Fwd: Invitation to Seminars at Pullman and Moscow

[Peggy Adams <adams@pcei.org>]

These seminars may be of interest to some on this list.

Peggy


>---- Begin Included Message ----
>BREAKING FREE OF CHRONIC CRISIS IN NORTHWEST
>AGRICULTURE 
>>
>>September 13, 1999 Working Seminar 2:00-4:00 pm, Reception 4:00-5:00 pm,
>Moscow, Idaho
>>September 14, 1999 Working Seminar 10:00-12:00 pm, Lunch 12:00-2:00 pm
>Pullman, Washington
>>
>>Whether you're a farmer having an early breakfast at the local coffee
>>shop, an ag
>economist meeting with colleagues in the halls of the University, an extension
>educator in the field or a business person reading the morning paper, you are
>probably thinking, if not talking about, the chronic crisis in northwest
>agriculture.
>Frustrated, overwhelmed and a little bit hopeful, you might also be
>wishing someone
>(including yourself) could find a way to break through the crisis and build an
>agriculture that sustains people and communities, not just the corporate
>bottom line.
>But, the question lingers where to begin? 
>
>>Crisis is fundamental to the kind of agriculture we have been building
>>for the past
>fifty years. Agricultural industrialization, genetic engineering,
>exploitative trade
>practices, and corporate consolidation are rarely mentioned in reference
>to the farm
>crisis. These things are considered normal consequences of the innovations
>needed
>to keep food costs down and food production up. 
>>
>>Many think that farms will grow larger and farmers will be fewer as an
>>inevitable
>outcome of economic growth. In times past all this might have made sense
>-- at least
>for society in general. But today, it's the giant corporations -- not
>farmers, not
>consumers, not communities -- that benefit from the continuing
>industrialization of
>agriculture. 
>>
>>Over the past year and a half, a diverse and experienced group of folks
>>called the
>Looking Glass Group have been seriously thinking about agriculture,
>economics and
>the future. And what they have discovered, is what they already knew…
>
>>· Breaking out of chronic crisis means farmers and communities must learn
>>to think
>and act differently, giving priority to overall quality of life --
>economic, social, and
>ethical not to the short run "bottom line" on the farm or at the grocery
>store. 
>· Consumers, farmers and community members must reject the outdated economic
>dogma that short-run pursuit of individual interests will result in
>long-run well being
>for people in general. 
>>· Farm policy has to reject the prophets of conventional short-run,
>>economic self-
>interest for a more enlightened wisdom of long-run economic sustainability.
>>· There will be no end to crisis in farming until we give priority to
>>people -- farmers
>and consumers -- over corporate profits. 
>>· Change doesn't start with the rest of the world, it starts here at
>>home on our farms
>and in our communities.
>>
>>September 13th and 14th, farmers, policy makers, university faculty and
>>students, and
>community members are invited to participate in a series of working seminars
>focused on developing a new agriculture that sustains farmers, communities
>and the
>land. The September 13th seminar will be geared toward the academic side
>of the
>crisis in agriculture what role has conventional economics played in
>creating the
>current situation and how can an economics of sustainability turn the
>situation
>around? On September 14th, we'll be talking about farms and communities and
>positive, discussing practical actions for breaking out of crisis and into
>a more
>positive present and future.
>>
>>Both seminars are free and include a celebration of food and farming through
>feasting on creative local cuisine. Seminars will be led by members of
>the Looking
>Glass Group -- Elizabeth Bird, Director, Consortium for Sustainable
>Agriculture
>Research and Education; Gerry Campbell, Professor and Extension Specialist,
>Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin at Madison;
>Colette
>DePhelps, Program Coordinator, Rural Roots Association; John Gerber,
>Director of
>Extension, University of Massachusetts; John Ikerd, Professor Agricultural
>Economics, University of Missouri; Patrick Madden, former director of the
>World
>Sustainable Agriculture Organization and USDA LISA program, California; and
>Kate Smith, Vice-President, AUS Consultants in New Jersey. The seminars
>are co-
>sponsored by Rural Roots: The Inland Northwest Community Food Systems
>Association and the University of Idaho Sustainable Agriculture Team
>
>>Space is limited and pre-registration is necessary. To register or
>>receive more
>information, contact:
>>
>>Colette DePhelps, Program Coordinator
>>Rural Roots: The Inland Northwest Community Food Systems Association
>Home Office: PO Box 281, Newport, WA 99156, 509/447-0909 phone/fax,
>dephelps@povn.com
>>
>>
>
>---- End Included Message ----
>
>
>LookSmart … or keep looking.
>http://www.looksmart.com
>

Peggy Adams

===================================================================
Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
P O Box 8596; 112 West 4th St; Suite #1
Moscow ID 83843-1096
Phone (208)882-1444; Fax (208)882-8029
url:  http://www.moscow.com/pcei

Please Note our individual staff email addresses below:

Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director: lamar@pcei.org
Peggy Adams, Watersheds/Food Systems: adams@pcei.org
Jon Barrett, Idaho Smart Growth:  smartgro@micron.net
Elaine Clegg, Idaho Smart Growth:  eclegg@micron.net
Anita Grover, Watersheds: grover@pcei.org
Laurie Guardes, Financial Manager:  gardes@pcei.org
Kimi Lucas, Office Manager:  lucas@pcei.org
Ashley Martens, Environmental Education:  martens@pcei.org

Celebrating thirteen years of connecting people, place and community.
===================================================================