Re: Digest for feedthemovement@googlegroups.com - 6 Messages in 2 Topics

[daniel smith]

Will (and all),

I like your musings on radical csa, intercommunity support, urban-rural linkages, and etc., and would love to discuss, either online or perhaps we could arrange a meeting for those interested.  For me, FTM has been a hugely encouraging example of the sort of thing you mention, and it seems to me there ought to be fertile ground for more sorts of things along these lines.   I'm very interested in exploring ways to move local/organic ag. towards solidarity and activism at larger scales.  I think there's plenty of latent interest that just needs ideas and organization, and  reading some of the global food regime literature it really looks like we're at a fork in the road (between sustainable and just systems and a reinvigoration of the corporate model), with grassroots activism and not-quite-there-yet-solidarity a really key link in pushing it in the right direction.  I spent a lot of time last year trying to buy a piece of land in Northampton with hopes of turning it into what I think of as an ICSA, intercommunity-supported agriculture.  Both a participatory/educational CSA and an effort to explore ways to move beyond the local through activism and acvocacy on national and international policy, exchange relationships with other communities, especially in inner-cities and developing countries (educational, work, financial assistance, whatever works).  In the end it didn't happen--the land had a state ag. easement and navigating the bureaucratic morass for what I wanted to do was just grim--and I've moved onto other things for the moment.  But still very much interested in this stuff.  So happy to discuss or even help organize or facilitate something.

Best,

Dan

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 5:34 AM, <feedthe...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

  Today's Topic Summary

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/feedthemovement/topics

• food program [1 Update]
• Update [5 Updates]

 food program

Will Gusakov <feedthe...@gmail.com> Feb 15 11:52PM -0500  

Hello folks,
 
This is an exploratory email. For weeks, months even, I've had a recurring
idea about helping to organize some type of food distribution/feeding
program as part of a revolutionary strategy for OWS and all our allies.
The idea isn't but half-formed, and discussing it would take more words
than i'll burden you with right now, but it might look a little something
like the Black Panthers breakfast program, mixed in with pinches of
radical CSA, rural/urban sister-community gleaning/youth work-exchange
program, a mobile food truck/camp kitchen/teach-in/meal/party, 'grow a row
for change' victory-garden-type campaign, a neighborhood occupy center
where services (food, along with health and housing) could be
gotten.....etc etc.
 
The big-picture hope being to build broad, deep power and solidarity,
through fostering relationships, sharing stories, and taking care of each
other in a tangible, important way. The empowerment that happens when the
people know that they can do for themselves. The important bonds that can
be built between rural and urban communities.
 
Building the bones of the new society, within the shell of the old.
 
So, I'm exploring to see of there are others that might be interested in
creating something like this. I realize that there are many, many folks
that are already doing work similar to this, or are doing work that would
fit in with this, or that would be much better equipped than I to plan and
design an effort like this. I think you all might be some of those folks!
And you might know others who are, as well.
 
If you are interested at all in this sort of idea, please hit me back. I
have sketched out some ideas that have been in my head for parts of this
future program, and i'm psyched to share them with whomever is interested,
and to hear other ideas too. Also, if you know someone who may have a
voice to lend to this, please pass this along.
 
All the best,
Will


 

 Update

Will <feedthe...@gmail.com> Feb 15 08:20AM -0800  

Hello FTMers,
 
Things are pretty quiet, huh. Seems to me that we may not really have
a role in farm-to-occupation food organizing for a while yet, as
there's not much produce, and more importantly, not a ton of cooking/
feeding going on in either boston or NY.
 
That said, we have some money in the bank! There is a little left over
from the NY kitchen order, though most of it is from donations that we
received through our website from around the country in october/
november. There's a total of about $700 right now. I believe we still
have a few straggling re-imbursement requests from folks who bought
gas when delivering loads this fall (Julia??); assuming we reimburse
those, there's still a nice bit of money. What do we do with it? Some
possibilities I see:
 
-save it for some future, unknown use
-pay it all out to farmers who were hoping for reimbursement from
donations - as of now, just two have been open to that idea, Fair Food
Farm and Osprey Hill Farm in VT
-throw a huge keg party (psyyyych)
 
In terms of what/where feed the movement might go from here, who
knows? But if anyone has ideas/opinions about the money and how it
should be spent/saved, PLEASE weigh in - in absence of input, i'll
just try to decide myself, but that's not so horizontal as it should
be...
 
best
Will


 

Julia Handschuh <juli...@gmail.com> Feb 15 11:44AM -0500  

Hey Will:
Thanks for this update. Yes, I still have gas receipts, which I am trying
to settle with OWS but it would be easier to just roll it into our FTM
expenses if that is an option. I didn't realize we still had money left
over from OWS funds... is this a problem for them? weren't we supposed to
give it back or supply them with receipts?
 
