Schedule Registration Workshops, Events & Traditions
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Kaw Valley Seeds Project: The seed of our food belongs to the Creator. The seed is on loan to us to be carried forward for the benefit of all, into the seventh generation. In these times of climate, economic, social and spiritual change, a local reserve of living seeds is a necessary legacy we carry forward in our endeavor to flourish in co-creation with all beings. - Seeds from Italy: We are the exclusive U.S. mail-order distributor for Franchi Sementi, Italy’s oldest family-owned seed company, founded in 1783. We sell more than 400 varieties of heirloom Italian vegetable seeds, herb seeds, and flower seeds. Franchi Sementi is known worldwide for the quality of its seed, resulting in high germination, vigorous plants, and delicious food. Franchi’s seed packets are big and beautiful, with generous seed counts and full color photographs of every variety. Our seeds are untreated, most are open-pollinated, and many are certified organic. We are members of the Safe Seed Initiative, which means we pledge to never knowingly buy or sell genetically modified seeds or plants.
- The Light Center:A Non-Profit Rustic Retreat Center in Baldwin, Kansas serving as an Alternative Unity Ministry under the umbrella of Unity Worldwide Ministries. The Light Center is a Retreat Center (personal & casual group retreat facilities) that offers classes and workshops, and is an evolving sustainable living and intentional community.
Grassland Heritage Foundation: GHF is a non-profit 501 (c)3 land trust organization dedicated to preserving our prairie heritage through education and prairie protection. GHF promotes this mission in northeast Kansas, where populations of the federally threatened Mead’s milkweed and the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid can be found on tallgrass prairie remnants. Many of these remnants are in need of protection. GHF’s education activities, such as the Rolling Prairie Learning Labs, are designed to actively engage children and their parents in learning about, enjoying, and protecting our prairie heritage. GHF, founded in 1974, also manages, restores, and protects prairie sites
Kansas Land Trust: Founded in 1990, the Kansas Land Trust (KLT) first advocated for conservation easement enabling legislation, which passed the Kansas Legislature in 1993. KLT accepted its first easement in 1994, and we’ve come a long way since then. As of January 2012, KLT’s stewardship protects more than 16,129 acres on 46 protected properties.KLT is dedicated to conserving natural ecosystems, farm and ranch lands, and scenic open spaces. We believe that preserving these special places is vital to maintaining the economic and environmental well-being of all Kansans.
- Planet Drum Foundation: PDF promotes awareness of sustainable strategies
for human inhabitation of the earth based on the bioregions where people live. We seek to enhance the intimate connection with life-places by spreading the ideas and activities of “living in place” through publications, workshops, formal curricula, and hands-on demonstration projects. This work is motivated by our vision of a truly sustainable world in which humans are harmonious with and respectful of the natural environment.
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Kansas Academy of Science: The purpose of the KAS is: “To encourage education in the sciences and dissemination of scientific information through the facilities of the academy.” and, “To achieve closer cooperation and understanding between scientists and non-scientists, so that they may work together in the common cause of furthering science.” -
Sustainability Action Network: Our mission is to advocate and organize societal scale action to address sustainability issues. The triple crises of Energy-Ecology-Economy, the global “3E Trifecta”, are building so rapidly that large scale action is needed immediately and methodically to overcome institutional barriers and advance public policy that preserves ecological sustainability. Our focus is to build a relocalized economy-ecologyin concert with the Transition Town movement in many other communities. To join the Sustainability Action Network please contact us at <paradigm@ixks.com> www.sustainabilityaction.net
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Crater Critters (Osceola, MO): A small community of people working to live in greater balance with other critters in this world.
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Lawrence Sustainability Network is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to learning how to live lightly and sustainably. Sustainability requires that we restore biodiversity and environmental health, strengthen relationships within and among human communities, insist on democratic decision-making at all levels of governance, insure social and economic equity for all, promote peaceful conflict resolution, and reorient our aims from growth to stability and justice. It means living within our means today and protecting the interests of future generations. LSN supports the efforts of individuals and organizations that work toward these goals. Send announcement of your sustainability-related events to info@lawrencesustainability.net -
The Blissful Bite: The Blissful Bite is all about Om-Style Cookin’! We’re a self-built, family-owned mobile kitchen preparing organic, healthy, and delicious, internationally-inspired foods – that is, food you love that loves you back! Taking a bite a food is profound act. Receiving a bite of food is a profound gift. So often it passes through our mouths and bodies without any awareness. We have such an opportunity to be in relationship with what we eat, to get the most of it, to appreciate it, and to celebrate it! When you are really in harmony with yo
ur food it will make you sing! - Lawrence Fruit Tree Project: The Lawrence Fruit Tree Project provides a community-based solution to a critical and growing need for direct access to healthy food. We work to educate, assist, and inspire the public to grow, steward, and utilize perennial food plants. Our aim is to build community, increase local food security, and create direct, lasting bonds between people and their urban environment.
