Naperville event highlights local food systems and sustainability
Featuring Robin Greenfield, Activist & Forager
Join The Conservation Foundation, North Central College, and activist and forager Robin Greenfield for “Strengthening Local Food Systems & Living Sustainably” on Saturday, Nov. 1. Presentations will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in North Central College’s Stevenson Hall, second floor of the Wentz Science Center, 113 Loomis St. in Naperville.
Greenfield believes the Earth can provide us with everything we need, and is putting this love and devotion for Earth into bold action. For one year, he will be foraging every bite of his food and medicine. “Nature” will be his garden, his pantry and his pharmacy.
To bring this message to the people, he is traveling from his homeland of Northern Wisconsin, speaking in communities across the country. He will embody a relationship of reciprocity with Earth during his community visits, bringing a spotlight to the food and medicine that is growing freely and abundantly all around us, as well as enthusiastically inviting communities to join him in a grass-roots, collaborative effort to plant 1 million Community Fruit Trees over the next decade.
This event will also include a presentation by Naperville-based nonprofit The Conservation Foundation about their work creating a place where local farmers, community members, and local organizations who value responsibly grown, healthy food come together to do their part to support local farming, increase food access, connect with the land, and delight in exploring the seasonal, certified organic harvest.
After the presentations, Greenfield will be signing copies of his book, “Food Freedom.” The book will be available on a donation basis.
This event is free, but registration is required at theconservationfoundation.org/event/strengthening-local-food-systems/.
Presentation topics
“Dreams of a Just Web of Life: The Resonant Visions of Kate Raworth and Robin Wall Kimmerer”
Presented by Dr. Shelley L. Birdsong, Professor of Religion, Department of Environmental Studies at North Central College
Sustainability envisions an alignment of the spheres of ecology, economy, and equity. This alignment requires a radical culture shift, catalyzed by alternative narratives and images that move away from individualism, consumerism, and linear thinking and toward kincentric values, reciprocity, and systems thinking. Birdsong will share holistic approaches for living sustainably in ways that support all living beings.
“Growing Food in Concert with Nature — Healthy Land, Healthy Food, Healthy Communities”
Presented by Jennifer Hammer, vice president of Land & Watershed Programs at The Conservation Foundation
The Conservation Foundation operates a 60-acre certified organic farm in Naperville, growing healthy food surrounded by wetland and prairie in concert with nature. We are building a broad community connecting people with nature and food at the McDonald Farm through programs like farm share subscriptions, a farm stand, kids summer camps, and our newest Farm to Pantry initiative providing over 25,000 pounds of food to local pantries each year.
“Living Sustainably in the City of Naperville”
Presented by Ben Mjolsness, sustainability manager at the City of Naperville
Naperville staff will provide a brief overview of the city’s sustainability priorities and how the city engages residents through incentives, creative programming, and strategic partnership. Staff will discuss how residents can get involved and make a difference, highlighting the city’s Food Scrap Composting Program and Conservation@Home partnership with The Conservation Foundation.
“Feed People and Soils, Not Landfills”
Presented by Amy Bartucci, administrator at the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition
Learn about statewide efforts that are increasing climate action strategies and strengthening communities. Healthy, resilient soils and people rely on coordinated wasted food action and collaboration. Attendees will be able to “see” themselves in food recovery and composting and better understand how every community can help prevent wasted food and advance the diversion of all organics, at all scales, in Illinois. Sign up to take home a free kitchen countertop compost pail after the event.
“Living Sustainability and Fine-Tuning Recycling”
Presented by Marta Keane, Will County Recycling/Solid Waste Coordinator at Will County Green
WillCountyGreen.com is a website created in 2010 to provide 24-hour access to a variety of reuse, recycling, composting, energy and water conservation practices. Recycling, one of the foundations of sustainable living, has become very confusing for most people due to changes over the past 20 years and media attention on failures in the system. Together, we can rebuild confidence and make our efforts count.
“Earth Provides Us with Everything We Need”
Presented by Robin Greenfield, environmental activist and forager
Robin Greenfield is foraging 100% of his food and medicine for an entire year! Is it possible to eat in harmony with Earth and live in reciprocity? Join this exploration of food sovereignty through the food and medicine that is growing abundantly all around us. Now is the time to embrace community, grow our relationships and develop our skills!
The event is located at the Wentz Science Center at North Central College. Once there, either take the stairs or elevator to the second floor to Stevenson Hall. For event parking, attendees can park in the college parking lots G, F, and I or in the city’s Central Parking Garage or attendees can park on the streets. Accessible parking is just south of Wentz Science Center.
The Conservation Foundation is a private, 501(c)3 not-for-profit land and watershed conservation organization created in 1972 to help communities preserve natural lands and clean up local rivers and streams. The Conservation Foundation has helped preserve more than 36,000 acres of land over the last 50-plus years. The Conservation Foundation’s service territory includes most of Northeastern Illinois. Learn more at theconservationfoundation.org.
North Central College is a private four-year institution in Naperville’s historic district near downtown. Founded in 1861, today nearly 3,000 students attend the college, working toward more than 90 majors, 60 minors, and 19 graduate degree programs. Learn more at noctrl.edu.