Seeds of Change - Why Organic?

Uploaded by dewgypsy on Apr 2, 2009

In order to be truly organic, you have to start with organic seed. Why? This video explains the ways in which organic seed is better for human health, better for the environment, better adapted to organic food production systems, and just plain the right thing to do. Beautifully shot and informative, this short film also provides insight into the values and practices of Seeds of Change, an organic seed company celebrating their 20th anniversary this year: twenty years of supplying high quality, 100% certified organic seeds and promoting sustainable agriculture practices and biodiversity.


http://www.seedsofchange.com
http://www.seedsofchange.com/SOC_Final_book_LR_2012.pdf

Useful Links: Our collective knowledge about organic agriculture and sustainable living is always expanding. It would be impossible for us to keep up on all the latest developments, much less publish them all on our website, so we're developing this list of links to what we think are some of the most useful and important sites on the World Wide Web. Feel free to nominate your favorite gardening and sustainability related sites for us to link to. Our links are listed under the following categories. Farming and Gardening; Environment, Community and Health; Ecology-minded Companies and Publishers.
Farming and Gardening Resources

ATTRA
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas is the national, sustainable farming information center operated by the private, nonprofit National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).

Center for Rural Affairs
The Center for Rural Affairs is a private non-profit working to strengthen small businesses, family farm and ranches, and rural communities.

CAFF
Community Alliance for Family Farmers is building a movement of rural and urban people to foster family scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economies, and promotes social justice.

Chef's Collaborative
The Chef's Collaborative is a network of chefs, restaurants, and other culinary professionals who promote sustainable cuisine by teaching children, supporting local farms, educating each other and inspiring their customers to choose clean, healthy foods.

Community Supported Agriculture USDA AFSIC
A national listing of Community Supported Agriculture operations with information and links. Presented by the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.

Cornell Composting
Maintained by the Cornell Waste Management Institute, this site provides access to a variety of composting educational materials and programs developed at Cornell University.


CUESA
Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. Located on the San Francisco embarcadero, CUESA is dedicated to promoting sustainable food systems through the operation of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and its education programs.

Farm-to-School Farm Visit Manual
This manual, published by the California Alliance with Family Farms (CAFF), is designed to let farmers know what to expect when hosting a farm visit, and to prepare teachers and classes so that they may get the most out of their farm visit. To download a pdf of the manual visit their website.

Farmers Markets, USDA AMS
A national listing of farmers markets and information for growers about selling at farmers markets.

Horizon Herbs
Offers an extensive collection of organically certified seeds, including indigenous herb seeds from the Native American, Ayurvedic and Chinese traditions. Their stock includes significant medicinal and aromatic herbs from the deserts, forests, mountains, plains and shores of North America, Central and South America, Russia, China, Tibet, India, Pakistan, the Middle East, Japan, Europe, the Mediterranean basin, Africa, Australia, the Canary Islands, New Zealand and beyond. Annuals, herbaceous perennials and woody perennials, including common medicinals, cover crops, nitrogen fixers, shelterbelt and wildlife favorites, dye plants, medicinal trees, fruits, tubers, vines, roots, corms, bulbs, and water plants as well as sacred herbs are included. They also offer books and information regarding the germination, growth and environmental requirements of medicinal herbs.

International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM)
IFOAM is an international non-profit that supports organic agriculture through organizing conferences and publishing information about organic agricultural issues. IFOAM’s mission is to lead, unite and support the organic movement in its full diversity. Their goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially, and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of organic agriculture.

NOP
The National Organic Program homepage provides a list of the National Organic Standards, information about the National Organic Standards Board, and a list of USDA accredited Organic Certifying Agencies.

New Farm
New Farm is a program of the Rodale Institute. Their web page has recent organic price indexes, articles and interviews pertinent to organic farmers, reports of recent organic news and research, and much more. Their mission is to inform, encourage, equip and inspire farmers with the support they need to take the important transition steps toward regenerative agriculture. NewFarm.org is committed to working for the achievement of an important goal of The Rodale Institute: to assist and witness the emergence of 100,000 organic farmers in the United States and 1 million organic farmers worldwide, by the year 2013.

Oregon Tilth
Oregon Tilth is a non-profit research and education organization certifying organic farmers, processors, retailers and handlers throughout Oregon, the United States, and internationally. Oregon Tilth's mission is to support organic and sustainable food production practices. Oregon Tilth certifies the Seeds of Change Research Farm, Seed Cleaning Facilities, and Seed Packing and Storage locations for their compliance with USDA organic standards.

OFRF
Organic Farming Research Foundation's mission is to sponsor research related to organic farming practices, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, and to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues. Founded in 1990, OFRF is a non-profit organization and has awarded more than $1,000,000 in support of organic farming research.

