Community Garden Scholar

Along with Westmoreland Garden Project Manager and Community Garden Connections (CGC) Co-Coordinator, Rachel Brice, I was interviewed by Craig Dallas Rice on  Cheshire TV . Accompanied by The Community Kitchen 's Gleaning Coordinator, Sarah Harpster, we had a great dialogue about how local community gardening efforts are addressing the needs of people across our food system for nourishment, wellness, and connection - social and ecological. See the video to learn: What we are currently doing; How our involvement feeds a larger vision for the local food system; What we mean by "food security" and a snapshot of food security in the Monadnock Region; Why access to fresh, locally-grown food matters and how Market Match and other programs help The most exciting and most challenging aspects of this work. I'm really proud of our work together and grateful to be engaged in these efforts with such talented and dedicated folks. For more info about our local...

I'm proud to be working with C&S Wholesale Grocers and Antioch University New England on a workshop for local business and nonprofit leaders: "Planting the Seeds for Workplace Gardening." The morning workshop will focus on how employees can enjoy the benefits of workplace gardening and share the bounty of gardens with our communities. It will be facilitated by Garden Educator Madi Walter. Participants will receive a resource packet, chances to network, and learn from the C&S Workplace Organic Gardens model. The workshop is Tuesday, July 24 at 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at C&S's corporate offices on Optical Ave in Keene, New Hampshire . For questions: csgardens@antioch.edu. More info: https://lnkd.in/gxr7cmh

I'm excited to announce I'll be co-presenting with my colleague, Rachel Brice , at the North American Association for Environmental Education ( NAAEE ) 2018 Conference in Spokane, Washington. Our poster presentation, based on our work with the C&S Workplace Organic Gardens Project and Community Garden Connections ' Westmoreland Garden Project , is titled, "Dig, Eat, Grow: Learning to Cultivate Connections through Community Gardening." Connecting people with nature and meeting local food security needs are often thought of as separate challenges, but community gardening can meet both at once. The key is healthy relationships that support the capacity to create and maintain community gardens. Participants will deepen their understanding of how to build and use their own networks to support efforts that strengthen connections between people and nature. Our projects both work with diverse and underserved populations. We have developed several educational co...

I'm currently following a story ( recently covered by NHPR ) about a proposal  and neighbors' reactions  around small-scale cattle grazing as a practice of restorative agriculture. There's a piece of land in Peterborough, NH, down the road from me, that was conserved some time ago and has since declined in quality due to inactive management. Stan Fry has proposed introducing a small herd of Belted Galloways, which would actively improve soil quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration, as well as keep and enhance the cultural and aesthetic landscape that has always been so important to the people of the town. To me, Stan's proposal seems well-based in sound science and experience, and I am hopeful that residents will take the time to become informed about restorative agriculture, contemplate the potential benefits, and make reasonable efforts to move in that direction. I'm especially interested in the possibilities for a regenerative agrihood , which is someth...