Sustainable Infrastructure: The Rodale Institute

by Melissa Byrne · 2009-07-28 11:52:00 UTC
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Who's gonna teach us to farm?  Who's gonna teach us how to farm well?  Where do we go? Well, here in Pennsylvania, we are blessed to have to the Rodale Institue, a fifity-something year old organization that has been testing and perfecting organic and sustainable farming, sharing their best practices with the world at large. Located in Kutztown,  the Rodale Institute describes itself as:
  • a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that creates global solutions from the ground up. Our soil scientists and a cooperating network of researchers have documented that organic farming techniques offer the best solution to global warming and famine. We were founded in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in 1947 by organic pioneer J.I. Rodale. Our Farming Systems Trial®, the longest-running U.S. study comparing organic and conventional farming techniques, is the basis for our practical training to thousands of farmers in Africa, Asia and the Americas.

  • Our findings are clear: A global organic transformation will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere and restore soil fertility.

  • Our mission: We improve the health and well-being of people and the planet.At Rodale, they offer a Gardner's Workshop- teaching canning, pruning, building garden containers, and extending the gardening season. For the farmer, you can sign for a 15 hour on line course teaching you how to convert your conventional farm to organic practices. And, for the interested sustainable foodie, you can even give yourself a self-guided tour of the Rodale Institute farm for free!Rodale goes beyond the nitty gritty farming to also looking at nutrition and access.

    • On their website, you can can read about the difference between organic and conventional tomatoes or how children are more impacted by pesticides, and a series on raw milk. Also, Rodale highlight a special CSA in Washington state for food stamp customers.

    As the sustainable food movement grows, we need institutes like Rodale so we can grow, learn, and have a long lasting memory. The "other side" has organization, echo chambers, and political capitol ready at the their disposal to keep us eating GMO corn and growing CAFO's. We might be the little ones, but with institutes like Rodale on our team, we can make it happen.

    Melissa Byrne
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