Food Security Project

Paul Harlow, Westminister farmer, 24 October 07, Windham Farm Bureau forum on Local Agriculture and Global Warming

The Food Security Project is one of 4 components of POS’ Regional Food Sustainability Campaign Click here for details about the other 3 components)

Goals and Major Components of Food Security Project

(1)  Organize gleaning projects

    i.      Work with Windham Farm Bureau & Brattleboro Agriculture Committee

    ii.      Make gleaning arrangements with area farmers

    iii.      Organize community gleaning groups (ie. faith community, youth, civic groups, businesses, etc.)

     iv.      Secure volunteer Gleaning Coordinators

(2)  Organize plots within the community which will donate food to low income populations

     i.      Identify individuals, civic groups, businesses, schools to participate (ie. SIT Gardens, Austine, The Retreat)

     ii.      Assist in the organization of the garden through planning and fundraising

     iii.      Keep records

     iv.      Ensure continuity

(3)  Work to provide year round access to local foods

      i.      Organize community members and volunteers to can and store food

      ii.      Work with community gardeners on using cold frames and greenhouses

      iii.      Secure locations for winter storage

II.  To organize community gardens in low income communities

(1)  Work with community leaders in low-income communities—e.g., Ledgewood, Moore Court, Westgate, Clark Street 

(2)  Work with interested communities in implementing gardens, including container gardens

(3)  Organize gardening, canning, storing, cooking, leadership, and fundraising workshops

(4)  Raise funds to finance gardens and workshops

III.  To initiate an Independence (from fossil fuels) Garden Campaign

(1) Design and implement a multi-approach campaign to encourage everyone to garden or participate in a community/neighborhood garden

(2) Present a resolution to the Brattleboro Selectboard calling for regional food security/sustainability, and for people to garden, and to share a part of their garden with others: “Grow a Row to Share”

(3) Craft town/state incentive policies (e.g., property tax breaks) for people who allow some of their unused land for gardening

(4) Develop community food infrastructure through “barn raising” efforts: neighborhood gardens, root cellars, green houses, cold frames, canning sessions, etc.

(5) Organize community fund raising activities to finance the materials needed for the above infrastructure

(1) Actively place people of color and low-income into positions of leadership

(2) Create gardening opportunities which encourage people of diverse backgrounds to work together

(3) Use trainings and workshops to discuss issues of race and class as they relate to food security.

(4) Hold weekly events with those involved in these projects to build community across class, race, gender, ethnic and language lines

(5) Conduct Anti-Racism Organizational Assessment with Post Oil Solutions, pre-project and after one year

(1) Community Food Assessment

(2) Intentionally Involve Youth

(3) Secure VISTA volunteers for a 3 year project

(4) Secure a SIT structured practicum position

(5) Policy Research

(6) Create a Food Security Advisory Council 

(7) Empower each project with elements that help to make them self-sustaining, especially developing and supporting community leadership

(8) Quarterly Newsletter

(9) Connect with national and regional food security networks

(10) Present a proposal to the Brattleboro Selectboard for the town to assume long-term responsibility for the project