New Video: Are More Women Farming Today?

Did you know? Women own nearly half the farmland in the US today, but are rarely represented on the boards of policy-making bodies. I learned this recently while talking with Leigh Adcock, the Executive Director of the Women, Food & Agriculture Network at her Homegrown Village booth at Farm Aid 2009.

Leigh explained to me the importance of women's roles in building sustainable food systems as mothers, gardeners, landowners, activists and farmers. WFAN is a community of women involved in sustainable agriculture whose mission is to "link and empower women to build food systems and communities that are healthy, just, sustainable, and that promote environmental integrity."

If you're interested in learning more, be sure to check out their 10th Annual Fall Harvest Gathering of Women in Sustainable Agriculture Nov. 13-15 in Whalan, MN.

-Dorothee

New Video: Hearing from Farmers at Farm Aid

This past weekend, Mark and I had the pleasure of attending Farm Aid 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. The concert is a massive fundraiser that aims to help struggling family farmers stay on their land and features music by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews.

At the concert, I got a chance to talk with farmers attending the event about the importance of family farms, educating the public about healthy food and which musician they like the best!

-Dorothee