Save the Date!

The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association's Annual Conference will be held at the Threefold Educational Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY from Thursday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010. Details, along with our upcoming call for workshop presenters, will be announced as they become available on our conference page and through our e-newsletter.

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We are excited to announce

a $50,000 Matching Gift Challenge!

We have received a $50,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor that will allow us to move forward with many new initiatives in the coming year. For more information on how we will use these funds, please see our donations page.

Double your impact and help us meet this exciting challenge by giving today! Every contribution toward our spring fundraising goal will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000. Any gift of $45.00 or more also includes membership in the Association and a subscription to our preeminent Biodynamics journal.

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Recent Articles by Our Executive Director

• Who Owns The Land? (On the Commons)
• What Inspires Me.... (WeStrive)

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Announcements

• Video from USDA on hoop houses at the White House Garden
• Video by Will Brinton of Woods End Laboratory: discusses research on biochar, concluding that compost is probably a better alternative
• Austrian study of health effects of GM insecticide-producing maize (PDF format): "Mice fed GM insecticide-producing maize over four generations showed a buildup of abnormal structural changes in various organs (liver, spleen, pancreas), major changes in the pattern of gene function in the gut, reflecting disturbances in the chemistry of this organ system (e.g. in cholesterol production, protein production and breakdown), and, most significantly, reduced fertility."
• Breaking Down Market Barriers for Small and Mid-Sized Organic Growers: new report from CIRS, in cooperation with the USDA ARS
• Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years: new report from the Organic Center finding that, compared to pesticide use in the absence of GE crops, farmers applied 318 million more pounds of pesticides over the last 13 years as a result of planting GE seeds, representing an average increase of about 0.25 pound for each acre planted to a GE trait
• Sustainable Food Jobs: new blog site for job opportunities in the sustainable food sector
• Value Added Producer Grants Program Fact Sheet from the Center for Rural Affairs
• Conservation Stewardship Program information from the Organic Farming Research Foundation
• New funding resources website: Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) offers a new site with a wide variety of funds and resources available for beginning and established organic farmers.