There is absolutely no precedent in the DC area for the gathering of urban farmers, planners, healthy food advocates, food systems researchers and educators that took place Friday, June 18 at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Approximately 375 people were at Sowing Seeds Here and Now! Chesapeake Urban Farming Summit. The event was organized by Engaged Community Offshoots, Inc. (ECO), a Prince George’s County non-profit that promotes agri-entrepreneurship as a way to employ the community and produce food for ourselves in urban and suburban settings.
The keynote session included a live remote presentation from Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power in Milwaukee, the premier urban agriculture enterprise and training center in the country, who was unable to travel due to a medical issue. He amazed the crowd in trademark fashion however with this remote presentation on the intensive form of agriculture and aquaponics he’s made famous through Growing Power. The staff of ECO has earned the certificate in Commercial Urban Agriculture through training at Growing Power. Allen was introduced by Molly Jahn, until recently USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics.
Kaiser Permanente and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission were the major sponsors of Sowing Seeds Here and Now!. The more than 40 conference presenters included urban agriculture pioneers from as far as Denver, New Orleans and Cleveland, as well as dozens of leaders from the greater DC area and from projects in Baltimore.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR MAKING JUNE 18 A OVERWHELMING SUCCESS! To get a feel for the event, please see links to the summit presentations on the Handouts page.
Uncategorized by .
Summit Organizer
Major Sponsors
Sponsors
