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Anima Agriculture and the Environment

2012-02-10T02:41:00.000-08:00

Please scroll FURTHER down for videos specific to stock-free growing!

I've decided to post the following clip featuring ex-hunting guide George Wuerthner on the environmental impact of livestock, since there is so little coverage of this kind of thing in mainstream environmental/ag circles. It was recorded by North West Veg in Portland.

George Wuerthner is a photographer, author of 33 books, and tour guide who writes and speaks on environmental issues facing the West, with degrees in botany, wildlife biology,

and range science.

Goerge Wuerthner, Livestock and the Environment: July 17, 2011.

Animal Agriculture and the Environment from NWVeg.org on Vimeo.

Now here's a link to an article that critically examines the pro-cattle grazing position of farmer and author Alan Savory, who has helped popularize the controversial idea:

http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=26965

GROWING GREEN

2011-11-22T15:17:00.000-08:00

Must see video featuring IAN TOLHURST- thirty years practising stock-free agriculture in the UK!

Growing Green from Mike J Roach - First Interval Lt on Vimeo.

Tolhurst Organic Farm, UK

2011-09-12T02:34:00.000-07:00

This youtube piece is part of a series produced by the Vegan Society in the UK. Thanks to Meghan and the Veganic Network for bringing this clip to our attention!

Animal Agriculture: the FACTS

2011-07-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

This video clip on Youtube looks at the serious consequences of continuing with business as usual in agriculture.

2011-03-15T20:58:00.001-07:00

Must see video with UK stock-free growing expert Ian Tolhurst!

Growing Green from Mike J Roach - First Interval Lt on Vimeo.

Austrian Farm - stockfree organic

2009-11-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

These video clips were found on the Supreme Master TV website (no affiliation to this blogspot)and feature a successful stock-free CSA farm in Austria. Includes a rather annoying commercial from the video host that's way too long, ...but it's worth it to get to part 2 of organic farmer Helmut's really interesting introduction to his own particular veganic growing techniques!

Please CLICK RIGHT HERE here to view the first clip online.. the video below is Part 2...can't figure out how to imbed Part I, but you'll want to watch it first!

The Secret to Success of Organic Farming:Part 2 of 2 - The most amazing bloopers are here

NEW DATABASE FOR ANIMAL FREE AGRICULTURE

2009-11-18T15:52:00.000-08:00

- OVER 1700 REFERENCES-

The Vegan-Organic Network, in collaboration with Vegatopia, are pleased to announce a new database of over 1700 scholarly references related to the science, practice and benefits of animal free agriculture: http://www.vegatopia.org/dave%20of%20darlington%20database.htm

The database will be immensely useful for those with a research or practitioner interest in animal free agriculture, including growers, government, NGOs, academics and students. The database includes full academic references for every entry. Most entries are also annotated with summary notes and key quotations.

The database is the work of the late Dave of Darlington. Dave was a vegan-organic grower in Durham who made a life work of studying the benefits of animal free agriculture in relation to its implications for world peace and ecology. As part of this, he compiled many references and related information. Dave, a gentle, modest man died in May 2008.

Phil Sleigh of the Vegan-Organic Network kindly took over responsibility for the database and has converted it into the Excel spreadsheet and html versions available from this link. For queries, comments or corrections, contact Phil at von@sleigh.me. uk

Notes :
(1) Founded in 1996, the Vegan-Organic Network is an ambitious charity with
an international network of active supporters. It aims to research and
promote vegan-organic (stockfree) methods of agriculture and horticulture so
that clean, green, cruelty-free, food becomes widely available. It publishes
a magazine "Growing Green International" and advice leaflets. There is also
a free advice service for members of the public, home growers, smallholders
and farmers. The Network organises farm walks, allotment and garden visits
and volunteer placements on stockfree holdings. VON's stockfree organic
standards inspected by the Soil Association are available for farmers and
growers who wish to grow produce in the most ethical and
environmentally- friendly way. The stockfree organic symbol is the consumer's
guarantee of "organic plus" food.

