I am a YAV in Boston, working with and learning about food justice and economic discipleship.  These topics have me examining how to live out our biblical calls to love our neighbor, care for the poor, the widows, the orphans, and do justice in terms of our food and economic decisions.  It gets pretty complex because our food system and economy are so complex in recent decades.

Why is it that people can buy apples in the supermarket from hundreds of miles away while apple farmers within fifty miles are struggling to pay their workers? 

I will run with that good news until the next thing pisses me off. 

Do justice.
Learn from the world community.
Nurture people.
Cherish the natural order.
Nonconform freely.
~Living More with Less by Doris Janzen Longacre~

Read that again. “Nonconform freely.” It’s right there, waiting for us to let go of our inhibitions and be ourselves in this crazy world full of societal norms- gloriously creative life, waiting for us.

The other YAVs and I spent the first weekend of December on retreat in central Massachusetts. As part of our retreat we went Heifer International’s farm in Rutland, MA. The farm has a global village of exact replica houses from the countries they serve, some livestock, and a group of volunteers who live on grounds to keep the farm functional.

In recent years, I find myself increasingly melancholy in the days leading up to Christmas. There is a lot I want to love about the holiday, like stopping and spending time with loved ones, and the outpouring of kindness on one another. These are beautiful sentiments, but so often hard to focus on during the hustle  and bustle of the season.

The shelter doesn’t feel like a basement. It is painted a calming yellow, and there always seem to be fresh flowers around.

The stress that many of us experienced the past week during the SNAP Challenge was just around food, it didn’t include every other aspect of our lives and the financial pressure that comes with living on little income.

As difficult as it is to create a full and healthy diet on $30 per person per week, the real issue is the challenge of all of the other budget demands on a low-income household, which is why the SNAP benefits is often the only way to afford food.

A Garden Fable

“Thanksgiving Schmanksgiving! There’s nothing to be thankful about when it comes to food,” complains Stanley the Stinkbug. “It’s either a factory-farmed turkey or an organic turkey I can’t afford? What a choice!

Sometimes the situation can seem dismal with hunger on the rise, food deserts, pesticide corporations buying up seed companies, and diet-related disease,” drones Stanley. “The smelly list goes on and on, and people don’t give a hoot! Just a bunch of couch potatoes watching sports all day.”

“Stanley, you may be watching too much network news,” replies Chris Carrot. “People all over the country and planet are working together to build food economies that are fair and more sustainable — while supporting nearby farmers! These stories just don’t make the big headlines.”

Chris continues, “Neighborhood leaders and groups are bringing fresh, local food to their communities, Stanley. These are initiatives to be thankful about! One Great Hour of Sharing gifts help fund a program in Oregon to train immigrant families in farming skills at Huerto de la Familia. In Louisville, one initiative has turned teens into ambassadors of fresh produce and another holds food justice classes and brings in local produce for Fresh Stop markets in their lower-income neighborhoods.”

“New initiatives are dealing with all the food waste in our system. Students are demanding better and fairer food in their cafeterias. And watch the video of the first nonprofit supermarket just opened in Pennsylvania. It’s an oasis in a food desert,” added Chris.

“Yeah, yeah, a few random examples.” growls Stanley. “What about the advertising that food corporations bombard us with everyday? Have you seen Anna Lappé’s brand-new Food Mythbuster video, “The Myth of Choice: How Junk-Food Marketers Target Our Kids“? It’s terrifying. All you’ve described doesn’t amount to an ant hill.”

“No, Stanley, it’s happening everywhere,” exclaims Chris! “Presbyterian camps and conference centers around the country are smelling the roses of food justice! Ghost Ranch has revived its farm, Stony Point is producing veggies all over their campus and is putting in a greenhouse as we speak. Joseph Badger Meadows Camp and Eastminster Presbytery in Ohio is establishing a working farm and training program, right on their land!” gushes the Carrot. “And how does a cattail stir-fry sound? A new movement among Native Americans is bringing back traditional foods and changing lives!” continues Chris.

“Okay. Not bad, but what about global hunger? Those giant free trade agreements will make it even tougher for family-scale farmers?”

“Yes, we need to advocate to halt Fast Track and call for transparency and fairness in the Trans-Pacific Partnership to protect farmers overseas,” say Chris “Luckily, policy makers are beginning to admit that export-oriented cash crop farming is not the answer to ending poverty. In fact, research shows that it is small farms that are the key to creating global food security! 

Presbyterians can support great agricultural development by giving to the Presbyterian Hunger Fund and by funding great projects through the Food Resources Bank in Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And we have La Via Campesina and food sovereignty movements around the world — such as the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa and the US Food Sovereignty Alliance — to thank for building strong coalitions to resist injustice and build just and sustainable food economies everywhere!”

“Very impressive!” admits Stanley. “And as for the turkey, my farmer neighbor is actually giving me a free-range turkey in exchange for my promise to stay out of her vegetables. Come on over at 3:00.”