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 Foundation, Blue 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 Center, Pete’s Greens; High 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: Intervale, NOFA, VT Farm to Plate, Shelburne 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: RAFFL, Hydroponic Tomatoes, Green 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
Big questions:What is the definition of sustainability?
What does a sustainable food system look like?
How do we sustainably interact with our food?
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?
Focus Topic: Local 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?
June 20 – Night Racing at Churchill Downs
Focus Topic: Food Safety
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?
Focus Topic: Pre-approved Individual Directed Investigation
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?
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”?
Focus Topic: EquitySite 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?
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
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?