Cultivate Your Plate

A food citizen understands the wide-reaching impact of their decisions about what and where to eat. A “citizen” is informed, deliberate, and active. (Definition adapted from John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.) We believe in building a local food system that is equitable and sustainable at every level; from the health of our land and water to the livelihood of farm workers and the wellbeing of our communities. Increasing community support and awareness for a localized food system and regenerative farming practices underpins this holistic vision.

We believe that in order for our local, small-scale producers to thrive, shoppers must see local and regenerative food production as a public issue that requires us to engage collectively, as a society. However, today “less than 2% of those actively employed in the U.S. participate directly in producing crops. As most of us now lack personal experience with farming, we also lack ways to understand what farming involves, who it involves, what is required to stay in business, and how it affects our environment and society as a whole” (Strategies for Expanding Thinking About Agriculture (2022), Reframing Farming and Food Narrative).

With so many options for buying food, the environmental, health and economic benefits of locally grown food often go unacknowledged and undercompensated by consumers. However, “Recent surveys show strong public support, admiration, and concern for the well-being of farmers” (The Landscape of Public Thinking About Farming (2019) Reframing Farming and Food Narrative).

Our Cultivate Your Plate events are designed to create learning and connection spaces, empowering loyal and allied food citizens. We offer these events as family friendly and donation based and/or sliding scale so that price is not a barrier for participation. We also share resources about where people can access local food and talk about options for buying local through Double Up Food Bucks with SNAP/EBT.

In addition to the benefits for our local economy and environment, being connected to fresh, healthy food is not only good for our physical health but also our mental health. “Farmers’ markets and CSAs create new spaces within communities for people to socialize. In fact, sociologists estimate people have 10 times more conversations at farmers’ markets than supermarkets. Further, because these gatherings are about food and the local environment, people may become more interested in the well being of their community and environment. Direct marketing by farmers to consumers builds relationships, creating customers who care deeply about “their” farmers and farmers who work hard to provide the very best food for “their” customers.” (Iowa’s Local Food System: A Place to Grow by Laura Krouse, The Iowa Policy Project).

arming practices that benefit the environment and society can be expensive for farmers, yet go unacknowledged and undercompensated by society. To help meet the challenges of farming, society must recognize and support the broad benefits of farming. To make this shift, the public will need to:

• Deepen and broaden its knowledge of farming.

• Understand multiple dimensions of sustainability.

• Promote local and regional farms and the benefits of diverse farms as part of a local economy.

• Actively engage farmers/growers as essential voices in research and policymaking.

• Support systemic changes that create and expand opportunities in farming for younger people, people of color, and women.

(Reframing Farming and Food Narrative, farmingandfoodnarrative.org)

ccording to the 2023 report, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community, “Social connection is a critical and underappreciated contributor to individual and population health, community safety, resilience, and prosperity.” The work of Cultivate aims to support the recommendations from this report, specifically around Strengthening Social Infrastructure in Local Communities (Pillar 1) and by Cultivating a Culture of Connection (Pillar 6).