Eastside Food Forum of January 20, 2010
Hosted by: Allen Neighborhood Center
Summary Report
Twenty-seven people were present for the Eastside Food Forum held on January 20, 2010 at the Foster Community Center.
Through a facilitated process, the full group reviewed current food system assets throughout the Eastside. Five small groups then formed to hold deeper conversations discussing which assets can be enhanced, what is weak or missing, and what can be strengthened. Finally, each group finished their conversation by considering what kind of future food system we can create. The full group reconvened to hear all points generated.
The full list of thoughtful comments is included below. Here is a brief synopsis:
- Similar themes began to emerge regarding a walk-able community offering equal access to a wide variety of food stuffs with a connection between existing Eastside-based resources as well as a strong connection to regional resources.
- The importance of increasing diversity of foods to match ethnic diversity and to hear and engage the low income voice was recognized.
- It was recognized that while the Eastside can’t exclusively feed the Eastside, many existing assets are present (farmers market, community and backyard gardeners, corner stores, up and coming available land, institutional partners such as the Foster Community Center, Lansing Parks and Recreation, Greater Lansing Food Bank, Allen Neighborhood Center, Sparrow Health Systems, schools and churches).
- A community food space (licensed kitchen and more) was discussed in every group.
- Similar public conversations will be taking place at the regional and state level this quarter and an Eastside Food Advisory Committee could become an important conduit for greater food security information.
While the Eastside Food Advisory Committee will function as an independent entity, the Allen Neighborhood Center is willing to extend the same support to this group as it does for any neighborhood group (meeting space, administrative support, outreach/public awareness, etc.) A number of people have already indicated interest in joining this group and there will always be room for more. If you were not able to attend this Food Forum but would like to become involved, please contact Hollie Hamel (517.999.3911) or Heather Hymes (517.999.3919) to be added to the list. A poll of convenient meeting times will be taken and the first date will be set in late February.
Buy Local. Eat Well.
Small Group Discussions
Small groups formed to ponder the following three questions:
- What assets can be enhanced?
- What is missing or weak?
- Using our assets and our ability to strengthen, what future food system can we create?
Following are their responses.
What assets can be enhanced?
- Farmers Markets- 12 in Ingham County (2)
- EBT, Debit, Credit availability
- Food Co-Op
- City Market
- Community Gardens
- Community Centers
- School Gardens
- Restaurant- Variety (2)
- Sparrow- connected to food programs and local foods
- Neighborhood Orgs.
- Backyard gardening- Garden in a Box (2)
- Connectivity
- Awareness
- ANC and Garden Project Resource Center are located on the Eastside (2)
- Eastside has better walk ability (2)
- Utilizing existing retail outlets (2)
- QD- 4 have organic vegetable displays
- Corner stores
- Up and coming available land- demolition and vacant lots (2)
- Gardener and food prep courses/ education (3)
- Kitchens untapped resources
What is missing/weak? What weaknesses can be strengthened?
- Voice of low-income population
- Walk-able districts/ Transportation (4)
- Local butcher
- Local grocery
- Local dairy and delivery
- Local bakeries (bread)
- Produce delivery
- Markets within neighborhoods
- Support diversity to encourage use of resources
- Pocket parks to be used for gardening
- Increase viability of small farmers (perimeters)
- STRONGER LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY
- Distribution system
- Gardening culture
- Congregate sites
- Strong community kitchen (3)
- nutrition programming
- meat locker
- canning
- introducing ethnically diverse populations
- Youth involvement
- Water at community gardens
- Relationships between Foster Community Center (Lansing Parks and Rec.), ANC, Community Gardens, Sparrow and Schools (3)
- Increase sales
- Learn how to work with large institutions
- Limited hours, local foods, choices and variety at retailers and restaurants (2)
- Communication about Community Gardens and other resources
- U-Pick
- Breakfast/ healthy options to go
- More community (citizens not just organizations) ownership over CFS projects
- Milk, Eggs, Meat! Where can you get it when the Farmers Market is out of season?
- Urban Farm, Urban Orchards
- Storage facilities/ institutional distribution
- Root cellars
- Large freezers
Using our assets and our ability to strengthen, what future food system can we create?
- Self-reliant/ balanced system
- Minimal emergency feeding due to minimal need
- Using ethnic diversity for food and social awareness
- Generating new relationships among residents and food/farming enterprises of residents
- Engage existing food businesses
- Majority of food purchased from local region
- Eastside supporting farms on perimeter and being nourished by their harvest
- Eastside or Lansing Food Co-Op
- ELFCO- mobile
- Eastside or Lansing CSA’s
- Community Kitchen (2)
- Classes which offers cooking, nutrition, processing, canning, preserving courses
- How do I eat this stuff
- Promoting through appropriate venues
- Access to U-Pick
- Access to more “authentic” cuisine
- Kale trucks replace ice cream trucks
- Eastsider catering
- Enhancing Ethnic Markets
- More “new” customers
Facilitators Notes on Elements of an Ideal Eastside Food System
Self-reliant/balanced system/ A sustainable food infrastructure/Mobile infrastructure (ELFCO?)/ Do this through walkability/access/ Pocket parks for growing/Strengthen local food economy/ Eastside or Lansing food coop/
Everyone has access to food at minimum/Hear and engage low-income voice through demonstration/ Community Kitchen/General Courses on Cooking, preserving.
Using ethnic diversity/increasing food diversity to match ethnic diversity/ Support diversity
Generating new relationships around food/ More diversity in creating a civic culture
Engaging existing business/supporting local small farmers (increase their viability)/Affordable Eastside or Lansing CSAs/ local food suppliers
Things to keep in mind…
Walkability common theme
U-pick fits in a lot of these themes
Need more time for this in an Eastside Food Advisory Committee
Additional Thoughts
Collection action/information sharing (periodically) key
We have amazing people on the Eastside
Similar movement occurring at the regional level
Important to note that the Eastside can’t feed the Eastside
People that live in mass society lack a direct experience in the world – sees an attempt to overcome that alienation from the world through food. Hannah Arendt – Life of the Mind.
Need to look mass production “directly in the eye”
Many of the things mentioned above are things that used to exist but ceased to exist. We need to learn why if we will learn from them in creating a future food system.
Don’t forget to visit the Eastside Food Map If you would like to add or remove any map item please contact Heather at heatherh@allenneighborhoodcenter.org.