By Rebecca Nemec

Growing up in the Central Valley of California was filled with hot summer days and foggy winter nights. The winters brought about the citrus harvest and the sounds of windmills churning in the fields to protect the delicate fruits from the frost. The summers were hot and dry, and the stone fruits flourished. I remember running cross country races through an almond orchard next to my elementary school. Agriculture was a way of life and a part of everyone’s life.

But the Central Valley wasn’t always a productive and fertile place to grow food. Behind the now endless grape vineyards and orange groves was quite a lot of money and an endless power struggle over the right to water. Although much of the agricultural land in the Valley is primarily owned by large corporate agricultural companies, there continues to be a small group of people committed to sustainable agriculture, family farming and real food.

Now that I am a part of this sustainable food movement, I have begun to search out these people, learning their stories, struggles, and victories in the Central Valley. Little did I know that as I ran those cross country races through almond orchards as a child there were people my age and older fighting for what I’m fighting for now - a food system that nourishes people, land and community. My appreciation for where I grew up continues to grow as I unearth the unique people that make up the Valley and how they have shaped the sustainable food movement that I now feel deeply connected to. On the same token, I continue to appreciate not only the people who see a vision for a more just, equitable and sustainable food system, but also those that continue to suffer from the current food system that exists.
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The result of an activity during the youth summit at Kellogg’s Food and Society Conference, this wheel or “map” is a representation of the food movement. Using post-its, participants could show where they fit into the food movement: how they personally connected to the vision of a food system which nourishes the earth, communities, and people–both producers AND consumers.

If you would like a copy of the “wheel,” contact Rowan Dunlap at rdunlap@thefoodproject.org.

At the start of this contest, we set the objective of creating a collection of photos that truly represented the many different facets of the movement: the inspiration, the humor, the creative, the joy, and the sweat. I think you’ll agree after perusing the gallery, this objective has been accomplished.

The winning photos were chosen because of their appeal to the theme of the contest, their appropriateness to a given category, and the quality of their captions. There were many wonderful photos submitted, so this decision was very difficult. We’d like to thank everyone who sent in photos. We are grateful that you shared so many powerful and moving images with us. Due to the volume of photos that were submitted, we were unable to post every photo in the gallery. We did include at least one photo from each contestant, however.

Congratulations to the winners and enjoy the gallery!

The Winning Photos are …

The Creative
“Squash Blossom,” Brett Ramey

The Inspiration
“The Hatching,” Stevie Taylor

The Humor
“My favorite thing,” Hannah Lavold

The Joy
“Growlab Growing,” Helanna Bratman

The Sweat
“Irrigation,” Naomi Davis

The Beauty
“Jam Hands,” Marko Colby

Click here to check out the Farm and Food Photo Contest Interim Gallery.

Announcing the first annual Farm and Food Photo Contest!

Do you believe that food can be a force for positive social change? Do you have the photos to prove it? Submit your best pictures to reap/sow and help us to illustrate the world you wish to create. Our revolution might not be televised, but it is being photographed!

Entries will be featured in a photo gallery in an upcoming edition of reap/sow. Photographs must be submitted with a short caption that (a) identifies the photographer and location of the photo, and (b) briefly explains what the photo means with a sentence or two, a quote, or even a short poem.

We’re looking for photos that show the many aspects of this movement: the inspiration, the humor, the unexpected, the creative, the joy, the sweat, and the beauty. Photos will be judged in these categories. We welcome submissions by people of all ages, although all photos must be by, for, or about the youngest generation-those 30 and under. If you are over 30, your photo should feature youth and young adults or you should explain in your caption why your photo is one that you want young people to see. There is no limit to how many photos one person can enter.

Email photos, contact info, and caption to Rowan Dunlap at rdunlap@thefoodproject.org by February 20, 2007. Please include your mailing address so your prize, Wil Bullock’s Time for Change CD, can be mailed to you.

“We are challenged to develop a world perspective.  No man can live alone, no nation can live alone, and anyone who thinks they can live alone is sleeping through a great revolution.”

Martin Luther King was speaking in 1968 about the civil rights movement, but he could have been speaking in 2006 about the food movement — and about our responsibility, particularly as young people, to grasp the scope and nature of this revolution.

Reap/Sow is taking King’s challenge to heart.  In this issue, you can read about food security in Egypt and about movement-building from a youth organizer.  Also check out what the food movement can learn from soccer and how youth delegates to a food conference in Vancouver envision the future.  And as always, you’re welcome to add your voice.