Sowing the Seeds for Better Food and a Fair Farm Bill
Sowing the Seeds events will be kicking off throughout the country. It's time to get involved in shaping food policy because it's not enough to try to change our food system with our dollars.
As more and more people are making better and more informed food choices, the realization sets in that there is only so much we can do with our purchasing power to fix our broken food system. We need to focus on the policies that shape the way our food is planted, grown and distributed. This is why this weekend, and throughout the spring, volunteers, activists and anyone who cares about healthful food will be Sowing the Seeds.
What is Sowing the Seeds?
Sowing the Seeds is a series of events that bring communities together to celebrate good food and empower people to take action in large numbers. Many participants get together to plant food in local gardens and collect petitions from members of their communities. There are currently events scheduled to take place all across the nation: From Baltimore to Bismark, from Brooklyn to Seattle, and from Providence to St. Cloud, people who want to make positive changes to our food system are getting ready.
Why are we Sowing the Seeds?
There are still many people who live here in the United States who don’t have access to safe, healthy food. They are bombarded with unhealthy processed food choices by agribusinesses that are motivated by their bottom line. And many of the small and medium-sized farmers who have dedicated their lives to growing our food still struggle to make a living. They are being forced to either get big or get out of farming. Right now, there are a few large businesses that control most of our food. Farmers that work hard should be able to earn a good living and be paid fairly for their crops and livestock.
Growing a better Farm Bill!
We can help improve the food system by asking our Congress to pass good food policies. The Farm Bill, a massive bill passed by Congress every 5 to 7 years, has programs that influence how we grow, process and distribute food. It also helps determine who has access to affordable and healthy food. Everything that we hope to accomplish to make our food system better will come from a fair Farm Bill.
Who is Sowing the Seeds?
In Philadelphia, people will be running for fair food by participating in a 5K race along West River Drive. In Rochester, NY, people will be celebrating good food and the “Be-earth Day” of Abundance Co-Op, which is now ten years old. The food citizens of Cleveland, OH are planting an orchard and they’re planning a potluck in Bismark, ND. Check out what’s happening near you by clicking here. And if you can’t join in the fun at one of our events, you can start your own petition!
-Rich Bindell