Food: Local Sustainability and Helping Each Other and the Community

Finally, a new post.  We are coming to the end of the 2011 Summer/Fall section.  There are three more distributions.  We are gearing up for the new Winter/Fall section which begins on January 11th 2012.  We are only taking 12 members for the first year of this section.  There are 6 more slots left.  If anyone is interested in receiving a detailed sheet about our various packages please email:  fran.hollowpumpkin@gmail.com and we will send you all of the information.  Deadline for payment for the Winter/Spring section alone is December 1st of 2011.

As some of you may know, Fran has been involved with the "Occupy" movement. Since the beginning of Hollow Pumpkin's history, Steve has always been a contributor to the Food Pantry and to Good Samaritan as well as truly sharing with his neighbors in the Anna region and beyond. One of the things the Carbondale section of the Occupy movement has been focusing on is how to improve our communities sustainability, work on local issues and to create an inclusive atmosphere.  One of the focuses is about the depletion of our regional food banks and how to feed our community in need.  To that end there is a section of "Occupy" that is called Occupy Hunger Southern Illinois.  We would like to pass some information onto our readers about this local collective of farms, organizations and individuals.  There are roles to play by farms and organizations but we will focus on the role of the individual today.

Here are some suggestions, from Occupy Hunger, as to how individuals can contribute to this effort:

1. Grow your own food - plant more than you need and donate the excess.
2.  Help your neighbors do the same
3.  Try new crops and give the excess away
4.  What you don't grow, buy from local producers when possible
5.  Purchase extra items, even if it is a small amount or a few extra cans or packages of something, at the farmers market or when you shop, at the Co-op for instance, and donate to your local charity/food bank or get in touch with Occupy Hunger at www.occupyhungersoil.blogspot.com and find out if they are collecting to do a mass distribution and bring your extra items to their drop point.
6.  Don't buy GMO food or seed
7.  Volunteer to transport food to the local food banks and other items needed. (contact Occupy Hunger)
8.  Volunteer to work for one of the producers (Farms) in the region!

These are just some of the ways we, as a community can become self sustaining and sustainable for the benefit of the environment, community and each of ourselves individually.  (Not to mention the health benefits.)  If we help each other we help ourselves!

To address the 8th item on the above list - Steve and I have been very blessed here on Hollow Pumpkin Farm this 2011 season.  We have had many, many volunteers come out to help all of whom showed an interest in learning about organic farming and helping Steve in the process.  Steve has had a lot of fun sharing his knowledge and friendship with this marvelous group of individuals.  We will have photo's of most of them in our next posting after this evenings Volunteer Thank You Dinner.  Stay tuned.