Eden Murray understands that teaching young people about the availability of B次元官网网址済ood food,B次元官网网址� the resources available to source that food and the cultural significance of certain foods is an ongoing process.
In the days following the 2017 Youth Food Conference in Victoria, a recent weekend-long initiative of CRFair B次元官网网址� the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable B次元官网网址� Murray has had a chance to reflect on what went well and what outcomes are in sight.
A Vic High student and youth food action team co-ordinator for CRFair, she organized a weekend that saw people aged 14 to 24 gather together for an introduction, a meal and some local music on the Friday; attend a variety of topic-specific workshops on Saturday, then regroup on the final day for an activity fair, world cafe, networking and reflection time on what they learned.
While 150 people signed up for the free weekend, the number of attendees was significantly less. But Murray is undeterred and is actually excited about the future prospects of the local Youth Food Network.
B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e working with youth that are more hands-on people; they like to cook and garden and things like that,B次元官网网址� she said.
The Saturday was all about learning: knowledge pods were organized at various places in the city on such topics as herbalism, soil preparation, permaculture, meat sourcing and even ethically made chocolate.
Those participating on the Sunday were a B次元官网网址渧ery dedicatedB次元官网网址� group that will broaden the volunteer base as part of the Youth Food Network and be counted upon to spread the education and awareness of accessible food resources to a greater population, she said.
B次元官网网址淚 feel like weB次元官网网址檙e launching a very core group, a very strong group, which feels really good because I know it can just grow from there,B次元官网网址� Murray said. B次元官网网址淚 think next year, weB次元官网网址檒l have their friends come and the word will get out there.B次元官网网址�
Where the action team has previously staged food workshops for smaller group of interested youth, its members will take on an advisory role for the network, organizing quarterly meetings and the yearly conference.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not only excited about the next (conference) but IB次元官网网址檓 really excited about the littler things in between, thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be really good for the Youth Food Network, the different workshops weB次元官网网址檒l do, and the the smaller meetings weB次元官网网址檒l have.B次元官网网址�
The network is all about having a diversity of voices and perspectives, especially the youth voice, she says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about activism versus ageism.B次元官网网址�
To learn more, visit or email Murray at youthcoordinator@crfair.ca.
