By Tes Thraves, CEFS’ Youth and Community-Based Food Systems Coordinator
Farm to Fork has been a special treat for our FoodCorps NC service members since FoodCorps first began in 2011. They come and work the kids table, painting faces with dancing veggies and playing games about food; they come and haul compost and help the “no waste” event happen; and they come to eat and meet farmers and chefs who walk a whole separate side of food systems work from the school food and kids education side they know.
This year, within Farm to Fork’s youth theme, our FoodCorps NC service members got to do the same volunteering again, but they also got to share their stories with the folks who came to the Sustainable Supper and Square Dance in Saxapahaw. Three service members, from the far reaches of the state as well as right smack dab in the middle of Eastern NC, shared what their daily life is like and what all this food systems work means in their world. Here are their (5 minute) FoodTalks:
Amber Ellis serves with FoodCorps NC through Feast Down East and Brunswick County Cooperative Extension in rural Brunswick County. She speaks here about growing up in the mountains of NC and how she connects home and local foods.
Vincent Webb serves with FoodCorps NC through Down East Partnership for Children in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County. He speaks here about what it is like to serve in schools just down the road from where he grew up.
Katie Rainwater serves with FoodCorps NC through Cherokee Central Schools and Cherokee Choices. She talks here about the real meaning and impact of place-based education.