Sustainable Agriculture is endangered by today’s political climate as well as the changing climate, (or is it just the weather?).  Plenty of money is being directed toward lobbying for new restrictive rules, breaking old rules, (such as watering down the National Organic Program) and regulation of things that we can decide for ourselves.

VABF, as a member of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, works to protect Sustainable Agriculture as we know it and want to practice it.   That means no leafy green management rules suitable for acres of arugula under plastic. It means small abattoirs for slaughtering a few well groomed cattle or a few hundred fat chickens with dangerously pointed beaks and lots of fluffy feathers. It means diverse buffers around our fields and real integrated pest management, not the kind that allows carbaryl when pest pressure rises.

VABF’s web site is here to educate about Sustainable Agriculture. The Home Page includes an events list and news articles about sustainable agriculture in the press, in the legislature and on the web. There are usually ideas for how you, as an individual, can voice your concerns to those who need to hear.

There’s a section where readers may browse back issues of The Virginia Biological Farmer, VABF’s fact packed newsletter, filled with in depth reports on new findings in sustainable agriculture as well as our membership events and relevant advertising. There is a Resource Section stocked with Information sheets, a photo section, a statewide farmers market list which changes frequently, and more. Explore VABF.ORG and learn something new today. And consider joining if you aren’t yet a member and want to see the current issue newsletter first thing!

Check your calendar!  The annual conference is scheduled for Feb. 10-11, 2012, in Richmond.  The conference has grown each year, and what a wonderful lineup of speakers we have this time around.  Building on the interest displayed for Will Allen's Growing Power project in Wisconsin, one of our keynote speakers highlights ECO City Farms, an urban project built on the Growing Power model.  Another keynote speaker gives valuable insights into transitioning to organic after encountering health problems due to pesticide exposure as a conventional grain farmer.  Have a look at our program

Biological Farming is any method of farming or gardening that primarily utilizes natural, biological processes and methods for managing crops and livestock. The goal of biological farming is to produce high-quality, healthful food and other farm products by ecologically sound means that protect and enhance water, soil, air, wildlife and other environmental resources, both on and off the farm.