February 23 — “Local Sustainability” … A FOOD, FARM and ENERGY GATHERING
Are you looking for locavores? Then come to the “Premier Educational Event for Food Consumers, Small Farmers, Gardeners, and Energy Users Who Want A More Sustainable Lifestyle,” the place to go for a taste and feel of what Bill McKibben and Michael Pollan will talk about when they come to later.
When: Saturday, February 23 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Our Land Pavilion Indiana State Fairgrounds 1202 E. 38th St, Indianapolis, Indiana
Co-Sponsored by Indiana Sustainable Living Coalition, Earth Charter Indiana, Natural Living Expo, Nuvo, Branches Magazine
Here’s the day’s statement of purpose:
Two of the toughest issues we Americans face relate to food and energy. The quality, cost and availability of food touches everyone on earth. Food now travels an average of 2000 miles to reach our tables and is often laden with toxic chemicals — some that are banned in the U.S. Production and transportation are heavily dependent upon fossil fuels that contribute to climate change, and whose prices are sky-rocketing. Wheat supplies recently declined to just 12 weeks of global consumption. This year, wheat supplies are expected to be at their lowest since the 1940s and the price has soared. Climate change is disrupting weather patterns and causing drought, heavy rains, hail and unseasonable freezes which can result in major crop losses. A late hard freeze in Indiana in 2007 caused heavy losses in fruit production. The subsidized biofuels from corn and soybeans have sent corn and soybeans to unprecedented high prices. These events demand changes in eating habits -– replacing grain fed meat, poultry and dairy with food from grass-fed animals, supporting local fruit and vegetable production in order to maintain adequate supplies of fresh, local, chemical-free food. Sustainability is a term for the maintenance of our life support systems over generations of time.
This gathering will be a source of information about simpler lifestyles. Locate sources of food that is less processed, grown closer to home, constitutes a healthful diet and supports a clean environment. Discover options for renewable energy technologies for your home. Watch a demonstration of biofuel production that anyone can do. Mingle with farmers that can supply food from local farms. Network with other like-minded people. Visit our trade show of resources and educational exhibits.
See the schedule of discussions and hands-on demonstrations here.
If this event sounds interesting, you are in luck because there are a ton of complementary events coming up!
February 25 — Michael Pollan “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”
February 29-March 1 — Give “Whirled Peas” a Chance: The Importance of Eating Local
March 5 — Think about what you eat with an “Indiana Culinary Timeline”
March 15 — Bill McKibben brings his big ideas to Smaller Indiana
March 19-22 — 2nd Annual International Interfaith Symposium on “Faith, Civil Society, and International Relations”
