About
Us
Who We Are | Mission Statement | Background | Who We Serve | How We Function
Who We Are
The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group -- commonly known
as "Southern SAWG" -- is the region's non-profit leader
in creating a sustainable food and farming system. Our programs
and activities are aimed at helping family farms and those working
to improve community food systems in the Southern region of the United States.
Southern
SAWG provides learning opportunities for farmers and agricultural
professionals, and tools and support for farmer entrepreneurs. We
promote communication and collaboration between farmers, consumers
and community organizations, and foster the development of food
systems that are more secure. We develop grassroots leadership in
the sustainable agriculture movement, and empower constituents to
change policies that impact farm communities.
Through
our work we link dozens of diverse organizations and thousands of
individuals throughout the 13 Southern states of Alabama, Arkansas,
Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. <back to top>
Mission Statement
To
empower and inspire farmers, individuals, and communities in the South
to create an agricultural system that is ecologically sound,
economically viable, socially just, and humane. Because sustainable
solutions depend on the involvement of the entire community, Southern
SAWG is committed to including all persons in the South without
bias. <back to top>
Background
Southern SAWG was founded in 1991 to provide an umbrella structure for
the sustainable agriculture movement in the South and to amplify its
impacts. Many people realized that modern industrial agriculture was
having unanticipated consequences. Family farmers, rural communities,
the quality of our water, the safety of our food, and true food buying
choices all were being harmed.
Organizations
had formed at the state and local level since the 1970s to create and
support a more ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially
just system of agriculture. The founders of
Southern SAWG, representing many of these organizations, realized that
state and local efforts needed a way to effectively share and extend
information, strategies, and impacts both regionally and nationally.
Since its inception in 1991, Southern SAWG has:
* Developed and extended knowledge on sustainable farming and marketing practices;
* Fostered viable agricultural enterprises;
* Improved government and institutional agricultural policies, programs and practices;
* Increased connections between consumers and farmers;
* Cultivated new leaders to speak out and effect change;
* Promoted growth of state and local grassroots organizations; and
* Enhanced regional and community partnerships. <back to top>
Who We Serve
Southern
SAWG's primary constituents include the organizations that serve family
farmers and ranchers who are striving to become more sustainable in the
13 Southern states. We also serve the advocates, researchers,
educators, information providers, consumers and youth whose efforts
support a sustainable food and farming system. <back to top>
How We Function
The Southern SAWG Board of Directors
is made up of individuals from the 13 states in the Southern region,
representing the diversity of our region and its farming systems. The
organization’s goals are determined by the Board of Directors
through a periodic strategic planning process incorporating the
evolving needs of our constituent organizations. These goals guide the
projects and activities of Southern SAWG. The Executive Director
manages the activities of the organization as a whole and oversees
staff. A combination of part-time Program Managers and volunteers
carry out project activities and management of specific program areas.
Much of our work is conducted in partnership with constituent
organizations, institutions and agencies. Go to What We Do to learn about our exciting programs and activities. <back to top>
|