10 months ago
DAVIS, CA - Several times a year on the campus of UC Davis, a group of students carrying bowls arrive at a small garden to pick their lunch.
The garden is the project of graduate student Margaret Lloyd, who is an advocate for organic gardening and a nominee for White House farmer.
The White House farmer project was one of several movements launched by grass roots groups eager to see the new administration make changes in how food is grown and distributed in the U.S.
"People were so excited about our First Family growing a White House farm," Lloyd said. "Within a day (of my nomination), the media was interested. It spoke loudly to people and they were very interested in a White House farm."
WHITE HOUSE: Check out the successful efforts to get a garden on the White House South Lawn
UC DAVIS: UCD's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
Lloyd was one of hundreds of growers, experts and advocates to attend the first ever Symposium On Sustainable Agriculture at UC Davis this month.
"In order to eat fresh food, we need to grow it where we work and live," Lloyd said. "There is a great sense of pride when you've grown something yourself. It begins to have a domino effect in your life...how we make our food choices and how we nourish ourselves."
Among the topics at the symposium: the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables available to those in the inner city, the explosion of gardening this year and how to compete economically with the cheap, processed foods that lead to obesity and poor health.
"Food is something we have to interact with three times a day and we really have a choice," said Lia Huber of the Nourish Network. "People in our rushed society try to get through meals as quickly as possible. When we garden, or go to a farmers market, we have these personal interactions with the land and people who are producing our food. There are ways to connect with food to make the experience much richer."
Those attending the conference say it's important to continue the conversation.
"The complexity and diversity of issues surrounding agriculture include, climate change, water policy, nutrition and community development," Lloyd said. "It's crucial to have this kind of symposium in order to share ideas and see what people are thinking in their specific fields."
News10/KXTV
