Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

Jeanne Merrill, Associate Policy Director

New research suggests that locally produced food can reduce our carbon footprint, but how our food is produced may be just as important as the distance it travels from farm to plate. A study by University of Washington researchers found that locally produced food cut greenhouse gas emissions when compared to its imported counterparts, but for some foods how it was produced may impacted the amount of emission savings.

The researchers compared greenhouse gas emissions from a plate of locally produced food, made up of a Washington produced apple, asparagus, potato and wild Alaskan salmon, to its imported counterparts of a New Zealand apple, Peruvian asparagus, Idaho potato and farmed Norwegian salmon. The local food plate cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2 pounds.

Organic production further cut emissions. When the researchers compared local food that was produced conventionally with local food that was produced organically, the organically produced food further cut greenhouse gas emissions. The most significant emissions savings were found in comparing organically and conventionally produced asparagus and smaller reductions were found comparing conventional and organic apples and potatoes.

For more information about study, please see http://students.washington.edu/djmorgan/food.html#section4_textarea6_heading

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Think Spring! New spring weekend retreat

By Dori Sorensen, Education Coordinator

Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and flavors of spring. Flavor of the Seasons is an all-inclusive weekend retreat at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. This getaway offers culinary enthusiasts their first tastes of the growing season, right from the farm. Spend May 22-24 touring farms and collecting fresh local ingredients that may include early season fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meats, free-range poultry and fresh dairy products. Then proceed into our professional kitchens where Chef Nate Chapell will guide you through the process of transforming your finds through culinary demonstrations and hands-on activities. The weekend will include hands-on gardening workshops and related activities. See the brochure for details (linked below).

Bring your friends and the whole family to the country and welcome spring’s return. As winter gives us its final blast, we can all be comforted in knowing that the start of another growing season and the delicious flavors it will offer are just around the corner. Mark your calendar and register today for a weekend in Wisconsin’s scenic countryside this May.

Check out the Flavor of the Seasons: Spring brochure. To register, print out and mail-in the registration form.

Call with questions or to sign up by phone please contact Education Coordinator: Dori Sorensen (262) 642-3303 ext. 128 or dsorensen@michaelfieldsaginst.org

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Farm Bill Update: Congress Negotiations, White House Threatens Veto

By Jeanne Merrill, Associate Policy Director

A White House veto threat puts at risk increased farm bill funding for food stamps, conservation, organic farming research and more. Click here for the latest on the farm bill.

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Take Action! Oppose USDA’s Proposed “Naturally Raised” Meat Label

Help prevent USDA from developing a new “naturally raised” meat label that would mislead consumers and undermine the vibrant markets created by sustainable livestock producers!

Please submit comments opposing USDA’s proposal by the new March 3rd deadline.

If USDA’s proposal goes through, livestock producers could label their meat USDA verified “naturally raised” without any concern for animal welfare or environmental stewardship and without the animals ever necessarily stepping foot on pasture. For more information, see the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's Action Alert [pdf].

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Upcoming Events

Pollinating Our Future: Urban Agriculture Conference in Milwaukee, WI, Feb. 28 - March 1, 2008

The conference will address the barriers to urban agriculture by involving a wide range of often disconnected stakeholders: urban producers, researchers, urban planners, developers, community organizations, and urban activists to address the most important and controversial issues of poverty alleviation, environmental and waste management, local economic, social and community development and global warming. SPIN (Small Plot Intensive Growing) Cities is also coming to Milwaukee as a pre-conference event. For more information, including schedules and registrations, see the links below.

Farm, Food & Garden 2008 Workshops

Join us for our one- and two-day workshops on a diverse range of farm, garden and business topics. Whether you've farmed for 20 years or are a new gardener, our workshops are designed for a variety of skill and knowledge levels. Register early and receive the early bird discount!

» See all upcoming events