Weekly Mulch: Local Food—Where Sustainability Meets Self-Reliance

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead

Food sovereignty is an issue we will likely hear a lot about in coming years. Basically, it is the right a community has to determine where its food comes from. Outbreaks of food-borne illness receive great attention, but concerns about our food system are growing even when it is ‘working.’ We need to take a hard look at the system that stocks our grocery store shelves with products full of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and preservatives – and see if we can come up with a better way to feed a nation.

As more and more consumers demand locally raised and processed food, small-scale farmers are discovering that there is a real problem with infrastructure.

Many churches are finding renewed vigor and purpose in the growing community garden movement.

The idea of local food, which is typically associated with the progressive movement, has been a mainstay of conservative rural communities for generations. In fact, there are a number of things that these seemingly disparate political groups have in common. Could this be the start of a powerful coalition to drive neo-conservatism out of the mainstream for good?