May 23, 08
Gathering Rain May 23, 2008.
____
Watch the Video I made today here:
http://gallery.mac.com/lesliegoldman1#100548
___
Eric Anderson, a North County San Diego Farmer
was reported in route to Sacramento on his tractor
May 22 on ABC affiliate Channel 10 News.
I am asking that this story be picked up by the national media
further and followed.
The report said that the farmer was heading to Sacramento
with a goal of getting there by Monday noon, taking backroads,
to participate in a Memorial Day noon Picnic at McKinley Park.
He is asking for the Governor to ask the President to interseed
and open up water to So Cal Farmers who are dramatically being
affected by a 30% mandated culback in water supplies.
A judge ruled in behalf of the Delta Smelt, a local fish, that
was being injured by the flow of water. An Endangered Species,
the effort to save one species is now putting many local San Diego
Farmers on the Endangered list as well.
Numbers of Local Organic Farmers are especially being hurt by
the 30& cutback. These farmers were already cutting back
their water use in conservation effort. Now they are being asked
to cut back an additional 30% of water use.
Joe Rodriguez JR, a supplier for Whole Foods Market in recent years,
has no food to give Whole Foods this year. In the face of strict fines,
he is growing less food. Barry Logan of La Milpa Organica Farm,
one of the leaders in conscious farming in the Country, already cut
back on his own last year.
Ron Treehoven survived the fires of October. He is not sure if his
trees can survive the 30% water Cutback mandate.
In support of the efforts of Farmer Eric Anderson and his ride
to Sacramento, I am asking each person in San Diego to gather rainwater now
and bring water to local organic farmers at the Farmers' Market near you.
Many of these farmers have Community Supported Agriculture Programs.
Every Unit they are growing now counts.
Much of organic food growing now is being more and more outsourced
at a time when more and more local food growing is a priority.
Gather rain now.
That is why it is falling.
This is a time when Nature is speaking to us.
Are we listening?
Write the Governor.
Write the President.
Funds need to be allocated to create alternative ways
to provide water to grow local food.
Both the Delta Smelt and local organic farming are at risk.
Neither loss is an option.
The more immediate relief is in each of our hands.
Make sure you are supporting your local organic farmer
Every Unit grown now needs to be sold.
Much is going unsold now.
RELATED LINKS & BLOGS:
Watch the Channel Ten Video Here:
Eric Anderson North County Farmer
heading for Sacramento in Water Protest:
Kimberly Hunt reports.
Thank You!!!
Farmer Drives Tractor To Sacramento To Protest Water Policy
http://www.10news.com/video/16369694/index.html
List of Local Farmers' Markets
from the Farm Bureau:
http://sdfarmbureau.org/Pages/farmersmarket.html
also look at this home page for
records of the Water Shortage!
Chuck Badger's August 2007
Newsletter:
http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/Pages/Newsletter-August2007.html
Farm Report, and Local Farm Heroes Poster:
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1035370
Organic Center Collaboration in 08?
http://www.curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1093438
More on Chuck Badger, Jr,
President of the San Diego Farm Bureau:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/05/04/business/news/6_02_135_3_07.txt