PLEASE WATCH
THIS
BRIEF ANIMATION
by
American Farmland Trust
NO FARMS-NO FOOD!

Short Articles
by Annette Waya Ewing

WHAT IS ORGANIC? ORGANIC FAQ

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY-FAQ

WHY IS BUYING LOCAL PRODUCE EVEN BETTER THAN BUYING ORGANIC?

http://www.naturallygrown.org/

ORGANIC NOTES:

Recently there is talk in our neighborhood that organic farmers are allowed to use a small percentage of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer. Why do we oppose this? Refined ammonium nitrate can have a deleterious effect on soil micro-organisms and earthworms, and after time can cause precipitation of soil salts, compaction and erosion. (Think Dust Bowl.) In other words-it's not sustainable. Sustainable growing practices build soil, not use it as a substrate for nutrients.

We think this is a way that giant 'organic' factory farms can economize. But you and I know that factory farms are not part of the organic or sustainable model.

If it comes to a choice of buying a local conventionally grown tomato from a farm stand, and an organic factory farm tomato that has traveled 1000 miles or more...what would you choose?

FALL SEASON 2010 is nearly here!

Welcome to our little family farm!
Our aim is sustainability, we grow organically, using beneficial insects to control garden pests, and well composted green and animal manures to amend the soil. Any other chemicals or amendments we use are OMRI approved.
(Yes, that is me on a friend's tractor.)

ShooFly is the former name of the town where we live. When it grew large enough to justify a post office, evidently ShooFly was not acceptable (!) so it was re-named Lena.
We are happy to announce we have recently received full Certified Naturally Grown certification. We are small, we have about 2 acres under cultivation.

New Activities
I have been elected Secretary of The Board of Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute of Mississippi. Jim is the regional representative for the Jackson area. We have met some great people who have created a community garden in downtown Jackson, they are Jackson Inner City Growers.

THIS FALL we are growing colorful veggies!

• Turnips: gold, red , white, purple top
• Turnip greens
• Mizuna, green and purple
• Red kale
• Collards
• Giant red mustard
• Chard: rainbow, and orange lights
• French breakfast radishes
• Arugula
• Red cabbage, green cabbage
• Spinach
• Mixed braising greens
• Mixed red lettuces

We are growing Micro-Greens...the true ones--TINY TINY! NOT baby greens.

We are also growing Shiitake and Oyster Mushrooms as well, we will be harvesting them in the spring.

Our produce is periodically available at Rainbow Natural Foods Co-op,
in Jackson, MS. Please write to us if you are interested.

http://www.rainbowcoop.org/

and will also be available prepared in meals at:

The new PARLOR MARKET restaurant, in Jackson, opening September 21, 2010.
115 West Capitol Street
Jackson, MS 39201-3005
(601) 373-9841

We also are building a couple of beehives,
and with any luck will be seliing raw local honey in the comb next fall. We are committed to chemical free, kind-to-bees practices. We love beez!

We Support Fair Trade Certified(tm) Products & Practices
When Shopping, Look for The Fair Trade Certified(tm) Label

Fair Trade Certified(tm) products directly support a better life for farmers and farm workers in the developing world through fair prices, community development and environmental stewardship.
Through Fair Trade, small farmer organizations market their own harvests through direct, longterm contracts with international buyers, learn how to manage their businesses and compete in the global marketplace. For some products, Fair Trade welcomes estates and plantations that are
committed to social responsibility, community development, and environmental stewardship to participate for the benefit of their workers. Small farmers and farm workers benefit from premiums that allow them to invest in building their communities and bettering their lives.

The Fair Trade Certified(tm) label is a simple way for consumers to know that their products were produced under socially, economically and environmentally sustainable conditions.

For more information, see TransFair USA: www.fairtradecertified.org. We Support Fair Trade Certified(tm) Products & Practices
When Shopping, Look for The Fair Trade Certified(tm) Label