Local MAU and young farmer Nancy VanWinkle in the Tennessean....

Young farmers embrace life on the land

For many young adults, farming is a calling

By JENNIFER JUSTUS • Staff Writer • April 26, 2008

As college students, Nancy and Tony VanWinkle met in a coffee shop where they talked all night about Thoreau, the rural life and moving west. Young, educated and eco-friendly, they pursued degrees in therapeutic recreation and anthropology, yet made lists of vegetables they hoped someday to grow, even dreaming up a name for their imaginary farm.

Nearly 10 years and several backyard gardens later, the VanWinkles — now in their early 30s — own a 5-acre piece of land in Goodlettsville and find themselves among a groundswell that could change the look of farming from weathered and windblown to young and fresh-faced.

As the average age of farmers hovers near 60, younger people in Tennessee have been signing on to farm apprenticeships, attending.... (read more here)

This morning! MAU co-founder on public radio call in show.

Mothers Acting Up co-founder and communications director Juliana Forbes is on Central Ohio Public Radio THIS MORNING,

Friday April 18, 11AM-noon EST/ 9-10 AM MT, with host Fred Andrle on Open Line.

Tune in online at the URL below!!

You can even call in to make a comment or ask a question!

Call Open Line at 614-292-8513 or write to Open Line at openline@wosu.org

The topic to be discussed: We’ll hear how mothers can advocate for the future of children worldwide, with Mothers Acting Up Communications Director Juliana Forbes.

Open Line is a live, public affairs talk show, with listener phone calls, on WOSU public radio.

Open Line is streamed live and archived for two weeks at www.wosu.org/radio/radio-open-line

Save the Date: 3rd Annual Mother's Day Peace Parade.

Nashville’s 3^rd Annual Mother’s Day Peace Parade

Hosted by Nashville’s Mothers Acting Up community

Sunday May 11

2-4 PM @ Dragon Park

• Bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic lunch or supper, come early, stay late.
• Children’s activities! Music! FREE CAKE and other refreshment! Mamas on stilts, belly dancing, and hooping!!....
• Wagon, stroller, and tricycle decorating supplies provided.
• Bring drums / harmonicas / penny whistles and finger cymbals, hula hoops, signs / flags and banners with peaceful messaging, bubbles, and joyful spirits.
• Costumes and festive hats highly encouraged.

Known and beloved to many in greater Nashville, Sherry Knott -- mother, active Nashville and Bells Bend community member, and Director of Abintra Montessori School-- will be honored by Nashville MAU and presented with the 2008 Julia Ward Howe Award at the Mother’s Day Parade! Come out and support Sherry and join with us in celebrating exemplary mother leadership right here in our home city!!

The Mother’s Day Parade is fun for the whole ding-dang family.

Nashville MAU casts a wide net: if you aren’t a mother, you HAVE one.

When mothers lead, generations follow!

For more info, contact paige@mothersactingup.org

Mothers Acting Up exists to inspire and mobilize mothers* to advocate on behalf of the world’s children.

*mothers and others who exercise protective care over someone smaller