Central Alabama CRAFT Network What is CRAFT? CRAFT stands for Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training. The original CRAFT network formed in upstate New York as a way to provide diverse on-farm training and a shared social network for farm interns, apprentices, and employees. The model has been replicated in many other places, and adapted [...]
Thurs Dec 5, 2019 - Field trips Fri-Sat Dec 6-7 - General Forum sessions Camp Beckwith, Fairhope, AL QUICK LINKS: Registration form (includes lodging reservation) Youth Food & Farm Forum details Supplemental forms for youth participants: DOC format or PDF format PROGRAM: Click here for the overall Forum schedule. Click here for a [...]
FIFTH ANNUAL GRAZE: BIRMINGHAM Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of the 5th year of Graze: Birmingham, ASAN's annual farm-to-fork fundraiser celebrating the best in Birmingham food! Over 15 farmer-chef pairs collaborate each on a single dish, which they serve in sample sizes to picnickers as they graze from booth to booth [...]
INAUGURAL GRAZE: HUNTSVILLE Our Graze family is growing! We’re launching our annual farm-to-fork picnic in the Rocket City, Huntsville, AL, and so far, the buzz is building! Graze showcases the amazing food alchemy that can come from collaborations between farmers and chefs who are equally committed to quality, craft, and to growing a rich, locally [...]
In 2018, alongside the (adult) Food & Farm Forum, we held our first-ever Youth Food & Farm Forum, geared towards youth ages 14-21. The Youth Forum was planned, promoted, and executed by our six-member Youth Council from around the state, along with our Youth Forum Coordinator. About 25 youth attended the inaugural Youth Forum, and [...]
The first-ever Youth Food & Farm Forum, held in December 2018, was a huge, huge success! ASAN is thrilled to announce that we will again be forming a Youth Council and holding a Youth Food & Farm Forum in 2019! The Youth Council will form in the spring and will plan the 2019 Youth Forum, [...]
By Kathleen Kirkpatrick, Hometown Action (pictured at right, on far right) When I began thinking more strategically about possible partnerships for Hometown Action’s growth as an organization, Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network (ASAN) was an obvious choice. A primary reason I was originally drawn to Hometown Action is our emphasis on people-centered, sustainable solutions for small [...]
Mindy Santo is a part-time Program Assistant with ASAN, who first joined the team in October 2017 to help plan the 2017 Food & Farm Forum. She is also a women’s empowerment coach, speaker, relationship-builder, writer, organizer, and food, health, and sustainability enthusiast. Originally from Ohio, Mindy earned her undergraduate degree in Retail Marketing & Management [...]
Margaret Weinberg joined the ASAN team in July, and through the end of 2018 will serve as the Youth Food & Farm Forum Coordinator. Growing up between Upstate New York and Southern Vermont, Margaret’s childhood was characterized by the gardens of friends and family and the cows constantly wandering into her yard from the dairy [...]
For many years, the (adult) Food & Farm Forum has been the primary annual gathering of ASAN’s statewide network of farmers, gardeners, community leaders, and good food advocates. In 2018, approximately 200 diverse participants from across the state will convene for a weekend of community-building and fellowship combined with peer-to-peer, hands-on learning in the form [...]
