Western's Community Connect program to host dialogue on food systems, land use, and food access Nov. 5
Western's Community Connect program will host "Building Community Through Food Access and Education in Bellingham" from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the WWU Outback Farm.
Join us as we chat about sustainable land use practices, equitable food systems, food education, access to healthy food, and garden spaces in Whatcom County. Dig into various food programs that are available with WWU's Outback Farm, the Bellingham Food Bank, and Common Threads Farm. What can access to healthy food look like in this community? Join the discussion and be part of a plan to build our network of food advocates!
The Bellingham Food Bank is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that believes hunger is unacceptable. Bellingham Food Bank rescues, harvests and purchases food to provide free groceries to Bellingham families in a low-barrier and dignified environment. 1 in 5 Bellingham households access Bellingham Food Bank annually.
The Outback Farm is a place of reflection, education, advocacy and agriculture on the WWU campus. Our focus is to enable students to grow food for students, with most of the produce going to farm participants, campus food pantries, and the Bellingham Food Bank. The farm includes community gardens, chickens, educational agricultural rows, a new teaching apiary, and the forest garden where we're practicing permaculture techniques. Students also pursue experiential learning about food access, environmental justice, and how important agriculture is for empowerment, community, resilience, and health. The Outback is a joint program of Fairhaven College and the Associated Students of Western Washington University. Founded in 1972, the Outback Farm is a five acre student-run site at the south end of Fairhaven College.
Common Threads Farm connects kids with healthy food through hands-on gardening, cooking, and eating programs. We believe that when kids eat better, they learn better, act better and feel better. Empowering young people to make healthy food choices is one of the simplest and most effective ways that we can help all youth – particularly those living in high-risk circumstances – to be more successful in their lives physically, emotionally, and academically.
The community dialogue will be led by:
Kristin Costanza, Bellingham Food Bank's Communications Coordinator
Laura Plaut, Executive Director, Common Threads Farm
Terri Kempton, WWU Outback Farm Manager and Instructor of Agroecology and Ecogastronomy
What is Community Connect?
Community Connect is a Western program that invites local nonprofits to lead dialogues and build collaborative relationships with the University community. If you have any questions about this program please contact Laurel Hammond at laurel.hammond@wwu.edu.