Blog Action Day 2007 « Bees Without Borders

Blog Action Day 2007

October 15, 2007 by beeswithoutborders

Monday October 15th 2007 is Blog Action Day. The purpose of this event is to bring bloggers all over the world to all post on the same day about the same topic – the environment. I thought it was important for us girls of Bees Without Borders to participate in this event. We were brought together by Mary Jane Butters who is working to do a lot for the environment. Most of us are trying to do things that are environmentaly concious. The world we live in is a wonderful place and as farmgirls I think we have a great sense of respect for the earth and the environment. So today I want to encourage you to take a look at your life and think about at least 1 change you can make in your life that would make a positive impact on the environment. It would be great if you could post about it in the comments section.

I copied the following from www.maryjanesfarm.org. They have it posted on their site and say that this is “what they strive for”. What a wonderful credo for farmgirls and farmers and hardworkers alike.

The people I love the best
jump into work
head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes
almost out of sight. They seem to become
natives of that element
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.
I love people who
harness themselves,
an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo,
with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and muck
to move things forward,
as to be done, again and again.
I want to be with people
who submerge in the task,
who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass
the bags along, who are not
parlor generals and field deserters but
move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in
or the fire be put out.
The work of the world
is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands,
crumbles to dust.But the thing
worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies,
clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn
are put in museums,
but you know they were
made to be used.

The pitcher cries for water
to carry and a person for
work that is real.

From “Circles on the Water” by Marge Piercy
Copyright 1982, Marge Piercy
Reprinted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Here is a list of resources that are relevent to this issue of the environment and may hopefully be of interest to you. This list was found at http://www.maryjanesfarm.com/resources.asp

If you would like to know the definitions between natural, organic & certified organic, here is a link: http://www.onegrp.com/front.aspx?id=organicterms&SessionID=486220582

Online Organic News and Farming Resources:

Farmland Trust – http://www.farmland.org/default.asp

Acres USA – www.acresusa.com

New Farm – www.newfarm.org

Sustainable Agriculture Resources – SARE – http://www.sare.org

Sustainable Agriculture – ATTRA – http://attra.ncat.org

Women in Sustainable Agriculture – http://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/attranews_0306.html

Organic Consumer Association (OCA) News – http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

OCA Organic Links – http://www.organicconsumers.org/ofgu/links.htm

MOSES in WI, and other organizations like it in your area – http://www.mosesorganic.org

PCEI in Moscow, ID and other organizations like it in your area – http://www.pcei.org

Rural Roots in ID, and other organizations like it in your area – http://www.ruralroots.org

Raising Chickens – www.chickenvideo.com

Living Simply – http://pathtofreedom.com/backtobasics/building/index.shtml

Farming Classes – www.cultivatingsuccess.org

Buying Farms – www.farmsellers.com

Alternatives to Pesticides – www.pesticide.org

Center for Rural Affairs – www.cfra.org/newsletter/current.htm

Organic Seed Alliance – http://www.seedalliance.org

Solar Greenhouse, Vision, & Inspiration – http://www.solviva.com

Center for Food Safety – http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org

Links to Organic Farming Info – http://www.thefutureisorganic.net/index.html

Gardener’s Supply – http://www.gardeners.com

Rodale Institute – http://www.rodaleinstitute.org

Garden Book – http://fun.to/plant

Farm Resources – http://www.agmrc.org/agmrc/directories/default.htm

Solar Info – http://www.ases.org/chapter_newsletter/2005/ND05/ND05.html

Solar Info – http://www.solartoday.org/2006/jan_feb06/zero_energy_nw.htm

Harmony Valley – http://www.harmonyvalleyfarm.com

The Farm Chicks (Live Well, Laugh Often, Junk Much) – http://www.thefarmchicks.com/fashion.html

Natural Children Resources – http://www.childandnature.com

Old-fashioned Farm Supplies – http://www.lehmans.com

Sewing – http://www.sensibility.com/pattern

Women in Sustainable Agriculture Lecture Series – http://www.agrariana.org/

Organic Entrepreneurs – http://www.pixiepoppins.org/index.php

Planet Bed and Breakfast – a bed and breakfast directory assembled by actual B&B owners (over 200 to be exact!).

Far Out Farms – Ongoing education on rural living and raising livestock in the wildlife interface; guest cabin for students.

Windhorse Farm – The Windhorse residential community offers various opportunities for others to enjoy and learn at the farm: custom-designed work/study contracts, tours, Open Farm Days, seasonal celebrations, educational programs, including guest cabins for up to 16 people.

Local Resources:
Meeting local organic farmers through Farmers’ Markets, natural food stores’ produce department managers, Master Gardener Programs, many universities’ agricultural departments, and local USDA offices, which can tell you what crops grow well in your area.

Local Organic Farms – http://www.localharvest.org/organic-farms

Eat Local Eat Organic – http://www.eatwellguide.org/index.cfm
Magazines & websites:

Countryside – http://www.countrysidemag.com

Mother Earth News – http://www.motherearthnews.com

Small Farmers Journal – http://www.smallfarmersjournal.com/.docs/pg/about.html

Farmland Trust – http://www.farmland.org/default.asp

Business Help for Women:

http://www.onlinewbc.gov/

http://www.sba.gov/financing/special/women.html

Nonprofit / Grant Writing Tips – http://www.npguides.org

USDA Grants – http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm

Books: