Thursday, March 22, 2012

HomeGrown Local Food Summit Program

We are in the final stages of planning for the Local Food Summit on Monday, April 2, 2012 at Washtenaw Community College outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Early registration (for $35) is available until March 26, and after that registration will be $45.  Please register soon to join us for an incomparable day of networking with food system stakeholders, and for finding inspiration in local efforts to create a healthy, just and sustainable regional food system for all.

REGISTRATION
We are at capacity, but if you like please sign this WAITLIST
Time: Monday, April 2, 2012 from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Map: http://bit.ly/Api8jV
Location: Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor, MI
Please note: we do not expect to have walk-up registration available on the day of the Summit. 

GOALS
Our day will be focused on establishing a shared understanding of Michigan's agricultural past, on knowing each other in our communities, and on informing ourselves with ideas and strategies for positive change. We intend to take action for a resilient food system that offers "peace and good food for all." 

PROGRAM  
"Remembering Our Roots: Local Food Victories Past, Present and Future"
8:00 Breakfast and Registration
8:30 Welcome: Introductions and Plans for the day
8:45 Jan Longone, Curator of the Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive, University of Michigan Clements Library 
9:00 Larry Massie, Michigan Historian and Author speaks on: "Rubaboo, Kalamazoo & Pasties Too: Aspects of Michigan's Culinary Heritage"
10:00 Local Food Victories and Building the Beloved Food Community 
11:30 Slow Food Lunch In Your Neighborhood
1:00 1st Breakout Sessions and Tour of the Farm at St. Joe
2:00 2nd Breakout Sessions
3:00 Closing Ceremonies
4:00 Corner Brewery


BREAKOUT SESSIONS
  • "Using food hubs to build healthy, resilient communities," Rich Pirog, Director of the Center for Regional Food Systems
  • "Food Sovereignty: Let's Make it Work," Gary Cox, General Counsel Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund
  • "School to Farm: A Dietitian's Journey and Vision for Connecting Food to Health," Diana Dyer, Dietician, Author and Farmer
  • "Power to the Pollinators! Local Honey Project is sweet on sustainability," Lisa Bashert, Founder Local Honey Project
  • "Book Clubs? Gardening Clubs? How about Investment Clubs!" Angela Barbash, Slow Money Financial Advisor
  • "Secrets of Successful Agricultural Grantwriting: A Beginner's Guide," Jeff Holden, Grantwriter
  • "Scaling Up Local Food Access: What do institutional buyers want and what do mid-size farms have?" Randy Burns, Senior Buyer, and Jon and Karlene Goetz, Farmers
  • "Edible forest gardens and the transition to perennial agriculture," Nate Ayers, Director Chiwara Permaculture
  • "Getting a Fair Farm Bill in 2012," Jennifer Fike, Director FSEP, and Lindsey Scalera, Organizer for NSAC
  • "Lessons learned on starting up your local food business," Mary Wessell Walker, David Klingenberger, and Stefanie Stauffer, Entrepreneurs
  • "The State of Farm-to-School in Washtenaw County," Michaelle Rehmann, FSEP Farm to Food Service Program, Neha Shah and Elissa Trumbull, Educators
  • "Farm Real Estate Options and Micro Loan Opportunities," Rosanne Bloomer, Sr. Financial Service Officer Greenstone Farm Credit Services and Ginny Trocchio, Project Director Conservation Fund
  • "Localization: Some psychological aspects of the coming downshift," Raymond De Young, Associate Professor of Environmental Psychology and Planning
  • "Tour of the Farm at St. Joe, Michigan's first hospital-based farm," Dan Bair, Farmer

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Pre-Summit Event: Tours, Spoken Word and Film Screening: Sunday, April 1, 2012

Leading up to the Summit, we are planning a self-guided tour of three locations that could anchor a new "Food Innovation Zone" in Washtenaw County. The Washtenaw Food Hub, Tilian Farm Development Center, and Food Gatherers will be hosting open houses, free and open to the public, from 1:00-3:00pm, on Sunday, April 1st.  

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to: localfoodsummit@gmail.com

After the open house/tour, please join us at 6:00pm at the Morris Lawrence Building at WCC for a conversation, film screening and spoken word event honoring our friend and Michigan food advocate Chris Bedford. Chris' final film, "Getting Real About Food and the Future," was released in 2011. The film tells stories of the food revolution and features interviews with systems change luminaries like Bill McDonough, John McKnight, David Korten, Lester Brown and others.  Leading up to the film, local spoken word artists Lucas DiGia and Walter "Soul" Lacey, will riff on the meaning and place of food in our lives.  Local Amaizin' Pop popcorn and a possible performance by "Juice" will round out the evening.  

EVENT DETAILS

From 1:00-3:00pm
- Self-guided tour/open house at: the Washtenaw Food Hub, Tilian Farm Development Center, and Food Gatherers 

From 6:00-8:00pm 
- Film Screening/Spoken Word/Conversation: "Getting Real About Food and the Future" and "Thought for Food" featuring Lucas DiGia, and Walter "Soul" Lacey
- Location: Towsley Auditorium, Morris Lawrence Bldg., Washtenaw Community College,  4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor, MI