Three Years, Thirteen Football Fields Worth of School Gardens
from Civil Eats:
Three Years, Thirteen Football Fields Worth of School Gardens
By Jerusha Klemperer on May 17, 2013
In the spring of 2010, 60 people met in downtown Detroit to talk about a new idea. Three years later, the concept honed in that Detroit hotel conference room is now a national organization supporting some 80 corps members in 12 states around the country. Last month the service members, fellows, staff and board of FoodCorps returned to Detroit.
We gathered for trainings, conversation, and immersion in Detroits urban farms and gardens. We delved into issues of food justice and inequity, both local and national. We heard from local leaders about their organizations and companies, and the career paths theyve followed. And, of course, we got our hands dirty on some field trips.
Its not easy bringing everyone together in person, but these meetings are an important part of the experience for our service members, and theyre critical to helping FoodCorps learn as we grow.
Detroit provided an important backdrop for this event. Like many of the communities we serve, Detroit faces high rates of childhood obesity and food insecurity, economic hardship, and institutionalized inequality. At the same time, Detroit is a place where local solutions to these problems are taking root. Detroit is addressing its challenges through strategic and thoughtful community organizations and leaders who have stepped up to build thriving new communities centered on food and agriculture. Were proud to be a part of this through partnerships with organizations like the Detroit Black Community Food Security Networkone of our service sites in Detroit, where FoodCorps service member Whitney Smith is spending her year. ......................(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://civileats.com/2013/05/17/three-years-thirteen-football-fields-worth-of-school-gardens/