Food and Faith

Food Justice for All Webinars

Do you enjoy eating fresh local food?

Ever wanted your church to grow its own food, or become a pick-up spot for local produce shares?

Do you want to make sure families in need have access to good, healthy food?

Learn from others' experiences about how your congregation can get involved in the movement to bring communities together around fresh, healthy and local food!

Join one of the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) "Food Justice for All" webinars!

PHP will be hosting a series of learning calls/webinars to explore ways that congregations around the country are growing community by alleviating hunger and connecting healthy local food to people and communities with little access.  The webinars will detail proven faith-based initiatives like summer-feeding programs, community gardens, farmers markets, tactics for getting local produce in food pantries and kitchens, and other models for linking people with healthy and local food.

Sign up for the webinars by clicking on the registration link below:

1. April 28th 2:00-3:00pm (EDT) - Food Justice for All Webinar: What congregations are doing to build just and sustainable food economies
2. May 5th 2:00-3:00pm (EDT) - Food Justice for All Webinar: Growing community through local food
3. May 12th 2:00-3:00pm (EDT) - Food Justice for All Webinar: What congregations are doing to build just and sustainable food economies
4. May 19th 2:00-3:00pm (EDT) - Food Justice for All Webinar: SNAP outreach and Summer Feeding Programs
5. May 26th 2:00-3:00pm (EDT) - Food Justice for All Webinar: What congregations are doing to build just and sustainable food economies
   
   

 

Farm workers inspire (and feed) the world

On Thursday, a special group of folks from around the world joined in a spirited protest with farm workers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), students and people of faith from various churches in the area. The protest took place in front of a Publix supermarket in Naples, Florida. The CIW has been asking Publix to work with them to end poverty wages and abuses in the fields.

Pictured is Dr. Aruna Gnanadason from India, who is one of 30 people gathered for a Justice Reading consultation with the World Council of Reformed Churches here in Fort Myers. We spent the first day together with the farm workers in Immokalee to ground our consultation in current justice issues of worker exploitation, mistreatment of immigrants and modern-day slavery. (See the press release from the WCRC on the protest)

• Here are photos and story from Naples Daily News - "Farmworkers target Publix in protest over wages and working conditions"
• Here are photos and videos from the Coalition's recent "Do the right thing tour!"
• Find out how to act in support in the farm workers' Campaign for Fair Food

During our "immersion" day with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, we heard the history of the CIW and the farm workers' struggle and amazing organizing to claim their rights and dignity. We walked through the town seeing the ridiculously-expensive RVs that many of the farm workers rent on a weekly basis. And we saw the solidarity and service center Mision Peniel.

Mision Peniel is one of three ministries of Beth-El, which assists farm workers in Immokalee in their efforts to achieve greater self-sufficiency. It provides opportunities to worship, educational programs and many services needed given the lack of services and opportunites offered by the government. The Mision provides food, men’s clothing & shoes and hygiene items as well as a hot meal on Friday. Pastor Miguel Estrada, an ordained Presbyterian pastor from Guatamala, has been the director of the Mision since 2007.

Food sovereignty for us dummies

“The day that hunger is eradicated from the Earth there will be the greatest spiritual explosion the world has ever known.  Humanity cannot imagine the joy that will burst into the world on the day of that great revolution.”  (Federico Garcia Lorca)

If you have heard the term - FOOD SOVEREIGNTY - and not known what the hay it is (or how to spell it!), take heart because you are not alone.

Luckily, our friends at Grassroots International and the National Family Farm Coalition have come to the rescue. Now you can hear U.S. and international family farmers talk about what food sovereignty is to them - simply! And concisely!!

And you can read it in your mother tongue, if that happens to be English, Spanish or Portugese. (French is coming soon)

Food Sovereignty for all!

• Bring justice and sustainability to our food system
• Localize control and create resilient, regional food chains
• Democratize decisions over what is grown and who gets to eat

All people have the right to decide what they eat and to ensure that food in their community is healthy and accessible for everyone.

