1. Extension offices, classes in canning and dehydrated (drying) local foods
1.1. Too labor intensive for most consumers
1.1.1. So true!
2. Sustainable plentiful/fishing industry, Bay health
3. Good jobs for good farmers.
3.1. We all need each other
3.1.1. Fair equitable labor
3.1.1.1. More immigrants
3.1.1.1.1. Easier federal process for labor
3.1.1.1.2. Great people everyone needs work
3.1.2. Yes!
3.2. Eastern Shore kids have jobs to stay here as adults
3.3. Need to educate/engage youth in agriculture
3.3.1. Should be easy to educate us all-we all eat, everyday, even in recession
3.3.2. Return to home cooking and knowing where its coming from.
3.3.2.1. If we do, all small business restaurants will go under
3.3.3. Community service projects to feed hungry receive credits for high school 90 hours required
3.3.3.1. Nice idea!
3.3.3.2. School gardens
3.3.3.2.1. Mandatory!
3.3.3.2.2. Education
3.3.3.2.3. We need these
3.3.3.2.4. Community gardens and tech assistance everywhere for community food centers!
3.3.3.3. Super idea
3.3.3.3.1. Agree
3.3.4. Both younger generation of existing farm families and new/emerging "immigrating" farmers
3.4. Economocially viable farm business plans
3.4.1. Then need GMO
3.4.1.1. Hell no
3.4.1.2. GMO is destructive I willingly pay more for GMO free grain for animals and for organic for crops
3.4.2. Learn about cover crops and barrier grasses
3.4.3. Food is recognized as a primary economic driver for the region
3.4.3.1. Its a labor intensive local economy that is natural resource bases and waiting to be born here. We have access to largest underdeveloped land mass and demographic centers (1/3 of countries population in an hour drive)
3.4.3.1.1. How do we focus on this amazing opportunity rather than our differences
3.4.3.1.2. Where do we find skilled, CHEAP, labor to keep food costs down
3.4.3.1.3. Where are the watermen in this conversation?
4. Plentiful young farmers
4.1. Lowers demographic age of aging counties
4.1.1. Profitable farms with good market opportunities allowing young farmers to envision a viable business opportunity
4.1.1.1. Public has to value clean food
4.1.1.1.1. What is clean food?
4.1.1.1.2. Processed food is still cheapest
5. Mariculture/aguaculture hub (labor intensive)
5.1. Aguaculture is capital intensive
5.1.1. Energy intensive here
5.1.1.1. Less than traditional farming
5.1.1.1.1. It uses significantly less water but what about energy cost associated with heating
5.1.2. It does not have to be. Example is growing power in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois
5.1.2.1. Check cost of growing power its raising $
5.1.3. How to get more capital for aquaculture
5.1.3.1. Seafood is coming from overseas and not as healthy. Needed
5.1.3.2. Any food hub has to include aquaculture-both are deserving of public support
5.2. Can local workers be entised and trained?
5.2.1. Great question
5.2.2. Yes if we value their output if we are looking for "cheap" labor they wont come
6. Mobile processing facilities (ie meat, poultry)
6.1. Good use of resources pulling assets
6.2. We need Eastern Shore mobile processing units
6.3. Needs to be cheaper
6.3.1. True we need to figure out how to get it happen
7. Sustainable regenerative farming provides healthy soil, healthy food, and sequester carbon
8. Is there enough land to sustainably feed everyone
8.1. Absolutely! This kind of farming is labor intensive-creates jobs-and not land intensive! (except for environmentally required buffer strips that absorb N, P sediment and water and provide habitat and food for disappearing Eastern Shore wildlife!
