Thursday Feb. 9, 4:30 - 9:30 to Friday Feb. 10, 8:30 - 3:45
An annual tri-state ecumenical gathering of people committed to restoring right relationships for food and farming.
Religious leaders from sponsoring judicatories in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin will share an opening dinner and lead a prayer service at the start of this year’s Gathering. New documentary films on our apprentice farming and winter farmer’s market projects will debut.
Fr. Maurice Lange will lead Thursday night and Friday morning sessions on Crafting Farmers for People and the Land, promoting placement of young farm couples and farm apprentices in new food-producing enterprises with religious communities.
Mary Hendrickson and Doug O’Brien will make presentations and lead “action step” sessions Friday morning in three parts:
- Livestock Production Trends and Food Security: Where we are and where we’re headed (an assessment of where various segments of regional and national domestic animal and meat production and this impact on justice, earth stewardship and community)
- Alternative Trends and What could be if we redirect resources, revitalize infrastructure and shift purchasing habits (comparisons and examples of higher returns, more humane and ecological practices, healthier local economies, etc. from farmer-owned and value-added finished product enterprises, cooperative enterprises, natural and organic production, direct market relationships)
- Hope in Action: What people of faith need to do to make alternatives possible (suggested action steps in local economic development; federal and state policy changes; local involvement in buying clubs, cooperatives and markets; community development; development of a common dietary code, livestock practices, meat production and slaughtering standards, infrastructure development and labeling system for Muslim, Jewish and Christian people .)