“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

 

Fair Food Webinar and GoToMeeting

Some of you joined the Fair Food: Field to Table webinar this week and heard about various efforts by farm workers, farmers and distributors to bring justice to the food system. You can see the Fair Food-Field to Table-Webinar NOTES to catch up if you missed it.

We are having a follow-up GoToMeeting for any of you that wish to discuss what you heard and saw, and to talk about how these issues relate to our faith, our congregations, and our efforts to build a just, sustainable food system. Please join us for a GoToMeeting at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, March 16 (details below).

GoToMeeting Instructions

When: March 16, 2011 (Wednesday), 2:00-3:00 PM (EDT); (11AM-12:00 noon PST)

* Join the meeting at 1:55 by clicking here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/960862178

* You may need this extra time since you will likely be prompted to download a mini web application in order to use the GoToMeeting. This is necessary to participate.
 
* Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended. Or, call in using your telephone with the numbers below.

* Dial +1 (314) 627-1500
* Access Code: 960-862-178
* Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
Hosted by the Presbyterian Hunger Program.

Food for My Child

Turning the Tables on the Food Crisis!

The US Food Sovereignty Alliance launched on World Food Day 2010. Since October, representatives from member organizations have been dialoguing with grassroots organizations, faith groups and coalitions -- primarily in the United States but linked to the global movement for food sovereignty -- to create an alliance for positive change. The Presbyterian Hunger Program has been an active member since the groups came together as the US Food Crisis Working Group, which formed in reaction to the 2008 global food crisis. PHP has been collaborating as the ad-hoc coalition formalizes and invites groups to join together to remake sustainable food economies everywhere so they serve people, both consumers and producers. Theologians from around the world were invited to reflect on the need to turn the tables on an often unjust food system and one of them, Sofia Oreland, despite the fact that she was due with her second child, responded. Here is her reflection...

Food for My Child

By Sofia Oreland
Sweden Theologian and Policy Advisor, Education and Mobilization, Church of Sweden

I gave birth to a child, Baby Brother (Lillebror, the name his sister gave him). Everything seemed fine. But when Baby Brother was only eight hours old doctors discovered he had several life-threatening heart problems. We were given emergency transport to the Swedish hospital that performs pediatric heart surgery. Once in his unit, Baby Brother shared an observation room with three others, with staff persons continuously supervising their young patients. Baby Brother’s surgery was postponed twice, the first time due on an onset of sepsis, the second time because the ICU was full. We spent two weeks, anxiously waiting and watching him.

Baby Brother was too tired to nurse, partly due to the heart problems, partly due to the strong life-sustaining medication. But every day I gave him the breast, hoping that this was the day he would have the strength to eat. After a couple of courageous attempts he always fell asleep. He was too tired. This was painful to watch. But then one day it happened: he was able to eat one whole meal! It was a fantastic feeling of liberation, relief. I was all smiles and when I looked up I discovered two African women, at the bedside of an older boy, watching me with Baby Brother in my arms. They saw my joy, our eyes met, and there, below their veils, their faces broke into big smiles as well. It was evident that they understood, that they were able to share my emotion and deep joy.

We live in a beautiful world: let's CELEBRATE!

A colleague Roger Doiron and Kitchen Gardeners International produced this video about the beautiful food we can choose. Roger found it ironic that "one day after the government issues its strongest recommendation to date to eat less and better foods, the snack food industry lobby launches "National Snack Food Month" to get Americans to eat more and worse." So they launched 28ate.org . . . for fun, and to bring attention to the billions  of dollars spent on advertising unhealthy, processed foods.

Kitchen Gardeners International has launched this open-source campaign to encourage people to opt out of unhealthy, processed snack and junk foods for the #20ate days of February and opt in for real ones instead. Please see the oh-so-satisfying, meal-sized version (well-balanced, of course) for some ideas on how you can join the campaign and help our country's good food movement to grow.

And for those of you who know what this means, please use the #20ate hashtag and avatar/badge to show your support.

If all this is a little too "out there" for you, find a group of people in your congregation to do the Just Eating? Practicing Our Faith at the Table curriculum. You may be happily surprised at what sprouts from that! You can download or purchase the adult or middle school versions here (middle school version available in Spanish too).

Food and sustainability: finding solutions!

A whole issue devoted to FOOD and SUSTAINABILITY! Introducing you to Kids Can Make a Difference and their Finding Solutions Newsletter. You can sign up for the newsletter on their home page. But without further ado...
1) About this issue...by Jane and Larry Levine and Christina Schiavoni
2) WhyHunger at 35: making connections, building the movement, sticking to its roots...by Alison Cohen
3) Bringing lasting change to school food: how we do it, and how you can, too...by Meredith Modzelewski
4) Just eat food ...by Joan Dye Gussow
5) Eat the sky: the food and climate connection...by Anna Lappé
6) Camel farming in Tanzania...by Donna Stokes

1) About this issue...by Jane and Larry Levine and Christina Schiavoni

This special issue of the newsletter marks only the second time in our long history that we have devoted the entire issue to one subject, Food & Sustainability. This important theme will be continued in future issues.
Download the article

2) WhyHunger at 35: making connections, building the movement, sticking to its roots...by Alison Cohen

For the past year I’ve been a part of a WhyHunger team working with community-based organizations to build a regional network to address issues of persistent lack of access to fresh and affordable food in Mississippi. After a day of travelling throughout the Delta down dusty roads through small towns stopping along the way to walk a farmer’s land or witness a makeshift food pantry in action, I wrote the following in my travel journal: My boots are muddy, feet frozen, face wind-chapped, head churning with images and ideas — another invigorating and inspiring day touring farms and meeting with community partners throughout the Delta in Mississippi. I’m overwhelmed by how much work there is to do and I’m full of hope.
Download the article

3) Bringing lasting change to school food: how we do it, and how you can, too...by Meredith Modzelewski

While it’s easy enough to say that children need healthy food – and the right amount of it – in order to succeed, far too many children come to school hungry. A hungry child can’t learn or play well, and school food may be her main meal of the day. In the U.S., more than 30 million children eat school food five days a week, 180 days a year – so it’s incredibly important that these meals are healthful.
Download the article

4) Just eat food...by Joan Dye Gussow

Many years ago, as I was beginning my formal study of nutrition, I spent a classroom break chatting with a new friend who was experienced in the field. I was in the process of learning more than I ever thought I wanted to know about vitamins and minerals, and told my friend that I had been thinking about nutrition education. I realized, I said, that it would take me about 20 minutes to teach ordinary people what they ought to eat if they wanted to be healthy: less meat, less fat, lots of grains and fruits and vegetables, some dairy. “The problem is that there are all those other things in the supermarket designed to confuse them.”
Download the article

5) Eat the sky: the food and climate connection...by Anna Lappé

The first half of 2010 will go down in history as the hottest January to July on record, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The top 11 warmest years all occurred in the last 13. But despite this historic heat and the growing evidence that skyrocketing manmade greenhouse gas emissions are fundamentally and permanently altering the climate as we know it, our elected leaders are dragging their feet on binding emissions limits—even backsliding on embracing climate science.

When the 112th Congress was sworn in on January 6th, dozens of its ranks were unabashed climate change deniers and Republican leadership was seriously talking about ending the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
Download the article

6) Camel farming in Tanzania...by Donna Stokes

Timothy Sheghere Mgonja is a father of six children, including his 7-year-old daughter Sifa, the youngest. He is the fun sort of dad who once chaperoned a group of kids on a field trip to the Meserani Snake Park and Maasai Museum in Arusha, a nearby city.

After watching the delighted children ride camels at the tourist park, the struggling farmer asked the park workers how much money camels make them on each ride. He was pleasantly surprised. When he learned of the other extraordinary benefits of camels, including milk production and their ability to haul water and firewood and even to pull a plow, he was completely sold.
Download the article

Food Justice Fellows ~ Applications now due (final cut-off is March 11)

Do you get angry that we grow more than enough food for everyone but so many go to bed hungry?

