Our hearts and minds have been heavy in recent weeks, and we hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well. We want to acknowledge, give credit and gratitude to the originators of the ideas behind the permaculture principles and strategies that we and many others have taught. To these wisdom-keepers around the globe, we offer our deepest apologies for adopting any indigenous intelligence and systems without the compensation and recognition due. May we move forward with greater understanding and an ever increasing humility, awareness, respect and appreciation.
In this time of global uprising, we are actively learning, growing, questioning, and deepening our anti-racism work as individuals and as collectives to stop racism, stand in solidarity with people of color, and dismantle white supremacy. We welcome your ideas, suggestions, and ways that you are moving in this work. As a starting point, here is an online toolkit of anti-racism resources.
Please consider joining us in donating to Soul Fire Farm, the Minnesota Freedom Fund, and here is a list of resources and additional donation suggestions (no affiliation with BRPN).
Below we are lifting up the voices of those working for justice -- especially those by Black and Brown leaders (we welcome your ideas!), as well as additional regional events. Folks can sign up for the BRPN e-newsletter here, and view this email as a webpage. Send us announcements here, and post questions, ideas or resources on the BRPN on Facebook here.
Onward in our work for justice and peace.
Christine and Terry,
Blue Ridge Permaculture Network
www.blueridgepermaculture.net
1.
Black Permaculture Network
BPN is a network of Afro-indigenous people who have come together through the practices of permaculture, agroecology, natural living and care of the earth. We recognize and honor the ancestral and historical knowledge that each of these land care practices embrace and strive to broaden inter-cultural dialogue around natural earth care; the love of people, plants and animals.
http://www.blackpermaculturenetwork.org/
2.
Soul Fire Farm is a BIPOC*-centered community farm committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system. We raise and distribute life-giving food as a means to end food apartheid. With deep reverence for the land and wisdom of our ancestors, we work to reclaim our collective right to belong to the earth and to have agency in the food system. We bring diverse communities together on this healing land to share skills on sustainable agriculture, natural building, spiritual activism, health, and environmental justice. We are training the next generation of activist-farmers and strengthening the movements for food sovereignty and community self-determination.
*BIPOC = Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
http://www.soulfirefarm.org/
3.
Agrarian Commons
Today Agrarian Trust announces the launch of a transformative new model for community-based farm and ranch ownership and tenure, the Agrarian Commons. After several years of development and collaborative input, the Agrarian Commons launches in 10 states across the country. Co-founded with 12 farms representing 2,400 acres of diversified agriculture serving local foodsheds and communities including in Virginia, the Agrarian Commons is a profoundly collaborative endeavor and central to Agrarian Trust’s mission to support land access for the next generation of farmers.
https://agrariantrust.org/news/agrarian-commons-a-new-model-for-community-owned-farmland/
4.
Shenandoah Permaculture Institute
2020 Fall PDC with Special Guest Joel Salatin
Learn real-world, practical permaculture through 4 weekends of design training, site visits, workshops, and field trips in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Sept. 18, 19, 20; Oct. 17, 18; Nov. 14, 15; and Dec. 5, 6
Mount Sidney, Virginia
http://www.shenandoahpermaculture.com/fallpdc.html
5.
Living Earth School
Summer is going to look a little different this year... Although all Living Earth in-person camps in June have been cancelled, we hope to hold modified in-person camps as scheduled in July & August. Until then, what are you going to do this summer? How are you and your kids going to create meaningful time outside? Are you unsure how to engage with nature or where to event start?
We are here to help and we have you covered! Let Living Earth be your guide to healthy and enriching times outside whether that is for yourself, your kids, or as a family.
Living Earth has created 3 weeks of engaging hybrid online/outside June programs for kids, adults, families, and teens!
https://livingearthva.com/virtual-nature-programs-online-summer-camps/
6.
At Allegheny Mountain Institute (AMI) our mission of cultivating healthier communities through food and education brings us into contact with so many wonderful people who grow delicious, nutrient dense local foods—our own Farm and Food Fellows among them! On September 13, 2020, we’ll gather again to celebrate the bounty of our farms and our communities with a one-of-a-kind farm to fork experience on the AMI Farm at Augusta Health. We hope to see you across the table!
https://www.alleghenymountaininstitute.org/
7.
In response to COVID19, Local Food Hub is collaborating with its partner farms and producers to get the community the healthy, local options they love.
Local producers are in a moment of extreme uncertainty and vulnerability, as many of the buyers they rely on, such as universities, K12 schools, and restaurants, have shut their doors or are trimming their operations. Farms operate on razor-thin financial margins, and this social and economic crisis is going to impact them hard.
To address these issues, Local Food Hub is offering a weekly drive-through market on Wednesdays, 4:00-6:00pm and Fridays, 3:00-5:00pm, in the Kmart parking lot off Hydraulic.
If you need help switching between ordering for Wednesday and Friday markets, watch this video. Please review the instructions below before placing an order. We also recommend reviewing our Frequently Asked Questions if it is your first time.
https://www.localfoodhub.org/micromarket/
