5th Day Curriculum

2014 Middlebury FoodWorks Fellows Curriculum

Food Systems Themes:

Sustainability, Ecology, Economy, Safety, Security, Equity, Education, Waste.

Sunday, June 1st – 12 pm Orientation at Farm, 2pm FoodWorks Video Conference in RAJ Conference room, followed by Garden Party 4-5pm

Week 1: Brattleboro Friday, June 6th 6:00 am

Sites visit:  Slow Living Summit and Big Picture Farm

Key Themes: Sustainability, Resiliency, Responsibility, Communication, Community

Week 2: Addison County Friday, June 13th 8:30 am

Sites visit: Vermont Community FoundationBlue Spruce Dairy,  Elmer Farm

Key Themes: Philanthropy, Biodiversity, climate change,community-based agriculture

Week 3: UVM Wednesday, June 18th 8:30 am

Sites visit: UVM-The Necessary (r)Evolution for Sustainable Food Systems Summit

Week 4: Hardwick Friday June 27th (potential Thursday overnight)

Sites visit:VT Food Venture CenterPete’s GreensHigh Mowing

Key Themes: Farm-to-plate, Local food system, Economic development & innovation, community, resiliency

Week 5: Up to you! Food Challenge Research

Week 6: Burlington Friday, July 11th 8:00am

Sites visit:  IntervaleNOFAVT Farm to PlateShelburne Farms

Bread & Butter Farm4:30-7:30 pm Burger Night *optional

Key Themes: Food literacy; Farm to School, Farm to Plate, Farm incubators, Hub

Week 7:  Stone Barns Center Overnight (opt. trip) Friday, July 18th

Week 8: Rutland Friday, July 25th

Sites Visit: RAFFLHydroponic TomatoesGreen Mountain College

Key Themes: Food access, food justice, socioeconomic inequality, education

Week 9: Final Reflection/Closure Friday, Aug 1st 9am RAJ

     Food Challenge viewing and Farm Pizza Party

Key Terms: Bridging the Divides

Louisville 5th Day Curriculum

Week 1: 8:30 am Tuesday, June 3rd – Meet at Anniversary Hall
Focus Topic: Sustainability and Energy
Sites visit: Bernheim Forest & Arboretum & University of Louisville – Get bikes
Big questions:What is the definition of sustainability?
What does a sustainable food system look like?
How do we sustainably interact with our food?
Guest Speaker: Claude Stephens, Josh Orr
Week 2: 8:30 Monday, June 9th-Meet at Anniversary Hall
Focus Topic: Ecology
Site visit: Canoeing on the Ohio River Big questions: What is the true ecological impact of modern agriculture?
How do we feed 9 billion people in 2050 and still respect local ecosystems?
What does an agricultural system that respects nature look like?
How can we harness biomimicry to promote sustainable agriculture?
Guest Speakers: David Wicks
Week 3: 8:30 am Friday, June 20th – Deadline for Food Challenge Topics – Meet at Anniversary Hall
Focus Topic: Local Economy
Site visit: Bourbon Barrel, Harvest, Root Cellar
Big questions:What are the obstacles in creating a local food economy?
Where has there been success and why has it occurred there?
How does a local food economy benefit and harm members of the community?
Guest Speaker: Matt Jamie, Ivor Chodkowski, Bruce Ucan, Ron Smith
June 20 – Night Racing at Churchill Downs
Week 4: 8 am Friday, June 27th – Meet at Anniversary Hall
Focus Topic: Food Safety
Site visits: 10 am Marksbury Farm, Bourbon Distillery
Big questions: Should we trust our food?
What happens when trust fails?
Is our food safe for use to consume? If we are what we eat, what are we?
Guest Speaker: John-Mark Hack
Week 5: Fifth Day of Choice Week of June 30th
Focus Topic: Pre-approved Individual Directed Investigation
Site visits: To be decided by fellow Big questions:
How does your site connect to the larger food system? How can your investigation result in a positive change for the community?
Where can you connect your investigation to the food system at a higher degree to improve effectiveness?
Week 6: Thursday July 10th – 2 pm Fresh Stop
Focus Topic: Food Policy, Security, and Creating a More Resilient Food System
Site visits: New Roots-Shawnee Fresh Stop
Big questions:What does it mean to be “food secure”?
In a world of global interdependence, how can our food security be threatened? How do we create a more resilient food system? How can we encourage the creation of food secure households?
Guest Speaker: Karyn Moskowitz
Week 7: 8:30 am Monday, July 14th – Meet at Anniversary Hall
Focus Topic: Equity
Site visits: Highview Ministries, People’s Garden
Big questions:What is the definition of “food equity”?
What are the populations that suffer from food inequality and how is it manifested?
What are the long term consequences and impacts of food inequality?
Guest Speaker: Valerie Magnuson
Week 8: 9:30 am Monday, July 21st – Meet at Fern Creek High School. 
Food Challenge deadline – presentations
Focus Topic: Education Site visits: Fern Creek High School, Brandeis Garden
Big questions: What should food education look like?
What are the impacts of having a food ignorant generation? Are you food enlightened?Guest Speaker: Joe Franzen, Brent Peters, Natalie Hubbard & Josh Orr Tuesday, July 29th – Closing Event and FoodWorks Food Challenge Presentations – Location TBD
Week 9: Friday, August 1 – Final Reflections – 9-11 am Video Conference.
Abell Board Rm. Horrigan Hall Focus
Topic: Lunch and Final Discussions with Wendell Berry and Mary Berry Smith
Site visit: The Berry Center
Big questions:
How does your site connect to the larger food system? How can your investigation result in a positive change for the community?
Where can you connect your investigation to the food system at a higher degree to improve effectiveness?

2013 5th Day Curriculum

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