8.1.1. Hell yes
8.1.1.1. Working with land owners
8.1.1.1.1. Yes. Land owners need to be a part of movement
8.2. Yes, other parts of the country are doing this
8.3. Green (roofs) community
8.3.1. All new construction requires
8.3.2. What is a green roof community? Roof top gardens
9. Poverty is higher than ever
9.1. Thats depressing
9.2. Food banks need to pick up from farms more(more trucks) food waste has to end
9.3. Get jobs in farming out there. People looking for work, we need to stay in state
10. Lots of small growers with diverse, sustainably reduced crops
10.1. Supplying markets or grocery chains?
10.1.1. Full of amazing fresh local food
10.1.1.1. Local fresh food has more nutrients. Veggies lose nutrients as they age
10.1.1.1.1. Better transportation needed
10.1.1.2. Local foods are accessable and are preferred by all not just those that can afford it
10.1.1.2.1. Need to teach public more about local food, they need it the most
10.1.1.3. Huge brand awareness demand
10.1.1.3.1. Chesapeake harvest branding and individual farm transparency
10.1.1.3.2. Food tourism epicenter
10.1.1.3.3. Will need to make local food more inclusive and not just a ( foodie thing)
10.1.1.3.4. Maryland Department of Agriculture will need much more financial resources to accomplish this
10.1.2. Supplying all buyers-institutions, grocers, public, within a sustainable 200 mile food shed
10.1.3. Food hub to coordinate logistics between farms and buyers
10.1.3.1. Should include seafood for central shore food hub
10.1.3.1.1. Need watermen input on food hub
10.2. Practical business assistance for young and beginning farmers
10.2.1. Where are the beginning farmers
10.2.1.1. They are out there-lets find the incentives that bring them here
10.3. Aggregation?
10.4. Supply farm to school
10.4.1. How-costs too much to sustain year round
10.4.1.1. Need to start paying real cost for food
10.4.1.2. Year round growing is happening
10.4.2. Kids know where their food comes from
10.4.2.1. School to farmers and farms
10.4.2.1.1. School farms not just gardens
10.4.3. Culinary schools curriculum
10.4.3.1. Learning nutrition for good health
10.4.3.1.1. Alot of interesting facts that we dont know eg. chopping garlic, Omega 3 ratio? loss of nutrients over week-eat fresher
10.4.3.1.2. Food handling
10.4.3.1.3. This is imperative for all students
10.4.3.2. Commercial kitchens as business incubators
10.4.3.2.1. Support local businesses
10.4.3.3. Tie into school science lessons
10.4.3.4. Train restaurants, chefs, and servers about local food
10.4.3.5. Preparing and eating great foods can be fun
10.4.3.5.1. and be a way to make a living
10.4.3.5.2. Learning culinary skills can happen at all ages
10.5. Profitable farms creating livable wage jobs both on the farm and in town
10.5.1. Youth learns environment issues and good work habits
10.5.1.1. We can all learn of interconnectedness between personal food choices and personal/public health and environment (water, soil, etc)
10.5.1.1.1. Yes it will take a village but that is essential
10.5.2. Will need tax credits, grants subsidies to sustain or at least help initially
10.5.2.1. New farmers need starting funds and then share knowledge with future farmers in return
10.5.2.1.1. Yes
10.5.2.1.2. Thats right on
10.5.2.1.3. Where $
10.5.2.2. What about farm business technical assistance too?
10.5.2.2.1. Need assistance building required food infrastructure-hub, distribution and ?
10.5.2.2.2. Can UM extension be expanded0
11. Diversify farming - produces larger variety of small crops.
11.1. Focus on nutrient density of crops and on nutrient difference between pastor vs CAFO animals and eggs.
11.1.1. More products mean more nutrients required costs go up
12. No more hunger on the shore!
12.1. Supply extra to food banks. We need more transportation to get from A to B.
12.1.1. More cold storage is needed for fresh food.
12.1.1.1. True
12.1.2. Also, special ed schools could supply local pantries.
12.1.2.1. Great idea. All schools could help too
12.1.3. Gleaning from farms and develop of market for seconds.
12.1.3.1. Limit resource.
12.1.3.2. Yes
12.1.3.3. Especially when you consider health impacts, $ , :(