WE
OUR FOOD & FAITH AMBASSADORS!
We knew that people who were interested in Good Food issues were a generous and
passionate bunch, but we were still floored by the number and caliber of the folks who
turned out for our four-week volunteer training session this past March. We had
planned on training 5 ambassadors, and 25 showed up! Participants learned about everything from how our current food system came to be, to what some of the food accessibility, environmental, and justice issues are, to how to give a presentation, and in the
process made some new friends to help support them in their work. The Ambassadors
will continue to meet periodically to learn together and share their own insights and
experiences. And they will also serve as extensions of the BFFP, going out into their
own communities to share what
they’ve learned and to help get
2012 AMBASSADOR CLASS
more congregations and groups involved in making a difference. So,
if any of the good projects that the
rest of you are doing need some
help with educational outreach (like
having someone come and speak),
gardening, field trips, tabling, children and youth activities, etc. that
are aimed at bringing about a more
sustainable and just food system, please let us know! Our Ambassadors are ready, willing, and excited to lend a hand, and you will be thrilled with what they bring to the
table. Thanks to all of them for already giving so much of their time and talents to us!
SIGN UP NOW FOR “FOOD, FARM,
& FAITH” SUMMER DAY CAMP IN
PARKTON
SAVE THE
DATE
The BFFP has been partnering with St. James’
Episcopal Church in Parkton, MD for the past
year to develop a five-day “green” camp for kids
between the ages of 5 and 11. Children will have
the opportunity to participate in chapel; learn
songs; read stories; do art activities; grow, prepare, and eat healthy foods; and visit Woodberry
Crossing Farm for a day.
Back by popular demand, our
Annual Film Series will return for
its 4th year this summer. Each
film will be centered around
BFFP’s theme for this year,
Healthy People, Healthy Communities, Healthy World. We’ll send
out more details later, but for
now, don’t forget to put the following dates on your calendar:
The camp will run from
June 25 to June 29 from
9 AM to 2 PM, and will
conclude with festivities
for the whole family.
Please check out the
brochure at St. James’
website here for more info and to sign up.
Tuesday, June 26 at 7 PM
Tuesday, July 24 at 7 PM
Tuesday, August 21 at 7 PM
Hope to see you there!
SPRING 2012
Volume 5, Issue 2
BFFP’s mission:
To partner with Baltimore area faith
communities and religious organizations of all faith traditions to promote
a just, safe, and trustworthy food system that allows us to produce what is
needed now and for future generations in a way that protects people,
animals, air, land, and water.
FOOD OF THE SEASON
Ah! The
strawberry.
Arguable, the
world’s most popular berry, poems and ballads have long been
written about it extolling its virtues,
and artists have used it to illustrate
their canvases. Way back in the
1400’s – long before the largefruited strawberry that we are most
familiar with today was brought
from Chile to Europe – the monks of
Western Europe were using the wild
strawberry in their “illuminated”
manuscripts. One French miniature
from the 15th century depicts the
strawberry in the hand of Joseph
who is holding it out toward the
child Jesus, coaxing Him to take his
first step. (Smart guy, that Joseph!)
The French king, Charles V, who
was a patron of the miniaturists, had
12,000 strawberry plants set out in
his Royal Gardens. Which is all to
say that if you are lucky enough to
enjoy strawberries when they are at
their peak and in season (right now,
folks!!), you will not be eating what
is fit for a king, but you’ll be in absolute heaven as well.
Excerpted from Bruggman, M.W. The strawberry in religious paintings of the 1400s.
Spinach, Avocado, and Strawberry Salad
Adapted from allrecipes.com
No matter where we look right now, the world is awash in vibrant spring colors. The flowers and trees are
blooming, the trees still have that new green color that is so pretty, and we are just waiting for that first
rainbow to show up after a good spring rain. Color, color everywhere! On our plates, too. This salad is not
only yummy and good for you, but it’s a feast for your eyes as well.
Photo from Allrecipes.com
Salad Ingredients
4 cups spinach
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 sliced avocado
1/2 cup chopped almonds, pecans,
OR walnuts (your choice)
Dressing Ingredients
6 Tablespoons olive oil
4 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, gently toss with dressing, and enjoy! Serves 4.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies
956 Dulaney Valley Road
Towson, MD 21204
Dr. Christopher Leighton, Executive Director
In 2010 and 2012, the BFFP partnered with the
Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies (ICJS) to
host two six-week series on food, agriculture,
faith, and the environment. Participants came
from a variety of faith backgrounds and had a
Some of the 2012 Series participants at Prigel Family Creamery on Field Trip Day
unique opportunity to engage in an inter-religious
and interdisciplinary discussion with clergy, lay leaders and visiting scholars on how the texts of various traditions, as well
as the fields of public health, science, economics, agriculture and policy, might inform the way we use (or don’t use) the Earth.