OMRI
The Organic Materials Review Institute is a non-profit organization created to benefit the organic community and the general public. Its primary mission is to publish and disseminate generic and specific (brand name) lists of materials allowed and prohibited for use in the production, processing, and handling of organic food and fiber. OMRI also conducts scientific research and education on the use of materials by the organic industry.

Organic Seed Alliance
Organic Seed Alliance is a new non-profit which grew out of the education and research component of Abundant Life Seed Foundation. Their mission is to act as a nonprofit public charity, which supports the ethical development and stewardship of the genetic resources of agricultural seed. They accomplish their goals through collaborative education and research programs with organic farmers and other seed professionals.

Public Seed Initiative
The Public Seed Initiative (PSI) is a joint cooperative effort between Cornell University Departments of Plant Breeding and Horticulture, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, Inc, the USDA—Agricultural Research Service’s Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Geneva, NY, and the Farmer’s Cooperative Genome Project—Oregon Tilth. The PSI is engaged in supporting public domain plant breeding, organic seed production, and participatory models of organic, on-farm plant breeding.

University of California Small Farm Center
Information on small farm issues and statistics as well as selected crop guides to minor and specialty crops.

Wwoof
Need help on the farm or looking to volunteer on one? Willing Workers on Organic Farms can help.

Environment, Community and Health Resources

America's Children and the Environment
A new resource for researchers, policymakers and concerned citizens on children's environmental health is now online. The website presents data and discussion on environmental contaminants and children's health, based on EPA's report "America's Children and the Environment: Measures of Contaminants, Body Burdens and Illnesses" (2003). The America's Children and the Environment website presents trends for levels of environmental contaminants in air, water, food and soil; concentrations of contaminants measured in the bodies of women and children; and childhood illnesses that may be influenced by environmental contaminants. The website features a background summary for each issue, graphs, data explanations and data sources with on-line links where available.

Context Institute
Since its founding in 1979 by Robert and Diane Gilman, Context Institute has explored how human society can become sustainable (i.e. able to meet the needs of the present without diminishing the prospects for the future), and has served as a catalyst for voluntary change toward a more humane and sustainable culture.

Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN)
An international non-governmental organisation which promotes the sustainable management and use of agricultural biodiversity based on people's control over genetic resources and local knowledge.

Global Warming Articles
Global Warming Articles provides facts about the causes, effects and answers to global warming; the environment; energy conservation and more. There are over 500 articles in the Global Warming Articles' database from nearly as many diverse authors, providing information about Global Warming and Climate Change.

The GreenGuide
Since 1994, The Green Guide has been the premiere consumer source for practical everyday actions benefiting environmental and personal health. As an environmental lifestyle newsletter and website, The Green Guide provides an intersection between mainstream consumer service (women's, health, parenting, and shelter) and environmental advocacy publications.

HopeDance
Becoming a member of HopeDance is an opportunity to contribute to the spirit and energy of our community, to join with like-minded individuals who have the same passion, concern and urgency about our fragile world.

Hope's Edge, The Next Diet for a Small Planet
Hope's Edge is a journey to five continents uncovering an invisible revolution of courageous movements helping us see solutions to environmental crises and social inequality.

IUCN, The World Conservation Union
Their mission is "to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable."

The National Resources Defense Council
The nation's most effective environmental action organization. They use law, science, and the support of more than 1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.

The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy works in partnership to achieve tangible, lasting conservation at a level that will make a global difference. Drawing on lessons learned over half a century of successful conservation work, they continue to refine our approach and accomplish even more with only limited resources.

Pesticide Action Network
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is a network of over 600 participating non-governmental organizations, institutions and individuals in over 60 countries working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives. Its projects and campaigns are coordinated by five autonomous Regional Centers.

OrganicGardening.com Events Calendar
Organic Gardening has set up an events calendar where you can choose your state and find out what's going on right next door.

National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, Inc. is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of a sustainable food and agriculture system that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just, and humane.

New Mexico Farmer's Markets: Market Locations
They invite you to visit New Mexico's Farmers' Markets, offering you the freshest fruits and vegetables available anywhere. Meet the people who grow your food - face to face - and enjoy the vibrant flavors, aromas and colors of the New Mexico harvest.


Slow Food USA
Recognizing that the enjoyment of wholesome food is essential to the pursuit of happiness, Slow Food USA is an educational organization dedicated to stewardship of the land and ecologically sound food production; to the revival of the kitchen and the table as centers of pleasure, culture, and community; to the invigoration and proliferation of regional, seasonal culinary traditions; to the creation of a collaborative, ecologically-oriented, and virtuous globalization; and to living a slower and more harmonious rhythm of life.


CSAs: Alternative Farming sytems Info Center
Find a CSA near you, What is a CSA, Resources for farmers, understanding sustainable agriculture.

