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In
1995, Neu Erth Wormfarm CSA (Community Supported
Agriculture) began growing organic vegetables
for a handful of Chicago families hungry for
a connection to the source of their food. Several
years and hundreds of families later it became
apparent that there was more to nourishment
than could be found in vegetables alone. So,
we began to explore the links between urban
and rural communities beyond the food chain,
creating a setting for artistic collaboration.
In 2000, we formed a non-profit organization,
the Wormfarm Institute. |
So,
what's the big idea? It is simply this: Connections.
The Wormfarm Institute expands the concept of the
CSA, which helps reconnect consumers with the source
of their food, by connecting urban and rural, people
and land, culture and agriculture. It also expands
the idea of "sustainability" to include
not just nourishment to live but a vibrant creative
community in which to thrive.
Where
We Came From
We left a place (Chicago) that despite its crowds,
crime, concrete and confusion seemed to incubate vital
and diverse culture. We moved to a place that has
open spaces, serenity and natural beauty, but because
of the shift to agri-business and the corresponding
decline of rural communities seems to be only able
to generate and support scattered cultural output.
Where
We're Going
We harbor few illusions (but a precious few)
about our ability to ignite the coming rural
renaissance, but we would like to be able to
host some of its events, fund its instigators
and contribute in a small way to its development
— to provide a format in which these
activities can occur. |
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How
We're Going to Get There
By enticing cityfolk to support a rural community,
we serve as a conduit for resources and information
to move in both directions. This trail has been blazed
by the CSA Shareholders bearing bread, news and stories
from the city and returning with vegetables and a
deeper appreciation of the process by which food appears
on their table. They have been followed by Visiting
Artists, those attending workshops and Festivals and
participants in the cultureshed and wormworks programs
that draw from both local and distant sources.
If
you'd like more information on our current programs
or to learn how you can become part of the "coming
rural renaissance", please e-mail
us.
