Division of Extension programming in many ways celebrates the abundance provided by seeds on each step from the soil to our tables as well as the importance of systems that deliver this food. We have been proud to partner in all the Diversity Action Team virtual programs, but the May program represented a priority area for Division of Extension resources and efforts statewide and in Rock County. Nervous Stomachs: Breakdowns in Health and Food Systems provided information about equity issues across the food system from land access to household consumption, including key factors contributing to community food (in)security. It also presented ongoing activities communities across the state and nation are taking to build more vibrant and resilient place-based food systems. You can watch the recording on the Hedberg Public Library YouTube channel here https://youtu.be/50O5kGroXr
A special thank you to our program presenters!
Lindsey Day Farnsworth, PhD, statewide Community Food Systems Program Manager for the University of Wisconsin – Madison Division of Extension, shared her experience conducting research on food systems policy and planning.
Kaelyb Lokrantz, Coordinator of the Merrill Community Sharing Garden, and Jarmairy Jarrett, Hannah Ellis and Jacob Bernal (Fresh Start youth leaders) described the garden and why this project is important for food security and food access, as well as how youth play a role in the project and its future goals.
Resources shared are listed below. We also encourage you to explore our Division of Extension resources on this website from the Master Gardener program, dedicated volunteers with experience talking about basic gardening concepts to Health and Well Being focus not only on food and nutrition itself but also the policy that improves awareness and access. This includes our robust FoodWIse program that educates both individuals and organizations in a variety of community settings. Alongside adults in Division of Extension programming, youth tackle this topic from experiential project learning in food sciences, agriculture and horticulture to community leadership and advocacy opportunities.