I would love to gather together some local conversations about Feed the
Movement in VT and MA and then come together spokes council style, or
through a conference call to talk about what we'd like to see the next
steps be. I think the Spring is going to be outrageous, and it would be
good to have a conversation about how FTM and this extra money might play a
part in that.
that's my two cents,
Julia
 
 


 

Leah Mae Dyjak <leahl...@me.com> Feb 15 01:15PM -0500  

I agree with Julia. I spent some money on gas the first run Julia and I did in October, but lost the reciept. I was going to call it a was but would love to get reimbursed if that is possible. How do people feel about that? Let's brainstorm about the spring!
 
Leah
On Feb 15, 2012, at 11:44 AM, Julia Handschuh wrote:
 


 

Cedar Circle Farm Cat <toad...@gmail.com> Feb 15 06:21PM -0800  

Hello friends,
 
Good to hear from you. I agree about paying out any debits, honor
system is fine with me. No debts from here. Left overs could wait til
spring when we may feel a need to re-energize FTM. If no rise of FTM,
we can reconsider ... the keg party :)
 
I am really excited about the energy coming from Occupy Farms. Kinda
wish the name was different though, it initially scares farmers.
 
Our farm has been working on a series of videos. We interviewed 6
farmers in January asking questions about OWS and about the
sustainable farming movement. I'll post them here and on OF when we
finish. We plan to edit them in to several short bits to promote
sustainable farming, to support OWS, connect to OWS supporters, and
promote the GMO labeling initiatives in VT, CT, ME, WA, and HI.
 
VT is rockin out the awesome Right To Know GMO coalition. We have
Rural Vermont, VPIRG, and NOFA at the helm. Fingers crossed.
 
~Cat
 
 
 
 
 


 

Will Gusakov <feedthe...@gmail.com> Feb 15 09:47PM -0500  

Hey guys,
Great to hear from all of you. Julia and Leah, just get me receipts
and/or amounts owed, and I can send you checks. Also, I know LIsa
Depiano wants to get reimbursedm but her phone number never works when
I try to call her, and i don't have her address!!! Can you help me?
 
In terms of what/where Feed the Movement goes. Yes, I'd love to be
part of more conversations, and see where folks are at. I too am
excited about much of the possibility of what's being talked about in
Occupy Farms; but there's no reason that FTM couldn't continue with
similar (but different?) work, under our own, non-scary name. :)
 
I have been coming back to an idea over and over again, of setting up
a food-sharing (feeding) program, somewhat like the black panthers
breakfast program ("survival until revolution"), a mix of ideas and
parts - radical CSA, gleaning, work-for-food, food-truck distribution
parties/teach-ins, 'grow a row for OWS,' sister-towns/neighborhoods
(farms from a certain town/area providing food/in relationship with
folks in a certain neighborhood)...
 
I have so many ideas, and it's very overwhelming. So would love to
hear from you exquisite talented intelligent peeps about your ideas
and reactions. Does this sort of program even make any sort of sense
to you guys? Does it have its own internal logic, is it part of a
revolutionary strategy for building counter-power, will it create
relationships and community, will it feel good and liberating and
empowering to those involved, IS IT POSSIBLE PRAGMATICALLY????
 
mwah
W
 


 

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[Cody fosbrook]

Hey, I'm new to this group but some of you know me from D17 (Will, Julia). I'm super interested in helping with designing and implementing a radical, dispersed, food distribution network/ work share program/ etc. I am moving to farm land in south east NH to revitalize, grow and see what sort of community can take hold. I'm definitely thinking long term FTM...Feed Everybody. I'm going to try and make networks in the NH/Maine area. Hopefully implement ideas this group comes up with? Later on I will also be traveling between NH and NYC for actions and work, so I could be a supply vehicle...but that will be a little while.

 I'm going to be in NYC for one week end of February, maybe we could have a meeting? I would like to hear your ideas Will!

I tried to be part of Occupy Farms awhile back but the timing for me wasn't quite right and they were still going through some growing pains. I'm sure they will do great things. FTM should also do great things... even if they are parallel.  I'm up in VT right now looking at seed catalogs and fields with no snow and green grasses...unusual thoughts for mid-february. 

-Cody

-Cody

[Deborah Goldberg]

I am very interested in helping with such a full service community/ I think the process of feeding the movement got complicated but I think full service locations or panels that can help with education, health child care and psychological support would be fantastic... Prganizational meeting?