ICJS Executive Director Chris Leighton shares with The Good Food Digest why the ICJS wanted to nurture this conversation:
“It may not appear self-evident that an educational organization with the mission to disarm religious hostilities would take a
keen interest in food. There are too many battles to fight. Who has time to eat?
Yet the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies has forged an exceptional partnership with the Baltimore Food & Faith Project
at the John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. For the better part of Western history, religious communities have defined
themselves in opposition to one another. There is no shortage of theological disputes that have set them in adversarial relation,
and these communities are just learning how to honor their differences. Each of these religious traditions holds distinctive
insights. Each has a wisdom, beauty, and history that cannot be swallowed and digested by the other. New habits of engagement depend upon the ability to recognize and affirm the distinctive blessings that belong to their neighbors.
This discovery can emerge in a variety of settings, and our organization has designed and implemented an array of educational
encounters over the past twenty-five years to do just that. While there is essential work to do if we hope to expose those
aspects of our traditions that generate serious distortions and to explore our creative and life-affirming legacies, there is also an
imperative to find common purpose and to tackle both local and global challenges that we all share.
The BFFP has enabled us to examine deeply engrained attitudes and teachings about the environment, most particularly the
ways in which we use and abuse the land, distributing and hoarding its bounty. What do our different traditions teach us about
a just and non-exploitative connection with our environment? What attitudes and behaviors are enshrined within our
traditions? What are we taught about the art of tilling the soil, about harvesting and sharing its produce, about preparing and
consuming our food, and about responding to the needs of others and the creation at large?
During the course of this project, a wonderful mix of clergy and lay leaders from various branches of Judaism and Christianity
have toggled back and forth between our sacred texts and contemporary studies. The result is a committed nucleus of
individuals whose religious horizons are greatly expanded, whose appreciation of the contemporary challenges is deepened,
and whose resolve to take action is more firmly grounded. This collaboration gives us reason to put down our swords, to raise
our glasses and to celebrate.”
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A Buddhist Blessing before Eating
* (serving the food)
* (just before eating)
In this food I see clearly
the presence of the entire
universe supporting my
existence.
The plate is filled with food.
I am aware that each morsel
is the fruit
of much hard work
by those who produced it.
With the third,
I promise to see others' joy as
my own.
With the fourth,
I promise to learn the way of
nonattachment and
equanimity.
* (looking at the plate of food)
* (beginning to eat)
* (after the meal)
All living beings are
struggling for life. May they all
have enough food to eat today.
With the first taste,
I promise to practice loving
kindness.
With the second,
I promise to relieve the suffering of others.
The plate is empty.
My hunger is satisfied.
I vow to live for the benefit
of all living beings.
From 100 Graces: Mealtime Blessings, edited by Marcia and Jack Kelley (1992)
Photo from MyFitClinic.com
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday, 5/13/12, 2 PM to 3 PM
Pizza Garden Workshop
Irvine Nature Center
11201 Garrison Forest Road
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Who doesn't like pizza?! Irvine Nature Center can teach you to organically
grow the fresh ingredients for pizza sauce in unconventional containers like
old cans, bottles and even shoes. Each family plants and decorates their pizza
garden to take home. All supplies are provided. All ages welcome. Free for
members or Irvine; $10 for non-members.
For more info and to pre-register, please call
(443) 738-9224
Saturday, 5/19/12, 10 AM to Noon
Herring Run Park
4190 Harford Road
Baltimore, MD 21213
For more info, visit Blue Water Baltimore.
RSVP with payment of $65 by 5/11/12 to
reserve your barrel by e-mail to Stuart or call
(410) 254-1577, ext. 106
Tuesday, 5/22/12, 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Parks and People Foundation
800 Wyman Park Drive, Suite 010
Baltimore, MD 21211
For more info and to RSVP, please e-mail
Val Shane or call (410) 448-5663, ext. 111
Rain Barrel Workshop
Help build your own recycled rain barrel in Herring Run park! Come learn
how collecting rainwater helps our streams and see if you qualify for $25 off
your barrel and free installation through our Water Audit program.
Contact Blue Water Baltimore first to verify your discount potential.
Finding Resources (for Gardening Projects) Workshop
Discover high-quality, low-cost resource providers that can help you make
your vision reality. At the workshop you'll learn about local nonprofits offering materials and skills training for gardeners, grant opportunities, donations,
city resources and volunteers. FREE.
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Questions or comments, please e-mail us at [email protected], or call 410-502-5069.