Social Justice, Inclusion and Accountability

At Groundswell we talk a lot about social justice, food sovereignty, inclusion and equity. We participate in all sorts of community initiatives that share the vision of a more equitable food system. But are we really making any kind of difference, in the world or even within our own organization?

I have often claimed that, at Groundswell, “We are creating an integrated, multicultural social and economic support network for beginning farmers and market gardeners, one that brings together people from different economic backgrounds and cultures to learn from one another and to strengthen our local food system.”

But is this really happening? And who is holding us accountable to our vision?  

Read more . . .

Don’t Miss the 2015 Food Justice Fair!

Sunday, September 20th

Hear how farmers of color are leading the Good Food Movement

Groundswell is pleased to be a cosponsor of the Food Justice Fair in Ithaca, which is organized each year by GreenStar Community Projects. This year the Fair will be held from 1-4 PM on Sunday September 20, in conjunction with the Streets Alive and Latino Multicultural Festival in Ithaca’s southside neighborhood.

We are especially excited to bring author Natasha Bowens to Ithaca to give the keynote address on “The Color of Food: How Farmers of Color are Leading the Good Food Movement.” Bowens’ book The Color of Food recently published by New Society Press, grew out of her own experience as a beginning farmer of color. Read More . . .

Excerpt from The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience, and Farming

Building Autonomy as African American Farmers
by Natasha Bowens
 

Renard “Azibo” Turner is a compact bundle of energy as he swiftly moves from one part of his 94-acre farm to the other. He is a machine, a methodical man who starts each day with just five hours of sleep and a cup of coffee and doesn’t stop working until supper. 

In the early morning mist, we work together pushing bean seeds down into the clay soil in the garden patch, just beyond the fence that divides the crops from the goat pasture. Renard grows everything from radishes and beans to kale and lettuce. Chickens peck their way around pasture while heirloom hens lay chocolate-brown eggs in the coop. But Vanguard Ranch is well known in Virginia for its goat meat, sold to restaurants and in kabobs and burgers at festivals, and the farm’s main attraction is its herd of about 50 Myotonic “fainting” goats that grazes more than 50 picturesque acres.

Renard and his wife Chinette first had their dream of farming while living in Washington, D.C. in the ’70s. They were part of an Afro-centric circle of back-to-the-landers, but the circle seemed to be all talk, and Renard and Chinette ended up alone on land in rural Virginia that they had hoped would be a Black community for sustainability. They had to learn everything because neither of them came from an agricultural background. Renard grew up in California as the only Black kid in his school’s Future Farmers of America program, but FFA’s conventional teachings didn’t prepare him for this kind of agrarian life. 

Read More

Join us 
SATURDAY, October 17 from 3-7 pm
at Hopshire Farm & Brewery for

A Fundraiser Benefitting Groundswell’s Beginning Farmer Programs

Event Highlights

Silent Auction featuring items from local farms, restaurants and artists

Pig Roast by Van Noble Farm

And More fabulous food by Iron Owl Kitchen

Brewery Tour by owner and brewmaster Randy Lacey

Fall Beers just released by Hopshire Farm & Brewery

Face Painting for the kids

Live music

Cider pressing demonstrations

Hard Cider tasting by Beak & Skiff/1911 Ciders

Come on by and support your local farms and farmers!

*Food and beverages will be available for purchase.  Proceeds from Silent Auction and Pig Roast benefit Groundswell Center’s Beginning Farmer Training Programs.

Food Citizen News:

A Food Policy Council for Tompkins County

Citizens are encouraged to help shape local food policy!

The planning group is now actively seeking Council candidates who can represent diverse policy stakeholders, including low-income consumers, farmers, food workers, and food business owners.  We’re also trying to recruit 200 “Friends of the Food Policy Council” by the end of September. Friends will receive periodic updates and be able to seek a seat on the Council, and/or to vote for candidates in October. To find out more contact tcfoodpolicycouncil@gmail.com or 607-252-6695.

(Image courtesy of: The Food System - Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems Social Issues Team and Elliott Kuhn (graphic artist), 2004.)

Upcoming Programs

Finger Lakes C.R.A.F.T. 

Next Session:
Monday, September 21st 
at Main Street Farm in Homer, NY.

For more information, or to register, please visit our website.

The Finger Lakes Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (C.R.A.F.T.) brings together established and aspiring farmers to share support and information about maintaining a farm business.  This community meets monthly throughout the growing season at one of several CRAFT Mentor Farms to learn about each farm operation, ask lots of questions, share knowledge, and network with each other. 

Each monthly session of the 2015 CRAFT season consists of a 2 hour farm tour, half an hour skill-building workshop, and half an hour potluck dinner.

When: The third Monday of the Month from 5:00 to 8:00 pm

Cost: Groundswell members: $25, Non-members: $40 (More information about Groundswell membership can be found here.)

Beginning Farmer & Land Seeker Meeting

Tuesday, September 15, 7-9 PM
@ CCE-Tompkins, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca NY
 

Groundswell and the Cornell Cooperative Extension regional agriculture program are hosting a FREE discussion/info meeting for people seeking land to farm on Tuesday, September 15, 7-9 PM at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County office at 615 Willow Ave in Ithaca.

Information about land seeking approaches and options will be discussed.  Cooperative Extension staff will provide details on cash lease arrangements including cash and barter options.  Dan Welch with the Cornell Farmnet program will discuss lease to own and farm transfer arrangements.

The meeting also provides an opportunity for land seekers and beginning farmers to provide feedback on Landlinking and incubator/start up farm business support they need.  Key discussion topics to be explored are:  What land arrangements are you seeking?  What support services and resources are you needing?  What challenges have you experienced in seeking land, support, or needed resources?

Regardless of the stage of your farm business development, this session provides an opportunity to share your needs and learn about options to pursue for successful farm business start-up.  To register email mjc72@cornell.edu or call Cooperative Extension at 607-272-2292.  There is no charge for this workshop.