FoodBites Focus
Peace on Earth,
Healing from the Ground Up
The holidays are a time when the theme of “Peace on Earth” seems to be a mainstream mantra, on the minds, hearts and action of many, while only on the lips of some. How do we nurture, cross-pollinate, and expand upon, what I've been calling, a “sustainable peace” from the ground up? Are there any seed to table connections here? These were a few of the questions that I asked myself while participating in the 18th Annual Pioneers Conference, a dynamic weekend filled with inspiring, thought-provoking speakers, programs and opportunities to connect with a diversity of people, involved with preserving and supporting the future of life on Earth. Part of the Pioneers' mission is to seek to unite nature, culture and spirit in an Earth-honoring vision, and create economic models founded in social justice, as seen by the many practical solutions and social innovations for people and planet growing via the Pioneers' community. True to the heart of their cautionary culture they offer “a rich array of diverse approaches that are effective and grounded in practice”, as noted by cofounder Kenny Ausubel and Nina Simons. Many shared their stories, of the great difference one person's actions can make; especially when in partnership with nature.
conflicts again”
-- Thich Nhat HanhThe Marin conference, which beamed its programming to 17 satellite conference locations around the U.S., offered a variety of highly educational, robust sessions in over 13 different interest areas; Ecological Design, Eco-nomics, Indigenous Knowledge, Women's Leadership, the Arts, Independent/Alternative media, and many more. One of my focus areas was Food and Farming. A special evening session included a seed exchange and a lively Farmers' & Chefs reception where we met some of the growers from Marin Farmer's Market Association and tasted their local bounty of cheeses, olives, oils, fresh and flavorful vegetables, fruits, honeys and more. Our appetites peaked as we continued conversations, meeting people from all across the country, and proceeded to a buffet of a variety of local, organic and seasonal dishes.
A centerpiece of this overflowing table filled with “food for thought” was Farms Not Arms (FNA), which promotes world peace by working to address the root causes of war. FNA was being honored for their activism and providing farming jobs for war veterans. They feel that “no one embodies the tradition of the spirit of our country more than the American Farmer. They ask us to come together–one with strong rural communities, thriving farms and effective democratic for a world where fair trade, food sovereignty and adequate food supply help to contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable future.”
During the dinner I intently listened to Michael O'Gorman, one of the cochairs of Farms Not Arms (FNA), who also farms 1600 acres of organic vegetables for Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo in Baja California, as he passionately shared. “For 37 years I have been farming . . . Inspired by people like Helen and Scott Nearing, our belief was that the ultimate protest against the war was to create a society from the ground up that was peaceful, cooperative, in tune with nature and free of the drive for consumption that derails our humanity. . . . By supporting food sovereignty - the right for all nations to protect their farms and farmers from foreign interference and manipulation“– by fighting hunger and working to preserve farmland and water around the world, we can eliminate many of the root causes of war. By supporting sustainable and organic farming, regional and local agriculture, the ecological growing of bio-fuels - outside the hands of the corporations – coupled with dramatic reduction in fuel use–– by changing how we farm and feed ourselves we can do more about global warming than any other industry or any other action,” said O'Gorman. ”
FNA, whose supporters come from different political, religious and social backgrounds, started out as “a handful, which has now grown to three hundred farmers and food industry people, with enthusiastic support and participation from the leaders of our nation's family farm organizations.” Some FNA supporters are: Jim Hightower, Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, George Naylor, Dolores Huerta, Global Exchange, Peaceroots Alliance, Organic Consumers Organization, and Chelsea Green Publishing.
FNA farmers, seeking a more peaceful world, created the Swords to Plowshares Project and made their farms available to Iraq and Afghan War vets looking for employment, job training and places to heal. This comes at a time when there is a growing demand, as many returning veterans are not able to receive the adequate aftercare, transitional programs or support for their unmet needs, from the military, DOD or VA. As of Oct. 2007, one in seven soldiers returning from Iraq is seeking treatment for mental illness and the U.S. Dept. of Veteran's Affairs (VA) said that more than 100,000 soldiers have requested help in the past 12-months, as by reported by ABC news. One in six Iraq veterans suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study by the New England Journal of Medicine. The same study reported that less than 40 percent sought professional help under the assumption that it would compromise their military careers. VA estimates that at least one quarter of the homeless population in the U.S. are veterans. In addition, as reported in The Nation , “Rural America has become ground zero in terms of troop casualties. A study concluded that the death rate for rural soldiers, as a percentage of their hometown population, is 60 percent higher than for soldiers from cities and suburbs.”
