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Reviews and Acknowledgements For The Organic Guides Here are some of the reviews and acknowledgements I've received for the Organic Guides, and for my work nurturing local organics and a healthier, less-toxic world. THANK YOU to everyone who helps make this work possible! For more about The Organic Guides, see: The Organic Guide to San Francisco The
Organic Guide to Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino
Counties
"The Organic Guide to San Francisco, is equal parts travel guide, shopping adviser, political pamphlet and community-building tool.... [It's] an all-purpose primer on the rapidly expanding world of organic living [and] ... packed with information. Dines says she wanted this to be "an insanely useful book, rich and lush with nutrient-rich information." ... Section III is worth the $9.95 price of admission alone: It's a dense compendium of useful resources on topics as wide ranging as federal organic standards to community gardens. The book is well documented, and the endnotes made interesting reading, too." Lisa Van Clee f, Green Gardener, Special to SF
Gate (8/29/2001) SF Gate is the San Francisco Chronicle's
website. Click here
for full article. 
"Ah, organic, locally grown food! It's fresh, tasty, and it may be one of the best-kept secrets of the Bay Area.... But ... where does all the good stuff go? ... It's the drama of underexposed organics. "But Patricia Dines is trying to change that, one shop and one shopper at a time. Dines edits, publishes, and markets The Organic Guide to Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino Counties. She calls it an 'empowerment guide' for living the organic lifestyle... 'The book answers three important questions: What is organic, why should you care, and where can you get it?' says Dines... 'Everything you need is in one book.' "Dines became an organics activist soon after her move to Sebastopol from San Francisco, about eight years ago. Less than a month after she moved here, she was exposed to [apple orchard pesticide] spraying near her house. 'The issues of toxics got me into this, but I decided that organics was the positive solution.' "She created her first organic-food guide in 1998 as a 36-page directory... These days the listings for farms, natural-food stores and farmers' markets continue to dominate, but the book has expanded ... [and] listings now include consumer information for hemp products and home furnishings ... [and] Dines is adding a nontoxic pest-control section. And that's just the second half of the book. "The first half is a veritable Cliffs Notes, with easy-to-follow essays and sidebars pertaining to topics in organics and local agriculture, from pesticides to community-supported agriculture [CSA] farms. 'Some of these topics can be hard, but I try to make them easy,' says Dines. 'I'm writing for people who aren't necessarily immersed in this stuff and supporting them in taking concrete, constructive steps.' "Even longtime devotees of the organic lifestyle will find plenty to chew on, what with the detailed footnotes and the readings list. And new eateries and stores open all the time ... so that few readers will know about all the listings.... "Now that the guide has taken off for the North Bay, Dines is taking on San Francisco, with the first edition of The Organic Guide to San Francisco due out in May as well.... 'I'm trying to demonstrate what opportunities exist for [people] right here in the city,' Dines says. '[Cities use] such a huge amount of resources that if even a small amount of that is organic, it means a huge impact for local growers and producers.' "It may seem like a lot to take on - both consumer awareness and industry openness - but like so many environmental activists, Dines is fueled by an urgent sense of the need for change now. 'We're at a crucial time in agriculture,' she says. 'It's an easy phrase to use, but I think it's true. The struggle is very visible in our part of the world. Are we going to continue to have small, local farms, or are they going to shut down and we're going to get food from large factory farms that use toxic chemicals? What would that mean? It would change the character of the area entirely.' " Marina Wolf, San Francisco
Chronicle (Cultivating Interest in Organics, March
23, 2001, NB7)
"If you haven't already seen The Organic Guide to Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino Counties and are interested in the health of the local food system (in this instance, northern California), check out this well-researched book by Patricia Dines. The Guide should receive some kind of award for how organized and well-designed it is. "I keep a copy near my desk and use it as a reference to inform friends, farm advisors, food system groups and others about the resources that exist in our bountiful part of the country. I see the Guide as a kind of Lonely Planet travel guide with listing code symbols, all the great commentary on the farm, restaurant, store, etc, and the map to locate the organic haven. "But more than that, the history and updates of such things as the Hidden Costs of the Food System, food accessibility, farmer compensation, and consumer right-to know-issues are covered for the benefit of those who desire to chose organic but don't always know the philosophical reasons behind organic food and farming systems. "I honestly believe that the Guide should be required reading for any institution of higher learning teaching classes on agricultural sustainability and food systems. Check it out for yourself." James Johnson, The
Quantum Agriculture Project "I think your guide is terrific and a must have, will sell for our store!!! It is very good, comprehensive. Excellent! I am grateful for your careful work...This stuff is my passion .... Your book is a Godsend." Barbara Iannoli, North Light Books and Cafe
"Please send [both Guides to my friend's address]. I ordered these publications for myself and found them extremely informative and interesting. I've told several friends about them." Susan L
"Your newest guide is just fabulous! Keep up the good work, you are doing a GREAT service for the environment and people who love her!" Diane Cooner, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
"This Guide is a real contribution to us as human beings and to where we live. I'm going to buy as many copies as I can!" Rich Switzer, local playwrightt
"The Guide is fabulous -- there's still nothing else like it." Nina Zeiger, Organic Wine Company
"I think your guide is excellent, and I can't wait to see next year's edition. Please keep us on your mailing list for press releases and review copies!" Marina Wolf "Great book. Can't wait to vacation in CA." Heidi Carter,
Lincoln NE, 6/9/98 "Congrats, again, for a great final product." Jeanne Merrill,
Pesticide Watch "The Guide's awesome, a really great job ... We're glad to be in it ... As a consumer, we're excited to have it - can't wait to have time off and visit places. Such a good job, especially for the first time publishing it." Guide participant
"You're doing a truly outstanding, fantastic thing. I just saw a guy on his tractor and his white suit and this gas mask spraying today and I just got so enranged.... so keep up the outstanding work." AB,
7/11/98 "I really appreciate this information and have forwarded it to many others in our sustainability group. In fact, thank you for all your incredible output. I'm pleased to be on your team!" AH,
9/11/98
"Thanks very much for being such a great ambassador for all of our community." Davy Davidson, VegTime
"You have the blessing of every conscious person in Sonoma County. You have all my spiritual support." LB,
6/98 "Thanks for all the hard/good/effective work you do to make the world a less toxic place!" LR,
2/8/98 |
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OTHER MEDIA THAT HAVE COVERED AND/OR REVIEWED THE GUIDES AND CAP'S WORK
* Country Connections. This journal, subtitled "Seeking the good life - for the common good", recommended the Guide in their article about organics, "Organic Is Economic." (Jan. 1999). * Sonoma-Marin Farm News. "Organic Farms and Businesses Invited to Join New Guide." (March 1998, p.4) * Sonoma County Vegetarian Grapevine (July-Sept. 1998, circulation 60,000) * Coast & Valley. The Guide was highlighted in this monthly magazine covering northern California. "Local Organic Vineyards". (June 1998, circulation 40,000) * Wine Business Monthly. The Guide, with photo, was highlighted in this wine business periodical. (June 1998, p. 67) * North Coast Xpress (Spring 1998, p.48) * The Inspectors' Report. Newsletter for organic inspectors. (Spring 1998, p.10) * Canary News. Health and environmental newsletter, for people made sick by and sensitive to chemicals. (July/Aug 1998, p.13) * Organic Wine News Online (June 1998, August 1998, August 2001, and more) * Vertical File Index. Listings of resources for library vertical files. (July 2000 and Sept. 1998) * Harry O's Sunday Environmental
Show. Patricia Dines interviewed on this radio show,
twice. Live 105. >> CAP is also a member of and supports a variety of environmental and related organizations. |
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