RFC Ends the Summer with Northeast Training

RFC wrapped up its summer with the Northeast training in and around Boston, MA, from August 20 to 23.  The weekend was intense (literally in tents) with 25 leaders camping out on The Food Project's farm in Lincoln, MA.  Despite some rain and a few mosquitoes (maybe an understatement), the crew--which included students interested in social justice organizing, sustainable agriculture, and media and communications--kept their morale high for real food and real change through a series of workshops, delicious meals, and fun fireside activities.

The training's first workshop set the weekend's tone when students created symbols of a problem with the food system that resonated with them most strongly.  Discussion ensued about the importance of symbols in food activism and how we can use the RFC's Real Food Wheel as a way to conceptualize the food system.  Students then tossed around a ball of yarn to illustrate the common threads that tie food activists together, creating an intricate web of problems with the food system that could be untangled only through multifaceted solutions. 

In the photo: Students passed around a ball of yarn while discussing the Real Food Wheel.

The workshops that followed helped the group come up with such solutions.  Through workshops like media and messaging, meeting facilitation and leadership, and overcoming oppression, the group generated ideas and actions to push for real food on their campuses.

Students got a first-hand look into working with dining services through a presentation from Anne Cody from Massachusetts Farm-to-School.  Anne walked the group through an ideal farm-to-school relationship, suggesting ways to make local sourcing economically sustainable and lucrative for both farmers and dining services.  Students came away from the workshop with a checklist of tips and terms to use to engage dining services at their schools.

During downtime between workshops, the group played games, shared poetry and songs, and discussed ways to bring back what they learned to their campuses or workplaces.  At night, the crew shared some traditional fireside activities, including roasting marshmallows and making s'mores, playing games, and recounting stories.  Another favorite activity was an afternoon spent harvesting potatoes on The Food Project's farm.  The crew also took several trips to nearby Walden Pond to cool off after long days of discussing, reflecting on, and harvesting real food.   

The crew hit the road on Sunday afternoon armed with resources and allies to continue their struggle for a real food system that nourishes at every step--from seed to fork and beyond.

In the photo: The group works with youth leaders at The Food Project to harvest potatoes.