Working
From The Ground Up
In The Chesapeake Bay Region
 The methodology that CAP pioneered for organizing projects, documented in “Working from the Ground Up”, is being used to increase the capacity of agricultural communities to protect the natural resources in the Chesapeake Bay. Working on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network (CBFN)and in cooperation with the University of University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Sciences, CAP has and has worked with CBFN to develop extensive Guidance (link) for identifying organizing and supporting large scale field projects. The Chesapeake Bay region projects include:
Adaptive Livestock Exclusion Project (PDF - 14KB)
In Virginia's Shenandoah Valley conservationists and farmers are engaged in designing site specific solutions through a "flexible fencing and grazing management" pilot project, designed to keep animals out of streambeds.
Lebanon County No-Till Farmer Network Project (PDF - 120KB)
Pennsylvania Farmers in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania have formed a partnership that is engaging farmers who use no-till farming practices to help other farmers adopt continuous no-till production, improve their farm operations and protect water.
The Warwick Initiative - Conservation Plan (PDF - 84KB)
Lancaster County Soil Conservation District and Warwick Township, in concert with other public and private groups are working together to develop and to implement conservation plans for the agricultural community in northern Lancaster County.
On-Farm Composting
The project will develop an on-farm composting facility at Oregon Dairy, a community-oriented dairy and beef farm, in Lancaster County, PA, that engages community resources in the production, marketing and use of compost products.
Maryland Grazers Network
Launched in January 2008, the Maryland Grazers’ Network project will develop, implement and document the use of a farmer-to-farmer mentoring program to support the adoption of a system of grazing and manure management practices that enable farmers to access direct marketing opportunities
 The CBFN Initiative, Strong Communities, Healthy Waters, supported in part by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation provides a further opportunity to apply the CAP methodology for designing ambitious projects that create lasting changes. The Initiative is dedicated to increasing the capacity and engaging the energies of rural communities in creating sustainable farming systems. The Initiative brings together the energies and resources of private funders in the Chesapeake Bay region to create a critical mass of support for innovative partnerships within rural communities and to establish a collaborative network among rural communities and organizations. In the past year the Initiative has helped organize two innovative community partnerships that harness market forces in creating sustainable solutions to the problems associated with excess livestock waste.
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