News

Dear Kentucky farmers,

This year we invite and need your involvement and support for the 2012 Bluegrass Local Food Summit -Eating From Our Own Soil – to be held March 22-24 8am-4:30pm at the Crestwood Christian Church in Lexington and concludes with the film showing of Farmageddon March 27 6pm at the Central Public Library. This Summit will address key issues related to local food systems, including how to integrate farming, food, faith and health in Kentucky; create better direct connections between growers and consumers; and will address how local food systems fit into a social and economic development strategy.

The development of Kentucky Proud, Local First, farmer’s markets, food policy councils, Slow Food, climate action plans, Faith Feed, urban gardening and food conferences are all part of a larger movement to re-build our local food systems that serve the common health of our people and the environment while providing for the common wealth of farmers and businesses. This is our 5th annual food summit and each year we accumulate the wisdom, trust and actions steps that plant seeds of new collaborations, fertilize community connections and harvest the fruits of cooperative projects.

As Kentucky and our entire nation struggles with economic restructuring, energy independence, and the rise of childhood obesity and other health crises, this Summit will offer pertinent information, resources, and connections for strengthening local food production, marketing, and distribution– so that health, wellness, and stewardship can increase in the Bluegrass state. We trust that you will join us for our Summit. You can see a brief schedule and list of speakers below.

Here’s what we have in mind for your involvement:

1) Serve on a morning or afternoon Farmer’s Roundtable panel (3/22 or 3/23) and give a 5-10 minute talk about your current efforts to promote local food systems and what you see as the barriers and opportunities.

2) Provide a 1 page write up that summarizes your efforts in growing, using and promoting local foods. These documents will become part of a local food guide for each Summit participant.

3) Kentucky Women in Agriculture, Inc. has signed on as a Sponsor of this event. Your support is very much appreciated. In addition since it is Women’s History Month the Summit planning committee will be recognizing Kentucky Women in Agriculture, Inc. and other women for their contributions to food and agriculture in Kentucky. We encourage you to attend the Summit and be part of this recognition.

4) Provide food for the Summit that 1) we purchase from you, 2) that you donate, or 3) combinations of both.

5) share this information with others in your community and encourage their participation. We have 4 days (March 22-27) of experiences that can provide a meaningful experience for most everyone!

2012 Bluegrass Local Food Summit Outline:

Thursday March 22 designed to discuss the role of local government in creating policies and programs that support local food systems in a comprehensive way. Everyone is welcome to attend any and all sessions!

3/22..6-9pm Book signing and dinner with Mark Winne whose book Closing the Food Gap named our 2009 Local Food Summit. This year he returns with a new book Food Rebels: Fighting Back Industrial Agriculture.

Friday March 23 speakers and workshops: Farm to School, Farm to Institution, Food Policy Council, Rural and Urban Food Deserts, Grow Appalachia, Faith and Food, Scaling Up

Saturday March 24 1) School Garden Workshop; 2) Sustainable Living-Workshops : Raising Bees/Chickens/Goats, Composting, Rain Barrels, Healthy Cooking; 3) Youth Gathering on Food and Sustainability- workshops, presentations, work projects.

Tuesday March 27 6-9pm free film screening of Farmageddon Central Public Library Theater. Speakers: John-Mark Hack of Marksbury Farm Market and Susan Miller of Bleugrass Chevre

Local_Food_Summit on-line registration and payment

We trust that you will find ways to support the 2011 Bluegrass Local Food Summit. If you are not available to participate maybe someone in your business can join us.

Look forward to hearing from you

Thanks so much!

Locally and sustainably yours,

Jim Embry , Sustainable Communities Network

This is a partial list of our featured and invited speakers for the 2012 Bluegrass Local Food summit:

Elected Officials

* Mayor Greg Fischer(Theresa Zwacki) of Louisville who will discuss Building Louisville’s Local Food Economy,

* Mayor Connelly of Berea will talk about the Berea Food Sustainability Strategic Plan ,

* Commissioner Comer of Kentucky Depart of Agriculture his vision for food and agriculture in Kentucky

* Lexington Mayor Jim Gray http://www.lexingtonky.gov/

National and local speakers

* Sharon Furches, President, Kentucky Women in Agriculture

* Mark Winne whose book Closing the Food Gap named our 2009 Local Food Summit. This year he returns with a new book Food Rebels: Fighting Back Industrial Agriculture. Mark will conduct a workshop on organizing food policy councils.

* Tammy Zborel with the Sustainable Project National League of Cities

* Marydale Debor of Connecticut who has led the movement in New England to transform the food served in hospitals. She will lead a working group on farm to hospital.

* Joe Blue, Hopkins County Jailer, is excited about attending and describing the Hopkins County Jail garden and culinary program

* Lenny Stoltz with the Bluegrass Area Development District will speak about the importance of regional planning in building the local food system.

* Award winning Chef Jeremy Ashby of Azur Restaurant and radio talk show host with Sunny Side Up Radio will provide an exciting lunch presentation.
* Jeff Dabbelt, Lexington Farmers Market

* Herb Petitjean, State Coordinator for Kentucky Brownfield Redevelopment Program, Central Appalachian Revitalization Network Central Appalachian Revitalization Network

* Erica Horn and Jennifer Arena with Faith Feeds
* John Mark Hack of Marksbury Farm

* Tammy Horn college professor and author of Bee Economy: What Women and Bees can Teach Us about Local Trade and the Global Market and Bees and America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation

* Jim Embry, the director of Sustainable Communities Network, a recent award winner and national speaker is also a people and nature photographer with his first book coming out this fall, and a co-writer of the Sustainable World Sourcebook

* Jacie Rowe staff member for Louisville Metro Council Member Cheri Bryant Hamilton will share urban gardening, healthy corner stores and local food efforts in District 5

* Mac Stone of Elm Wood Stock Farm

* Todd Clark of Clark Farms
* Sheila Taluskie, Executive Director, God’s Closet & The Purple Lunchbox