Overview
Safe
Food, Clean Environment, Healthy People and Viable Family Farms
Southern
SAWG takes a regional approach to creating a sustainable agricultural
system -- one that is ecologically sound, economically viable, socially
just and humane. We are actively working on several fronts. Here
are the highlights:
Providing
Learning Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture
CONFERENCE
Southern SAWG holds the Practical Tools and Solutions for
Sustaining Family Farms Conference, an annual January
event that provides a forum to learn about sustainable farming techniques
and marketing strategies, community food systems, and federal farm
policies and programs that promote sustainable agriculture. This
event also provides producers, researchers, information providers,
concerned consumers and community organizers the opportunity to
build networks, strengthen alliances, and celebrate the achievements
of Southern sustainable farmers.
For more information, go to the Conference
page.
VIRTUAL
FARM TOURS
Southern SAWG has begun a series of videos call Natural Farming Systems
in the South. This series began through a partnership with the
USDA's Risk Management Agency. Each of these high-quality videos
takes the viewer to one farm, gives you an understanding of the whole
farming system, and gives a closer look at unique components. The
first two videos in the series feature small-scale organic vegetable
and flower farms. The next videos in the series will feature cut flower
and pasture-based poultry, dairy and beef operations. To learn
more about these virtual farm tours and to view clips, go to the Virtual Farm Tour
page.
UNIQUE
TOOLS AND EDUCATION FOR SOUTHERN PRODUCERS
As a companion to our series of “virtual farm
tour” videos, Southern SAWG has developed a companion Enterprise
Handbook for each farming system featured in the videos. The
comprehensive handbook consists of the most informative and easy to
understand production and marketing materials available.
These materials are being made available to groups in the South wishing
to use them in their own educational programs. You may download
Southern
SAWG’s Enterprise Resource Lists. If you'd like more
information about these materials or trainings, please contact Karen
Adler.
INTERNET-BASED
SERVICES
Southern
SAWG, in partnership with USDA Risk Management Agency, recently
launched a one-year project that will use internet-based services
to assist moderate- to small-scale Southern farmers in marketing
their products and in obtaining information that will improve the
sustainability of their operations. This project is designed to
address the special needs of family farmers, including those who
are not "computer literate," and to help them take advantage
of all the internet can offer producers. For more information, go
to the Internet-Based Services
page.
Providing
Tools and Support for Farmer Entrepreneurs
ENTERPRISE
DEVELOPMENT
We
are developing services and support for family farmers in the Southern
United States who want to add value to their farm products and increase
farm income. Southern SAWG has created a "learning network"
of agencies, organizations and individuals who are assisting farmers
in sustainable enterprise development. We are encouraging these
providers to use a systems approach in their assistance, and monitor
successes and barriers. As they work with farmer clients, they are
sharing successful strategies and approaches, discussing the challenges
that face them, developing relationships for consulting with each
other, and developing ways for further cooperation and information
exchange. For more information, go to the Farm-Based
Enterprise Development page.
EXPERIENCED
ORGANIC FARMER NETWORK
We
coordinated an Experienced Organic Farmer Network made up
of ten full-time, commercial-scale producers who have practical
experience that surpasses any information available to them through
traditional learning avenues. This pilot project was designed to
help these organic producers improve their farming operations and
to make it possible for less-experienced producers to learn from
these pioneers. For more information, go to the Experienced
Organic Farmer Network page.
Fostering
Community Food Systems and Security
COMMUNITY
FOOD SYSTEMS
Southern
SAWG has put an increased emphasis on developing sustainable food
systems in the Southern U.S. — systems that connect farmers
who are practicing stewardship to consumers who are supportive of
sustainable farming practices. Starting in September 2003, Southern
SAWG began providing training and technical assistance to individuals
and groups who are developing Community Food Projects. Services
include educational sessions at our annual conference, special leadership
trainings, compilation of a model handbook, and individualized consulting
for developing programs. For more information, go to the Community
Food Systems page.
Educating
and Empowering Constituents to Organize and Change Policy
FARM
POLICY EDUCATION
Through
Farm Policy Education, Southern SAWG increases
political and institutional support for sustainable agriculture.
We do this by:
- educating
constituents and decision makers;
- empowering
constituents to promote sustainable agriculture to their representatives;
- monitoring
and taking action to ensure agriculture programs are conducted
with transparency and accountability; and
- representing
Southern sustainable agriculture priorities at the national level.
We
partner with the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture,
the other regional SAWGs and other sustainable agriculture advocates
to create and secure congressional support for new initiatives to
positively impact federal agriculture, food and environmental policy.
For more
information, go to the Farm Policy
Education page.
Develop
Emerging, Grassroots Leadership
We
help Southern producers and other grassroots supporters of sustainable
agriculture become leaders by inviting individuals emerging in our
network to be presenters at the Southern SAWG conference, participants
in policy organizing and educational activities, representatives
on USDA program committees, members of Southern SAWG program committees,
members of the Southern SAWG Board of Directors,
and/or contact people in their locales and states to aid the exchange
of critical information between Southern SAWG and our grassroots
constituents.
It
is because Southern SAWG considers it necessary to have the talents
and expertise of producers and grassroots individuals actively engaged
in creating a better food and fiber systems for this country that
we provide these new avenues for these individuals to develop skills,
share ideas and make a difference.
Promoting
Communication and Collaboration between Sustainable Agriculture
Farmers, Consumers & Community Organizations
The
Southern SAWG program managers and volunteer leaders communicate
and partner with hundreds of organizations across the South, through
our regular outreach and project work.
We
maintain a database of several thousand individuals/organizations
that receive timely notifications about important activities and
opportunities within Southern SAWG region and the sustainable agriculture
movement in the South.
We
have created an email distribution list that allows us to get time-sensitive
information to hundreds of Southern SAWG constituents quickly. With
our email distribution list and this website, we have created avenues
that allow us to exchange information with grassroots constituents
more readily.
We
recognize not everyone uses the internet yet -- that farmers are
being left behind in this electronic divide. Our Internet-Based
Services program helps more farmers get access to and learn
how to take advantage of the free networking, educational and marketing
opportunities available through the internet.
Taking
Root
Together
with other sustainable agriculture organizations our work is taking
root. A new food and fiber system is being created -- one
that provides safe and nutritious food for everyone, healthy ecosystems,
vibrant rural economies and viable family farms.
To
comment on our work or to learn how you can become involved in these
exciting programs and activities, contact us, info@ssawg.org.
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