(2) Founded in 2008, Vegatopia is an online resource dedicated to promoting
ethical veganism through academic research and teaching and through
fostering collaboration between vegan activists, NGOs, academics and others.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sally Ford - Press Officer
01584 872224 media@veganorganic. net 18 November 2009
ref. S1019

Registered charity number 1080847 A company registered in England number
3869080

Web Seminar with Iain Tolhurst, Thurs. Nov. 12th, 09

2009-11-07T19:13:00.000-08:00

NEWSFLASH (as of September 2010)! The following webinar is now available for viewing for FREE online...click here for Ian Tolhurst. The sound quality gets better a few minutes into the seminar...well worth struggling through the initial strain to access Ian's information!

The BC Organic Network hosted this webinar.(click here for further info)

November 12 - Stock Free Organic Farming - 8:30 pm (PST)
By using crop rotations, fertility building green manures and sustainable agricultural practices, Iain Tolhurst of Tolhurst Organic Produce, Oxfordshire, UK, farms without any animal inputs, such as manures or animal byproducts. This successful vegetable box scheme producer (the UK equivalent of our CSA) provides more than 400 boxes/week of produce using 90% of his own produce and does so with a very low carbon footprint. Iain's webinar will discuss his stockfree farm, the rotations they use, how biodiversity is managed for pest and disease control, and their marketing structure. He will also show how they have developed a low carbon footprint and the development of carbon sequestration within a farm cropping system.

BIO:
Iain Tolhurst is an independent organic horticulture consultant specializing in advice and training in horticultural business development, vegetable box schemes, with a specialization in Stockfree Organic systems. He is a practicing organic vegetable producer on 18 acres and has been a Soil Association symbol holder since 1976 specializing in supplying organic vegetables through his own box scheme.

Iain’s advisory career began in 1984 as senior horticultural advisor with Elm Farm Research Centre. He has an extensive knowledge of all aspects of organic production and its markets, research and standards development. He has been involved with many national and international organic projects in more than 12 countries.

Iain’s own farm is used extensively for demonstration purposes with visitors from all over the world. A range of seminars are held during the year as well as specific farm tours for individuals or groups. He works closely with a group of clients delivering on farm advice and specializes in a “systems approach” to deal with the problems of fertility, pests and diseases. He currently works through a number of organic organizations and producer groups, is chairman of Thames Organic Growers and founding member of the Organic Growers Alliance.

Publications include “Growing Green” written jointly with Jenny Hall and an extensive range of papers and articles in various organic journals.

Part One,Two and Three audio ONLY clips from VON

2009-06-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

Part 1 of an audio interview with Graham Cole

Part 2

Part 3

Great reasons for growing veganically!

2009-03-01T22:51:00.000-08:00

From a farmer’s or gardener’s perspective...

There are a wide variety of reasons why farmers choose veganic techniques, including ethical and environmental considerations, consumer demand, and the availability of fertilizers. Many of these reasons will also apply to gardeners. (information borrowed from the Veganic Agriculture Network [please visit LINK on the right]

Improving soil life and fertility

By adding organic plant-based materials to the soil, the microorganisms within the soil can flourish, and enhance the soil structure and fertility of your land.

A lower ecological footprint

Veganic agriculture encourages techniques that are environmentally sustainable, and that reduce CO2 emissions.

Save time and land

Compared to farms that produce their own fertilizer by using animals, maintaining fertility through plant-based techniques can save time and increase the amount of usable land.

Higher level of self-sufficiency

By reducing inputs and producing your own sources of fertility, it’s possible to live more self-sufficiently from your own land.

Protecting animals

For farmers and gardeners who are interested in animal protection, veganic growing is a perfect way to combine your ethics with your agriculture, since this system of growing food does not use any pesticides or animal products.

Biodiversity and environmental conservation

Veganic standards encourage the biodiversity of free-living animals and native plant species, and the environmental conservation of the farmer’s holding.

100% organic, from start to finish

Animal-based fertilizers, like manure and blood meal, often come from animals that were not raised organically. They may have been exposed to chemicals, GMO feed, hormones, and antibiotics. Veganic growers can maintain fertility on their own holding using completely organic plant-based techniques, ensuring that the entire cycle of agriculture is 100% organic.

Visit the LINKS column on the right for an indepth look at these topics and others.

Forest Gardening with Robert Hart

2009-02-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

Robert Hart was a pioneer in the growing movement of veganic agriculture. These two short video clips of Robert explain the basic principles of his 'forest gardening' method, which has inspired a whole movement of truly sustainable stock-free/plant-based growing on small-scale organic holdings.