News & Views

Biotech industry seeks to reverse local bans on GMOs

Last year, Mendocino County, California became the first county in the U.S. to ban genetically engineered (GE) crops. Since then, two more California counties and two cities have followed Mendocino's example. Over 100 town meetings in New England have called for a moratorium or strict controls over GE crops. Globally, over 100 major agricultural regions have declared themselves GE-Free. Forty nations, comprising one-third of the world's population, now require mandatory labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). In the EU, the largest agricultural market in the world, GE foods have been driven off supermarket shelves.

Fearing this spread of BioDemocracy in North America, the Biotech Industry is mobilizing to outlaw this practice of local control over the introduction of genetic crops. In the past several months, 14 U.S. states, prodded by Monsanto and the Farm Bureau, have made it illegal for local communities to ban GE crops.

Two recently introduced bills (AB 1508 and SB 1056) in the California legislature would make California the 15th state to eliminate local communities' rights to ban or otherwise regulate genetically engineered seeds. This "preemption" bill would overturn GE-Free victories in Mendocino, Trinity, and Marin counties, as well as in the cities of Arcata and Point Arena, and prohibit local communities from banning or regulating genetically engineered crops in the future. For information on recent developments in California, check out GE-Free Sonoma County at http://www.gefreesonoma.org/.

Farm Tours at the Seeds of Change Research Farm

September 10th will be our last farm tour of the season. If you're going to be in the area and would like to take a guided tour of our New Mexico Research Farm, send an email to Emily Gatch by clicking here. Put "Farm Tour 2005" in the subject line and be sure to tell us how many folks will be in your party. We'll email you directions. Be sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, and perhaps some bug repellent. It's an exciting time of year at the farm, and we're happy to be able to share the inside scoop with those who can make it. Click here for more information.

Renowned Permaculturist Geoff Lawton to Conduct Permaculture Course in New York

World-renowned permaculture teacher and practitioner Geoff Lawton of the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia, (www.permaculture.org.au), will conduct the popular Permaculture Design Certificate Course in High Falls, New York, October 31 through November 12, 2005.

The two-week course is a cooperative effort of the Epworth United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center in High Falls (www.epworthcenter.com), site of the course; the Hancock Permaculture Center of Hancock, New York (www.hancockpermaculture.org); and Green Phoenix Sustainable Communities (www.green-phoenix.org), based in New York City.

The 72-hour Permaculture Design Certificate Course is the highly acclaimed introduction to permaculture as set forth by Bill Mollison, cofounder of permaculture. Students are invited to bring details of their own sites or potential sites and explore site-specific permaculture solutions in a hands-on workshop.

For more information or to register for the course, visit www.hancockpermaculture.org or contact Wilton Duckworth of Green Phoenix at 212-996-1830. Email: archiduck@verizon.net

Hurricane Katrina Relief

Our thoughts are with the residents of the Gulf Coast who are slowly recovering from Hurricane Katrina. In response to the catastrophe, folks all over the country are doing what they can. The Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association posted the following on September 7.

Chef Jeff Kingman of Bintliff's American Cafe in Portland, ME is working with a very large food relief effort for Hurricane refugees in Louisiana in hopes of organizing a shipment of root crops from Maine farmers. Reportedly Willamette Valley Growers in Oregon has put out the word to Oregon Tilth organic farmers as well. The work in Louisiana is being coordinated by John Folse & Company at a USDA food processing facility in the town of Donaldsonville. From this facility, volunteer chefs have been serving more than 18,000 meals a day. There is an urgent need for food and supplies. Companies and farmers from New Jersey to California are making generous donations of food products of all kinds. The folks on the scene have advised Jeff that a donation of root crops from Maine farmers makes the most sense at this point. Jeff would like to get a truck (or two if possible) loaded and on the road south some time next week, but first needs to determine whether there will be enough donated harvest to fill at least one truck. If there is enough interest in this effort, Jeff and the folks at King Hill Farm will determine the calendar and logistics of drop-off locations.

If you would like to contribute to the Maine effort, please call or email Laura Millay at 505-266-8064 or laura_millay@yahoo.com detailing what root crops you have to donate including varieties and quantities. Make sure to leave your contact information so coordinators can get back in touch with you.

Other growers in the Northeast might be able to coordinate with the Maine effort while those in other areas can check with their certification agency to see what relief efforts are underway.