On Thursday December 15th, we had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the collaboration of all the folks involved in CEFS.  Local steaks were on the grill; salads, coleslaw, vegetables, and casseroles were on the table; and a big tub of Wolfpack ice cream showed up and was set alongside the pecan pies, cheesecakes, and cookies. A delicious feast shared by the many people who make CEFS' important work possible: university faculty and NCDA&CS staff, folks working on the various programs and projects across the state, students, and our winter apprentice.

There is so much to be thankful for in terms of all the great work going on in research, in community engagement and in the growth of the local food movement in North Carolina. We thank all of our partners for the great work this past year. The New Year will bring new partnerships and projects; new challenges along with new opportunities. We have much to celebrate!

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year,

Dr. John O'Sullivan

CEFS Director, NCA&TSU
 

Dr. Nancy Creamer

CEFS Director, NCSU

Access to land has been identified as one of the top challenges facing new farmers in North Carolina. The Center for Environmental Farming Systems' new Incubator Farm Project will work with communities to address this need by repurposing public land into places that incubate new farmers. These new farmers get access to land, in exchange for "rent" in the form of fresh farm products or other services donated to communities in need -- a win-win-win opportunity for everyone involved.

The project also makes support for beginning farmers an integral part of CEFS' 10% Campaign, an initiative that invites consumers, businesses, institutions, and agencies to commit 10 percent of their existing food dollars to local foods.  We can't have local food without local farmers! The long-term success of North Carolina's local food movement is dependent upon an influx of new and transitioning farmers.

CEFS will partner with up to five communities across the state over the next two years to plan and implement incubator farms on vacant urban, rural or peri-urban public land. Applications have been received and communities will be selected for participation in early 2012.

For more information please see the Bringing New Farmers to the Table website (www.ncnewfarmers.org).

The Incubator Farm Project is supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 From Tes Thraves, CEFS' Youth and Community-Based Food Systems Coordinator, and FoodCorps Co-Coordinator: 

Our six North Carolina Service Members have been on the ground with their community organizations for several months now.  We have impact numbers of square feet and numbers of activities and such, but I'm still more struck with what things are starting than what we've already accomplished.

Our monthly check-in with our service site partners, with whom our service members are placed, were so glowing, so grateful, so excited about the beginnings: new gardens, new volunteers, new partnerships with chefs and farmers both, new collectives of people who want to jump in and help, new conversations, new ideas of what is possible. 

Our most recent check-in with our service members themselves was driven and full of challenges and urgency, a passion for the kids they work with, stories of going to kids' homes to meet the families, or light bulb moments with children, of the eagerness of teachers . . .   

NC FoodCorps Service Members Leah Klaproth, Allison Marshall (in tree); Celeste Frisbee, Chesapeake First, Sebastian Naskaris, and Sara Quinn (on ground, left to right).

These differences make sense: one perspective from the organizations that have been and will be on the ground working in their own communities, experiencing new help, new energy; and another perspective from new people who are ever aware of the short time they will be here, or wanting to make the help they offer last through structural change, of seeing the profound need right up against the progress communities have already made and the possibilities for more those same communities see and want.

I am awed and honored to be part of this.  I believe in FoodCorps with all of my being.  I see possibilities that are years down the road, and things we can do tomorrow to make things work better.  So much work to do . . .  And thankful for having six folks on the ground helping us envision, imagine, and do it! So here we go!!!!