SustainFloyd Hosts Local Food Discussion
On Thursday February 4th, SustainFloyd hosted a community potluck to gather people interested in developing Floyd's local food economy. It was held at Plenty!, our local food bank in Floyd, and featured some great food and conversation, giveaways, short presentations from local food businesses and a facilitated discussion around questions of how to create a more dynamic local food economy in Floyd County.
This event attracted 85 people and SF consultant Mike Burton lead the discussion along with a team of volunteers. Lydeana Martin and Jon Beegle represented County government and Tenley Weaver,  Jonathan Vandergrift, Kat Johnson, Haden Polseno-Hensley, and Larry Bright also gave short presentations about their specific businesses operations. The group broke into 7 working groups from which was gathered much information from those assembled. SustainFloyd staffer Rhonda Womble has now organized and distributed the information to all who signed up. It's our hope to identify and prioritize a short list of core ideas which we will distribute to the all who are interested. Once all the gleaning has taken place we would focus on the what, how, who, and where.
The importance of sustainable agriculture is being noted in many rural communities around the nation. It's taken soil biologists decades of work to learn the importance of soil health in supporting sustainable agricultural systems. Here in Floyd County we are seeing evidence of the value of producing high quality biologically grown nutritious food crops on small acreage and selling things into the urban markets. "We hope that one day Floyd will be known for local food and farming, as much as music and craft. Say's Mike Burton "and by working more closely as a group of producers and processers we can expand our reach and develop a Floyd Brand, something that would potentially benefit a broad spectrum of farmers/growers here.
If you wish to receive our report of the Floyd Growers Roundtable, please email Rhonda at: info@sustainfloyd.org
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For all of you who supported SustainFloyd during the last year a big thank you. We have been powered by your donations and by your willingness to volunteer and to show up for events. With a full agenda for 2016 we know that the firm foundation built by our community of friends will help us to make a difference.
