Community Development

This new list of metrics will be useful as we design and work our food system projects and orgs.  Not perfect. Missing mental health. Good start! Measuring Racial Equity in the Food System (PDF)

Here is our homespun video describing our process for designing the Elgin Local Food Center. We created this video for the Iowa State University Community Food System Training program. 11 mins long. Look for more updates soon as we work hard to raise funds to build this fabulous new food processing and education center in […]

It’s not just violence and poverty that Central Americans are fleeing. It’s also climate change. In this NY Times article, you’ll read about how the temp in Central America has increased 2 degrees F, how the rains are off schedule, and how coffee won’t grow in the heat like it has for so many years. […]

This article from Urban Food Futures gives a brief overview of the changes happening in our food system. Spoiler alert: high volume buyers make big differences in our food sourcing and eating. We would add the fabulous Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP)! We’re a proud member of the Austin area GFPP team with the City of […]

We’re writing to give you a quick update on our exciting progress!  First we’d like to ask you to become a member today if you’re not already. We hope we’ve earned your support to build a strong Texas local food system.   Now on to the updates:The Elgin Local Food Center (ELF) is gaining momentum.  We’re moving […]

This article on Medium includes some good tips on planning and holding a successful public community meeting on food security. 1 – Do we really need another meeting? 2 – Curate! 3 – Comfort zone 4 – Fun.. intentionally 5 – Inspire 6 – Make space for networking and informal learning

  Self-care is an important, and often overlooked, aspect of food system sustainability. Join our friend, Dr. Naya Jones, tomorrow from 5-6pm at the SAC Ballroom on UT Campus as she explores the topic self-care through a personal, interpersonal, and collective lens. Free T-shirts and food while supplies last! Details: Tuesday, September 25 from 5pm […]

What is the approach taken by the Texas Center for Local Food (TCLF) in Texas?  On July 26, 2018, Sue Beckwith of TCLF joined others to present an introduction to value chain coordination at a webinar conducted by the Wallace Center.  Here’s a link to the webinar recording.  Sue’s part begins at 41:45.  There is […]

For food systems to be just, deliberate focus on equity and inclusion is required.  Not optional.  “Shared Stories Build Collective Power for Service Members of Color”