“That’s
My Farmer!”
First United Methodist Church, Eugene, OR
When Rev. John Pitney moved back to Eugene, OR,
not far from where he grew up, he joined the staff of the 800-member First United
Methodist Church. While John had a history of
working with farmers and particularly with CSAs or Community Supported Agriculture
efforts, there were only about 2 or 3 families in the church who participated in CSAs on
their own. John knew several farmers in the area and sought to find ways to increase local
participation in the CSA movement. Community
Supported Agriculture is one method of pairing local farmers with local customers in order
to ensure a market for the small farmer and fresh, seasonal produce for consumers. CSA member families pay the cost of the season all
at once, at the beginning of the season. This
means families share the economic risk of the season with the farmers. The payments also
give farmers cash flow up front so they don’t go into debt farming each year. Sharing
risk and not going into debt are radical concepts in today’s food system. In return,
families receive a weekly box of fresh produce delivered to a site in their neighborhood
from late May through mid-October or early November.
John used the annual Earth Day worship service
to preach on the topic and to help build cultural awareness. A group emerged out
of this service that decided to intentionally focus on environmental justice and care of
creation issues. This group also set its focus on a social justice ministry that supports
local farmers, fresh produce and the food needs of the community. The group decided to
hold an annual event called “That’s My Farmer!” as away to say thank-you to
CSA farmers and their families and to recruit households of Eugene faith communities to
join CSAs. The first two years that this
event happened it was focused on introducing the CSA concept to families and recruiting
participation.
At the third annual “That’s My Farmer!”
event, eleven CSAs were present and 200 people attended. Tickets were sold contributing about $700 to a
fund used to subsidize CSA shares for low-income households. Nationwide people are
committed to ensuring that CSAs are not only for upper income households. First UMC shares
this concern and regularly collects donations and offerings to subsidize CSA food boxes
for low-income families. Usually families will identify themselves to farmers as needing
assistance with food, and the First UMC fund helps offset the farmer’s contributions
to these families. About half the farmers contacted, accepted the compensation. The other
farms had already created similar funds within their own CSA market.
The CSA movement has begun to take root in
Eugene, OR congregations. A handful of congregations have recently formed a loose
association, committed to contributing funds to subsidize shares in local CSAs for
low-income families. This loose association of congregations has also set goals for
itself. By the fifth annual “That’s My Farmer!” event they seek to involve
15 faith communities in the effort. They also plan to meet three times per year, hoping to
attract 500 households to CSAs over the next five seasons.
The fourth annual “That’s My Farmer!”
event is fast approaching. It will be held this coming April. By the way, “That’s
My Farmer!” is also a song. John is an accomplished songwriter and has written a
variety of music about food systems. Contact him directly to learn more about CSAs, his
organizing efforts on behalf of low-income families, and his music.
Contact point:
Rev. John Pitney
“That’s My Farmer!”
First United Methodist Church
Eugene, OR
Phone: 541-485-5025 (church), 541-463-0437 (home)
E-mail: compost@mail.cyberis.net |
