Food Security, Part 2

This feature installment appeared in the Times Leader on Sunday, April 19, and is the continuation of last week's "Food Security" feature on this site. 

Family farming has been on the decline in the past few decades, but the smaller, local farms would be vital during an emergency that could raise food costs or stop production, such as drought and earthquakes in major agricultural areas of the United States to South America. Fresh, locally grown produce is available at the Ohio Valley Farmers Market twice a week from June until October.   

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations identifies several global challenges to food security which could have local impact. Water deficits and shortages are appearing throughout the world and affecting grain production in some of the most populated countries, including China and India. Closer to home, California has instituted a statewide mandatory 25 percent water use reduction to conserve what the drought-ridden state has available.  Climate change and the extreme weather events (like droughts and floods) associated with it is another challenge on the FAO list.

Though originally intended to optimize food production for growing world populations, industrial agriculture has instead become a threat to food security, according to the FAO. Large scale mono-cropping, or planting one type of crop on the same land over consecutive years, depletes the soil of valuable nutrients and increases the risk of pests and diseases. As a result, more pesticides and fertilizers are necessary.

Livestock raised on feedlots instead of pasture land are fed cheap chemically-enhanced grain-based diets instead of grass and hay. They may be given growth hormones to get them to market sooner and antibiotics to stave off diseases inherent in poor quality living conditions and breeding practices. The FAO’s concerns relate to industrial agriculture’s creating hazards for the environment, water supplies and even the food itself. 

Kacey Orr of Grow Ohio Valley presents information on trends in farming at a recent conference on local food security.  

Ohio Valley experts believe that stepping up production here would be a start in addressing the food security issue. Susan West, owner of Lone Oak Farms and founder of the Ohio Valley Farmers Market (www.ovfarmersmarket.org,) thinks self-reliance, especially in the event of an emergency, begins with more farmers.

“There are not enough producers to sustain this region should we have to depend on ourselves. I believe the majority of the people in the Ohio Valley are uneducated about the need to secure our food supply. Years of access to food shipped from around the world and never dealing with a food being 'out of season' have contributed to people's lack of understanding about where their food is produced,” West explains. “At one time, the Ohio Valley had many small produce farmers and orchardists. Those numbers have fallen off in recent years as older farmers retire or pass away. I have seen a recent but small resurgence in interest in growing food.”

Holmes agrees with West.

“On the community resiliency side we need more farmers. The average US farmer is nearly 60 years old, and there are not enough new people entering the business,” he says. “Fortunately the type of small-scale, diversified farming necessary for true security is becoming profitable again for the first time in decades, so there is opportunity for those who are interested. We also need people to grow more food--in their backyard, the terrace of their apartment, in community gardens--everywhere.”

And that is where Kacey Orr and Grow Ohio Valley can be of assistance. The nonprofit is tackling two challenges related to food security, in part with assistance from a national “Local Foods, Local Places” grant awarded in December.

“Food security starts at a local level when we learn to eat locally and seasonally. Then we don’t depend as strongly on other geographic locations or decrease fossil fuel use by transporting food long distances,” notes Orr. “[Currently] there are not enough local food producers. There are some dairies and livestock farms in the area, but there are fewer farms focused on growing local produce. In addition, people also need to be educated on the importance of healthy food options. Health is a major concern. Grow Ohio Valley puts a great emphasis on education and teaching children and adults about farming, gardening, and healthy food.” 

Grow Ohio Valley has constructed a greenhouse in downtown Wheeling that will help supply flowers and produce for their distribution programs. Kacey Orr notes that they mixed all of the potting soil themselves by purchasing the organic ingredients, saving hundreds of dollars. The greenhouse was designed using the angles of the sun to maximize light and heat and utilizes found materials to minimize costs and environmental impact. 

Grow OV already has an urban farm, a mobile farm market that visits area sites with fresh produce, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership program, children’s programs with Head Start and churches and a new downtown greenhouse growing seedlings and tomatoes now.

With the new grant, Peralta explained at the conference, Grow OV has secured two tracts of land on Wheeling’s Vineyard Hill over the Ft. Henry Tunnel. They will be planting apple and berry orchards on one tract and use the other as a demonstration and interactive farm for educating students. Peralta says there will be crops and animals at the farm to illustrate a sustainable and interconnected system.

Sister Kathleen Durkin, CSJ, says the Sisters of St. Joseph organized and hosted the recent conference to raise awareness and start an open discussion about food security.

“For me, the first priority would be assuring that food is a right and not a privilege and that nutritious food is essential for healthy brain development from early childhood on,” Sr. Kathleen continues. “Food security means that children and families can count on having enough food to meet even their basic needs. To be food insecure doesn't necessarily mean not having any food, but not enough food.  Beyond that, to be food-secure means also having access to healthy foods which provide the necessary nutrients for health and well-being.”

She shared a story of stopping a woman walking along the road alone. The woman was on her way to the grocery store--five miles away. Durkin drove her to the store and realized how lack of transportation affects people on the outskirts of town and their access to food.

“I believe we need to be awakened to this issue for many reasons, the first being that of our common, shared humanity...people who lack food security are our brothers and sisters. We are one!” she adds. “The health and well-being of generations to come depends on access to affordable, nutritious food and education about how to benefit from it.  The development and potential of children are influenced by a nutritious diet.”

Numerous studies show that good nutrition makes a noticeable difference in a child’s ability to concentrate, behave, learn and perform better in school. Some eligible schools are now offering breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner for students at no or reduced charge. For some students, their only food comes from the school.

“For individuals and families the root causes of food insecurity stem from poverty, and children are hit particularly hard,” Holmes notes. “Hungry kids have a hard time learning. They do poorly in school, and the cycle of poverty continues. Programs like free hot breakfast, after school meals, and the [weekend] backpack program help, but in the long term we need to strengthen our local economy.”  

Part of Grow Ohio Valley’s mission is education for children and adults. These are “seed balls” ready for one of the children’s interactive programs that demonstrates gardening.  

While the food situation is far from secure, more customers are visiting the Ohio Valley Farmers Market  and are taking an interest in county extension Master Gardener programs such as the St. Clairsville community garden, as well as classes at Oglebay’s Schrader Environmental Education Center (www.oionline.com.) Grow OV has enlisted new farmer/suppliers for this season’s produce and will be expanding their educational opportunities.

“I think it is important to know that the issue of food security and access to healthy, local food is a movement that is happening all over the country,” Sr. Kathleen concludes. “A parallel benefit is that it’s promoting relationships and building community among individuals and groups of people who we might not otherwise have the privilege of knowing. The issue of food security and nutritious, local food is a context for lifting up and celebrating the gifts, creativity and generosity of local community members.”