The Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative organized the FaithLands National Conference in Delaware, Ohio on August 6-8th at the Seminary Hill Farm on the Methodist Theological School in Ohio campus.
Over 70 people registered/attended in total from throughout the U.S. and Canada. Attendees consisted of clergy, non-profit organizers, government staff, community gardeners and farmers as well as university researchers.
The conference agenda featured four tours as well as 12 different presentations/panels. The tours of local faith and agriculture based sites included: Urban Farm Church and South Side Family Farm in Columbus; Seminary Hill Farm in Delaware; and the Procter Center in London. Each of these sites showcased successful models of agricultural use of faith community owned lands. Attendees learned about the genesis of the farms, the impact they have on their local communities, and practical lessons about how to maintain them.
Attendees had the opportunity to connect and share their own expertise during various interactive discussions and panels. The presentations covered topics such as inventorying faith-owned land for agricultural use; farming and faith fellowships for young adults; negotiating leases for beginning and immigrant farmers; and much more. Attendees heard from representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture; Colorado Land Link; Enterprise Community Partners; National Young Farmers Coalition; Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association; Fitzgerald Institute of the University of Notre Dame; and various other organizations.
The conference provided not only resources for attendees to leave with, but an opportunity to gather with others just as passionate about FaithLands. In breakout sessions to discuss future FaithLands work, it was evident that everyone involved was truly driven and dedicated to growing the community. Multiple attendees noted, in a post conference evaluation, their connections made and meeting people they could learn from and even collaborate with. “The conference was invigorating, showing just how much people care and are willing to work for making use of faith-owned lands in ways that uplift their community and food systems,” said presenter and first time participant Sousiva Ing of Interfaith Food.
On the second night of the conference, a special evening program showcased presentations from Rev. Nurya Love Parish, the Canon for the Northern Collaborative and Coach for Beloved Community & Creation Care, of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan; Kenneth Walker, Associate Chief for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, from Washington, D.C.; and Carlton Howard, Outreach Coordinator for the State of Ohio, also with NRCS. A delicious dinner was served by the MTSO team with all produce grown on site at Seminary Hill Farm and meat coming directly from local providers.
This conference was made possible with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This conference was sponsored by Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative, Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Ohio Ecological Farm & Food Association, Presbyterian Hunger Program, Rural Advancement Foundation International, Kalliopeia Foundation, Negley Flinn Charitable Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Conference Sponsors include:
of Agriculture
Foundation International
& Food Association
Conference is made possible with funding from United States Department of Agriculture
and Negley Flinn Charitable Foundation.