Getting Started
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What can my congregation do?
Support or host a farmer's market. If fresh food is scarce in your neighborhood, a market can help bring it in. If a market already exists, look for ways to support it. A market can be held at a rural community center, in a church parking lot, or in a city park. Download a fact sheet.
Buy a share in a local farm. Community-supported agriculture projects (or CSAs) allow members to buy a share of the produce from a local farm. CSA members receive a box of fresh fruit and vegetables every week during the growing season. Some CSA farms invite members to work a few hours on the farm. Download a fact sheet.
Grow a community garden. A community garden is any piece of land that’s gardened by a group of people. Some give each member a plot; some have one common field. Some are on two or three acres; some have a few raised beds in an urban parking lot. Download a fact sheet.
Host a community kitchen. Community kitchens are kitchens that are open during certain hours to the community. Commercially certified kitchens allow cooks to sell their products. Churches with day care programs, meal programs, or large facilities often have already certified kitchens. Download a fact sheet.
Feed children during summer break. During 2008, nearly 680,000 school children in North Carolina received free or reduced lunch. However, only seven out of every 100 of them took part in the summer food service program. More organizations are needed to prepare meals and host programs in order to provide enough meals to the children who need them. Dowload a fact sheet.
Host cooking and nutrition classes. Teach how to cook affordable, healthy meals with foods that are in season. Local extension and health department offices often offer teachers, or you can ask some of the good cooks in your congregation to teach. Think simple and easy.
Go gleaning. After harvest, most fields are still filled with produce that got passed over or is not able to be sold because of size or shape. Farmers can receive tax benefits by donating this otherwise unused food. Connect with the Society of Saint Andrew to organize a trip to a nearby farm to glean.
Start a food and faith study group. A great first step is to reflect on what God calls us to do. Adult Bible study curricula like Just Eating provide an easy way to start the discussion. Study groups may decide to learn about the state and federal policies that shape our food system. Contact North Carolina groups like RAFI-USA or MANNA Food Bank to find out how you can helps shape the farm and nutrition policies that affect our state.
Hold special services for planting and harvest. Rogation services in the spring and thanksgiving services in the fall are traditional ways to ask God to bless food and the land and people who create it. Services can include blessings of soil and produce brought from farms and gardens. If your church has a special connection with one farm or garden, the service could be held there.
Sponsor a farmworker camp. Migrant farmworkers in North Carolina live far from home and often lack basic necessities like healthy food, blankets, and adequate clothing. The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry connects churches with workers to build friendships and help provide for the needs of those who grow our food.
Invest in land conservation, or educate landowners about conservation and forestry plans. Urban and rural churches can both help preserve farmland. Connect with a local land trust to help fund land conservation programs. If your church includes farmers and landowners, contact the NC Division of Forest Resources or your local Soil and Water Conservation District to find out how landowners can take advantage of programs that preserve their land and provide financial rewards.
Connect generations. As the average age of farmers increases and the population of cities grows, many young people no first-hand knowledge of how to grow or prepare local food. Ask youth to interview elders about food and farming. Where did their food come from when they were young? What did they eat? What has changed? Record these interviews, have a story-sharing time, or have children draw or write down what they learned. Include a farm field trip, a meal, or a cooking lesson.
Give container gardens. Even in city apartments or rest homes, tomatoes, peppers and herbs grow well in pots. Have the youth group pot plants in the spring and give them out to elders, food pantry clients, or low-income families. Visit with recipients several times during the growing season to check on the plants and build friendships.
Share food traditions. North Carolina’s ethnic diversity is increasing. Share cultures and learn by inviting people to bring a meaningful food from home to share. Talk about the religious or cultural significance of the foods as you eat together.
Give wild game. Deer and other wild game are plentiful in North Carolina. Groups like Hunters for the Hungry process donations of wild game and get the meat to families in need.
Have seasonal potlucks. The best way to get people excited about local food is to eat. In addition to any of these projects, have meals where members are asked to use at least one local ingredient in their dishes. Share recipes.