by Bradley — published on February 19th, 2007
There are a number of nonprofit organization, publi-private partnerships, and community development agencies promoting sustainable economic development, smart growth and nature-based and cultural heritage tourism. These groups share a number of characteristics, including:
- A focus on developing partnerships,
- Support local businesses and cultural heritage,
- Protection of the environmental and conservation of “working landscapes,”
- Serving as a catalyst for community and business investments, and
- Capacity building through partnerships, publications, and educational programs
Among the more successful organizations are the Sierra Business Council and the Jefferson Economic Development Institute in California and the North Carolina-based Handmade in America.
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by Bradley — published on February 3rd, 2007
The Slow Food Movement was founded in Italy in 1989 to counteract the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. The movement is founded upon the concept of “eco-gastronomy,” a recognition of the strong connections between plate and planet.
“We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.”
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by Bradley — published on February 3rd, 2007
From the “Slow Food Movement,” to farmers markets and “Buy Local” campaigns, more organizations are promoting “economic localization” as a key to sustainable communities. According to Bay Localize:
“Economic localization brings production of goods and services closer to their point of consumption, reducing the need to rely on long supply chains and distant markets. . . Local production strengthens the local economy, creates worthwhile jobs, and increases local self-reliance.
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by Bradley — published on January 3rd, 2007
The new Congress will take up agriculture policy when it begins the debate over the reauthorization of the farm bill, which will guide U.S. policy for the next five years. A number of organizations will lobby for a bill that supports family farmers and sustainable agriculture rather, than industrial agriculture and ADM.
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by Bradley — published on March 25th, 2006
What can you buy for $16 million in the Sierra Nevadas?
The state Resource Agency will find out May 12, 2006, when proposals are due for the “acquisition of land and water rights to protect water quality in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams and wetlands in the Sierra Nevada-Cascade Mountain Region.”
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