Seeking Submissions for New Column: “Lessons from the Land”

The Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming and the Cornell Small Farms Program are teaming up to create a new column called “Lessons from the Land,” which will first appear in the Fall 2016 issue of the Small Farm Quarterly.“Lessons from the Land” will capture and share the stories of and lessons learned from farmers, homesteaders and land workers around New York and the Northeast.
Too often, farmers and homesteaders exist in isolation; working long hard days, both overcoming significant and unpredictable challenges and also witnessing earth’s abundance.  Stories are a way to connect, unite, and share ideas, information and experiences. 
We want to hear stories from growers of all types and sizes, on real topics, that matter! 
Each issue has a theme. Submissions of 400 – 800 words may be submitted online at http://groundswellcenter.org/lessons-from-the-land/. We will publish only nonfiction submissions. Feel free to submit your name, farm name, city and state or submit your piece as “anonymous” if it allows you to be more honest.
We reserve the right to edit your submission to meet space limitations or to be sensitive to privacy issues.  We will share changes with you before publishing. Because of space limitations, we are unable to print all the submissions we receive.  Selected entries will be published in each issue of the Small Farm Quarterly as well as online on the Groundswell Center and Small Farm Program websites. 
The first “Lessons from the Land” will appear in the Fall issue, due out in early October. The topic is “Water: Woes and Triumphs” and the submission deadline is August 12. 
 
Water: Woes and Triumphs
The 2016 growing season has been abnormally dry in the Northeast and farmers are feeling the heat.  Contrastingly, June 2015 was one of the wettest on record. Share the stories of your experiences of dealing with too much or too little water and the ways you’ve had to change your practices to adapt. 
 
Here are some questions to get you thinking:
Are you prepared for such little rain and if so, why? 
Are you experiencing crop loss?
Are you getting creative with finding water or feeding animals?
Are you thinking about how you will adapt your land for future droughts? or floods?
 
SUBMISSION LINK: http://groundswellcenter.org/lessons-from-the-land/.
Deadline: August 12
 
Upcoming Topics: 
Tools: Assets and Liabilities– November 11 (Winter Issue)
Being Prepared – February 10 (Spring Issue)