By Laurie Casey
Located on Chicago’s West Side, the Austin community doesn’t have a lot of healthy food options. A group of 22 partner organizations, called Austin Eats, is trying to change that. One of the ways is through twice-yearly food education events led by One Earth Collective. This summer we helped lead Austin Eats’ food education team to plan and put on a “Movie At The Farm” event that welcomed at least 150 people.
Held at BUILD Chicago’s urban farm and outdoor film lawn, the planning teams’ goal was to have Austin residents leave this event feeling inspired to explore gardening and urban farming. We envisioned that our event would honor the ancestral history and knowledge of farming and celebrate our ability to grow our food while discovering the power of nurturing our bodies by sharing joyfully grown and cooked healthy food.
The audience was intergenerational and included some families with young children and youth (teens and young 20s) who are connected to BUILD. Many long-time Austin activists were also in attendance.
In all, more than 24 partner and vendor organizations contributed to the festivities, a testament to our collaborative and community-based approach.
One attendee said they knew they wanted to make changes in the way they ate, but they “just didn't know the local community/organizations!” Now they had a chance to meet them.
Before the film, we had a rich, thoughtful, and important dialogue about “Growing Food on the West Side,” facilitated by Marshall Callery, a youth podcaster. West Side urban farmers made up the panel: Dr. Shemuel Israel, President, North Lawndale Greening Committee & Lead Farmer, North Lawndale Garden to Table Pipeline; Kenyana Walker, Youth Program Coordinator & After School Matters Program Instructor, BUILD Inc.; and Chamika Moore, member, Austin Garden Collective.
We recorded the panel discussion… it is here!
Then, we then screened the film“Farming While Black, a feature documentary about rural and urban Black farmers who are returning to agriculture. Lyrical and inspiring, this 75-minute film connects the legacy of slavery and racist federal policies to Black people’s fight for food security and health.
After watching the film and the panel discussion, another attendee said, “I have never tried growing produce but am excited to learn.”
Four young musicians of color from West Side Community Music School played music, and a young Black woman from Austin did a breathwork exercise to address mental health and wellness.
Zion, a performer who focuses on mental health and anti-violence, performed a song for all of us that evening.
Meanwhile, attendees enjoyed cooking demos, giveaways, and healthy food tastings by Chef Jermaine Abdual of Spirit and Soul Catering, and Chef Patty Ringo of KATR2U catering, a longtime Austin-based small business.
University of Illinois Extension and BUILD provided a “Hydration Station” using herbs and produce to infuse water.
Volunteers from Greater St. John Bible Church’s Community Kitchen helped attendees make 200 s’mores over an open fire in BUILD’s Peace Garden.
Additional tastes of vegan and chicken sausages (donated by Whole Foods) were grilled and handed out.
Partnership for a Healthier America sponsored a Summer Salad Showcase, and attendees took home recipe cards for these dishes and the dishes made by Chef Jermaine and Chef Patty.
Notably, Austin Grown program youth gave tours of the BUILD urban farm that they’ve been working on all summer long– their pride and excitement were palpable. Chicago Grows Food gave out food “grow kits” to attendees.
By The Hand Club sold $5 bags of Austin Harvest produce and flowers.
Austin Garden Collective brought different varieties of cucumbers, peppers, basil and other produce to taste test. University of Illinois Extension gave away about 140 bags of lettuce and basil.
All attendees were encouraged to take action in their communities for healthy food options, such as buying local produce, attending the Austin Town Hall Farmers’ Market, growing their own food, considering more plant-based diets, pursuing a gardening or urban farming credential, and demanding from elected officials more healthy food options in their community.
As one attendee summed it up…. There were so many ways to engage with growing your own food on the West Side: “The elder farmer friends I made next to me, the film, the panel. All of it!”