I was deeply touched to learn about Matt McCue's experience, an Iraq War vet turned farmer and a member of FNA. “Having been very effectively conditioned to kill and accept death, taking care of plants has had a kind of opposite effect on my mind, heart, and soul . . . To go from fighting to watching things grow, taking care of life, has been a very important step for me. . . . The quiet power of farming has overtaken me and I no longer live in fear.” Matt now teaches Agriculture as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa. Farms Not Arms and the Farmer-Veteran Coalition offers scholarship assistance to any returning veterans that wish to attend the Agroecology apprentice program that Matt did at the UC Santa Cruz. Interested parties can contact Linda at linda@farmsnotarms.org
The Farmer-Veteran Coalition (FVC) is their newest collaboration. In addition to the challenges faced by vets, O'Gorman noted that “the Average American farmer is 60 yr. old, and there are fewer and fewer of us. Plus now for the first time in history we are no longer feeding ourselves, we're importing more food than we are exporting.” This unique coalition was formed in Santa Cruz in the summer of 2007 after a series of meetings with farmers, veterans and veteran's advocates; founded by Veterans Village, Not This Time Vets, California Farm Link, Swords to Plowshares and Farms Not Arms. One main focus is to support family farms, regional agriculture, growing of bio-fuels and creation of work opportunities on their farms for returning veterans. FNA and FVC also feel there are “natural cultural links between farmers and soldiers—a shared belief in hard work, discipline and collective effort.” The FVC has been called a “paradigm change, connecting the dots, and doing things in a way to heal people, to get them back to the earth, and have the community work together in a different way.” Those involved would like to see this coalition flourish in the central coast of CA, around the country and in other fields of work.
Nadia McCaffrey, Gold Star Mother-whose son Sgt. Patrick McCaffrey died in Iraq three years ago, and founder of Veterans Village (www. veteransvillage.org), is a dynamic member of the FVC. She brought with her the vision to create agrarian havens for veterans to peacefully recover from the stress of combat. Dan Rather featured her efforts in “Heroes at Home.” As a result of the FNA and FVC meeting in Petaluma, CA in Aug. 2007, a donor came forward and presented Nadia a building for veterans returning from war, in Guerneville, CA. It is a four-story building and will be able to house 20 full-time veterans, as they heal and learn to farm. You can learn more and see their “Wish List” at www. veteransvillage.org/Guerneville_Ca.html. Along with Nadia's project, FNA is looking for a farm near the retreat center to help heal the veterans. It will be run by the veterans with overview by Michael O'Gorman. They will learn farming and grow organic food for themselves, as well as to sell it as a business. FNA is working on grants for the project but so far are running only on donations and volunteer help.
Tonia Sergeant of Camp Pendleton, CA, is also involved in the Farmer Veteran Coalition. Married to her Marine husband who was shot through his eye by a sniper in Iraq and suffered severe brain injury, she has had to learn to become an advocate for his continued needs and care. Tonia is also a spokesperson for Soldier Fund, Operation Homefront and American War Heroes and was inspired by FNA. “I think this farming idea is wonderful, because you give these service members the ability to come back and embrace the elements of the dirt and the land that they fought for…. (Due to the severity of the injury...) my husband is unemployable in the corporate world . . . but he can come and dig and plant, and he will grow from that, and he will feel that he has purpose. One day, he will be planting something, somewhere, and watch it grow and nurture. It is the basis behind that, that gives it gratification. You know, we couldn't eat today if we didn't have our farmers.”
Tonia has reached out to the coalition members and the community to embrace the veterans and provide opportunities for them: “…there is no “I” in “we the people” and everyone one of us is “we the people.” You don't have to do anything extreme. It's one person doing one thing and connecting with one more person, which then becomes many people doing many things.” “I think the farming element is tangible, that these service members can come home to. We're not going to go home to the Marine Corp, to the Federal government, we're going to come home to our community....”
Tonia and her husband and family wish to complete his healing by moving off the base in San Diego. She is looking for a home to make their own and start a civilian life again, crossing over from 20 years of service in the military and living on bases.
As I finished this, while watching the doves and other birds gathered eating under the fruit trees, the lyrics of a song sent to me by a friend whispers in my mind, “To everything - turn, turn, turn. There is a season - turn, turn, turn. And a time for every purpose under heaven . . . A time of peace, I swear it's not too late!” In this “Season” may you feel the strength, courage and compassion to plant your seeds for peace in the world, in whatever way or expression speaks to you.
Learn more at www. farmsnotarms.org and www. farmvetco.org. Farms Not Arms (FNA) is a project of Peaceroots Alliance, a non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible. S.D. FNA members are planning a fundraiser for April 2008. Michael O'Gorman will be speaking and others from FNA and FVC. A silent auction is planned and any donations are appreciated.
Jennifer Joe's interests include being passionate about organic foods, healing, sustainable peace and restorative practices for the people and planet. Contact her at jjoe@eco-creation.us
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