1. Healthy environments
1.1. How to balance healthy environment with the need for financially viable farming businesses. Cost money to change
1.1.1. There are many ways to work with nature that cost little
1.1.2. If it's not sustainable it's not viable. Period.
1.1.2.1. What are the key levers to change from an unsustainable system to a sustainable one
1.2. If we look at say, Indiana for example, and look at the science of soils, we know chemical farming is killing the necessary microbes, the skill in the soil and eventually creating deserts. Got to get off chemicals!
1.2.1. Our soils don't look like India agriculture is highly regulated and US has the best food supply in the world? How can you compare to India?
1.2.1.1. Can we learn from other countries?
1.2.1.2. Raping soils of nutrients and killing the microbes in the soil is the same no matter where it is
1.3. Summary: how do we balance a healthy environment with financially viable, sustainable farming businesses?
2. What are the parameters/boundaries?
2.1. We are dreaming them up now – where do we want to be?
2.1.1. If we dream 2030 can we start building in 2015? We need to know where we want to be so we can build the needed underpinnings now. That's why we are here, now?
3. What is needed to get there?
3.1. Resources needed
3.2. What role does policy play?
3.2.1. Large role
3.3. Education
3.3.1. Of who?
3.3.1.1. Citizens, business owners, stakeholders
3.3.2. Starting young!
3.3.2.1. Teaching healthy habits!
3.3.2.1.1. Healthy habits by / through shaping environmental context
3.3.2.1.2. Healthy eating on a limited income is not always practical especially when the cheapest food is the food that is not healthy
3.3.3. New farmer training
3.3.3.1. Who provides the training?
3.3.3.2. Introduce new crops as well
3.3.3.2.1. What crops?
3.3.3.2.2. How do you create demand for crop not usually grow here?
3.3.3.3. What is the incentive to go into this career?
3.3.4. Summary: get there by: education of used citizens, businesses owners and stakeholders; teaching healthy eating habits,;learning where food comes from in a hands-on way; new crops ;education must equal change in habits
3.4. Clear sales and distribution system
3.5. Diverse agriculture
3.5.1. We grow lots of crops in Maryland. Need consumers that want to pay
3.5.1.1. We have a poverty problem. How do we make enough money to be able to pay?
3.5.2. New farmers, money available for them to purchase land
3.5.2.1. Yes
3.5.2.2. And earn enough to live and sustain their families as well as the rest of the community
3.5.2.2.1. Can people living around the poverty level for this? If not, how do we address this issue
3.5.2.3. Lots of small farmers rather than few large farmers
3.5.2.3.1. Great idea but economies of scale are difficult land prices and equipment prices
3.5.2.3.2. How do we combine these thoughts
3.5.2.3.3. How do farmers make enough to farm?
3.5.3. Summary: support farmers; diverse systems commodity and (crops, rural, sub urban); challenges farmers Face; funding needed to support farmers – poverty in community (demand and production)
3.6. Cross sector collaboration
3.6.1. How do we promote this?
3.6.1.1. Who promotes this?
3.6.1.2. Identify common issues
3.6.1.3. How about some people that are here today?
3.6.1.3.1. Need to make sure we keep talking
3.6.1.3.2. Burn out and the need to attend to your own business makes that hard
3.6.1.3.3. Incorporate the use of the community – get them involved – they have youth, new ideas, energy – focus their energy positively
3.6.2. We need a cross sector collaboration including you to get there keeping in mind balancing personal and business needs with the needs of the greater community so no one burns out.
3.7. Is there a coalition or group that exists that can begin planning the vision of the Eastern shore food system?
3.7.1. Are we the beginning of this coalition?
3.7.1.1. Do you want to be?
3.7.2. What entitles/who would make up a collection?
3.7.3. Summary; do we need a coalition to reach our 2030 goals? If so, who will be involved?
3.8. Who facilitates this process?
3.8.1. Multiple organizations and individuals – has to be a coordinated effort of community groups working with local government on up
3.8.2. Summary; to get to our 2030 goals, we need a facilitated conversation with many people at the table, including individuals, organizations, communities, and government
4. Productive food system
4.1. Role of poultry industry?
4.1.1. I like chicken
4.1.2. Possible leaders?
4.1.2.1. Good idea – Jim Purdue
4.1.2.1.1. Who else?
4.2. Summary: who are the leaders in the quest to develop a productive food system?
5. Summary: local short and medium-term goals require focus on individual and community levels. Resist urge to think too macho (and thus overwhelmed!) Inner source, not just our source
6. This is long term. What is the vision for the short term?
6.1. Developed production, distribution and marketing systems
6.1.1. How do we develop production, distribution and marketing systems?
6.2. What is everyone in this room committed to buying 50% of their food this year from farmers markets? Would your family do it? Could you afford it?
6.3. Summary: steps to Eastern shore food system in 2030; one. Developed vision, dream big! Two. Develop steps to reaching vision, Starting now. Three. Include goals for all stakeholders groups, from producers to consumers
7. Indoor farmers markets making fresh food available
7.1. How?
7.1.1. There are models from our history
7.2. Funding?
7.3. Who will grow/produce the food?
8. I suggest adding/replacing old plantings with food plants in all public areas
8.1. Who does it, how is it funded, maintained?
8.2. Who would take care of the crops?
8.2.1. If we work with nature there is very little care necessary, such as is done with permaculture
8.2.1.1. We need this idealism, but we also need structure and training to make these things happen
8.2.1.1.1. Much training and info available free and online
8.2.1.1.2. Lots of community resources
8.2.1.1.3. Resources needed like money
9. Efficient, new, and progressed from our past
9.1. How
9.1.1. Through education and new processes
9.1.1.1. Policies
9.1.1.1.1. What policies would help
9.1.1.2. Education is required on so many levels: children ( to shape attitudes); producers ( new practices, technologies ); consumers ( where, how to obtain: how to manage money )
9.1.2. Of food hub/corporation that could compete with con agra
9.2. Summary: developing new systems that include education and policies will be necessary steps moving forward
10. Does everyone understand the different components of the food system?
10.1. Are there common definitions?
10.2. Great question! So many pieces we assume to know. It is complex
10.3. Let's try to define; all inputs: people, processes, etc., involved in growing, moving, selling, eating, and disposing of food
10.3.1. Food preparation
10.3.2. And the renewal process – solar wind etc.
10.3.2.1. Sustainable as well
10.4. Focus first on a business plan for regional production and distribution
10.4.1. What would the business plan before regional production and distribution?