The Staple Foods Network Project

The History

In 2008, the Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative began to assess what was necessary for a regional organic staple grain and bean value chain in Appalachia. Michelle Ajamian who, along with her partner Brandon, runs Shagbark Seed and Mill in Athens, OH, had the vision, and began to reach out and form relationships with others interested in staple foods. Ten years later, this informal collaborative had grown from a handful to several hundred farmers, bakers, millers, and others around the country who are focusing on local, heirloom and organic grains and beans. 

Now a for a bit of a necessary segue…..

Why a staple foods network? 

For those readers who are not deep into sustainable agriculture, you may wonder why staple foods are important? Or even, what staple foods are? These next few bullets help delineate this, and also how staple foods relate to well-being, and equity bridging:

• Staple grains, beans, and oil seeds are integral to a healthy human diet and food security; yet this market is dominated by an industrial global food market.

• Strengthening regional staple food networks supports equity, vibrant communities and food security.

• Bioregional access to nutritious staple foods strengthens the health of citizens, the environment, and local economies.

• Regional food networks encourage socially and environmentally responsible food production and processing based on reconnecting people to food in a place-based context.

So, given the importance of staple foods to health, and the lack of local and regional availability, it became obvious to those of us with an eye on our food system that this group needed to gain traction. Acknowledging that to shift the staple foods culture in this country from industrial to a values-based value chain, it is necessary to be intentional in facilitating change to foster collaboration in our efforts to gather and share collective knowledge, resources, and best practices around policy, food access, and business. Because I had been participating in the RWJF/LLC trainings and community of practice, and as a farmer, was interested in cultivating (pun intended) staple foods work, I was uniquely situated for acting on this opportunity. So, I approached Michele with the idea, and she rallied support from Slow Food Columbus and Bill Best (a local expert). Together we applied for, and received a seed fund grant to support the growth of the Staple Foods Network.

The Project

The project began with a survey of the Staple Foods Collaborative Members. It was also at this time that we began referring to it as the Staple Foods Network, realizing that there were people involved from Maine to California, not just in Appalachia. 

Using a web-based application, Sum App, data was collected from individuals who self-identify as belonging to the Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative. Through a participatory questionnaire, individuals answered demographic and relationship questions about their involvement, their expertise, and what they need help with. This part of the project went well with 73 out of 145 people responding, and a total of 586 connections made.

Mapping of the Network 

Data from the initial questionnaire phase was used to develop a map using Kumu software. Data was to be exported from the collector to the mapping software to create a visual display of who is connected to who in the network. This information was used to analyze the hubs, clusters and connections within the Staple Foods Collaborative. People can see who knows who, and what the opportunities and gaps are. One of the major themes that emerged from this mapping is that staple foods members are all across the country. This established a need for developing a communications platform, and some digital communications training, which will be of further assistance to staple foods network members in building community and open up opportunities to engage with each other, and initiate activities around mutual visions, values and goals.

Lessons Learned, or “Where Things Are At”

Ultimately, despite the initial enthusiasm of many, Michelle and I were predominantly driving this project, and we both have many other irons in the fire. Once Michelle was able to get a comprehensive data base together, I created the survey and we let it snowball out. However, after the initial launch, without someone to facilitate ongoing engagement, or provide structure and governance, things have lagged. Though we understand that creating a community of learning and practice would exponentially enhance the ability of all with a common interest in staple foods to address policy and business challenges, and open up opportunities, at this point we are lacking someone to facilitate this. 

Another challenge is getting people together for video conferencing and digital communications platform training. I can sum this up as many people have a fear of the unknown, and digital skill building with strangers is scary stuff . As a facilitator, it is important to acknowledge and bridge these differences between those of us who are comfortable in the digital world and those to whom this is new. Moving networks forward requires adding some tools to the toolbox and creating conditions to support these learning processes in a way that works for people whose voices are essential.

Slowly, progress is being made on getting a website together using the RWJF seed funds. However, without a curator it is unclear at this time who will be able to coordinate and engage the network long-term. A facilitator will be necessary to support innovation, and further regional, national and international networking opportunities for staple foods farmers, bakers, millers and others.

In summary, some progress has been made in connecting staple foods people, and creating a shared identity. However, in order to initiate activities to build community and circulate ideas and practices, a facilitator or “network guardian” is needed. However, valuable knowledge and experience was gathered regarding the obstacles and limits of network leadership and learning processes. This is relevant for data collection, research and future practice. 

In summary, some progress has been made in connecting staple foods people, and creating a shared identity. However, in order to initiate activities to build community and circulate ideas and practices, a facilitator or “network guardian” is needed. However, valuable knowledge and experience was gathered regarding the obstacles and limits of network leadership and learning processes. This is relevant for data collection, research and future practice. 

Farming with a Developmentally Disabled Crew - The Awkward Stumbling's of a Neophyte - Part II

Chicken Little the Sky is Falling

As some may know, and some may not, my background in farming also includes the study and practice of biodynamic agriculture. Biodynamic agriculture is just one of the many branches of anthroprosophical work inspired by Rudolf Steiner. My interest in biodynamics led me to the work of Karl Konig an Austrian Pediatrician and anthroposophist that founded the Camphill Community. These communities provide curative education and “life sharing” to people around the world.

So what does all that have to do with Colchester Neighborhood Farm? Foremost, we are a farm (though not practicing biodynamic agriculture at the moment), and we have a staff that includes adults with developmental disabilities. In addition, though I do not come to my work here at CNF with a background in developmental disabilities or special education; I do approach with a personal philosophy akin to, and confidence in the work of Karl Konig and Camphill.

It was Karl König’s view that every human being possessed a healthy inner personality that was independent of their physical characteristics, including characteristics marking developmental or mental disability, and the role of the school (or in our case the farm) was to recognize, nurture and educate this essential self.  A belief that, “a perfectly formed spirit and destiny belong to each human being (Busalle 1996).”

It is important to recognize the fundamental differences between mainstream traditional “service delivery systems” and the Camphill approach. Within the Camphill movement there is “a respect for and a wish to engage with nature, with the earth, with the natural cycles.” This is not a deliberate intention on the part of most traditional service providers of adults with developmental disabilities. I feel blessed to have found this farm where there is opportunity to honor the person.

Within Camphill there is also recognition that “individual growth and personal development happens at hand of others and in and through relationships (whether or not people are living with disabilities), relationships over the course of time and sometimes in the human encounter in the moment.” New England Village mission clearly reflects and supports the opportunity to do just that in our work here on the farm.

So there you have it, the foundation of my philosophy in a nutshell. However, before I digress further, my topic for this writing is some observations I have made on change, and how it affects some of our workers here at Colchester Neighborhood Farm.

Farming is filled with constantly changing variables, weather, pests, crop growth, and animal behavior just to name a few. No two days on the farm are ever alike. Though routine is established, flexibility and the ability to nimbly adjust both your thoughts and your plan are essential to successful farming. Though it may seem oxymoron, I love planning, scheduling and routines, however on the flipside change and adventure charge me up!

There is one aspect of our farm that is a planned and scheduled change. One I am very excited about, our rotational grazing pasture for our laying hens.  Managed Intensive Rotational Grazing, also known as cell grazing, or mob grazing is a variety of systems of forage use in which ruminant and non-ruminant herds and/or flocks are regularly and systematically moved to fresh rested areas with the intent to maximize the quality and quantity of forage growth. This type of grazing can be used with cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks and other animals. Here at CNF I am grazing one portion of our chicken pasture, while allowing the others sections to recover. The length of time a paddock is grazed depends on many factors, but it is usually 1-3 days. Resting grazed lands allows the vegetation to renew energy reserves, rebuild shoot systems, and deepen root systems, with the result being long-term maximum biomass production. Keeping chickens on fresh pasture is good for the chickens, cuts down on feed, and improves the quality of eggs as well.

When I first arrived at CNF the chickens were in a pen, where they had been for several years. The soil was barren, compacted and eroded. The chickens didn’t move…. the chicken pen did not move……

Many people, especially people with developmental disabilities, are often most comfortable with routines that they can follow daily so that they know what to expect. Most adults with developmental disabilities thrive on routine. A change in the normal pattern of the day can be very upsetting. A major change might cause them to “lose control” and maybe even have a “melt down”.

Imagine for a moment a person with Autism, or even Down’s syndrome discovering that the chickens are in a different location just about every morning when he or she gets to the farm. Hum, yeah,  It had not even occurred to me that something I don’t really even think about could be such a big deal, or news to talk about, much less think to let the girl who collects the eggs, or the guy who cleans the coop know so that they could  “prepare for the change”.  They were not ready for it, and I certainly was not ready for this -

“What happened to the chickens, why did they move (said in a very anxious and nervous voice)?”

“Are they ok? Are they going to be ok?”

“The chicken’s are over here now! They were there yesterday?

All I could think was “chicken little, chicken little the sky is falling.” Who knew that rotational grazing could cause such commotion……

In all seriousness, two things have become evident to me in my time thus far at CNF. We are all different and so there is no hierarchic relationship, with one teaching and the other learning. Instead it is a situation where we learn from one another and grow through our interactions with one another. However different in cognitive ability we may be, we share the same quality of being human. When working together we not only want to see good results of the hard work, but we also face the problems, questions and the need to adjust our expectations of how things “should be” and just accept the present situation…….if the sky is falling it will be ok.

Sources -

Busalle, Rebecca, Cornelius Pietzner, and Stephan Rasch. “The life of the soul”. Aperture, Summer 1996 n144: 26(10).

Holistic Special Education: Camphill Principles and Practice. 2006, Floris Books, Edinburgh

Marga Hogenboom,Living With Genetic Syndromes Associated With Mental Disability, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2001

Voth, Kathy. Mob Grazing with Chickens – http://onpasture.com/2013/06/24/mob-grazing-with-chickens/