Herstory: Women in Organic Agriculture - CCOF

PRESIDENT’S
CORNER
ONE OF THE
greatest joys
of the organic
movement is the
people it attracts.
It is a collection of
diverse individuals
Brian Leahy
who affirm life and
understand that society is based on a
healthy environment and a sane
economy. These individuals act upon
their beliefs, are willing to try new
approaches, and take risks to bring forth
their own visions of how one should live
on this earth.
The pioneers of the 21 st Century are
discovering how to meet the basic needs
of human existence in harmony with the
earth and at a cost all can afford. CCOF
was founded by, and continues to attract,
creative innovators working together to
create a sound society based on a sane,
biological-based agriculture that provides
healthy food for humans, habitat for
wildlife, and a living soil for the future.
Diversity is one of the guiding principals
of organic agriculture. Respect for
diversity led many of the pioneering
organic farmers to reject the notions
inherent in toxic agro-chemistry and
instead develop a production system
based on respect and observation of
nature. Diversity of microbial life in the
soil, diversity of crops, diversity of skills;
organic farming is based on the strength
inherent in diversity.
Diversity coming together becomes
community. CCOF itself is a diverse
community, a coming together of small
and large farms, processors, retailers and
consumers. What unites each member
of CCOF is the belief that food should
be produced using methods that work
with and respect nature.
The unifying principle of CCOF is the
understanding that community is dependent
on the soil and healthy foods that
come from healthy soil. Most of the early
organic farmers I know became organic
because they feel the spiritual power of
the earth. For many, their own religious/
spiritual beliefs lead them to organic agriculture.
Once they became aware of the
consequences of toxic agro-chemistry,
they could no longer
engage in an approach that
leads to the disintegration
of natural systems.
Toxic agro-chemistry
has led to death and
destruction in the soil, in
wildlife, in the farm community,
and has debased
the food we eat. Author
and nutritionist Marion
Nestle, in her book Food
Politics, documents how a
handful of corporations
have corrupted our food,
our regulatory process, our
universities and scientists,
and food knowledge itself.
Food knowledge is the
ability to choose food wisely. Sound food
knowledge would not allow a situation
where twenty five million pounds of antibiotics—70%
of national production—
are used in animal feed. Nor would it
allow our public schools to become
pushers of soda pop. Returning agriculture
to a biological approach and
returning consumers to real food as
nature intended were the guiding
principles for the founders of CCOF.
Like many agricultural-based societies,
many of the founders of CCOF believe
in the Earth Mother, in the feminine
principles embodied in the earth.
The unifying principle
of CCOF is the
understanding that
community is dependent
on the soil and
healthy foods
that come from
healthy soil.
The CCOF community has always had
an abundant number of wise women who
have brought forward to the earth their
own visions of how the feminine principles
embodied in the earth should be
lived—a vision based on the regenerative
powers of the earth, the life-giving forces
of food, and the interdependence of community.
Many of the pioneering women
mentioned in this issue, and many more
who are not mentioned,
are responsible for making
CCOF a remarkable
institution. It is because
of these many dedicated
women who have helped
shape and guide CCOF
over the past 30 years
that this organization has
become a leader in the
organic movement to
return agriculture back
to a sane, biological
approach, and encourage
consumers to once again
experience real food.
To support CCOF’s
mission and become a
Supporting Member,
please visit
our website at:
www.ccof.org
OUR PURPOSE
CCOF’s purpose is to promote and support organic agriculture in California
and elsewhere through:
• A premier organic certification program for growers, processors, handlers,
and retailers.
• Programs to increase awareness of and demand for certified organic product
and to expand public support for organic agriculture.
• Advocacy for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic agriculture.