Adamah Congregations
"Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield." Joel 2:21-22
Fall Adamah Challenge- Have a 100 Mile Potluck in your congregation
The "potluck" is an important fixture in churches across America and a communal meal practiced in many denominations. The act of coming together and sharing food means more than just eating. Potlucks create an opportunity for fellowship and community and can also be used as learning tool - a way to focus on the gift of food and the processes that bring it to our tables.
Organize a "100 Mile Potluck" in which all of the ingredients are grown or made within a 100 mile radius of your church. There is an abundance of food grown within 100 miles of your congregation. This is an opportunity to support local farmers and protect creation.
Eating locally might be as easy as cooking with homegrown squash or making apple cider from your local orchard. It might mean your first-ever exploration of our local Farmer’s Market. It might mean pausing to consider the labels at your local healthy-food store. It will definitely mean taking a different look at the experience of acquiring, preparing and eating food.
When we take the time to consider the many hands and processes involved in bringing food to our plate, we become aware of the profound blessing that is present in each bite. Food is God's bounty—an entire growing season's worth of work by a farmer and the product of rain, sunshine, healthy soil, and God's grace. Help your congregation remember this by participating in the 100-mile Potluck.
Click here to download FREE Agriculture-themed resources for worship and congregational study.
Why is it important to eat local?
- Buying local food not only helps local farmers thrive, it reduces energy consumption and fights global warming. The average food travels between 1200 to 2500 miles from pasture to plate, and a lot of energy is expended freezing the food for transport. Eating locally grown food means less fossil fuel burned in preparation and transport.
- Local food is often safer, too. Even when it’s not organic, small local farms tend to be less aggressive than large factory farms about dousing their wares with chemicals.
- While fruits and vegetables from overseas may seem more exotic, they may also have been produced in countries with weaker environmental standards.
- Small family farms are more likely to grow more interesting varieties not always found in your local grocery store, making food more flavorful, protecting biodiversity and preserving a wider agricultural gene pool, an important factor in long-term food security. Not only does local food usually taste better, but eating locally can provide important vitamins and minerals important for your health.
- Click here to read more reasons why its important to eat local.
Rules of the Localvore (those who eat locally):
If not FROM BACKYARD then locally produced.
If not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then Organic.
If not ORGANIC, then Family farm.
If not FAMILY FARM, then Local business.
If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Fair Trade.
Accept the Challenge
Have your congregation explore the importance of eating locally as a way to support healthy food systems, sustainable living, and small, family farmers. Host a “100 Mile Potluck" this Fall.
Sign up today for the challenge
Tell Us Your Stories
Share your challenges and successes with us and with others. Through sharing your stories, you can support the eco-justice ministries of other congregations committed to caring for God's creation.
|
