Links
Family Farms/Organic Agriculture
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF)
Provides free and affordable legal services to grassroots, community-based
groups and local governments working to protect their quality of life and
natural environment through building sustainable communities. CELDF is helping
townships across Pennsylvania craft anti-corporate farming ordinances to
help preserve family farms. celdf.org
Robyn VanEn Center for Community Supported Agriculture
History of the CSA movement as well as a directory of CSAs in the United States.
Use this link to find a CSA in your area! http://csacenter.org
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Fostering the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming practices.
An excellent resource on organic farming policy and practice, and offers
terrific links. http://ofrf.org
National Farmers Union
The voice of family farming. nfu.org
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA)
a grassroots non-profit public interest and advocacy organization that monitors
issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, corporate
accountability, and environmental sustainability. organicconsumers.org
Entertainment with Purpose
Adrienne Young & Little Sadie
These acclaimed American Folk artists, an independent business in their own right, connect people to their food, encourage them to engage in shaping their world, and strongly support locally-owned independent businesses. Follow the link--they've donated a free mp3 download of a cut from their album, Plow to the End of the Row, to visitors from our website! http://www.adrienneyoung.com/go/?E_MjM4
Reversing Global Corporatization, Promoting Community Empowerment and Democracy
ReclaimDemocracy.org
Actively works to restore democratic authority over corporations, revoke
the power of money to control government and civic society, and revive democracy
in the US. Their website is a terrific resource for illuminating and eliminating
the root causes of top-of-the-news problems and issues. ReclaimDemocracy.org
Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy (POCLAD)
The pre-eminent research group on corporate, labor and legal histories,
rethinking organizing strategies and shedding light on democracy movements. poclad.org
Sprawl/Land Use/Big Box Development
ReclaimDemocracy.org (see above) also provides one of the best compendia on Wal-Mart we've seen. You can find articles, studies and other information that can provide you with information for your Big Box battle or pre-emptive campaign. ReclaimDemocracy.org/walmart/index.html
Sprawlbusters
An International Clearinghouse on Big Box Anti-Sprawl information. sprawl-busters.com
Sprawlwatch
A Clearinghouse full of information on best land use practices. sprawlwatch.org
Community & Environmental Defense Services
A nationwide network of attorneys, environmental scientists, traffic engineers,
planners, political strategists, fund-raisers, and other professionals allied
to help people defend their community and environment from the impact of
poorly planned land development activities. Find their excellent publication,
How to Win Land Development Issues, available as a free download. CEDS.org
Community Vitality/Community Economics
The New Rules Project
Does outstanding work to promote local ownership and community empowerment.
Their site lists dozens of examples of local and state policies newrules.org
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance
A nonprofit research and educational organization that provides technical assistance
and information on environmentally sound economic development strategies.
They've got a great links page to organizations concerned with community
sustainability. ilsr.org
Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO)
The national association of community-based organizations providing entrepreneurial education, access to capital, and support to aspiring and active low-income entrepreneurs. microenterpriseworks.org
Rocky Mountain Institute's Economic Renewal Program
Promotes community development without rampant growth or corporate dependence. rmi.org
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE)
Aims to create and strengthen local networks committed to building sustainable
and inclusive living economies and promoting socially responsible business
practices. livingeconomies.org
The National Main Street Center of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation
The nation's clearinghouse for information, technical assistance, research
and advocacy on preservation-based commercial district revitalization. mainstreet.org
Ithaca Hours
There's nothing funny about this money. The best developed community currency
in the nation! ithacahours.org
The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)
A private, nonprofit membership and research organization that serves as the
leading source of accurate, unbiased information on employee stock ownership
plans (ESOPs), broadly granted employee stock options and related programs,
and ownership culture. nceo.org
Trade Associations Doing Notable Work to Help Independent Businesses
American Booksellers Association
The national trade association for our nation's wonderful independent booksellers--Independent Bookstores for Independent Minds. bookweb.org
Booksense.com
Looking for a book on the web? You don't have to compromise your convictions! Visit booksense.com for a great alternative that supports community-based bookstores when you don't have one in your hometown! Their services include gift certificates good at over 1000 participating independent stores.Abebooks.com
Your search for that hard-to-find or out-of-print book might end with abebooks.com, a service that searches the nation's independent bookstores for your request.
American Specialty Toy Retailing Association
The national trade association for independent toy stores and manufacturers of those unique, creative, well-made toys we all love. Use ASTRA's toy store finder to locate a unique toy store near you! astratoy.org
Association of Retail Travel Agents
The largest nonprofit association in North America that represents independent travel agents. artaonline.com
Independent Community Banks of America
The only national trade association dedicated to community banks -- aggregating
their political power, providing industry information and training, and providing
products and services. ibaa.org
Carpet One
An excellent resource for locating a local, independent carpet store near you. carpetone.com
Council of Independent Restaurants of America (CIRA)
The trade association and buying cooperative of fine independent restaurants nationwide. dineoriginals.com
Independent Grocers Association (IGA)
Find an independent grocer committed to community near you! iga.com
National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA)
Identifies, develops and implements effective strategies for coordination and
collaboration between regional Cooperative Grocers Associations. ncga.coop ncga.coop
National Coop Business Association (NCBA)
An association serving all types of cooperative business. You can find a cooperative
business or find out how to start one--all in one place. ncba.coop
Find an Independent Cafe
Buck the green circle! We all know independent cafes brew the finest joe. Visit
Delocator.net to find them near you in the U.S. and Canada...and if you know of one that's not on the list, you can add it!
Find a Co-op
If you want to find a co-op grocery near you or on your travels, do your search
at the Cooperative Grocer Online. The site also provides useful links for
folks in the co-op grocery business. cooperativegrocer.coop
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America The nation's oldest and largest independent agent and association. Use the site to find an independent agent. independentagent.com
The Utility Connection provides a search tool for publicly-owned natural gas and electricity providers nationwide. utilityconnection.com
