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Renewing the Countryside Newsletter
November 2006
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In This Issue
-- This Month's Featured Stories
-- RTC News Flash
-- Resource Pick: The New Farm
-- Partner Pick of the Month: SARE -- What We?re Reading: Regional Flavor: Marketing Rural America's Unique Assets -- Conference Pick: PASA Farming for the Future -- Where We're Going: Tribal Grounds Cafe & LIFT Culture House -- What Does RTC Do?
Welcome to the November Renewing the Countryside newsletter, designed to provide a monthly toolbox of resources, ideas and inspiration for your own efforts and interests in rural revitalization.
Thank you for your continued support of Renewing the Countryside as we celebrate our fifth anniversary this year. Jan Joannides, Executive Director |
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This Month's Featured Stories --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arellano's Fruit & Market Farm: Immigrant Farmers
Covert, MI The 50 acres of apples, peaches, blueberries and a diverse selection of other fruits and vegetables at Arellano's Fresh Fruit Market stand entices even the most casual drive-by passengers, many en route to vacation homes or recreational activities on Lake Michigan just two miles from the 60 acre farm. The fruit stand is located in front of farmers Armando and Genoveva Arellano's home in Covert, Michigan. Some might say the Arellanos became farmers by accident. But to the astute observer, their jammed-packed farm stand is a well- served reward for their interest in continuing their Mexican farming traditions and those of the previous owner-farmer
Rumbleway Farm: Delivering a Taste of the Farm
From farm to feast, Rumbleway Farm delivers a menu of diversified products and business strategies, from heritage turkeys to a commercial kitchen and seasonal restaurant. Owners Robin and Mark Way continue the legacy of their historic farmstead outside Conowingo in northeastern Maryland by reinventing the farm for today's marketplace. |
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RTC News Flash --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RTC Youth Initative
The Youth Renewing the Countryside initiative continues to capture the voices of today's young, rural entrepreneurs. Thanks to a cross-country team of young editors, writers and photographers, we are capturing stories from every state in the country. These stories will be published in a book being jointly produced by RTC and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) and will be the cornerstone of a public education campaign to raise awareness and dialogue around young people in rural communities. If you know of innovative organizations or initiatives serving rural young people (young defined as those under 35) please send info about them to Johanna Divine at johanna.divine@gmail.com. We are looking for such initiatives to include as sidebars in the book.
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Resource Pick: The New Farm ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resource Pick: The New Farm
A venture of the Rodale Institute, The New Farm programs provides innovative agriculture research, outreach and training. The New Farm Website offers a wealth of on-line support and resource opportunities for both beginning and seasoned farmers, focusing on creating connections and sharing of experiences through valuable "farmer-to-farmer know-how." From on-line forums facilitating discussion amongst first-year farmers to on-line training for transitioning to organic certification to monthly electronic newsletters, The New Farm aims to inform and inspire farmers with the tools they need to move toward regenerative agriculture.
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Partner Pick of the Month: SARE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
program, part of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education
and Extension Service, helps farming efforts be profitable while
still fostering land stewardship and healthy communities.
Through SARE's nationwide research and education grant
program, a range of innovative farming and education
approaches come to life, including the RTC Youth Book project.
Individual farm projects are also encouraged to apply for SARE
funding, organized by four geographic region and type of
project.
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What We?re Reading: Regional Flavor: Marketing Rural America's Unique Assets --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rural America offers a wealth of economic opportunity that
focuses on an area's distinct assets and geography, stimulating
innovative business development and new markets while
protecting the community's rural heritage and roots. "Regional
Flavor: Marketing Rural America's Unique Assets" provides
practical inspiration and resources for rural leaders working to
sustainably stimulate local enterprises. A project of the Association for
Enterprise Opportunity, this new publication features
various rural marketing
success stories both from the U.S. and internationally. The
publication features a range of tips on building partnerships,
brand
creation and
web-based marketing. 78 pages.
Order Regional Flavor from the Renewing the Countryside store for $12.00 plus S&H or by contacting AEO.
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Conference Pick: PASA Farming for the Future --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
(PASA) at their 16th annual Farming for the Future Conference
February 1-3, 2007 at Penn State University in State College,
PA. With a theme of "Cultivating Excellence: Farming to Serve
the Common Good," PASA's conference draws together
northeast farmers and agriculture advocates for an inspiring
gathering, including keynotes by Joel Salatin, James Kunstler
and Michael Abelman. Join RTC at Lisa Kivirist and John
Ivanko's workshops on farm diversification and telling your
farm
story.
For more information on PASA and the Farming for the Future Conference
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Where We're Going: Tribal Grounds Cafe & LIFT Culture House --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stop in for a cup of coffee at Tribal Grounds and LIFT Culture
House in Cherokee, North Carolina, and prepare yourself to
linger. This family-run operation just outside the Smoky
Mountains not only offers its own fair trade coffee
brand, Tribal Grounds, but also offers deli-style vegetarian
fare. LIFT
serves as the area's gathering spot for renowned local, national
and international art exhibitions. Bringing culture to the
community in a comfortable setting stimulates local
conversations and celebrations, including a free-speech night
during which area residents gather to recite poetry and talk
about relevant issues.
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What Does RTC Do? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renewing the Countryside is a 501(c)3 non-profit
that strengthens rural areas by championing and
supporting farmers, artists, entrepreneurs,
educators, activists, and others who are
revitalizing the countryside through innovative
endeavors. We build awareness and support for these
initiatives by collecting and sharing stories of
rural renewal, providing practical assistance and
networking opportunities for those working to
improve rural America, and fostering connections
between urban and rural people.
As always, you can support our work by purchasing books from the Renewing the Countryside store. We're grateful to the Beim Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Emma B. Howe Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation, the Bush Foundation, The Brico Fund and North Central SARE, for contributing to our work. Find out more about Renewing the Countryside .
Please consider a contribution to Renewing the Countryside's work. |
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Contact Information ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
email:
info@rtcinfo.org
phone:
1-866-378-0587
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