Go Wild! Travel Exclusive: Next generation goes to Vermont to build Greener Garden State
The New Jersey Next Generation Food Systems Alumni stand above the Mad River Valley in Vermont.
By WildNewJersey.tv Correspondent Dana Patterson
How do we make New Jersey into the Garden State again?
How do we fill our breadbasket organically?
And how do we bring gardens into our inner cities?
To find out, fifteen youthful leaders went to Vermont.
As a young New Jersey environmentalist, I was sponsored by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to attend the New Jersey Next Generation Food Systems Retreat at The Center for Whole Communities located at Knoll Farm near Waitsfield, Vermont overlooking the beautiful Mad River Valley.
Knoll farm was donated to the Vermont Land Trust over 50 years ago, after serving as a refugee camp called Camp MacArthur. Ten years ago Peter and Helen Forbes purchased the land with a shared vision in mind – to create a space where individuals can gather to converse organically over many different issues that exist in the world today. Over 900 alumni from 400 different organizations have graduated from The Center for Whole Communities retreat programs.
A female ruby-throated hummingbird takes a rest on top of the flowers.
Fifteen young leaders from New Jersey including farmers, nonprofiteers, and journalists, gathered together to discuss the serious issues that exist in our Garden State’s food systems such as transportation, racism, class and values. In a presentation by Peter Forbes, he shared a few shocking statistics:
- There are twice the number of prisoners than farmers in the United States.
- 23.5 million Americans lack access to a supermarket within one mile of their home.
- There are 30% more liquor stores in low income areas than grocery stores.
- Only 1% of Americans are farmers.
The barn at Knoll Farm that doubles as a meeting area and dining room.
Our group expressed struggles and risks of leading with personal values through ice breaker activities, story-telling exercises, and spoon carving. We discovered within our 100-mile food shed – which includes Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City – there is a tremendous opportunity to bring fresh fruit and vegetables to inner cities, bring urban gardens to blighted areas, transport excess food to poverty-stricken families, teach suburban kids to garden in their backyards, and create and expand community supported agriculture throughout the garden state.
Freshly picked organic blueberries from Knoll Farm.
Sammy shows off her spoon carved from a block of wood.
A colorful butterfly mineralizes in the sands of Vermont.
Beautiful forested trails that lead to the main yurt at Knoll Farm.
Just six days prior, these women never met. Now, they consider each other sisters.
All photos courtesy of WildNewJersey.tv correspondent Dana Patterson.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 9/2/2010 5:00 AM 
Categories: Go Wild! Travel Exclusive
Tags: Knoll Farm new jersey forbes food systems vermont land trust Center for whole communities Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation blue berries Vermont
Categories: Go Wild! Travel Exclusive
Tags: Knoll Farm new jersey forbes food systems vermont land trust Center for whole communities Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation blue berries Vermont
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