Community Outreach “To live, we must daily break the bread and shed the blood of creation. The point is, when we do this knowingly, lovingly, skillfully, reverently, it is a sacrament; when we do it ignorantly, greedily, clumsily, destructively, it is a desecration…in such desecration, we condemn ourselves to spiritual and moral loneliness and others to want.” Wendell Berry Organize a farmers' market on your church grounds Determine if there is a need for a farmer's market in your community or neighborhood (talk to farmers and neighborhood residents). Visit the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website on how to organize a new farmer's market Promote Community Supported Agriculture Membership in your neighborhood--become a dropoff point As your CSA farm how many shares you would need in order to become a dropoff point, and if they're willing to drop off produce at your church. Leave flyers inviting neighbors to buy CSA shares Hold an informational session for neighbors at the church building Coordinate volunteers to be at the church to receive dropoffs and as shareholders arrive to pickup shares Sponsor a Community Garden Find partners--other churches in the community and refugee services are great partners Indentify a parcel of land that can easily be acquired or rented Research other community gardens to find out how to organize members, collect dues, and publicize the opportunity. Resarch out to immigrant populations Consider coordinating producers to sell produce at a farmers market or at roadside (or church parking lot) stand Host community education forums on environmental justice issues in our food production system. Seek out experts in your own community Schedule individual forums or a series of forums Promote both in your congregations, at other churches, and in your community at large Use the forums to gather names and addresses of those in your midst that are interested in these issues so that you can all stay in touch with one another.