Food Open Space Event

On Saturday, Dec. 11th a group of 25-30 Asheville area residents came together to self-organize a discussion answering the question: How will Asheville feed itself in a future of post peak fossil fuel? The energy was high, with a lot of passion, concern, and inspiration in the room. Individuals from the group nominated several important topics for conversation in the realm of local food security, and formed break-out discussion groups around each topic. Topics included were:
1)Economically Growing Perennial and Forest Crops, Propagation and Access/Distribution, and Bio-shelters;
2)Community Organization for Growing an Edible Landscape - Neighborhood Organizing Strategy;
3)Collaboration with Existing Organizations Working with Food, Community Food Education, and Growing Food in Schools/School Gardens;
and perhaps the most ambitious topic:
4)Creating a Food Energy Descent Plan for Asheville.

The discussions were juicy, lively and engaged, with a great show of group participation. Each discussion group had a note taker recording the session. Some time was left at the very end for the larger group to reconvene. Each break-out group had a representative share a summary of the ideas discussed, so that everyone attending was able to benefit and learn from each discussion. At the very end of the event the attendees decided that it would be wise to meet again in January (exact date to be announced) to form a Transition Asheville Food Action Group, in order to begin actualizing the solutions to relocalizing our food system. The notes taken by each group will follow, each with it's own blog post. The hope is that these notes are the beginning of a much larger conversation on each of these topics. Please feel free to question, comment, and add to any and all discussions by commenting on the appropriate blog post. Much thanks to Chuck Marsh for facilitating the event, and to every person who attended and participated. We hope see you in January!