will speak, as well as Sally Fallon, on the important links between health and communities. A delicious lunch featuring locally sourced traditional foods will be provided by Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market.

The seminar will take place at the Montpelier Center for Arts and Education, 17205 Mountain Road at the western edge of Hanover on Route 33 in Hanover County (just west of Richmond) from 9:00am-6:00pm. The seminar will include the following lectures/lecturers:

“The Power of Food: a Virginia Dietitian's Perspective" (Lynda Fanning, MA, MPH, RD - Clinical Nutrition Manager, University of Virginia Health System)

“The Basics of Healthy Diets” (Sally Fallon)

“The Politics and Economics of Food” (Sally Fallon)

“Planning for a Healthy Environment” (Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director – Partnership for Smarter Growth)

”How Sustainable Farming can Promote Public Health” (Sally K. Norton, MPH - Scientific / Program Administrator, Department of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University)

“How to Change Your Diet for the Better” (Sally Fallon)

Panel Discussion

Cost for the January 10th seminar is $65 in advance or $75 at the door. Pre-register on the Center for Rural Culture’s website (www.centerforruralculture.org). Center for Rural Culture and Weston A. Price members’ cost is only $50 (and also students), but those folks must register by mail. Call 804-314-9141 for a brochure.

The Center for Rural Culture will host two other book-signing and lecture events with Sally Fallon on the same weekend. Participants can meet and talk with Sally Fallon and bring or purchase their own copy of Sally’s Nourishing Traditions book to be signed.

Friday, January 9th 5:30-9:00pm Book signing and Meet & Greet starts at 5:30pm. Lecture - “The Oiling of America/The Cholesterol Myths” begins at 7:00pm. Delicious food and alcohol/non-alcohol beverages will be available for purchase before, during and after event! Cost: $10 suggested donation at the door or pre-register on the Center for Rural Culture’s website (www.centerforruralculture.org). Location: The Camel Restaurant & Bar, 1621 W Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220 (804) 353-4901.

Sunday, January 11th 11:00am-1:00pm Book signing and Meet & Greet starts at 11:00am. Lecture -“Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: Having trouble getting started with a traditional diet?” starts at 11:30am. Sally will offer suggestions for no-fuss, economical meals based on traditional foods. Cost: Free, although seating is limited, so pre-registration is suggested. Go to the Center’s website to pre-register. Location: Ellwood’s Community Coffee, 10 S. Thompson St. Richmond, VA 23221 (804) 359-7525.

The mission of the Center for Rural Culture is to educate, promote and inspire members of our community to sustain a culture that supports agriculture and the local economy, protects natural and historic resources, and maintains our rural character and traditions. The Center founded and manages the Goochland Farmers Market and offers many educational programs and opportunities to learn about sustainable agriculture, conservation practices, local foods and local foods systems, smart growth, traditional rural arts, music and rural history.

The movement for a more sustainable local food system is in full swing in Central Virginia, and the opportunity to learn more about traditional foods and their relationship to the health of communities is an important and timely topic. Who should come? – Everyone…students, doctors, mothers, farmers, healthcare providers, teachers, or anyone who is interested in radically strengthening the very foundations of their health and their community.

For additional information, contact Lisa Dearden @ 804-314-9141 or admin@CenterForRuralCulture.org.

Photos from Cheesemaking Workshop

Growers Wanted

To raise organic produce and other sustainable farm products for large, established markets.

To learn more, attend a meeting on: Wednesday, December 10th 7:00 pm Roanoke Higher Education Center (Jefferson Street, across from Hotel Roanoke)

You will learn about: • Markets at Virginia Tech, Washington & Lee University and other colleges • Supermarket opportunities through Appalachian Harvest• Other local and regional markets; and • Education and training available for small organic and sustainable farms.

For more information call (276) 623-1121 or email asd@asdevelop.org

Appalachian Harvest is an enterprise of Appalachian Sustainable Development. www.asdevelop.org

Workshop Announcement

Due to popular demand, we are going to do it again!

Introduction to
Butter- and Cheese-making

Agenda Summary

This is a demonstration workshop which will provide participants with thebasics of making butter using a blender, beating out the milk, and molding it.

We will also demonstrate methods of making chevre and seasoning it with various ingredients; making mozzarella with two different methods of stretching; and making ricotta from the mozzarella whey.

Participants will have opportunities to ask questions. Recipes and methodology will be provided as hand-outs.

When and where

Saturday, December 6th at 1 - 4 p.m. at Brambleberry Farm, Fincastle

Cost: $35.00

To reserve a place, call 992-5529

Or email brambleberryfarm@gmail.com

Sponsored by Botetourt Family Farms

VALUE-ADDED PRODUCER GRANT & RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM WORKSHOPS

USDA Rural Development in cooperation with Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Virginia Foundation for Agriculture, Innovation and Rural Sustainability will be conducting workshops focused on assisting agriculture producers and small businesses apply for the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) and the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program (REEP).

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program can be accessed by eligible agriculture producers or producer groups for either planning or working capital in a value-added agriculture endeavor. The grant will pay for up to 50% of eligible project costs.

The Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program (REEP) can pay up to 25% of the costs for an agriculture producer or small business to implement a renewable energy project or make energy efficiency improvements to their building or processes

An overview of each program as well as tips for applying for grant funds will be presented. Meetings will be held on the following dates at the below-listed locations. All meetings will begin and 11:00 A.M. and end at 2:30 P.M. Lunch will be served.

December 8, 2008- The Riverstone Technology Building, 1100 Confroy Drive, South Boston, VA 24592

December 9, 2008- The Heritage Preservation Center (Upper Floor), 115 W. Spiller Street, Wytheville, VA 24382

December 10, 2008- Virginia Cooperative Extension District Office, 2322 Blue Stone Hills Drive, Suite 140, Harrisonburg, VA 22801

December 11, 2008- Hampton Inn & Suites, 117 Fort Evans Road NE, Leesburg, VA 20176

December 12, 2008- Virginia Farm Bureau, 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA 23238


For further information about the meetings, please contact Laurette Tucker of USDA Rural Development at 804.287.1594 or Chris Cook of the Virginia Farm Bureau at 804.290.1111 or visit www.vafairs.com.

The meetings are free. However, registration is required to attend.
To register, please call 804.290.1155, or email bflem@vafb.com stating your name and which meeting you would like to attend.

Farmers' Market, November 8, 2008

Full Circle Farm will be at Ikenberry's today with freshly milled wholewheat products.