2009
Jiff Martin is AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST’S Connecticut State Director. She is responsible for a variety of education and advocacy initiatives pertaining to farmland preservation, farm viability, and local food policy in Connecticut. Martin’s prior experience includes working toward sustainable food and agriculture policy on behalf of Hartford Food System; conducting field research on food emergencies in Eastern Africa; and teaching in New Orleans. She recently received the Merit Award from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation for grassroots advocacy.
The Power of Agriculture: a semester long series of events fostering openness, curiosity and dialogue about issues surrounding sustainable agriculture in our community, country, and world.
Most events will take place at the Donald F. Harris Sr. AgriScience & Technology Center (located on the Bloomfield High School campus), unless noted otherwise, and are open to the public. DIRECTIONS BELOW. ANY UPDATES WILL BE NOTED IN RED UNDER EVENT LISTING . THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES.
Starting at 11:30, light refreshments will be served with many items showcasing food and drink from a CT local farm (including our own). Food will be prepared and served by students in the culinary arts department.
Perspectives on Culture, Life and Learning through Agriculture
food is our most important energy source. We will look at the reasons why a local, organic food system is critical to our future, take a tour of the local and organic food system now being created in Connecticut and explore some of the challenges this system faces. Learn how you can get involved in this exciting work.
Bill Duesing has been farming using organic methods for over 35 years on the Old Solar Farm in Oxford, and has been promoting a vigorous Connecticut food system for that time. He is currently the Executive Director of CT NOFA, the Northeast Organic Farming Association in Connecticut, president of the NOFA Interstate Council and past president of the Connecticut Farmland Trust. He was the founding director of the New Haven Ecology Project and its Common Ground High School (on a farm) and has created school gardens in Bridgeport, New Haven and Hamden.
Our current global energy situation has been brewing for generations. It will take a serious change in our thought patterns to create a clean energy future that all can participate in.
NO Farms, No Food
JIFF MARTIN
American Farmland Trust Connecticut State Director
How are we going to eat?
Bill Duesing
executive director of CT NOFA
energy future with lessons of the past
John Calandrelli
Sierra club connecticut chapter
For the past year, independent journalist Duncan Crary has been interviewing James Howard Kunstler on a weekly podcast about “the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl.” Kunstler is perhaps the most outspoken critic of suburbia and is the author of four books on urban planning, including “The Geography of Nowhere”, “Home from Nowhere” and “The City in Mind.” In his most recent nonfiction book, “The Long Emergency” Kunstler explores the coming end of cheap fossil fuel and how this energy crisis will affect everything from where Americans live, to how we do commerce, to how we grow our food. In this talk Crary will report on Kunstler’s cantankerous, often funny and usually spot-on analysis of the American way of life.
Duncan Crary is a former newspaper reporter and magazine editor turned podcast personality. He has recorded face-to-face podcast interviews with many notable authors, including Sir Salman Rushdie, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, E.O.Wilson, and Andy Rooney. Crary’s most recent project is a weekly podcast with author/social critic James Howard Kunstler.
thursday, May 28th, 8-10 am The students from the Bloomfield FFA chapter will be hosting a
Farmer’s Market at the Harris AgriScience Center. We are inviting everyone to visit the farmer’s market as well as to learn more about the Bloomfield school nutrition program and the district ’s initiative to feature more locally grown produce as part of school meals. A variety of Connecticut grown, and New England grown products will be available for purchase: plants, honey, soap, milk, and much more. Visitor’s will be able to sample Chef Tim’s, aka “local food dude”, succulent locally grown pig roast. For a complete list of vendors, and products they will sell, please click here.
The collaboration between the three departments of Agriscience, Culinary Arts and Foodservice is cutting edge education. The Agriscience Students start the vegetable seedlings in their on-site greenhouses, when ready to be moved outside the students plant the seedlings in one of the twenty raised beds at the Harris Agriscience Center. When school starts in September the Chefs from the Food Service Department (School Lunch) harvest the vegetables to be used as part of the school lunch program. In addition the Culinary Arts Students also harvest the vegetables to be used in their classes. Teaming the Agriscience students and the Culinary Arts students teaches each other the real cycle of life.
Bloomfield Public Schools Foodservice Department also participates in the Connecticut Farm to School Program. This program educates students on the benefits of eating locally procured products including fresh fruits and vegetables. To learn more about the Bloomfield Schools Farm-to-School Program visit www.blmfld.org/farmtoschool.
Farmers Market
Event held in front of Agriscience building
thursday, MAY 28TH, 8-10
please note change in time and date
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location
Most events will take place at the Donald F. Harris Sr. AgriScience and Technology Center (located on the Bloomfield High School campus), unless noted otherwise, and are FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Our Ecological Footprint
In order to reduce our environmental impact, we ask that you please bring a name tag, paper, writing utensil, and coffee mug. Also, look for and utilize the recycling bins around the building. With your help, we can reduce the “ecological footprint ” of these events.
Exhibits
Exhibits from a variety of organizations and student work will be showcased in the hallway and foyer during events.
Need More information?
Occasionally, weather emergencies, speaker illness, or other unforeseen circumstances force us to reschedule or cancel events. Feel free to call to confirm any of our events at 860.286.2630 Ext. 141, or visiting online at www.blmfld.org\agriscience, or emailing jrodrigues@blmfld.org. The Harris Agriscience and Technology center is located at Huckleberry lane, Bloomfield, CT 06002. ANY UPDATES OR CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE (IN RED) UNDER THE EVENT LISTING.
Download Power of Agriculture flyer HERE
If you are interested in becoming part of next year’s events please email Joseph Rodrigues.
Directions to the Donald F. Harris Sr. Agriscience and Technology Center
Friday, february 20th, 11:30
Where do you find local food in Connecticut? What is the difference between local food and conventional food? What will it take to have more local food available in the future? Do we have enough farmland in Connecticut to grow local food for everyone? What can you do? What can towns do? Find out about ongoing campaigns in Connecticut to save farms and grow more local food.
friday, March 6th, 11:30
please note: this event will take place at granby high school, granby connecticut (directions below)
The Tragic Comedy of Suburban Sprawl
Duncan Crary
Producer of the Kunstlercast
Friday, May 8th, 11:30
friday, April 3, 11:30
Harris Agriscience Center, Front of Building
On may 14th, 2009, starting at 7:30 am., anyone interested in reducing traffic congestion, improving the environment and saving money on gas is invited to stop by the Harris Agriscience center on their way to work to greet bike-riding commuters and Bloomfield High School’s Farm-To-School program will be providing pastries, water and coffee.
If you are thinking of commuting by bike, check out http://www.wecyclect.org/ for more information on how to get started.
PLEASE NOTE: IN CASE OF POOR WEATHER, PLEASE CHECK BACK AT THIS WEBSITE FOR ANY CHANGES.
Bloomfield public schools presents Bike, Walk, Commute Leave Your Car At Home Today
Event held in front of Agriscience building
Directions to Granby High School.