Announcing The Quaker Simple Harvest Farmer's Education Fund
This fall, Earth Pledge announced the newest program under the Farm to Table initiative. Created to help support farmers, local communities and consumers, The Quaker Simple Harvest Farmer's Education Fund is intended to advance the discussion, education and implementation of improved, sustainable farming practices.
With generous support and participation from Quaker Simple Harvest, this program will award grants to farmers, share ongoing research, provide materials and hands-on help to farm of different size, location and crop. Our overall goal is to leverage these notable farmers to help us raise awareness, increase participation and make change!
The focus of The Quaker Simple Harvest Farmer's Education Fund will be on soil management. Our aim is to improve soil structure, increase water infiltration and holding capacity, decrease erosion and water (cation) exchange capacity through three low impact approaches:
- Conservation Tillage
- Nutrient Management
- Grassland Management
Grant applications from farmers are now being accepted. For information about program eligibility, timing and process, CLICK HERE.
OUR TEAM
The Earth Pledge team is supplemented by advisors such as:
Fred Kirschenmann, Distinguished Fellow, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Paul Hepperly, Ph.D., Director of Research, The Rodale Institute
Cab Baber, Farmer and Leader in Effective Microorganisms, Island Herbs; Hawaii's Big Island
In conjunction with the launch of all natural Quaker Simple HarvestTM Instant Multigrain Hot Cereal and all natural Quaker Simple Harvest Multigrain Chewy Granola Bars, Quaker is partnering with Earth Pledge's Farm to Table initiative. As part of this partnership, Quaker has established The Quaker Simple Harvest Farmer's Education Fund to help educate local farmers about sustainable planting and harvesting methods.
Quaker has a long tradition of working closely with farmers, suppliers, and crop researchers in major North American oat-producing regions to promote the advantages of growing oats as an excellent rotation crop. Compared to many other crops, oats are recognized as an excellent crop to limit soil erosion and reduce agricultural chemical usage. Quaker is also committed to reducing its environmental impact through creative solutions for minimizing waste, including using oat hulls as a renewable fuel source. By burning oat hulls for energy instead of coal, greenhouse gas emissions are substantially reduced.
