Great Lakes Bioneers

Have you noticed that “green” has gone corporate? Does it leave a funny feeling in your stomach? It seems like a great thing, but then, can we trust it? Do you have a little time on your hands? Well, join the citizenry led rating board at the Greenwashing Index. The index is “home of the world’s first online interactive forum that allows consumers to evaluate real advertisements making environmental claims“. After that, swing over to CorpWatch and nominate your choices for the bimonthly Greenwash Awards.

From the Farm and Food Policy Project >

Help Restore the Balance: Tell Congress We Need a Better Deal

We need your help. The House and Senate are nearing a final compromise on the Farm Bill. As competing proposals emerge, we need to ensure that the final legislation has our priorities for a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable farm and food system. You can help deliver this message to your Representative and two Senators today:

Dear [Your Member of Congress]:

As the Farm Bill enters the final stages of conference between the House and Senate versions, I am writing as a constituent to urge you to champion a final bill that:

1. Increases funding for nutrition assistance programs by at least $9 billion to ensure that more Americans are able to afford food.
2. Increases conservation funding by at least $5 billion to help farmers and ranchers protect water quality, support wildlife habitat, and transition to more sustainable practices.
3. Maintains the funding levels in the House bill and incorporates the best policy provisions from both bills to support beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
4. Includes the highest funding levels and best policy provisions from the two bills for farmers’ markets, organic farming research and financial assistance, value-added and micro-enterprise grants, fair competition and market access, community food programs, and local food systems.
5. Does not shortchange these national priorities for a costly permanent disaster program.

These provisions are vital to ensure the integrity, health, and quality of our farm and food system. I urge you to help restore balance to our farm and food system by working for these priorities.Sincerely,

[Your name]
[Your address]

Send this letter now!

Forward this letter to your friends.

In February the Traverse City Record Eagle published a green edition supplement that featured one of our favorite Northern Michigan Bioneers, Jayne Leatherman Walker, from the Eco-Learning Center.

The article by Darcy Bluhm can be read here: A Growing Legacy: Jayne Leatherman Walker teaches sustainable living at The Farm. We couldn’t agree more with the author’s first sentiments that, “few people have made the commitment to overhaul a good portion of their lives to actually live the lifestyle” of living green like Jayne.

Image from 2004 by Gary Howe for a Bioneer Profile written by Jayson Spaulding when Jayne won the Great Lakes BIONEERS award.

“Babies staying clean and dry without diapers?” No? Really? Want to learn more? DIAPER FREE! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer is dedicated to the practice.

It is being done by default all over the world, but now the more complicated and economically developed world is reconnecting with their children and getting rid of the stinky diaper as well (More parents opting to go diaper-free). By no means would we suggest that everyone must stop using the convenience of the diaper, but perhaps the moms and dads of the bioregion might be interested in some diaperless success stories.

It might also save on some of the use of cosmetics needed to keep that baby’s butt smooth. A recent report found high levels of chemicals in infants’ urine that were exposed to baby cosmetics. Story here: Baby Cosmetics

It is that time of year again. Are you doing something innovative? Do you want to share with others? We are now taking proposals for the 2008 Bioneers Conference. Click through to our Proposal Form.

Also, drop us a line as a comment on this BLOG. What kind of traffic are we getting here???

Edited: 2-22-2008

SEEDS is no longer taking applications for this position. They will announce the new member of the family in early March.

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GLB’s co-sponsor, SEEDS, has an opening for a new project manager. The position is primarily concerned in coordinating the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference.