Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development
Share your rural experiences with other through this site, which is sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Energy. The site includes case studies in sustainability, a forum for
directly sharing ideas, various research publications, and annotated links to sustainable
agriculture and rural community development sites.
Center for Integrated
Agricultural Systems
Based at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, CIAS brings together farmers,
researchers, policy makers, and others to study farming practices, farm profitability, the
environment, and rural vitality. The site has links to research programs, the
Wisconsin Farmer Networks, sustainable agriculture organizations, a calendar of Wisconsin
events, and a search-and-listing service for agriculture-related conferences nation- and
worldwide
Center for Rural Affairs
Located in northeast Nebraska, the center engages in research, education, advocacy,
and service work to further a vision of America’s family farms and rural communities
that encourages principles of social justice, economic opportunity, environmental
stewardship, and personal and social responsibility. The site links to the
center’s newsletter, programs and publications, and contact information and/or links
to a laundry list of un-annotated sites in the areas of beginning farmers, federal
agriculture research, funding sources, hog factories, microenterprise, rural development,
sustainable agriculture policies and practices.
Communities by
Choice
Founded by a cluster of counties and economic development groups in eastern
Kentucky and Central Appalachia, this is a web-based community of people who share a
common interest in building sustainable communities. It aims to create a dynamic
learning organization for individuals, community groups, businesses and policy makers by
providing them with the best sustainable community development resources available and an
opportunity to share their lessons and experiences. The site has a search engine, a
community calendar, a job bank, an online forum, and links to numerous resources related
to sustainable households, sustainable communities, sustainable businesses and public
policy and sustainable communities.
Farming Alternatives Program
Based at Cornell University, this site maintains a listserv for discussing
agriculture development in the Northeast and strategies for improving the economic
vitality of farming in the region. Topics include: market development for farm
products, farmer markets, value-added processing; economic development resources for
agriculture; fostering diversification; assisting beginning farmers and farm transfers;
agritourism and other development strategies, linkages between farmers and urban ethnic
markets. Research publications and a quarterly newsletter available by subscription.
International Institute for Sustainable Development
Find links to measurements and indicators of sustainable development, a highly
selective, annotated database of sustainability tool kits and resources for communities in
Canada and the United States and more. You can sign up to receive a free email bulletin
that provides information on international meetings related to environment and development
policy.
Institute for Agricultural and Trade Policy
The Minnesota-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy's mission is to create environmentally and economically sustainable rural
communities and regions through sound agriculture and trade policy. The institute
assists public interest organizations in coalition building and influencing both domestic
and international policymaking through monitoring, analysis and research, education and
outreach, and information systems management. The site includes contact information,
research and policy publications, action alerts, job announcements, intersnhips, and links
to other resources of interest including a watchsite on the World Trade Organization.
Leopold Center for Sustainable
Agriculture
At Iowa State University, the center supports
projects that involve people throughout Iowa in the process of developing a more
sustainable agriculture. The site has information on the center’s competitive grants
program and its regional and statewide conferences as well as a calendar of state events.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
LISC helps resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and
neighborhoods into healthy ones – good places to live, do business, work and raise families. By providing capital,
technical expertise, training and information, LISC supports the development of local leadership and the creation
of affordable housing, commercial, industrial and community facilities, businesses and jobs.
We help neighbors build communities.
National Center for Appropriate Technology
Learn about sustainable technologies and community-based approaches that protect natural
resources and assist people, especially the economically disadvantaged, in becoming self
reliant. Resources include an online newsletter, publications, resources, and an extensive
list of links to relevant sites.
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Get information on financial services, housing and environmental issues
and publications and events from RCAC, which provides housing and environmental services
throughout the western United States.
Smart Growth Network
Get links to websites of the Smart Growth Network partners, who
collaborate on outreach programs, technical assistance, research, publications, and other
projects aimed at creating communities in which people have increased choice and a higher
quality of life.
Sustainable Agriculture Network
Hosted by North Carolina State University, SAN
is the communications and outreach arm of USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education (SARE) program. SAN is dedicated to the exchange of scientific and practical
information on sustainable agriculture using a variety of printed and electronic
communications tools. The site has information on SARE's competitive grants program, the
professional development program for cooperative extension agents, and natural resources
conservation program for farmers and ranchers as well as publications and research
reports, a national project database, a calendar of sustainable agriculture events, tip
sheets for small farms, and links to a laundry list of un-annotated national and regional
sites on the web.
Sustainable Communities Network
Access a calendar of events, funding sources, and an annotated lists of
resources, sites, readings, and case studies in the general areas of smart growth,
creating community, governing and living sustainably, protecting natural resources sites,
and growing a sustainable economy.
Sustainable Resources on the
Internet
Get links to numerous agricultural topics as well as to the broader issues
of sustainable and earth-friendly development.
USDA Forest Service
Learn about the Forest Service’s staff, programs, and publications,
and how to order maps of national forests. The service aims to achieve quality land
management under sustainable multiple-uses that serve the diverse needs of the people.
