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Community
Food Systems Handbooks
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a copy on CD or download the handbooks today!
Food Security Begins at Home:
Creating Community Food Coalitions in the South
Southern SAWG has developed a handbook to aid
Community Food Systems development in the Southern region. Food
Security Begins at Home: Creating Community Food Coalitions in the
South ushers
readers through the process of forming diverse community
collaborations, conducting community food assessments, addressing food
policy issues and operating profitable projects that are the driving
force of Community Food Security programs. Included are many profiles
of successful community food coalitions, numerous references to
community food system organizations, and sources for funding and free
or low-cost informational resources. The handbook was funded by the
USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program.
Released
in June, 2005, this 158-page
book is available in CD format for $10. Handbook chapters are fully-searchable, using Adobe
Acrobat Reader software that is included on the CD. The handbook may
also be downloaded from this page in PDF format.
Cover & Title
Page Credits
A Foreword
about the Handbook
Acknowledgements
About
the USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
About
the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
A
Few Tips on How to Use this Handbook
Table
of Contents
Chapter
1: The Problem of Food Insecurity in the U.S.
This
chapter discusses many of the deficiencies in community food systems
that lead to food insecurity and chronic hunger for an estimated 35
million Americans annually. Federal surveys and other tools for
measuring community food security are cited; anti-hunger food program
terms are defined; and many of the public health issues related to food
insecurity are identified. Readers learn how the loss of family farms
and demise of community food systems have exacerbated the food
insecurity problem in the U.S.
Chapter
2: The Community Food Security Movement
In this
chapter, readers learn about the differences between the anti-hunger
initiative with its emergency food programs and the Community Food Security
Movement that attempts to address food insecurity more holistically by
strengthening local food systems. Also included are descriptions of the
five main goals of the Community Food Security Movement; histories of
two hallmark organizations, the Community
Food Security Coalition and the USDA Community Food
Projects Program; and contact information for numerous Community Food Security
organizations in the South.
Chapter
3: Creating Successful Community Food Coalitions
This
chapter focuses on ways to recruit diverse collaborations of people to
create a community food coalition, prepare for a community food
assessment, conduct fundraising and promotional campaigns for community
buy-in, prepare to plan community food projects, and establish a way to
evaluate the efforts. A sample list of Community Food Security
publications is included.
Chapter
4: How Food Policy Councils Are Organized & Operate
Profiles
of five successful food policy councils in the U.S. illustrate the many
vital roles that such entities play in community food systems. The
chapter compares the similarities and differences between community
food coalitions and food policy councils, and provides lists of related
publications and contact information for food policy councils in the
U.S.
Chapter
5: Conducting Community Food Assessments
This
chapter describes steps in planning and implementing a community food
assessment; compiling an assessment team; gathering and assessing data;
and examples of food security issues to assess. Several profiles of
successful community food assessments are furnished, as well as
informational resources to aid communities in the effort.
Chapter
6: Creating Projects That Build Community Food Security
This
chapter presents sixteen examples of food projects that communities can
operate to build viable community food systems – from farmers
markets and farm-to-cafeteria sales to “buy local”
campaigns and farmer marketing cooperatives. Numerous references for
websites, organizations and publications where communities can obtain
free and discounted assistance are provided.
Chapter
7: Sources of CFS Funding & Financial Assistance
Included
in this chapter are comprehensive referrals to a host of private and
government funders that provide money and other forms of assistance for
community food systems work. The chapter explains the differences
between private and community foundations, corporate grantmakers,
interfaith funders, public charities and federal or state funding
sources.
Order
your copy of the Food Security Begins at Home CD today!!
Click here to order
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Growing the
Community Food Movement From the Ground Up:
A Community Food Systems Primer
(COMING SOON!)
This primer seeks to address basic questions
that
Community Food Systems practitioners may have about local, regional and
national community food organizing as they approach their
work.
It provides direction for great project ideas that have been generated
in communities as well as answers to frequently asked questions. The
work of three organizations will be highlighted in this primer as
models in practice to inform thinking about local food, food justice
and policy.
To be released in November, 2007, this manual will be available for
downloading from this page in PDF format.
Chapter
1: Introduction
Includes the purpose of this handbook and a description of Community
Food Programming in Southern SAWG.
Chapter 2: What You Had to Say: Asset Based
Community Food Systems
Includes sections on "Typical Suspects" in Community Food Organizing,
Unlikely Partners, Insights from National Conveners, Community Food
Assessments, and Strengths, Limitations and Complexities in
Partnerships.
Chapter 3: Organizational Profiles
Profiles on Ma'o Organic Farm, the New Mexico Hunger Taskforce, and the
New Orleans Food and Farm Network.
Chapter 4: Summary
Chapter 5: References
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