Sustainable Food and Farming 2008: Growing and Eating Simply in Season
March 7-9, 2008 • Laurelville Mennonite Church Center • Mount Pleasant PA 15666
For immediate release: about 660 words
Erin Clymer (800) 839-1021ERIN@laurelville.org
Cathleen Hockman-Wert to keynote faith-based sustainable food and farming conference:
“Growing and Eating Simply in Season” theme for biennial gathering
Mount Pleasant , PA.: Cathleen Hockman-Wert – co-author of Simply in Season – will headline Sustainable Food and Farming Conference 2008, set for March 7-9, 2008, at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in western Pennsylvania.
“Growing and Eating Simply in Season” is the theme for this biennial event at the intersection of Christian faith and innovative farming that builds farms, families and community. The weekend will feature singing, worship, reflection, practical and inspirational workshops, and ample time for networking and sharing stories.
The event invites each participant to learn more about sustainability and faith through how they farm, how they eat and how they create connections with the people and creation that God loves. People who value agriculture and food as important aspects of their lives will enjoy meeting and networking with others of a similar mind.
Cathleen Hockman-Wert is co-author of Simply in Season, a cookbook that features eating and using local, seasonal foods in wholesome, delicious dishes. Through stories and simple whole food recipes, Hockman-Wert and co-author Mary Beth Lind (workshop leader at the event) help make the connection between the time of year and the foods that are fresh and available from local sources. A self-described “food evangelist,” Hockman-Wert is an avid farmer’s market shopper, lackluster gardener, and recovering picky eater.
The worship will be lead by Luke Gascho, executive director of the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College ( Goshen, Ind.) Under his direction, Merry Lea has created Reith Village, a sustainably-built ecological field station complete with classrooms and housing. Gascho studies the concepts of creation care theology, leadership, and ecological systems—and the intersection of the three. Joining Luke will be music leader, Angie Clemens. Angie is an elementary school music teacher in Dayton, Virginia. With her husband, Angie enjoys singing and making music with family and friends on a variety of instruments.
The weekend begins on Friday night with supper. Then worship and introductions follow, with Hockman-Wert giving her first presentation. The keynote presentation will occur Saturday morning and be followed by three workshop sessions offering a total of 12 different workshops. Music and storytelling will finish off the day. Sunday morning begins with a late morning worship service and concludes the weekend with a final meal.
Effort is taken to use locally-produced food throughout the weekend. Meals will follow Simply in Season’s ethic to prepare meals with food in season. Local producers, including program participants are invited to sell or donate goods for the weekend.
Saturday workshops include: Linda Moist, Senior Extension Associate working with Pennsylvania Women’s Agricultural Network (PA-WAgN), Women in Farming; Kristi Bahrenberg Janzen, freelance journalist and co-publisher of www.realpeopleeatlocal.com, Connecting to Local Food; Karla Stoltzfus and Sherry and Duane Schmidt, Congregational Initiatives; and Wayne Teel, Growing Soil. A full list of workshops can be found at www.laurelville.org
The conference is organized by Laurelville Mennonite Church Center (LMCC) with help from a volunteer committee comprised of food and farming experts. The event is financially supported by registrations, donations and fees from commercial, non-profit and exhibitors, who are gratefully acknowledged in the printed conference program. Weekend booth space (with electricity) cost is $175 commercial, $75 non-profit.
Registration, including lodging and meals, ranges from $168 to $194 per person depending on lodging choice. Students and beginning farmers may apply for a limited number of scholarships which are made available through the generosity of individuals and other donors.
For details on being an exhibitor, making a donation, or checking costs, contact Laurelville Mennonite Church Center: (800) 839-1021, info@laurelville.org, or check out
http://www.laurelville.org/Program/Sustainable.html
LMCC -- a 600-acre camp and retreat center located at the foot of the Laurel Mountains -- is located about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh between the Donegal and New Stanton exits of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Year-round services and facilities are available to churches, synagogues, schools, youth groups, service clubs, families, and individuals. www.laurelville.org