Tapestry Farms’ Post

At the recent North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting, 100+ voices weighed in on chum salmon bycatch. Our fishery shares many of these concerns and will continue doing our part to reduce incidental catch of Western Alaska chum salmon through science-based solutions. We're also mindful of the increasing impacts of non-US hatchery chum salmon on pollock-dependent Alaskan communities. Several options on the Council's table could actually increase Western Alaska incidental catch in the long run, and we aim to promote sustainable growth. #ResponsibleFisheryManagement #SustainableFishery

OSU Extendion Educator Greg Meyer was the speaker at this week’s Lebanon Kiwanis meeting. We learned that over 40% of Warren County is still farmed and most farms are 100 acres or less. The majority of farmers are part-time. Happily, 94% of farms in the US are family-owned. Hats off to our farmers leveraging technology to keep us fed! We also learned 3 things that would “magically make us better gardeners:” 1. Put plants where they want to be (read the tags). 2. Space plants, shrubs, and trees properly (read the tags) 3. Spend more on anything that will be in your yard for a long time - invest in healthy specimens.

In Kenya, there is an “ecological chain reaction” taking place. Seems it’s all down to the big-headed ants. Acacia ants bite and sting Elephants who are looking for “snacks” in whistling-thorn trees. Enter the big-headed ants – killing off the Acacia ants and eating their larvae, with no impact to the elephants. The elephants, in turn, break trees five to seven times more when the Acacia ants are not there as a distraction. This results in less cover and more visibility for lions on the hunt for Zebras. Lions kill three times fewer Zebras where exposure is greater due to reduced tree coverage. It could be argued that Zebras owe their improved odds of survival to the chain reaction started by the tiny ant. Never underestimate the impact you have, regardless of your position in the food chain.

If you’re mid-state, be sure to check out the Central Illinois Chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition.   The group is open to farmers of all ages, as well as chefs, farmer advocates, and aspiring farmers, who are leading the way to create a healthier, more hopeful food system.   The group plans to organize social and learning events for its members, advocate for progressive food systems policy, and collaborate on processing and marketing projects.   You can also find the group on Facebook at https://lnkd.in/gFvr_J-X   And no matter where you are, you can contribute to their Central Illinois Disaster and Emergency Relief Fund. The CIDER Fund was created for farmers in Central Illinois who are experiencing acute and unexpected crises on their farms or in their homes and are in need of quick relief.   The Agroecology + Innovation Matters initiative cheers all efforts to make the farm community more resilient.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/gkyabFCm   #AIMillinois #TakeAIM #conservation #illinoisagriculture #sustainablefarming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #regenerativefarm #agvocacy #agriculture #farmer #illinois #farmersofillinois #sustainability #covercrops #soilhealth #farming #farm #agriculturelife #conservationchampions

Do chickens attract rats? It’s not the chickens that attract rats, but the environment they create. Rats are attracted to three primary things: food, shelter, and water. Unfortunately, a chicken coop often provides all three. Read more in our blog article: https://lnkd.in/ekKXg3nG #ChickensandRats #PestControl #Rats #Rodents

What are the impacts of Hatchery Chum on Wild Alaskan Chum Salmon? Each year, thousands of hatcheries release over 3 billion chum salmon into the North Pacific. What are the impacts of these hatchery chum salmon on the growth and survival of wild stocks? After 70 years of large-scale chum salmon hatcheries, the data are starting to tell the story. Chum salmon are more abundant than ever in the ocean, smaller in size, and exporting millions of tons of marine derived nutrients from the North Pacific. Commercial catches are at an all-time high, but wild chum salmon stocks in Alaska are slow to recover.

It's Bees' Needs Week (July 8th-14th)! Did you know bees are responsible for pollinating 1/3 of the food we eat? From fruits and veggies to nuts and seeds, these fuzzy friends play a vital role in our ecosystem. However, bee populations are facing challenges. This week let's all commit to supporting bees! I have written a short blog about this important week and what your business might be able to do to help our bees | Here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/euZUq5GH Are you or your business doing anything already to help the bees? Let us know in the comments!

Nice to see our "shuck don't chuck" initiative featured in my local Mornington Peninsula Magazine.  "The Shuck Don’t Chuck program collects oyster, mussel and scallop shells from restaurants, venues and seafood wholesalers. These discarded shells, which would typically end up in landfill, are given a new purpose in building and restoring shellfish reefs." "Once collected, the shells undergo a curing process where they are exposed to the elements for at least six months to eliminate potential disease pathogens. When they are ready to go, the shells become part of the shellfish reef restoration process, serving as a new reef base or as a surface for juvenile oysters to grow on in hatchery tanks." Here's to many more shellfish reefs restored across Australia in partnership with local communities and businesses as we head towards our 30x30 restoration targets. https://lnkd.in/gv6CryyS  Simon Branigan Scott Breschkin

Celebrating National Pork Month: Honoring the Guardians of the Industry! As National Pork Month marches on, today is about lauding the hardworking individuals at the helm of the pork industry. Their diverse expertise and tireless dedication are the engine driving this sector forward. I invite you to discover more about these industry stalwarts by visiting the National Pork Board members page. Here’s to the hands that feed us, and the minds that lead the way! #NationalPorkMonth #PorkIndustryLeaders #NationalPorkBoard #PorkCheckoff

Unleash the transformative power of cooperatives and other collective groups among farmers, artisans, etc. . 💡 Here are some tips and resources for fostering cooperatives. Let’s power up together!!! ☀