In times like these we re-visit the concepts and influences that have made our country and our communities what they are today.  I personally believe that we live in the greatest country in the world.  And I believe that our forefathers, who created the very documents that are supposed to act as a guiding light on our freedoms and rights, had every intention of keeping our country a place where we are free.

Now, regardless of your political background and viewpoints, it is my estimation that most of us truly enjoy being “free.”  When we drive to the grocery store – or, preferably, our local farmers’ markets – it is this freedom of choice that allows us to participate in such an activity.  If we decide that we would like to grow our own produce on our own land, it is our freedom of choice and property rights that allow us to do that.  Freedom and being a consumer go hand in hand.  We make our choices; we tell our markets what to do – our free markets – where we actively participate with minimal intervention from entities that are not consumers (this would mean government).

When we decide if we want to visit a medical doctor at a hospital or a holistic practitioner in their own home, that is another way we get to exercise our freedoms.  We get to choose what we put in, on, and around our bodies.  We get to choose how we take care of ourselves.
When we decide if we want to purchase fossil fuels to drive our vehicles, or give up our vehicles to ride our bikes, walk, engage with the public transportation system, etc., we are exercising our freedoms.

When we submit articles to publications, we are exercising our voice and our freedom to express how we feel and what we think.  And the press, these publications and other content mechanisms have the right to publish this information.  Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are other ways that we express and get to hear the expressions of consumers in our country.

Sustainability, the ability to take care of oneself, the ability to survive without the intervention and assistance of others are freedom.  If I can grow my own food, create my own fuel or transportation, be able to protect myself, and be able to express myself to my community members, then I am free.  And no matter who you are and what political viewpoints you have, and no matter what religion you believe in, I think that you would agree that you want to be free, and you want to be able to live a sustainable lifestyle where you can be able to do all of these things as an individual.

I see many things going on in our country.  Some of them are scary, and some of them give me a lot of hope for the future.  The only thing I can do, as a man here in Southern Colorado, is express how I feel, hope that people will be able to see my words, and that somewhere, someone may say, “I feel that way too, what can I do to be free?”

Joseph Poder, or Joe, is a small-time farmer/rancher in Southern Colorado.  He enjoys living “off-the-grid” in the house that he and his wife built by themselves, with their two daughters, 3 dogs, 7+ cats, and numerous other small creatures.

Beltsville, MD – Years ago, Indiana farmer Brian Churchill won a grant from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program to experiment with new pest management strategies on his 100 acres of sweet corn, melons, tomatoes and other produce. Scouting for pests, withholding routine spraying and building habitat for beneficial insects cut his insecticide use drastically. He decided to use that as a marketing hook by inviting chefs to an “expo” and opening a now-thriving farm stand.

“We drive the point home about using less chemicals all the time,” he said. “The customers keep coming back and bringing friends with them…Our farm has grown a lot since the grant.”

Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers, a 20-page bulletin recently revised by the Sustainable Agriculture Network, features innovative SARE-funded research in a range of marketing options, including additional resources for further information. Throughout, farmers and ranchers like Churchill share how farmers markets, CSA, tourism, direct-marketing, season extension, adding value, restaurants, and/or the Internet improved their bottom line.

Marketing Strategies is the latest of a series of publications that feature the most creative research funded by SARE.  Preview or download the entire publication at www.sare.org/publications/marketing.htm.

To order free print copies, visit www.sare.org/Webstore, call 301/504-5236 or email san_assoc@sare.org. Agricultural educators may place orders for print copies in quantity at no cost.

“Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers” was published by the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. SARE is a program of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA, and works with producers, researchers and educators to promote farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities.  SAN operates under a cooperative agreement between CSREES and the University of Vermont and the University of Maryland to develop and disseminate information about sustainable agriculture. For more information about SARE grant opportunities and other SAN resources, visit www.sare.org.

“Where are the Greenies?” said a friend who owns property and has been vocal about the intrusion of the heavy hand of government in Colorado land law.

The reinstatement of the “Death Tax” in Colorado will have negative implications for land owners who want to leave their land to their children.  If HR 3524 (Colorado House) does not get passed, the Death Tax will come back in 2011 with even sharper provisions.

Positions of various government representatives seem to favor land-owners, that is, until you look at their voting records.  Politics is in full force at all levels of government – this includes state and local representatives as well.

Aside from the bureaucracy that so many of us are sick and tired of, another more positive and productive statement must be made.  That is, this particular issue, could really unite some facets of ideologies.

For example, land owners want to protect their land (via not being taxed at their death).  By farmers and ranchers wanting to protect their land and NOT sell out to developers, this is in fact preserving the land/environment/eco-system which can be decimated by urban sprawl and unsustainable development.

