About That Stanford Study
Regarding that “Stanford Study”, the good people at Austin’s Sustainable Food Center writes to say..
On September 3, 2012 the New York Times published an article about a Stanford University study that allegedly dispels the nutritional advantages of organic food. The response from the sustainable agriculture community regarding this study has been tremendous. Below we have provided links to articles we feel provide the best response to the claims made by this study.
- 5 Ways the Stanford Study Sells Organics Short
By Tom Philpott, Mother Jones - Don’t give up on organic food, our experts urge
ConsumerReports.com, - Stanford Scientists Shockingly Reckless on Health Risk And Organics
By Frances Moore Lappe, The Huffington Post - Scientists Tied to Tobacco Industry Propaganda, and Funding from Monsanto, Turn Attention to Organic Food
Cornucopia Institute
LOCAL – A Short Documentary
Through the eyes of some of our inspired chefs and farmers, this half hour film from award winning Director Christian Remde discusses the rise of the local food movement, the challenges of sourcing locally and how it’s become a growing part of the Austin, Texas food scene..
Do you know where your food comes from?
Rally For Real Food
The much-anticipated Rally For Real Food was held on the steps of the Capitol in Austin, Texas earlier today. The energetic crowd cheered a raft of passionate speakers including Ronda Rutledge (Executive Director, Sustainable Food Center), Eric Herm (Farmer, author of Son of a Farmer, Child of the Earth), Neil Carman, PH.D. (Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter), Judith McGeary (Executive Director, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance) and Mike “The Health Ranger” Adams (Editor, Natural News) about the right to know what’s in our food.
Many thanks to Mike LaRocca of Beanitos for organizing this important event! Thanks also to the sponsors, vendors, volunteers and attendees who helped make today’s rally a success.
Rally For Real Food
(Click to see the photostream from today’s event. You are welcome to reuse these pictures, but please credit ediblearia.com for the original)
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(Re)introducing the SFC Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley
Many of the 55+ certified growers-only farmers, food vendors and artisans at “the market that stayed in Sunset Valley” have been serving the South Austin community for several years now. Having lived in the area and visited the market many times, I can assure you that from Animal Farm to Zubik House and everything in between, these amazing producers are dedicated to bringing you the best in local, sustainable products.
A project of the non-profit Sustainable Food Center, the Farmers’ Market at Sunset Valley also offers an ATM (tokens) and accepts the Lone Star Food Stamp card (tokens). Did I mention 17 acres of free parking?
The Sunset Valley market is open Saturdays from 9am to 1pm, rain or shine – please stop by & say hi, grab some incredible food and help support this vibrant, growing community.
3200 Jones Road, at the Toney Burger Center off Hwy. 290/71 eastbound access road,
just west of the intersection of Brodie Lane and Hwy. 290/71 East
the same location as always!
Slow Money Austin
*** FOR RELEASE 4/12/2010 ***
Former Odwalla & Sweet Leaf Tea CEOs Join Visionary Investors
& Fellow Food Entrepreneurs To Talk Slow Money, April 21 & April 22
Austin, TX — April 12, 2010 — This April, companion events redefine the value of a healthy Central Texas food system, and reassess the role risk capital plays in fueling its growth. Joining the conversation are leading investors, entrepreneurs and regional sustainable food advocates.
The April 21 Slow Money Austin Showcase, held in partnership with the Sustainable Food Center and the City of Austin, provides an afternoon-‐long program laying out the players, the issues and the opportunities involved in a healthy food system. With this event, Slow Money Austin brings together consumers, food businesses, civic leaders and investors to learn about the regional food chain, and explore funding alternatives essential to the continued growth of the regional food economy.
The following day, April 22, Slow Money Austin and nationally recognized Barr Mansion host a special Earth Day dinner prepared by the Dai Due Supper Club.
The dinner program combines a delectable exploration of the diverse, sustainably grown riches Central Texas has to offer with a continued dialog about funding growth in our region. In addition to a keynote presentation by Odwalla and Adina for Life founder Greg Steltenpohl.
At both events, made possible by underwriting sponsors Whole Foods Market and Barr Mansion, local food entrepreneurs embracing organic methods and focused on sustainability will discuss challenges and capital needs, suggesting myriad opportunities for investment and expansion. Presenters include food and beverage producers, distributors, restaurants, service providers and support businesses.
Collectively, these events and their participants present a complete picture of current local food enterprises, and a glimpse at what a more advanced, sustainable regional food system could look like.
