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Through two participatory planning events
(Local Food Forum,
2/28/07 and
Strategic
Planning for Local Foods 4/2/07), two committee meetings (Education
Committee 5/14/07, Capacity Building Committee 5/21/07), and numerous weekly
planning meetings, Central Rivers Farmshed has identified the
following priority areas as fundamental to strengthening the local
food economy in Central Wisconsin:
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Food System Education:
To make wise consumer choices that support local food economies
and sustain the rural landscape, the general public needs to
understand the food system and perceive related issues as
important to their lives. For more information, contact Eric
Olson at eric@farmshed.org.
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Local Eating:
To support a local food economy, we need the skills, resources,
and motivation to grow, preserve, prepare, and appreciate local
foods. For more information, contact Sue Anderson at
sue@farmshed.org.
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Farmer Capacity Building:
In exchange for locally-produced, sustainable, and nutritious
food, farmers deserve a living wage and a supportive community.
This, along with education and training, will attract the
skilled, motivated workforce that healthy rural communities and
landscapes require. For more information, contact John Sheffy
at john@farmshed.org.
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Local Food Networks:
Traditional local food networks have been replaced by a highly
consolidated international system of food processing and
distribution. By rebuilding the networks between local producers
and consumers, consumers can gain access to local food and
producers can gain a fair price for their products. For more information, contact Nick Hylla
at nick@farmshed.org.
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Public Markets:
Public places that facilitate interaction with local farmers,
discussion of local foods, learning about food preparation and
preservation, meeting other community members, and sharing in
community events are fundamental assets that inspire local food
economies and build food cultures. For more information,
contact Jeremy Solin at
jeremy@farmshed.org.
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Nutrition for Learning and Health:
To learn and grow healthy, schoolchildren need access to
nutritious food. Good food is at the center of good health.
Facilitating healthy nutrition should be a primary goal of our
health care providers. Schools and health care facilities could
catalyze and sustain a local food economy and receive great
benefit in doing so. For more
information, contact Jasia Steinmetz at
jasia@farmshed.org.
We are currently developing and moving forward with initiatives in
the priority areas. This requires planning, action, and above all,
collaboration. We need your involvement.
If you want to know more about us and
get involved, visit our wiki page at
www.farmshed.pbwiki.com. |