Farmers and ranchers want to protect land and wildlife because it is important to them and their children.  Environmentalists, and “greenies” if you will, want to protect land and wildlife because it is important to them and their children.

In addition to this, hunters and fishers want to protect land and wildlife because it is important to their sport.  People that are so often shoved into the category of “tree huggers” want the same thing.

So where are we?  Where are the Americans here?  We want the same thing – let’s take a harder look at the bureaucracy and red tape that is in place to “help” the heavy hand of government and see how we may be able to eliminate some of the negative consequences that hurt ALL OF US.

Whether you are conservative or liberal on land issues – this is one area where we should be fighting together.  The death tax, and any taxes that make it impossible to preserve land, wildlife, and eco-systems should be eliminated – we will all benefit and protect the very environments that we call home.

- Tisha Casida

Go to a local farmers’ market, join a CSA, support local producers, and try to eat foods that have been prepared by human beings versus machines.

Pollan, M. (2009). Food Rules – An Eater’s Manual. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

YOU CANNOT HAVE BOTH LIBERTY & SECURITY

Liberty versus Security – with so many crisis-like situations – economically, with our health care, with our national defense, etc., we have turned into a population seeking security instead of the liberty.

Liberty IS OUR GREATEST SECURITY.  Our ever-bigger and ever-more powerful and centralized government continues to succeed because of its (and our) ignorance of the Constitution. The horrid events of 9/11 and additional terrorist attacks on the American people, not only caused a very strong and painful memory for us, but it also brought into our lives stifling legislation and the government’s encroachment into our privacy (i.e. The Patriot Act), which changed the face of our independence.  Unless repealed at some point in the future – you or I can be deemed a terrorist with little or no real evidence, and be dealt with accordingly.  There is no safety and security in that – even though “safety” was forced down our throats (using fear-tactics and very successfully marketing) how much safer are we domestically when we no longer have privacy.  There is a place for justice and a defensive national policy, but there is not a place for innocent American citizens to be wrongfully spied on or wrongfully accused.  You cannot have the government protecting you while also ensuring your liberty.  It is impossible.

These times may seem scary, but I do believe that we are on our way to some sort of revolution.  Perhaps not one with guns and ammo (at least I hope not), but one where WE THE PEOPLE wake up and realize our power with our dollar and our vote.  Because at the end of the day, the American people really are in control of their destiny, this Economy, and this Country.

That’s what it’s all about.  And our free-market where we operate freely as consumers (for the most part) gives credence to competition – something that keeps both companies and consumers very honest.

By Tisha Casida

For Freedom

We are facing history, tomorrow, January 19, 2010.  With a special election and a seat that may tell the future of “health care reform” in our great country, it is important to remember where we are, how we got here, and where we need to go.

For an excellent article from John Feeny, please see: http://americasright.com/?p=2684.

A beautiful point.  How efficient is the post office?  How efficient are most government-run organizations?  How quickly can you expect service, and what happens when there is no competition?

Simple, no competition equals no reason to compete – to strive for efficiencies, profitability, or extraordinary service.  If there is no incentive, then there will be nothing done.

If you haven’t read Atlas Shrugged, you should really pick up a copy.  I, personally, have a heart, and have contributed to many need-worthy organizations.  I however, whole-heartedly believe that we are turning into a Nanny-State that protects the weakling, MORE than protecting those that work hard.  I have experienced this myself, and I don’t like it one bit.  Because I am middle-class and because I am not categorized as a “minority”, I have been abandoned for many opportunities, both financial and educational.

There are many issues on the plate right now, all of them with Big Brother gaining more control and power – HEALTH CARE, INTERNET FREEDOM, THE FOOD SUPPLY, THE CAR INDUSTRY, THE BANKING INDUSTRY, ETC.

Check your premises, and start organzing like-minded individuals, we have a Country to win back.

- Joni Cave

“When economic decisions are taken out of the hands of individuals operating in a market and put into the hands of expert on planning commissions and the like, this may be thought of as a transfer of decision-making power from those with less knowledge to those with more knowledge but it is far more likely to be a transfer of decision-making power to experts with less knowledge and more presumptions” (Sowell, 2007, pp.167-168).

Sowell, T. (2007). Basic Economics. New York: Perseus Books Group.

We must believe that we are completely capable of solving our problems, being innovative, and putting controls and restraints on systems.  We The People – we are capable and we are exemplary and WE ARE FREE.  We must protect our freedoms and the free market in which we operate, for we are our only true hope.

We encourage you to read this iconic essay by Leonard E. Read, entitled “I, Pencil”

Please find the complete essay here: http://www.econlib.org/library/Essays/rdPncl1.html