Vitamins and Nutrition Center
At the non-profit Vitamins and Nutrition Center you can find hundreds of articles with information about vitamins and nutrition, including research, articles on vitamins and common vitamin profiles.

Smart Communities Network at the DOE


Ecology-minded Companies and Publishers

Chelsea Green Publishing
Founded in 1984, Chelsea Green Publishing is regarded as a preeminent publisher of books on sustainable living, with well over 400 titles in print.

Natural Home Magazine
Natural Home offers today's health-conscious, environmentally concerned homeowners the information they need to practice earth-inspired living. Since their first issue in May 1999, Natural Home has brought together the best in home design, earth-friendly décor and natural living. Our bimonthly magazine and dynamic website feature sustainable, healthy homes, decorating tips, and the latest green products and services.

New Leaf Paper
Has lead the paper industry in the development and distribution of environmentally superior printing and office papers to give customers the best environmentally sound paper for an economical and responsible choice.

Redjellyfish
Your Source for Natural Living. Since February of 1999, Redjellyfish has been serving people who are interested in natural living. You can get your Internet access and long distance telephone service through them and they will automatically make a monthly donation that will purchase and protect vital rainforest.We also have beautiful free e-cards and puzzles, as well as news and other information to help you live a healthy, natural lifestyle.

They also offer a free e-mail service called Planet-Save.com and donate 25% of Planet-Save's profits to the Nature Conservancy each month to help them save the last great places on earth.

They believe that businesses are changing the world, and in addition to leading by example they strive to bring together other companies that are working for positive change. Their Green shopping mall is filled with links to merchants who have healthy, environmentally friendly products, none of which have been tested on animals, and are all available to you in one easy to use format.


The Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins
To Source: Jenkins Publishing, PO Box 607, Grove City, PA 16127.
To Order: Call 1-800-639-4099 or go to www.jenkinspublishing.com
To review: Go to www.weblife.org/humanure/index.html

Sustainable Cuisine
When choosing produce varieties for our seedlist, little is more important than flavor. Over the years we have worked with many chefs who focus on sustainable, local and organic cuisine to help identify those varieties with the highest culinary quality. Here is a list of some of their restaurants, all of which we highly recommend. Tell them Seeds of Change sent you!

Blackbird (Chicago, Illinois)
Over the last ten years Executive Chef Paul Kahan has built Blackbird into one of Chicago's hottest restaurants by focusing on clean, fresh flavors and highly seasonal cuisine. Local ingredients are sourced from Kahan's backyard garden, and from the sustainably managed farms that he is committed to supporting.

Cafe Pasqual's (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
In the heart of downtown Santa Fe, Pasqual's has become an institution for locals and tourists alike. Expect extraordinary but casual dining with a fresh, local flavor.

Chez Panisse (Berkeley, California)
Owner and cookbook author Alice Waters has championed small, local organic farms and ranches since she opened this restaurant with a group of friends in 1971. The set menu format offers an ever-changing fixed-price meal that reflects Waters' passion for offering only high-quality, seasonal ingredients.

Dragonfly Cafe (Taos, New Mexico)
Known for its premium-quality food, the Dragonfly serves breakfast and lunch delicacies based on fresh, local, and organic ingredients. Chef Karen Todd pays frequent visits to our Research Farm, helping us choose the most attractive and flavorful varieties to add to our seed list.

Flea Street Cafe (Menlo Park, California)
For over thirty years, owner, chef, and cookbook author Jesse Cool has supported local, sustainable, organic food in her restaurants. At the Flea Street Cafe, diners will find a bevy of local ingredients lovingly prepared and, on most nights, a taste of something from the chef's extensive organic gardens.



Frontera Grill (Chicago, Illinois)
Owner Rick Bayless has earned fame through his many cookbooks and as host of the television series "Mexico - One Plate at a Time." He's also earned respect as a tireless supporter of local foods, which you'll find on the menu of Frontera Grill, as well as his other restaurants Topolobampo and Frontera Fresco.

Greens Restaurant (San Francisco, California)
Almost three decades ago, Greens opened as a pioneer in the restaurant world and helped to establish high profile vegetarian dining in the United States. Today Chef Annie Sommerville continues to craft local and organic food into remarkable vegetarian cuisine.

Joseph's Table (Taos, New Mexico)
Owner and Executive Chef Joseph Wrede is renowned for his ability to combine worldwide influences with local traditions. Selected as one of America's "Best New Chefs" by Food and Wine Magazine, Wrede delights diners with creative, often seasonal cuisine in the heart of downtown Taos.

Nora's Restaurant (Washington D.C.)
Certified in 1999 as America's first organic restaurant, Nora's features a menu of fresh, seasonal foods prepared with health and balance in mind. Owner and chef Nora Pouillion has promoted local farmers and producers for over 25 years, and is a frequent visitor to D.C.'s many farmers' markets.