Planning an earth day event

[Wander, Michelle M]

Folks,  HI!

 

I wanted to solicit your input as I work on the Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program’s earth day event.   Remember, last year’s event we had Nancy visit.  Typically we host an event on an important theme and hope to get students, faculty and the community engaged.    Traditionally we’ve gone with a noon event at the Union because that works pretty well for students.   

 

Love your input on some ideas I’m kicking around- these include the following:    

·         Mas Masumoto -  (Author- Epitaph for a Peach) - http://www.masumoto.com/literary/books/index.htm

·         Julia Govis- Illinois Farm to School Coordinator (maybe include others closer to home working on foodshed mapping?)

·         Panel Discussion on Agriculture Technology and Risk– A GM Crop Case Study-  This would bring in a mix of scientists for a panel discussion (grad students from different backgrounds had been interested in this- note faculty ever talks about this; have been thinking about this for a while and have some good folks from both sides to discuss thoughtfully I think)

·         Joel Salatin  (Author- Everything I want to do is Illegal) -http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/joel-salatin-americas-most-influential-farmer-talks-big-organic-and-the-future-of-food.html

 

Anything in particular excite you?  Would noon work or would you be much more likely to attend such an event if it was in the evening?  We could do a follow up discussion like we did last year for this group if it appeals.   

 

And, in case you missed it… the Edible Economy group some of us met with are going great guns..   http://agroecologyandsustainableagriculture.org/?p=424

 

 

M

 

 

 

[Ron Revord]

Hey,

 

Will you be at the SSC retreat tomorrow? I’d love to chat with you about this and the alike. Specifically a guy similar to Joel named Mark Shepard. He does some amazing agroecology work with oak savanna in SW Wisconsin. Actually, he recently put with Joel up there!

 

Ron Revord

[Roach, Rebecca R]

Mas

[Jacqueline Hannah]

Hello Michelle, 

What is the goal of the event? Is it aimed primarily at students on campus? My reason for asking is that, depending on the goal and/or audience hoped for, that would color my answer. 

Personally, I'd love to hear Mas Masumoto speak and I am interested in Mark Shepard's work as well. (Well heck, I am interested in the work of everyone on the list, but these two stand out for me.)

If the desire is to get as many people there as possible, a name like Salatin is going to draw the broadest crowd from the community by far I think. It'll get the broadest sampling of the community as well I think - townies, students, hardcore local foodists, as well as those just starting to hear about these issues and to be interested in them. 

If the goal is to bring someone in we can really pick the brain of for work we might learn from/replicate here, I think we're on the cusp of some very good stuff happening with the schools and having Julia Govis speak could really stimulate that work here in C-U. 

Whichever you go with, let us know and we'll promote it to the owners/customers of CGFC, but let us know as soon as you can. We already have out our entire spring semester class/event schedule out for the co-op and the sooner we can add this to our materials, the better job we can do getting the work out to support what you are doing. 

And yes, for me, evening would make a huge difference in whether I could attend, but of course I know you have to pick the time of your event based on your hoped for audience rather than for what I want and will do my best to find time to get out and support it either way. ;)

- Jacqueline

--
Jacqueline Hannah
General Manager
Common Ground Food Co-op
(217) 352-3347
www.commonground.coop

[Roach, Rebecca R]

Mas!

[Mmw]

Will be there in the afternoon. Love to get input. Not everything needs to happen that week so ideas spawned can be seeds for follow up!

[Mmw]

I love Mas

[Wander, Michelle M]

Ron,  I will be at the retreat- Kevin is interested in him too. We can chat later today.

 

M

[Wander, Michelle M]

Jacqueline,

 

Great Qs…   Complicated answer… no one event can advance all the goals you list but all are worthy.    For ASAP the earth day event should serve campus (students) and ideally community too.   We can do more than one thing and, aren’t restricted to that time slot if something else makes sense. 

 

How does this group want to help ‘good stuff’ happen here?   What would be helpful on that front?  I  agree that Julia Govis presents an opportunity here.. I am really excited that Julia (copied here- invited to introduce herself) is now working with U of I extension.   Maybe we can invite Julia to visit with us sometime that makes sense (when she is in town?)...  She has lots of ideas.   That lunch discussion behind the coop worked pretty well (I forget how to spell his last name) ….   Are Saturdays best for folks or is a workday or evening preferable?

 

*Julia this is a  list serve of folks interested in developing the local CU food system.  Can I add you to the list?

 

Michelle

[Valerie McWilliams]

Michelle—I am working with Barbara Minsker, an engineering professor, who is trying to bring Majora Carter to campus on April 19 and 20.  Majora is a renouned speaker, McArthur award winner who founded Sustainable South Bronx.  Check out her talk on TED.  Her emphasis would be sustainability and green economy with an emphasis on economic development in low income communities.    

 

 

 

From: local_foo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:local_foo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Wander, Michelle M

Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 5:35 PM
To: local_foo...@googlegroups.com