Mr. Le Van will be speaking in the evening at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts on Thursday, September 25, 2008.

In 1997 Brook Le Van co-founded, with his wife Rose L. Le Van, Sustainable Settings, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is a high-altitude semi-arid research and demonstration of sustainable human settlement near Carbondale, Colorado. Sustainable Settings practices sustainable agriculture geared towards a high altitude, semi-arid climate, drawing from a broad range of methodologies, including agro-ecology, bio-dynamics, biomimicry, indigenous techniques, permaculture, and holistic management, creating a robust organic food, herb and fiber production that is closely interwoven with the wild ecosystem in which it is embedded.

Le Van lectures, writes, and organizes community-based events regionally and nationally on sustainable food and energy issues. He advises and writes the Food for Thought section for edible Aspen magazine. Le Van is a Fulbright Research Scholar and holds a BFA from Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA, from NYSCC, Alfred University. He is a green development, sustainable agriculture and native riparian systems consultant and charrette facilitator.? He is certified in Permaculture design and an alumnus of the Institute for Social Ecology, Plainfield, VT. Le Van has practiced and taught, green design and building, renewable energy systems, natural systems agriculture, sustainable landscaping, art, design and community-based art since 1986. Of his numerous grants he has received support from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation for studio research, National Endowment for the Humanities for a documentary video on his Fulbright research in Ghana, West Africa, and the Durfee Foundation for a seven month long adventure down the Yellow River in China. He is also a member of the artist collaborative life in general (Brook, Rose, Cooper and Shepherd Le Van) which have conducted site works, exhibitions, workshops, lectures, community projects and cultural events internationally.

Brook’s presentation, entitled ‘Harvesting Nature’s Intelligence: New Roots for Local Resilience’ will discuss the ‘cheater economy’ that got us where we are today and what we can do here and now to move towards a more holistic and sustainable existence. The audience will hear about ‘the power of local’, establishing local networks and distribution, moving towards a new economy based on solar energy, regeneration as a solution to extraction and tools for establishing community based local agriculture infrastructures. This presentation will include interactive elements where Mr. Le Van asks community members about local resources at our disposal and then outlines solutions accordingly. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions, voice concerns and actively participate in this discussion.

More information about the Sustainable Agriculture Program at Sustainable Settings:
"Sustainable Settings practices sustainable agriculture geared toward our high altitude, semi-arid climate. These practices and techniques form an agricultural system that draws from a broad range of methodologies, including agro-ecology, bio-dynamics, biomimicry, indigenous techniques, permaculture, and holistic management. The integration of these methodologies creates a robust organic food, herb and fiber production that is closely interwoven with the wild ecosystem in which it is embedded. Our sustainable agricultural system integrates a diverse selection of flora and fauna modeled after self-regulating ecosystems, and is designed to:

* Increase agricultural productivity
* Provide safe, nutritious food, herb & fiber
* Increase bio-diversity & wildlife habitat
* Increase water productivity & efficiency
* Re-build top soil
* Utilize solar energy effectively

This hybrid of agrarian techniques and practices maximizes nutrient and resource cycling with materials harvested onsite and from within the bioregion, and eliminates the need for petroleum-based fuels, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Sustainable Settings’ approach to agriculture allows for the provision of safe, nutritious food. It does this while enhancing ecological vitality and creating productive and commercially flexible enterprise models that are replicable by other farmers and ranchers throughout the inter-mountain West. Core elements of our sustainable agriculture include:

* Aquaculture Systems
* Constructed Wetlands
* Edible Mushroom Production
* Efficient Irrigation Systems
* Heirloom Fruit Initiative
* Holistic Livestock Management & Rotational Grazing
* Integrated Pest Management
* Managed Wood Lot
* Nutrient Cycling
* Organic Vegetable Production
* Perennial Food Forests
* Soil Regeneration Initiative
* Year-round Greens Production"

-Source: Sustainable Settings website


YouYube video; Brook Le Van of Sustainable Settings explains why they will be participating in the Culinary School of the Rockies Farm to Table externship

John E. Ikerd will speak as a featured panelist, Friday morning, September 26, at the Aspinall Wilson Center on the Western State College campus in Gunnison, CO.

John E. Ikerd is professor emeritus of agricultural economics at the University of Missouri. He is the author of Sustainable Capitalism, A Return to Common Sense, and Small Farms are Real Farms. Since retiring from the University in early 2000, Ikerd spends most of his time writing and speaking out on issues related to sustainable agriculture with an emphasis on the economics of sustainabilty.

