As soon as the ink dries on any given book project, our real work begins. Education and action-oriented campaigns target a broad range of audiences and evolve as the issues themselves continue to change.
The Tragedy of
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
And what you can do about it
1. GET UP TO SPEED by reading the powerful book, CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories (http://www.cafothebook.org)
Review the book for your newsletter, blog, Twitter.
Share a copy with friends and VIPs.
Donate a copy to your local library.
2. HOST A MEATLESS MONDAY EVENT
or dinner in your area to talk about factory farming and animal food products. (http://www.meatlessmonday.com)
Download a sample invitation that can be used for your event (snail mail or email).
Invite a local farmer or rancher.
Make an action plan for your home, school, restaurant, etc.
3. KNOW YOUR FARMER, know your food. Make direct connections with the people who raise animals in your area — and learn from them about production processes, challenges and benefits and the best ways to cook grass pastured products.
Find your local resources at your Farmers’ Market.
Ask your local grocer or butcher where their meat comes from.
And if it is not local, ask them why not.
Is it antibiotic and hormone free?
Is it pasture-raised?
Is it sustainably farmed?
Is it independently certified organic and humanely raised?
4.TALK TO local officials and representatives about your concerns about the tragedy of industrial animal feeding food production. Put together a packet of information and give it to your senators, representatives (state and U.S.), and other local officials like town and city council members, the town manager or mayor, and the district attorney. It’s best to meet in person and call in advance to set up an appointment. Invite the press to join you. Download a sample letter (or use your own words) that you can forward to your local officials.
5. TEAM UP with local groups to work towards greater awareness and distribution of sustainably and humanely produced foods in your area. See if you can join a campaign to focus your efforts by contacting your...
local sustainable agricultural organization,
family farming organization,
environmental groups,
Sierra Club,
locavore groups.
6. GROW YOUR OWN. Raise some hen laying chickens in your backyard (as long as ordinances allow it).
7. CHECK OUT OTHER RESOURCES. Spend some time with these great web sites from Food and Water Watch, Sustainable Table, Humane Society of the United States, the Center for a Livable Future, and Farm Policy.
www.sustainabletable.org/issues/factoryfarming/
www.humanesociety.org/issues/campaigns/factory_farming
Food Fight 2012
Our Food Fight education and outreach campaign addresses two specific audiences: 1) citizens encouraged to Vote with York Fork! and 2) the country's thousands of farmers markets where consumers go for locally produced, healthy foods.
FARMERS MARKET OUTREACH
The expansion of farmers markets and the ability
for small family farmers to continue to supply
farmers markets are highly dependent upon the
outcome
of the 2012 Farm Bill.
HOW CAN THE FARM BILL AFFECT FARMERS MARKETS?
As you may know, Congress is in the midst of re-writing the Farm Bill, which is set to expire in September. Over the next few months, decisions will be made on how the hundreds of billions of dollars in the Farm Bill are distributed. These decisions shape how our food is grown and even affect farmers markets with programs and issues such as:
- Farmers Market Promotion Program;
- Women, Infants and Children, and Senior Citizens Farmers Market Nutrition Programs;
- Value-Added Producer Grants;
- Support for Organic farmers and research;
- Over-rides local bans on genetically modified crops (GMOs);
- Country of Origin labeling and much more.
The country’s 4,000+ farmers markets are an outstanding place for us to educate citizens and eaters about this important legislation.
(Umbrella, too!) Consider setting up a table, information booth, or place where shoppers can learn about the importance of the 2012 Farm Bill.
(or two)
Download a peer-reviewed handout and customize it to include the names of your local representatives and other pertinent issues, and make double-sided copies for your customers.
These action-oriented cards are printed with everything a farmers market shopper needs to know.
(1 box, 30 books, $300, sell for $16.95 and make $210 for your Farmers Market fund.) Food Fight is an easy-to-read book by well-respected author Daniel Imhoff that makes the Farm Bill accessible to anyone.
Make it easy for customers to fill out a postcard while they are at the farmers market. You can use pre-printed cards, sample language, have
stamps and blank cards available for purchase.
Locate your respresentatives: house.gov/writerep or senate.gov
Make an immediate impact by leaving your senators' phone numbers available at the Food Fight table. Offer some talking points. Keep track of how many farmers market shoppers placed calls.
Sell Vote with your Fork T-shirts to popularize the campaign and earn some money. Available from WatershedMedia.org
