Worcester Academy will sponsor a panel discussion, "LOCAL, SUSTAINABLE, AND JUST FOOD" in the school's Ross Auditorium, Warner Theater on Dec. 16, from 7 to 9 p.m.
The panelists, who are leaders and innovators in this field, will discuss ways to envision, support, and engage in sustainable agriculture, and will talk about current best and potential next practices at the personal, professional, and collective level. A question & answer session will follow.
Included among the panelists are: Alec Lopez, restaurateur, Armbsy Abbey restaurant, Worcester, MA; Julie Rawson and Jack Kittredge, organic farmers, Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre, MA; Casey Burns, Urban Food Systems coordinator, Regional Environmental Council of Central Massachusetts; Elizabeth and Tim Bowles, home farmers, Barre, MA; and Marty Dudek, assistant director of dining services, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA. Moderator for the event is panel organizer Michael Carroll, director of sustainability for Worcester Academy.
Participants are encouraged to RSVP by e-mailing at mike.carroll@worcesteracademy.org, or calling 508-754- 5302 x189.
PANELIST BIOS
Alec Lopez
In part through his expanding relationship with local farmers and craft brewers, Alec continues to redefine people’s dining expectations in the city and beyond at the Armsby Abbey in downtown Worcester. One of the Abbey’s recent crown achievements was a six-course “50 Mile” radius vegetarian dinner, which is a testimony to values based, inspired cooking as well as to the capacity and potential of our local food network. The daily menu showcases seasonal produce, grass fed beef, artisanal cheeses, and more. http://armsbyabbey.com
Julie Rawson Jack Kittredge
Julie and Jack have been farming using certified organic agricultural practices for nearly 3 decades at Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre, MA. Since 1992 they have been running a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, a vital strategy for supporting our local farmers. http://www.mhof.net/ They also are major leaders in the Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter, a state-wide organic education and advocacy organization with over 1200 farmer and others members.
Casey Burns
Casey is the Urban Food Systems Coordinator at the Regional Environmental Council (REC) of Central Massachusetts. REC supports dozens of community gardens in Worcester and has helped to bring a dynamic, community-based farmers market to the city’s Main South neighborhood. REC http://www.recworcester.org/
Elizabeth and Tim Bowles
Home farmers and stewards of their 75 acres of land in Barre, MA, Elizabeth and Tim Bowles raise their own chickens for eggs and meat, tap their maple trees, grow a wide assortment of fruits and vegetables, can their produce, catch fish and harvest wood for heating and building.
Marty Dudek
The assistant director of dining services at College of the Holy Cross, Marty has worked on a wide range of campus sustainable practices such as the utilization of a campus garden, sourcing of locally grown food, and offering of a Slow Food dining events to students. http://www.holycross.edu/studentlife/dining/sustainability/index.html
DIRECTIONS
Directions to Worcester Academy, 81 Providence Street, Worcester, MA 01604 are available at http://www.worcesteracademy.org/admission/guide/default.asp (Warner Theater #9)
Parking accessible from the main entrance and from Aetna Street between Providence and Barclay St.
WORCESTER ACADEMY
Worcester Academy, founded in 1834, is a co-ed day and boarding school for grades 6 to 12 and postgraduates. Our urban setting, diverse community, and challenging curriculum provide students with a solid, real-world education. Information and directions at www.worcesteracademy.org.