- The Merc: At The Merc Community Market and Deli, we’re more than just a “health food store” — we’re a full service grocery store owned by our community. The
Merc is here whether you need a fast and healthy meal from our Deli, a shopping cart full of organic groceries, or desire to learn more about cooking in oue of our classes. The Merc serves as the community hub for local and organic foods, and we back up our selection with the best customer service in town.
- Kaw Valley Herbs Study Group: The Kaw Valley Herbs Study Group meets monthly to learn about herbs. We explore all aspects of an herb: growing & harvesting, historical lore, culinary virtues, medicinal merits, and aromatherapy, household, and cosmetic applications. Our gatherings are fun and educational, and jam-packed with useful information, including relevant demonstrations. Everyone with an interest in herbs is welcome. There is a $2 charge to cover costs (this is a non-profit group; no charge for students). Information & Monthly Newsletter: herbstudygroup@gmail.com. Contact: Tamara 785-331-4213
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The Kansas Rural Center, Inc. (KRC), founded in 1979, is a non-profit organization that promotes the long-term health of the land and its people through research, education, and advocacy. The KRC cultivates grassroots support for public policies that encourage family farming and stewardship of soil and water. KRC is committed to economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially sustainable rural culture. KRC envisions a future of family farms, revitalized communities, a healthy environment, a safe regional food system, and people pursuing meaningful livelihoods. For those who want a future in farming, who care about the environment, and who care about the source of their food, KRC offers practical how-to information, and most importantly, hope for a sustainable future. 
Kansas Natural Resource Council is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose purpose is to advocate for the protection, preservation and restoration of the Kansas environment in order to ensure the health and quality of life for all
Kansans. Founded in 1981, KNRC was the first environmental organization to focus exclusively on Kansas natural resource issues. Today, we work to protect Kansas’ water, support sustainable family farming practices, ensure a competitive energy market where renewable resources/conservation can flourish, reduce exposure to hazardous/nuclear wastes, promote waste reduction, recycling and reuse, and encourage environmentally sound industrial practices.
- Ozark Area Community Congress: Every year since 1980,a group of ecology-minded folks has gathered to discuss,celebrate,and learn about all things Ozark. The Ozark Area Community Congress (OACC) was originally organized to offer a forum for Ozarkers working in various fields considered “alternative” at that time,and to encourage them to consider themselves as part of the emerging bioregional movement. OACC was the first bioregional congress ever established,and it inspired the formation of other such congresses. In 1984,OACC participants played a big role in the convening of the first continental bioregional congress. These continental gatherings have been held approximately every two years since.
- Films for Action:
Films For Action is a community-powered alternative news center and learning library for people who want to change the world. Films For Action uses the power of film to raise awareness of important social, environmental, and media-related issues not covered by the mainstream news. Our goal is to provide citizens with the information and perspectives essential to creating a more just, sustainable, and democratic society.Our website has cataloged over 900 of the best films and videos that can be watched free online. On the ground, our City Chapters are working to create alternative media channels that will inform, connect, and inspire action at a community level.
- Cosmic Beauty School: Building and modeling a sustainable shared space in East Lawrence, Kansas by creating an examined, loving, & cooperative home. We are converting an old mixed-use residential/ commercial building into a demonstration site for compassionate intimacy, appropriate technologies, radical methods of intensive food production, urban permaculture, sustainable personal relationships, pro-dignity & anti-oppression social justice organizing.
Ecumentical Campus Ministries Justice Team: Made up of students, faculty, community members, and workers, Eco-Justice strives to improve awareness of the ways environmental issues are inseparable from social and economic justice issues, like racism, classism, sexism, and colonialism. Eco-Justice believes in bearing witness, speaking truth to power and working for social and environmental justice through activism, cross-cultural communication, building coalitions across difference and working within and outsidet of the systems of power and in so doing strive to protect and restore the integrity of all God’s creation.
- Friends of Hidden Valley, Inc.: Hidden Valley Camp is a semi-primitive, privately owned wilderness area in Lawrence, purchased for use by Girl Scouts and others. It features 40 acres of diverse habit, managed with youth, wildlife, and native plants in mind. Friends of Hidden Valley provides support for the camp through gifts of time and money.
- Learning for Life Center: The Learning for Life Center in Topeka is dedicated to planetary and personal health and wellness. The center offers classes in yoga, drumming and other topics; dialogues with scholars and seekers; workshops and events; and Four Oaks Farm, dedicated to growing food and community.
Become a Co-Sponsor: We invite your organization to become a co-sponsor. In exchange for $30 and helping us get out the word on this event, we will list your organization with a short description, logo and link on our website, and on much of our publicity. Please send a check payable to Kaw Council for $30 to P.O. Box 1512, Lawrence, KS 66046. Please also email us — via Kspoetlaureate@gmail.com — a 50-word description of your organization, a URL for your website, blog and/or facebook page, and if you wish, a jpeg of your logo.
