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Illinois Stewardship Alliance: 36 Years of Local Food and Farm Advocacy
Did you know the Illinois Stewardship Alliance (formerly the Illinois South Project) helped found the Carbondale Farmer's Market? Did you know that ISA has been active in state and federal policy working on issues such as protecting farmland? Did you know about ISA projects over the years such as the Stewardship Farm providing research on organic practices or our pilot program to utilize WIC coupons and Illinois farmers markets? These are just a few of many issues ISA has taken on over the last 36 years since the founding of the Illinois South Project in 1974. The Illinois South Project was founded to give citizens a voice in the development of the federal coal program introduced in the mid-1970's. The Illinois South Project acknowledged the negative impact strip mining would have on farmland and the local economy in southern Illinois. "Central to our program is empowerment of people through active involvement in issues that affect them. To address critical farm policy issues, we organized farmers to attend hearings and town meetings organized by their elected officials. We sent out numerous alerts on crucial issues being debated in the state legislature and in Congress and we submitted testimony on important aspects of the 1985 farm bill" - Illinois South Project 1985 Annual Report
To read more, click here. |
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ISA Action Alert: Protecting the Conservation Stewardship Program
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a working lands conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance to farmers who practice soil and water conservation, promote wildlife habitat, encourage carbon sequestration, and conserve water and energy. Since CSP sign-up is nation-wide, it has the potential to enhancing water quality in every watershed within the US. CSP encourages active conservation of working lands, thereby keeping land in production while conserving natural resources.
In President Obama's budget released February 1, 2010, over 769,000 acres will be permanently removed from CSP, which is the equivalent to nearly 14 million dollars that won't go to farmers. It is up to our representatives to block this threat to conservation and ensure that the mandatory funding that was established by Congress remains intact.
To learn how to take action, click here. |
| ISA Welcomes New Office Manager
Dee Carlson comes to ISA with over 20 years of management experience. Her employment history includes 12 years of office management with payroll and bookkeeping experience along with a strong work ethic. Dee's diversified work background and skills will be a valued asset at ISA.
Dee is excited about facing new challenges and using her organizational abilities in her new work environment. She has always been interested in learning and getting involved and believes her employment at ISA will continue to challenge her growth.
When she's not working you can find her enjoying time with her family and being outdoors. Dee's love of nature and her added desire to learn more about healthy eating and organic gardening offer a good opportunity to use her skills and fulfill a passion to contribute. ISA's local food campaigns, support of small farms and initiatives to develop local food systems will provide an ideal way to get involved. |
 Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois Update
Expansion focuses "Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois" activities in Champaign/Urbana region
Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL) Central Illinois has expanded by establishing a steering committee to direct activities in the east central Illinois hub of Champaign-Urbana. In addition to the existing Springfield and Bloomington/Normal hubs, Champaign/Urbana will begin spreading the "Buy Fresh Buy Local" message within their community.
Cathe Capel, Chair of the BFBLChampaign/Urbana steering committee, said "bringing stakeholders together and creating a common interest in growing our local food system" was the biggest reason for establishing this new Central Illinois hub.
"We have a great group of people from diverse backgrounds, all of whom are enthusiastic about BFBL and the work we're doing," Cathe said. The Champaign/Urbana hub hopes to attract 30 members, create a Membership Directory, host several Local Flavors dinners and educate the community in its first year.
The expansion of the Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign within central Illinois will "raise more awareness of local foods and farms, connect farmers with retail markets and consumers, educate consumers about the benefits to them and to the community of purchasing locally produced foods and provide a branded marketing tool for retailers, farmers, and restaurants selling local foods," Cathe said.
Bloomington/Normal Plans Big Marketing Event for March 29Illinois Stewardship Alliance and the Heartland Local Food Network will host a Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois marketing event on Monday, March 29, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Community Room at Heartland Bank in Uptown Normal. The goal of the event is to educate current and future Buy Fresh Buy Local members about the benefits and opportunities that come with membership, and how to put them to use. All current members, as well as anyone interested in membership, are invited to attend this event, as it is free to the public.Mark O'Rourke, Co-chair for Buy Fresh Buy Local in Bloomington, said this event would serve as "a building block for BFBL members to strengthen their marketing opportunities in central Illinois."
The meeting will begin with a brief overview of the Buy Fresh Buy Local program, including the plans for expansion with the Champaign-Urbana Hub, O'Rourke said. There will be a review of the marketing materials included with BFBL membership and recommendations on how to use them effectively. This will be followed with a discussion of marketing opportunities with the local restaurants, retailers, and food distribution networks. The Bloomington/Normal Local Flavors series will be discussed as well. The evening will end with an opportunity for questions from the audience and time to complete applications.
O'Rourke said between 30 and 50 people are expected to be at this BFBL event. |
Legislative Update
Upcoming Lobby Day and Bills On April 28th, local food consumers, farmers and advocates from across the state will come together in Springfield to encourage their legislators to support local food and sustainable agriculture. Illinois Stewardship Alliance would like to invite you to join us for our annual lobby day and legislative reception, on April 28th, 2010.
Local Food Awareness Day will consist of a legislative update and lobbying training (includes a catered box lunch), an opportunity to educate legislators about the importance of local food and sustainable agriculture and a legislative reception at the Pasfield House following the day's lobbying activities.
For more information and how to register click here.
Action Alert: The 2010 Spring Session of the 96th General Assembly is now under way and ISA staff is excited about HB 4756-The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Act. The Farmers' Market Improvement Act will help to create the necessary infrastructure for Illinois Link Card Program participants to redeem their SNAP benefits at farmers' markets. It will help improve consumer access to fresh high quality and locally grown fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products; as well as creating and expanding new markets for local small scale farmers across Illinois. Thanks to many great supporters and the hard work of the bill's sponsor, Representative LaShawn Ford, The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Act has passed the Illinois House by an astounding vote of 110 - 2. This is great news! However, this is only the first step in the bill's path to becoming Illinois law the bill has now moved to the Senate. To help make sure HB 4756 becomes law, please take a few minutes to call or email your State Senator and ask him/her to support HB 4756, the Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Act. HB 4756 is being sponsored in the Senate by Senator Toi Hutchinson. To look up your State Senator contact information click here.
Another local food bill that ISA is following is SB 615 - The Farm-to-school Database Program. SB 615 establishes a geo-coded electronic database to facilitate the purchase of fresh produce and food products by schools. SB 615 will help to facilitate bringing fresh Illinois produce and food products into schools all around the state, as well as help in advancing the goals of the Illinois Food, Farms and Jobs Council. Thanks to the hard work of the bill's sponsor, Senator Linda Holmes, SB 615 just passed the Senate by a vote of 39-16-0! This is excellent news for the local food movement. Although a sponsor in the Illinois House of Representatives has not yet been named, please contact your representative about this excellent local food bill. Now is the time to call your State Representative and ask them to support SB 615 - The Farm-To-School Database Program. To look up your State Senator contact information click here.
For more information on some of the other pieces of legislation Illinois Stewardship Alliance is following click here. | |
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Join Illinois Stewardship Alliance!
You can support ISA and become part of the good food movement by becoming a member. We offer individual and organizational memberships.
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