Does the thought of building bonds and direct links between farmers and eaters stir you up?

Are you already a food justice-maker?

Does the idea of building oases of fresh, healthy food in "food deserts" get you excited?

Have you heard of food sovereignty?

Is your longing for justice - for your neighbor and all people - rooted in your faith?

Yes to one or more of these means you may have the agrarian and spiritual muscle and bones that Food Justice Fellows are made of!

* We are extending the deadline one time until March 11. Download the Food Justice Fellows Application

This is a new initiative of the Presbyterian Hunger Program to strengthen the work of Presbyterians and communities working to build just, equitable and sustainable local food economies in the U.S. and around the world. We have seen that by strengthening localized food systems, which are controlled by the producers and consumers themselves and based on Christian principles of justice and stewarship, communities are able to become more self-reliant and economically prosperous.

Food Justice Fellows will work individually as organizers in their region, but be strengthened as a national communal body by exchanging their experiences of what is working and visions for how to move forward. By virtue of being a community of practice, Fellows and PHP staff will be able to update each other on the U.S. and global food sovereignty movement and stay connected with common ground initiatives inside and outside the church. Food Justice Fellows will provide each other with mutual support, accountability and camaraderie.

Consider becoming a Food Justice Fellow and/or passing this information to a young (or young at heart) adult who would be great for this. Applications from lay and ordained leaders from the African American, Latino and Asian communities are particularly encouraged.

Learn more here.

P.S. And you definitely don't need to be a 'fellow'! (there just aren't great options - cohort, comrade, compeer, bloke. Food Justice Blokes. Naw. Cohorts is actually pretty good...)

Download the Food Justice Fellows Application

Rich and fulfilling

Rev. Peter Sawtell does reflections like the one below every week, and you can sign up for his free e-newsletter on the Eco-Justice Ministries' website. You can find a subscribe form at the bottom of last week's Notes, where he tucks the 6-1/2 billion history of Earth into a year.

Enjoy "Rich and fulfilling," which for me describes getting back to a more agrarian way of life and mindset. I'm printing it out for my teenage sons to read, and then I'll be tossing my television (and their video games) out the window...

Rich and Fulfilling
Copyright 2011 - Eco-Justice Ministries

Over the New Year's holiday, I looked at some old family pictures. One set shows my grandfather driving a Model T Ford along the rutted, unpaved tracks of what then qualified as a major highway in central Nebraska.

My wife's grandmother reflected to Allyson about the changes she had seen in her lifetime -- from hearing the astonishing news of the Wright Brother's first flight (December, 1903) to seeing live TV images of people walking on the surface of the moon (July, 1969).

When we lived in Iowa farm country, Allyson and I saw home movies where our parishoners were plowing fields with teams of horses, and raising sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and chickens in the diverse ecology of a family farm.

I've had a couple of conversations in the last month with folk describing their experiences growing up with party line telephones, and having eight families able to listen in on each other's conversations.

My, how times change!

Today's farm fields -- frequently owned by corporations instead of families -- are plowed by enormous tractors, and livestock are raised in the confined settings of industrial agriculture. Increasing numbers of households are giving up their wired telephones, and exclusively using mobile "phones" that are far, far more powerful than the computers that took Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon. Where my adventurous grandfather spent days fighting across muddy Midwestern roads to get from Omaha to Denver, 50 million people now fly through the Denver airport every year, expecting quick and reliable travel to destinations around the world.

Cooperatives rock!

In Nepal, people are reviving traditional farming. Producer cooperatives help farmers retain more profits on traditional and local food crops, while also protecting biodiversity and the health of their families.

I was thinking how cooperatives are the wave of the future in farming, so plugged in that phrase and sure enough - Value-added cooperatives: Wave of the Future? was at the top of the list. Here in the United States, Organic Valley Cooperative is an example of a large, successful producer cooperative that continues to grow and diversify. Then of course, there is the worker-owned cooperative of Equal Exchange, our partner in the Presbyterian Coffee Project.

Co-ops rock.