Help Plan the 2009 Come to the Table Conferences
Eastern: Garysburg, NC – Feb 25
Western: Boone, NC – Feb 26
Central: Charlotte, NC – Feb 27
Our 2007 conferences drew close to 300 people from across the state. Our 2009 conferences will focus on practical actions that congregations can take to get fresh, local food to those who need it most and to support and honor their local farmers.
Each of the three regional conferences will include a keynote address by Michael Schut, editor of Food and Faith: Justice, Joy and Daily Bread, a local lunch, and break-out sessions on practical topics led by farmers, service providers, and congregational leaders.
Regional organizing committees will act in two roles: they will assist with the logistics of each site, such as lining up food, coordinating publicity, and planning breakout workshops, and they will make sure each conference represents the interests and needs of congregations, farmers, service providers, and those facing food insecurity in their region.
To participate in your local planning committee or for more information, contact Claire Hermann by e-mail or at (919) 542-1396 x207.
Call for Proposals: RAFI Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund Demonstration Award Program
The goal of the Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund is to keep farmers in farming and maintain the economic base of North Carolina's rural communities. The Reinvestment Fund aims to assist farmers and rural communities to develop new sources of agricultural income through provision of cost-share grants.
In 2008, the Reinvestment Fund will make two types of demonstration awards: Producer Grant Awards of up to $10,000 for individuals and Community Grant Awards of up to $20,000 for collaborative farmer projects.
The Tobacco Communities Reinvestment Fund will make cost-share demonstration grants to farmers, farm organizations, and community groups in Alexander, Beaufort, Burke, Caldwell, Caswell, Craven, Cumberland, Davidson, Forsyth, Greene, Guilford, Harnett, Iredell, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, McDowell, Nash, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Wayne, Wilkes, and Wilson counties.
Tight margins for most commodity crops and changing farm programs provide new challenges for North Carolina farmers. The purpose of the Reinvestment Fund is to help farmers to develop enterprises that allow them to earn more for their products through innovative production, processing, or marketing approaches.
For more information and eligibilty requirements, download the Call for Proposals (PDF) or contact Jason Roehrig by e-mail or by phone at (919) 621-0534.
Growing Faithful Community Gardens: Saturday Workshop Series
The last Saturday of every month from Febuary through July, in central N.C. Garden workshare will be 9 - 12 a.m., followed by a potluck lunch and a workshop from 1 - 4 p.m. Topics and locations.
Workshops are free of charge. To register or for more information, call Claire at (919) 542-1396 x207. Hosted by the Piedmont Interfaith Network of Gardens.