Bhutan Aims to Be First Country With 100% Organic Agriculture

Photo: Bhutan Pledges to be First 100% Organic Nation The tiny Himalayan country of Bhutan, home to just 738,000 people, is on track to make one of the biggest pro-organic moves in the world. At the June 2012 Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, the kingdom’s prime minister, Jigmi Thinley, announced plans to convert all his nation’s agricultural land to organic farmsBhutan is not alone in the region with its all-organic ambition.Directly across the border, the Indian state of Sikkim is already one-third of the way to being all-organic by 2015; and, at the opposite end of the nation, the state of Kerala began a decade-long transition to all-organic agriculture in 2010.http://www.care2.com/greenliving/bhutan-aims-to-be-first-country-with-100-organic-agriculture.html#ixzz2FwIrKvV5http://worldtruth.tv/the-worlds-first-100-organic-nation/

August 1, 2012, www.care2.com | “NPR reports that the tiny Himalayan nation, Bhutan, sandwiched between India and China and probably best known for promoting Gross National Happiness as a measurement of national progress, is attempting to make the transition to only employing organic agricultural methods.

Good News!!
Bhutan Pledges to be First 100% Organic Nation The tiny Himalayan country of Bhutan, home to just 738,000 people, is on track to make one of the biggest pro-organic moves in the world. At the June 2012 Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, the kingdom’s prime minister, Jigmi Thinley, announced plans to convert all his nation’s agricultural land to organic farms Bhutan is not alone in the region with its all-organic ambition. Directly across the border, the Indian state of Sikkim is already one-third of the way to being all-organic by 2015; and, at the opposite end of the nation, the state of Kerala began a decade-long transition to all-organic agriculture in 2010.

Indonesian resource for organic information showcasing organic farmers, products and projects

indonesiaorganic.com | “A social action firm, CV Dunia dan Gaya, developed a practical, organic-focused website that delivers the same core benefits, as well as links people who wish to live healthily from a well balanced ecosystem and to conserve earth’s resources for future generations, particularly those in Indonesia who are so reliant on its natural bounty for their day – to – day livelihood.”

Darsih Gede shared a link.
“We’ve just found a young entrepreneur who is making bamboo straws. Produced by Putu, a Balinese young man in Ubud, still in high school, as his first business. Made from local bamboo stalks found on his family land, naturally renewing and biodegradable.

Billions of plastic straws are discarded every year and theoretically can be recycled but rarely are. They don’t degrade, last for ages and end up in landfills and littering oceans.

We’re going to help him promote his product both at our Eco Shop in Ubud, Bali, and on www.indonesiaorganic.com, our ‘main social mission project’ to help buyers and sellers of organic and eco products connect in Indonesia.

http://www.indonesiaorganic.com/
www.indonesiaorganic.com”
  • GoodNews FortheEarth and Emma Johns like this.

Kamikatsu, Japan is a Zero Waste Village

www.youtube.com | “The Mayor of Kamikatsu, a small community in the hills of eastern Japan, has urged politicians around the world to follow his lead and make their towns ‘Zero Waste’.”

Robert Brothers shared a link via PeopleTowels. Zero Waste Village = Kamikatsu, Japan

The Mayor of Kamikatsu, a small community in the hills of eastern Japan, has urged politicians around the world to follow his lead and make their towns “Zero…
  • Maryska Azzena, and Brad Rivers like this.

The Number Of Farmers’ Markets In America Has Exploded — Here’s Where They’re Really Popular

farmers markets mapAugust 4, 2011, www.businessinsider.com | “There’s a growing desire among many Americans to have a closer connection to the food they eat, and one place where that connection is fostered is the local farmers’ market. The USDA’s Economic Research Service tracks multiple aspects of how food is produced and consumed in the United States. They recently made a chart showing how the number of farmers’ markets in the U.S. has more than quadrupled since the mid-nineties.

Data from the USDA shows how the number of farmers’ markets in the US has changed, and where markets are concentrated.
businessinsider.com
COMMENTS:
  •   Jeffreys Raynolds This is so great – we have the largest ground swell of permaculture and small home farmers in this country right now – hundreds of groups on Facebook, and this good news! YAY humans!”

In 1999, 35 million small family plots produced 90% of Russia’s potatoes, 77% of vegetables, 87% of fruits, 59% of meat, 49% of milk — way to go, people!

August 9, 2009, www.thebovine.wordpress.com | “In 2003 the Russian President signed into law a further “Private Garden Plot Act” enabling Russian citizens to receive free of charge from the state, plots of land in private inheritable ownership. Sizes of the plots differ by region but are between one and three hectares each [1 hectare = 2.2 acres]. Produce grown on these plots is not subject to taxation.”

 

Leila Bee shared a link.
“In 1999, 35 million small family plots produced 90% of Russia’s potatoes, 77% of vegetables, 87% of.
thebovine.wordpress.com
And since 1999, it seems things have only gotten better when it comes to small-scale agriculture in Russia. In 2003 the Russian President signed into law a further “Private Garden Plot Act…”
  • Comments:
    • Leila Bee‎”in Russia, we can already see the evidence that they are thinking small. How else can you explain that in 1997 small households in Russia independently grew 97% of Russia’s potatoes, 77% of its berries and fruit, and 73% of its vegetables, and those percentages have risen in the decade since then.” Vladmir Megré not quite the same percentages but close…I’ll see if I can find more.
    • Leila Bee finding lots of interesting russian gardening sites..http://www.the-village.ru/village/people/people/96403-moskovskie-ogorodnikithe movement is everywhere, I love it!
    • Leila Bee http://www.freshcongress.com/resources/documents/1271673375andriyyarmak.pdfSeems to pretty much agree with the previous statements, although production of domestic veg% is not as high. However this data may not be taking into account fruit and veg that never hits the market but goes from garden to table (dasha produce.)
    • GoodNews FortheEarth‎~ Thanks for the other sources! Now we all have some reading to do : ) It makes a lot of sense that people faced with economic hardship will start growing more of their own food, and wonderful that they are able to do so.
    • Leila Bee The dacha system in Russia is not a new one, it’s been in and out of vogue since Peter the Great. Growing one’s own food is part of Russian tradition:-) It just tricky finding solid facts when I don’t speak Russian, I’m working with translator programs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacha
    • Caron von Zeil likes this.