"In his latest book, Crisis and Opportunity,Dr. Ikerd outlines the consequences of agricultural industrialization, then details the methods that can restore economic viability, ecological soundness, and social responsibility to our agricultural system, ensuring sustainable agriculture as the foundation of a sustainable food system and society. With the decline of family farms and rural communities, the rise of corporate farming and the resulting environmental degradation, American agriculture is in crisis. But this crisis offers the opportunity to rethink agriculture in sustainable terms. Here one of the most eloquent and influential proponents of sustainable agriculture explains what this means. These engaging essays describe what sustainable agriculture is, why it began, and how it can succeed. Together they constitute a clear and compelling vision for rebalancing the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of agriculture to meet the needs of the present without compromising the future." -Source: Crisis and Opportunity press release

John E. Ikerd background

-Raised on a small dairy farm in southwest Missouri.

-Educated at the University of Missouri with BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Agricultural Economics.

-Worked three years with Wilson Foods in Kansas City, MO, Atlanta, GA, and Detroit, MI between BS and MS degree work.

-Worked in Extension Agricultural Economics positions at North Carolina State University, 1970-76 and Oklahoma State University, 1976-84 and was Head of Extension Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia, 1984-89.

-Returned to the University of Missouri 1989, under a cooperative agreement with U.S.D.A, to provide state and national leadership for research and education programs related to sustainable agriculture.

-Retired and received appointment as Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics on February 1, 2000.

National Sustainable Agriculture Projects with USDA SARE Program

1988-91: Farm Decision Supports Systems for Sustainable Agriculture (PLANETOR)
1991-93: Sustainable Agriculture Education Council (SA Professional Development Program)
1992-94: Addressing the Quality of Life Dimension of Sustainable Agriculture
1993-95: Regional Liaison-South and Northeast- SA Professional Development Program
1994-99: State Co-coordinator of SA Professional Development Program for Missouri

-Source: University of Missouri website


YouYube video of Professor John Ikerd discussesing the social and environmental costs associated with our industrialized food system.

Jim will speak as a featured panelist, Friday morning, September 26, at the Aspinall Wilson Center on the Western State College campus in Gunnison, CO.

Food and Society Policy Fellow Jim Goodman, his wife Rebecca and brother Francis run a 45-cow organic dairy and direct market beef farm in SW Wisconsin. "His farming roots trace back to his great-grandfathers immigration from Ireland during the famine and the farms original purchase in 1848. A farm activist, Jim credits over 150 years of failed farm and social policy with his motivation to advocate for a farmer controlled consumer oriented food system.

A successful conventional farmer in a past life, Jim saw firsthand some of the failures of intensive agriculture and realized that farming sustainably and working with nature made more sense than fighting it. Jim has spoken to farmers, environmentalists and government officials internationally, hosted visiting farmers from around the world, and marched with peasant farmers against the WTO in Mexico. He frequently speaks and presents workshops on organic farming, direct marketing, local food, international trade and social justice issues.

Jim currently serves on the policy advisory boards for the Center for Food Safety and the Organic Consumers Association, and is board president of the Midwest Organic Services Association."
-Source: Food and Society Policy Fellows Website


YouTube Video: Jim Goodman of the Family Farm Defenders speaks on rural-urban alliances as part of the "Democratizing the Local: Serving all the People" major panel of the Local Democracy Convention, Sept 28-Oct 1, 2006.

Click here for a recent op-ed by Jim Goodman.

Bill Parker
Local rancher Bill Parker of Parker Pastures, will discuss the sustainable aspects of raising free range, grass fed, organic beef and dairy and how these practices are better for health, the environment and are more sustainable than conventional ranching and dairy farming.

Dominique Bador
Dominique’s ranch Jack's Cabin Graziers is located near Almont, CO. He will discuss the importance of recognizing and supporting local agriculture, viewing local agriculture as a long term investment, benefits to communities that participate in local agriculture and how sustainability links to the overall health of the community.

Nancy Wicks
Nancy Wicks of Round Mountain Organics, will discuss possibilities for year-round community level greenhouse production at altitude. Additionally, Nancy will share firsthand knowledge on powering a large scale greenhouse with local, on-site renewable resources.

Seth Roberts
Seth Roberts, director of Weathervane Farm located near Buena Vista, CO, will discuss Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) -- particularly the benefits of CSA, how to implement and sustain a CSA program and successful CSA management practices.