SlowMoneyFarm is among those chosen to participate in the 2010 AgChat Foundation Agvocacy 2.0 Conference. There have been many criticize the newly formed AgChat foundation as being for ‘big ag’ and being not only very small ag it would seem that is a mark against us in even applying. I applied anyway.

Why? Because I feel our message is too important to shut up about. We’re not a major corporation with millions of dollars. We’re a peon on the ag world that seeks to be a little bigger peon. :-) I joke – but am actually looking forward to this. It means needing to beg/grovel/whine/push to get enough money sponsored not only for the fees but renting a vehicle to get there…and there is no smaller farm situation than that!

We don’t have 200 acres – we’re aiming at 20-30. We don’t have expensive cattle – we have rabbits and chickens and working on developing a spot to have very much traditional livestock – just not modern traditional!

We need to agvocate to survive. We have no thousands of dollars available to advertise to serve hundreds of people. We’re putting together enough to keep the roof over our heads and celebrating tomatoes grown right out front. So in typical small time bootstrapping style we don’t have people to call to drop off a check for hundreds of dollars. We have this – Twitter, Facebook and hopefully enough readers and supporters to put forth a dollar or five dollars towards the cause to enable us to take part.

Why is it an issue? Because being small doesn’t mean not being professional. Because our voices count too! Because every person out there who eats depends on agriculture and has a voice. Because every dollar spent on food is a dollar you give to someone. Because we operate on cash not credit. Because we want to more effectively use time online to better teach our online friends and readers not only about food, farming and livestock but other things that help bridge the gap between what we know and what you don’t. Because few know anything about rabbits other than they can be food, often are pets and are white (not always!). Because it’s a way to reach that 30 or so people to help them and get this moved to the next level.

There are many people who applied to go to this conference and as we understand it there wasn’t room for all. We need to raise funds quickly to pay our fee.

So we need to figure out what to do to raise those funds – a task that seems daunting but reachable! $350 registration plus hotel plus rental vehicle and gas etc. How tough can it be? <laughs nervously>

It’s first call and hope all don’t get tired of it…but it’s dollar down time. Seeds for seeds. Something. Put into motion small scale to show small places matter. $1 is a bottled drink…does it matter to help a farm? Can you forgo a drink to help? For $5 donations we’ll send a packet of rosa rugosa seeds (unless states like CA won’t allow) or donate the seeds somewhere that can use them. This is a small amount that goes a long ways. For $10 get the ebook “Getting By: Lessons From a Rural Past”…highlighting community and some of the views behind our approach at SlowMoneyFarm. Order now for Christmas gifts from our store. It matters. If you have paypal please send what you can to the account at royalscotservices@yahoo.com (set up for credit cards) or if not credit cards to us direct.

Our effort is for other reasons too – it takes funds to participate but also involves grass roots small time ideas taken to a new level. The economy is tough – we want to help people and give back, and this allows a starting point to step up. We can do this! Because we matter. Thanks for reading and passing this along.