Conference-Bound!

Posted: December 16, 2009 | Author: Rita | Filed under: Rita | Tags: food conference, hazon | 4 Comments »

An amazing thing happened last week: I discovered that I was granted a Young Adult Fellowship to go to the 4th annual Hazon Food Conference!

What is the Hazon Food Conference? Well, Hazon I’ve mentioned in a previous post; they’re a Jewish organization all about creating a sustainable, healthy environment for all, as well as being pro-biking! They rock. Part of being sustainable and healthy is eating sustainably and healthily, and for the past three years they’ve held these Food Conferences to host workshops on how to do so and discussing current trends in what is called the New Jewish Food Movement. Personally, I find this very exciting.

I’ve definitely known of the Food Conference but never figured I would be able to attend because it’s clear across the country (this year, in Monterey, CA), and not even counting airfare, registration and room and board is another $700 or so. On my salary, uh, that isn’t possible. But right before Thanksgiving, their email list sent out an application for a last minute grant — the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation decided to sponsor New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s (like me!) to attend, including airfare! They asked for the Young Adult Fellows to participate enthusiastically (check) and upon our return, create some programming or event in our communities based upon what we learn at the Food Conference, such as hosting a Sustainable Shabbat, or starting a CSA, etc. (Double-check — I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while!)

Sooo, the night before I left to go home for Thanksgiving, I stayed up until 4 AM honing my application, knowing there was no way I would be able to finish it later, and sent it out. Finally last week I heard back that I got it! I’m thrilled!

The crazy thing is, it’s over Christmas weekend. Meaning, I leave in less than two weeks. And I have to plan everything out! I’m the kind of person that absolutely needs to know logistics beforehand, otherwise I get very anxious. The flight’s booked and I’m going to stay through New Years with my friend from the Bay Area after the conference ends, but I need to figure out everything else!!

There are programming tracks and I plan on participating in as many as possible. They are: Do-It-Yourself Food; Food Justice; Israel: Food and Agriculture; Jewish Food Education; Jewish Tradition and Food: History and Culture; Health and Nutrition; Food Systems and Sustainability; Fasting and the Holiday of Asara B’Tevet (a minor fast day); Kids, Teens and Families; and Food for Thought.

They all sound great but I’m especially interested in Health and Nutrition, Food Systems and the Jewish Food and Culture tracks. Hey, we’ll see. And then on the last day they’re having a shuk (market) where we can purchase local goodies.

Though only the lobby of the conference grounds has Wi-Fi, I’ll try and update while there. We’ll see how it goes!