LINKS
Organizations
American Farmland Trust
Working on the complex issues of farmland preservation, AFT is dedicated to protecting America's farmland from disappearance through development, tax laws, and other threats.
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC)
This important nonprofit membership organization works to protect nearly 100 breeds of cattle, goats, horses, asses, sheep, swine and poultry from extinction. A clearing-house for information on livestock and genetic diversity, their efforts are keeping these important and often charming breeds alive and well. ALBC and Slow Food USA have worked together to reintroduce to the marketplace heritage breeds of turkeys, which has helped to save them from disappearing altogether.
International Slow Food Movement
Slow Food USA http://www.slowfoodusa.org
Slow Food promotes the pleasures of the table and mounts a defense against the eroding effects of the fast life through the support of sustainable agriculture and traditional foods and their production methods. An international movement, there are 12,000 members in the US. To learn more, go to either of these websites.
The Seed Savers Exchange
SSE has been at the forefront of the heirloom seed saving movement for over 25 years. It is responsible for bringing back to cultivation thousands of heirloom fruits, vegetables and flowers, many of which can be ordered through their catalog.
Native Seed Search
This Tuscon-based organization works to conserve, distribute and document the diverse varieties of agricultural seeds and the role they play in the American Southwest and northwest Mexico. The unusual seeds (and other wares) can be bought through their catalog.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA)
http://www.organicconsumers.org
This is a great resource! This public interest organization is dedicated to building a healthy, safe, and sustainable system of food production and consumption. OCA is a clearinghouse for information and grassroots technical assistance. Go to http://www.organicconsumers.org/publications.cfm and select Organic Bytes, to look at (and receive) their excellent newsletter, filled with succinctly presented news items related to organics.
True Food Now Campaign, Greenpeace USA
This national; educational campaign on genetically modified food has all the take-action spark you've come to expect from Greenpeace, and information as well on such subjects as GMOs.
Information Sources
Cook's Thesaurus
Here is a cooking encyclopedia that covers literally thousands of ingredients and kitchen tools. Entries include pictures, descriptions, synonyms, pronunciations, and suggested substitutions. A very clear and readable website.
Edibilia
A British based but internationally focused site is delightfully whacky as well as informative on the subject of food.
Local Harvest
A "living" directory of small farms, farmers’ markets, CSAs, and other forms of direct marketing. It also aims to educate the consumer about food and food policy issues.
National Directory of Farmers' Markets
http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/
This site (which is also published as a book) lists all the farmers' markets in the United States, including the Virgin Islands their addresses, schedules, and contact people.
The CSA Center
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/
For consumers and farmers, this site is devoted to the issue of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). If you are looking for a CSA near you, this is the site to use.
Friends and Places
Boggy Creek Farm
Well-crafted weekly letters to the reader by farmer Carol Ann Sayle about the joys and heartaches of running a 5-acre organic farm in East Austin, Texas. Even if you can't go to the farm, you'll learn a lot through these often humorous but always gritty, down-to-earth descriptions of farm life.
Peggy Markel's Culinary Adventures
My friend Peggy has been leading tours for many years in Tuscany, Sicily, Elba and Morocco. They're wonderful tours and I speak from experience. As Peggy puts it, they are about connecting cuisine to culture and lifestyle. You will meet amazing cooks and food artisans, cook if you wish, and see places that should be seen at least once!
The Willows Inn and Nettles Farm
Located on the tiny Lummi Island in the San Juan Islands, visitors to The Willows will be eating organically raised chicken, eggs and vegetables raised by owners Riley Starks and Judy Olsen on their neighboring farm. In addition to enjoying true farm-to-table meals, this is beautiful and restful place to be.
Kitty Morse
Kitty was born in Casablanca and has spent much of her life in Morroco, which has, of course, influenced her cooking. I've eaten Kitty's food many times and it is absolutely delicious, beautiful, and authentic tasting. She is a passionate cook and leads tours to Morocco.
Steve Sando and Rancho Gordo
Steve grows the most beautiful and delicious New World beans which he sells at farmers' markets in Northern California. He also grows chiles and oregano, and you can make a mean stew with what he grows.
His boast: Always Fresh! Always Unique! Many Heirloom Varieties! No Genetically Altered Seeds or Plants! Great Tasting!
Good web site too.
