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Conservation Law Foundation / New England Food Policy Report

In New England, demand for local, sustainably produced food is high. However, our region currently imports the majority of the food it consumes. This is due in part to the fact that many of our laws do not support local food production, creating policy barriers at the local, state, and federal levels that affect our region’s capacity to grow and consume more of our own food; process and distribute more of our own meat, poultry, and seafood; and support our signature farmland and those who farm it.

Today, we are taking a great step toward supporting the growth of New England’s local food system. In partnership with American Farmland Trust (AFT) and the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG), we are releasing an extensive, groundbreaking report analyzing policies to strengthen our region’s food system.

The new report, New England Food Policy: Building a Sustainable Food System, is a call to action. It provides a critical policy focus to existing work across the region to build a food system in New England that is healthy, economically vibrant, just, environmentally sustainable, and resilient.

Download the report now at http://www.newenglandfoodpolicy.org.

Fortunately, according to the recent 2012 Census of Agriculture, in every New England state the number of farms and the amount of land in farming increased from 2007 to 2012. What’s more, in some of these states, the number of young farmers grew as well. Throughout New England, many new and veteran farmers alike are working to feed our region while responsibly stewarding our land. But they need sound policies that supports their efforts — policies that can allow New England to capitalize on the opportunity to build a sustainable food system.

New Englanders deserve healthy food that supports our communities and environment. You have the power to tell your policymakers what has to change to make that happen. Take the first step today by reading and sharing our new report.

Thanks for all you do on behalf of New England’s food system,

Jenny Rushlow
Staff Attorney
Director of CLF’s Farm & Food Initiative

P.S. Help us make an impact by using the social media buttons below to share the report with friends and colleagues that care about healthy, sustainable food systems!

CLF protects New England’s environment for the benefit of all people. We use the law, science, and the market to create solutions that preserve our natural resources, build healthy communities, and sustain a vibrant economy.

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How Does Fracking Affect Your Family?

Many of you already know that fracking can pose dangers to your families’ health.

Now nationally renown doctors and scientists are joining the Center for Environmental Health for a series of free webinars that will give you resources and information in the fight against fracking. The 6 webinar series, “Fracking, Natural Gas, and Maternal Health: What They Mean for Families and Communities,” will be held every Monday starting April 21st.

Many of the chemicals associated with gas extraction and development have been connected with acute and chronic health problems in children and women, including respiratory, neurological, reproductive, and developmental impacts.

 

Two of these webinars in particular are a must for mothers, parents, and families:

Session 1: Monday, April 21st at 2pm ET

Natural Gas Development, Public Health and Protecting the Most Vulnerable Populations.

Featured Speaker: Carol Kwiatkowski, PhD, The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX).

Session 3: Monday, May 5 at 12pm ET

Susceptibility During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

Featured Speaker: Katie Huffling, RN, MS, CNM, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE).

We have a limited number of spots available, so please register now!

 

Center for Environmental Health
2201 Broadway, Suite 302, Oakland, CA 94612


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State and Federal Environmental Officials Solicit Proposals for Land Acquisition to Conserve Habitat in the Housatonic River Watershed

 

Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. today announced that his office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – together comprising the Massachusetts SubCouncil of the Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees – are soliciting a third round of proposals to restore wildlife habitat through land acquisition in the Berkshires as part of the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program. Selected projects will be financed through a Natural Resource Damage (NRD) Assessment and Restoration settlement with General Electric (GE).

 

See News Release with details at:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/news/releases/proposals-sought-on-housatonic-river-watershed-efforts.html

 

Find grant application at:

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/cleanup/nrd/nrd-restoration-funding-opportunities.html

 

Background info:

On behalf of the Secretary of  the Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) implements the Massachusetts Natural Resources Damages (NRD) Program, a program to assess natural resource damages (NRD) resulting from releases of oil or hazardous materials within the Commonwealth and to require restoration of these injured resources to functional ecological systems.  The NRD Program recently announced that the posting for Request for Responses (RFRs) for the Housatonic River Land Acquisition to Conserve Habitat, will be issued on March 28, 2014. Click here or contact Karen Pelto [(617) 292-5785, Karen.Pelto@state.ma.us] for more info.

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The Seedling Sale order deadline has been extended!

Between April 1st and April 10th the district will continue to accept online orders only!

Order pick up is Saturday, May 10th at Springside Park between 9am and 2pm.

Additional plants, seedlings, and gift items will be available for purchase. The Springside Greenhouse Group plant sale will be going on May 9th and 10th from 9am to 4pm daily.

Get your order in while supplies last!

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Volunteers Needed for Butterflies

Be a part of our upcoming exhibition Butterflies!

Butterfly Pavilion Docents

Plant Specialists

Butterfly Educators

Instructions for volunteering for these and other positions can be found here.


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Join a Volunteer Trail Crew this Summer!

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) invites you to join a volunteer trail crew this summer! Your membership supports the most storied volunteer trail crews in the country, and there’s no better way to see all the good work the Trail Crew program completes than to join up and dig some Trail!

Professional trail crew leaders handle the instruction, logistics and planning while your meals, equipment and transportation is provided. All you have to do is show up with a good attitude.

With a Crew, you’ll get the chance to build and improve the Appalachian Trail in some of the most scenic sections of the Trail corridor.

The ATC Trail Crews are also an excellent resume builder for that young person in your family. Help them on their carrier path by introducing them to the ATC Trail Crew program!

To register or learn more visit www.appalachiantrail.org/crews.

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