News and Events

Abundant Life Seed Foundation Fire on August 14, 2003
On Monday August 4th a fire destroyed Abundant Life Seed Foundation's offices. Their catalog seed inventory, World Seed Fund seed inventory, computers and other administrative systems were lost. Some offsite backup of seed archives and electronic data are intact. Seeds were also salvaged from the fire—some stored in file cabinets inside tins—and they will be examining their viability. Nearly 200 varieties are in production with the Seed Growers Network. These varieties will form the core of the 2004 catalog. Over the coming weeks they will assess the total damages to our operations and keep you updated on this web site.

Monetary donations for rebuilding the World Seed Fund and the education and research programs are appreciated and may be sent to: ALSF, Box 772, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Donations are tax-deductible. Please do not send seeds at this point.

News from the Organic Consumer's Association
Pesticides Contaminate Softdrinks in India
Pepsi and Coca Cola are under fire in India, since a consumer watchdog group discovered dangerous levels of pesticides in the companies' beverages. New Delhi's Center for Science and the Environment tested 12 Pepsi and Coca Cola products and released a report stating that "each sample had enough poison to cause—in the long term—cancer, damage to the nervous and reproductive systems, birth defects and severe disruption of the immune system." The report has stirred consumer resentment to the point where citizens are taking part in "smash the bottle" street protests. Hoping to ease the concerns within their $1.2 billion market in India, the two companies have shifted the focus of their advertising campaigns, including full page newspaper ads reading "The safest thing you are likely to drink today is a Pepsi."

County Seeks Legislation
to Protect Local Agriculture from GMOs
Looking to be the first GMO-free zone in the nation, residents of Mendocino County in California have launched a ballot initiative that would ban genetically engineered crops in the county. Stores will still be allowed to stock foods with GE ingredients, but keeping the county clean of GE crops will protect local conventional and organic farmers from being contaminated by drifting GE pollen. The initiative will likely appear on the ballot in March 2004.

Organics to the People!
In West Oakland, CA, the nonprofit group People's Grocery is demonstrating another way of bringing fresh, local organic produce to inner city neighborhoods. Dubbed the "Mobile Market", volunteers drive a solar powered refrigerated truck through inner city neighborhoods, selling fresh organic produce to residents in low income neighborhoods. Grants to the group help pay for the truck and offset the higher prices of the organic produce.

Click here to subscribe to ORGANIC BYTES the newsletter of the Organic Consumers Association.

Events

Permaculture Design Course Occidental College
September 27th - October 10th, Occidental, CA
Penny Livingston, Brock Dolman with guest instructor
OAEC: 15290 Coleman Valley Rd, Occidental, CA 95465 Ph. 1 (707) 874-1557 x201 inquiry@oaec.org

A Day With Bill Mollison Saturday, September 13th and 14th, Sebastopol Community Center, 10 am - 4 pm
At CELLspace, San Francisco, California
In his only appearances in the US this year, Mr. Mollison will speak on patterns in nature applied to design and give some general theories. He will also discuss permaculture examples from India, South America, Africa, Australia, Asia, & refugee areas in Kosovo, Timor, Jordan.

Gaviotas founder Paolo Lugari
Colorodo October 3rd through 5th
Join Gaviotas founder Paolo Lugari and Friends of Gaviotas at the Sunrise Ranch in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies for an interactive weekend retreat based on the 30-year experience of Gaviotas, Colombia. We will inquire about the social context that has fostered an amazing spirit of innovation at Gaviotas. mail@friendsofgaviotas.org

Sustainable Living 5-Day Intensive at Real Goods
Hopland, CA October 13th through 17th
Day 1—Passive Solar and Ecological Design, Day 2—Introduction to Permaculture, Day 3— Sustainable Wastewater Design, Day 4 & 5—Introduction to Photovoltaics.
Register for a workshop online, by phone (1-707-744-2017) or write: Solar Living Institute PO Box 836 Hopland, CA 95449 or email sli@solarliving.org