good things are coming

We're looking at our local food system within a more holistic context now. A fantastic book, "Civic Agriculture", was read by board members, and then discussed at our January meeting. The author, Thomas Lyson, writes a concise history of agriculture in the United States (he begins the story before the industrial revolution). Knowing the background of how we got here makes it easier to see exactly where we are now. The second part of the book sparks the imagination as to where we may go... and gives examples of what might be developing... as communities across the country are localizing their food systems. Benefits of reincorporating agricultural systems back into our community are numerous. The civic agriculture model tends to support local populations directly, and have tangible social/economic benefits. During our discussion, we found we have many more questions regarding how our own food system currently functions. It's the perfect lead-up to our next meeting on February 8. A panel comprised of three local farmers (coming from different backgrounds) will talk to us about their experiences as food producers in our community. We've asked some specific questions ahead of time that will be addressed: about trends and changes in the local market, concerning the logistics of farming in central Illinois, challenges faced because of the status quo, etc. The discussion/meeting is open to all members. We encourage you to attend!