Strengthening Local Food Systems & Living Sustainably
featuring Robin Greenfield, Activist & Forager
Saturday, November 1st
1:30 — 4:30pm
Doors open at 1:00pm
Stevenson Hall
2nd Floor of Wentz Science Center
131 S Loomis St
Naperville, IL 60540
The Conservation Foundation and North Central College are pleased to present: Strengthening Local Food Systems & Living Sustainably featuring Robin Greenfield, Activist & Forager.
The Earth can provide us with everything we need. Activist Forager Robin Greenfield believes this with all his heart and is putting this love and devotion for Earth into bold action. For one year he will be foraging every bite of his food and medicine. “Nature” will be his garden, his pantry and his pharmacy.
To bring this message to the people, he is traveling from his homeland of Northern Wisconsin, speaking in communities across the country. He will embody a relationship of reciprocity with Earth during his community visits, bringing a spotlight to the food and medicine that is growing freely and abundantly all around us, as well as enthusiastically inviting communities to join him in a grassroots, collaborative effort to plant 1 million Community Fruit Trees over the next decade.
This event will also include a presentation by The Conservation Foundation about their work creating a place where local farmers, community members, and local organizations who value responsibly grown, healthy food come together to do their part to support local farming, increase food access, connect with the land, and delight in exploring the seasonal, certified organic harvest.
Schedule:
Dreams of a Just Web of Life: The Resonant Visions of Kate Raworth and Robin Wall Kimmerer
Presented by Dr. Shelley L. Birdsong, Professor of Religion, Department of Environmental Studies at North Central College
Sustainability envisions an alignment of the spheres of ecology, economy, and equity. This alignment requires a radical culture shift, catalyzed by alternative narratives and images that move away from individualism, consumerism, and linear thinking and toward kincentric values, reciprocity, and systems thinking. Dr. Birdsong will share holistic approaches for living sustainably in ways that support all living beings.
Growing Food in Concert with Nature – Healthy Land, Healthy Food, Healthy Communities
Presented by Jennifer Hammer, Vice President of Land & Watershed Programs at The Conservation Foundation
The Conservation Foundation operates a 60-acre certified organic farm in Naperville, growing healthy food surrounded by wetland and prairie in concert with nature. We are building a broad community connecting people with nature and food at the McDonald Farm through programs like farm share subscriptions, a farm stand, kids summer camps, and our newest Farm to Pantry initiative providing over 25,000 pounds of food to local pantries each year.
Living Sustainably in the City of Naperville
Presented by Ben Mjolsness, Sustainability Manager at the City of Naperville
City of Naperville staff will provide a brief overview of the City’s sustainability priorities and how the City engages residents through incentives, creative programming, and strategic partnership. Staff will discuss how residents can get involved and make a difference, highlighting the City’s Food Scrap Composting Program and Conservation@Home partnership with The Conservation Foundation.
Feed People and Soils, Not Landfills
Presented by Amy Bartucci, Administrator at the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition
Learn about statewide efforts that are increasing climate action strategies and strengthening communities. Healthy, resilient soils and people rely on coordinated wasted food action and collaboration. Attendees will be able to “see” themselves in food recovery and composting and better understand how every community can help prevent wasted food and advance the diversion of all organics, at all scales, in Illinois. Sign up to take home a FREE kitchen countertop compost pail after the event.
Living Sustainability and Fine-Tuning Recycling
Presented by Marta Keane, Will County Recycling/Solid Waste Coordinator at Will County Green
WillCountyGreen.com is a website created in 2010 to provide 24-hour access to a variety of reuse, recycling, composting, energy and water conservation practices. Recycling, one of the foundations of sustainable living, has become very confusing for most people due to changes over the past 20 years and media attention on failures in the system. Together, we can rebuild confidence and make our efforts count.
Earth Provides Us with Everything We Need
Presented by Robin Greenfield, Environmental Activist & Forager
Robin Greenfield is foraging 100% of his food and medicine for an entire year! Is it possible to eat in harmony with Earth and live in reciprocity? Join us for an eye opening exploration of food sovereignty through the food and medicine that is growing abundantly all around us. Now is the time to embrace community, grow our relationships and develop our skills!
Post-Event Book Signing
After the event, Robin Greenfield will have his Food Freedom book available on a donation basis and will be doing book signings.
Location & Parking
The event is located at the Wentz Science Center (#19 on the map). Once there, either take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor to Stevenson Hall.
For event parking, attendees can park in North Central College Parking Lots G, F, and I or in the City of Naperville Central Parking Garage (highlighted in yellow on the map) or attendees can park on the streets. Accessible parking is just south of Wentz Science Center (highlighted in blue on the map).
In partnership with:
