Climate Action: Local Food Production

The Benedictine sisters at Holy Wisdom model eating from the earth by harvesting produce from their gardens for much of their meals. They keep in balance the connection between our own body’s food needs and how creation provides with seeds, plants, soil, water, air. Climate change is telling us that the balance is becoming non-reversable.

Agriculture both contributes towards climate change and is affected by climate change. Agriculture contributes to 10% of US Co2 and jumps up to 20-40% of global GHG emissions when factoring in life cycle accounting. Life cycle accounting begins with deforestation, change of land use, processing and packaging of food and distribution of food products including transportation (from Chomsky, Aviva, Is Science Enough? Forty Critical Questions About Climate Justice, Beacon Press Books, 2022).

This Climate Action event shares both how climate change is affecting this balance and how we can make a difference with where and how we purchase food.

We have two local food producers presenting on April 16, Blue Moon Community Farm and Meadowlark Community Mill.

Schedule

10:15 am – Introduction of speakers
10:15 am – Blue Moon CSA presentation
10:45 am – Meadow Lark Mills presentation
11:15 am – Q&A

Speakers

Kristen Kordet owns Blue Moon Community Farm, a CSA and Market farm in the Town of Dunn on Madison’s southern edge. She farms intensively on 6 acres with a commitment to stewardship and soil conservation, which is also a formula for delicious, nutrient-dense food. Blue Moon is starting its 19th season in production and is positioning itself for success in an increasingly unpredictable climate. She educates others on impact of climate change for food production. Blue Moon’s produce is sold through a farm-based Community Support Agriculture (CSA) program that welcomes families to engage with the farm, be part of our community and enjoy delicious seasonal produce. They also run a popular market stand at the Westside Community Market in Madison.

John and Halee Wepking are the owners of Meadowlark Organics, a diversified organic grain farm, and Meadowlark Community Mill, a small flour mill using the technique of stone milling to produce flavorful and nutritious food. As land stewards they are committed to cultivating a regenerative ecosystem by growing real food, improving the health and resilience of their soil, protecting the safety of their water and investing in the vitality of their rural community. With their on-farm flour mill, their mission is to increase the demand for regionally grown and milled grains. Beyond the borders of the land they manage, they want more farmers to have the opportunity to grow alternative crops like wheat, rye and spelt. This can help to increase the diversity of the agricultural landscape and build resilience into the regional food system.

Location

This event will take place in-person at Holy Wisdom Monastery and online via livestream.

Registration

Please register by April 15, 2023. There is no cost to participants.