For more information, please visit http://www.slowmoneyaustin.org
Join Us on April 21 & April 22!
Crisis at Tecolote Farm
***** See 05/19 update here *****
“This is the time. And this is the record of the time.”
MEETING POSTPONED
The Commissioner’s Meeting has been postponed until 1:45pm on Tuesday, April 7th.
Please email/phone your Commissioner this week!
Buy local and raise hell
Please Email or Call Your County Commissioner Now Before they Vote on April 7th
§ 551.071. CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY; CLOSED MEETING.
A governmental body may not conduct a private consultation with its attorney except:
(1) when the governmental body seeks the advice of its attorney about:
(A) pending or contemplated litigation; or
(B) a settlement offer; or
(2) on a matter in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under
the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas
clearly conflicts with this chapter.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 268, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Katie and David Pitre of Tecolote Farm
Action Alert: Tecolote Still Needs Your Help:
Call or Email County Commissioner Prior to Vote on 4/7
Background:
Tecolote Farm has been providing locally-grown, organic vegetables to the Austin area since 1993. It is a vital part of and gives much value to our community. Recently they have suffered a water crisis. Water levels in Tecolote Farm’s well dropped dramatically, and then went completely dry, soon after Travis County installed nearby high-production wells used to water recreation fields a few miles away. At first, Travis County officials indicated that if they had caused the problem, they would help fix it. Since that time, several highly-qualified hydrogeologists, including ones with extensive experience in studying and working with the local aquifer at issue have confirmed what Tecolote has always known: that the high-volume pumping by the County was at least a significant contributor of what has happened to Tecolote’s water supply. Tecolote Farm is just asking for access to the groundwater that they always had, and they are willing to exchange that access for providing produce to County Jail inmates.
This coming Tuesday, March 31st, the Travis County Commissioners’ Court will be considering Judge Biscoe’s plan to help solve a problem that they (at least in part) created.
Email the Travis County Commissioners
Please send an email very soon – preferably today, Friday, 3/27- but no later than Sunday, 3/29, letting all of the Commissioners, especially Commissioners Eckhardt and Davis, know how important it is to you that the County step up to the plate and help solve preserve this local farm. If you don’t know who your county commissioner is, just send the email to all of them.
List of County Commissioners and their email addresses and telephone numbers:
County Judge – Samuel T. Biscoe – sam.biscoe@co.travis.tx.us – 512-854-9555
Commissioner, Precinct 1 – Ron Davis – ron.davis@co.travis.tx.us – 512-854-9111
Commissioner, Precinct 2 – Sarah Eckhardt – sarah.Eckhardt@co.travis.tx.us – 512-854-9222
Commissioner, Precinct 3 – Karen Huber – Karen.Huber@co.travis.tx.us – 512-854-9111
Commissioner, Precinct 4 – Margaret Gómez – commissioner.gomez@co.travis.tx.us -512- 854-9444
Below is suggested text for such an email. Feel free to add to it by discussing your relationship with Tecolote or how important it is that our local governments support those within our community who produce local, healthy food, and that Travis County not contribute to the demise of Tecolote or ignore this legal opportunity to do the right thing.
Suggested text:
Dear _______
I am a supporter of local, sustainable agricultural in Travis County. It has come to my attention that the Travis County Commissioners Court is ready to vote on whether or not to assist Tecolote Farm solve its water crisis.
I understand that County Judge Sam Biscoe has drawn up a plan that would allow the County to provide Tecolote Farm with access to groundwater in exchange for the Farm providing produce to the County Jail. I also understand that this plan has already been approved by the County’s attorneys and that there are no “legal impediments” to its implementation. Please do the right thing to support sustainable, local agriculture and save this long-standing farm. Small family farms are the county’s heritage, and hopefully you will help to preserve them for the future.
First Option – You can do nothing. You can wash your hands of this matter and seal the fate of Tecolote farm. And the way you can do that is by hiding behind the antiquated but still-in-effect common law doctrine known as the Rule of Capture.
But there is nothing about the Rule of Capture that prevents the County from doing the right thing and helping Tecolote Farm.
Second Option – is that you can decide to not hide behind the Rule of Capture and decide to implement one of the low-cost options that will prevent the loss of Tecolote Farm. In this era of obesity and poor nutrition, please back up your recent adoption of a Sustainable Food Policy Board and keep this local provider of healthy, high quality produce in business.
Sincerely,
____________
Contact Information
Susan Leibrock
Community Relations Director
Sustainable Food Center
512-236-0074 ext. 111
