Food Security and Production

Presentation 1 | Grow-a-Row in East Central Indiana

We will present information about project's pilot year in 2022, results, plans for 2023 continuation to create long-term change of growing and donating excess garden produce in the local community.

Lindsey has deep roots in East Central Indiana. A graduate of Ball State University and an Indiana Accredited Horticulturist, she brings her interests and experience of wellness, local food systems, community, and horticulture to her position as Community Wellness Coordinator through Purdue Extension’s Nutrition Education Program (a SNAP-Ed funded initiative). Lindsey actively serves Delaware and Blackford Counties, and consults in Jay and Randolph counties.

John D. Disher has spent the last 38 years engaged in community relations and project management at Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana. He currently serves as the director of community outreach for IU Health’s East Central Indiana region, where he is responsible for conducting community health needs assessments and strategically developing community-based partnerships and projects to address the most pressing health concerns. John has also led the development of a unique, collective impact model health coalition in Delaware, Blackford and Jay Counties to promote increased physical activity, improved nutrition and reduction in tobacco use. The Healthy Community Alliance has brought together a wide spectrum of community stakeholders to address the burden of chronic diseases related to lifestyle choices.

Presentation 2 | Growing the Food System in Southeast Indiana

Food Access is such an important issue in many areas in Indiana. The Food & Growers Association is using community gardens as one way to improve access to high quality food. Join us as we discuss taking the garden from an idea to reality. This includes design, ways to encourage people to use the garden, getting seeds for planting, finding volunteers, and our next steps.

Pam Rieke is the president of the Food and Growers Association (FGA) in Batesville, IN where she has been an active member for several years. As the Value Chain Coordinator for the FGA she is committed to supporting small farmers and producers I addition to increasing the number of locally-grown and produced food as one of the many opportunities to create a vibrant local foods economy. Pam has a deep passion for local healthy food access for everyone and has coordinated bounty box and produce RX programs which provide local food to people experiencing health issues and food insecurity. The FGA started as an organization serving primarily the Batesville area, through Pam’s leadership it is becoming a regionally recognized food council.

Presentation 3 | Community Food Security Through Regenerative Homesteading

Lessie Frazier Lennon’s farm is Celtic Glen Heritage Livestock LLC, based in Owen County. Lessie aims to provide high-quality, gentle breeding stock, offer rare breed livestock, as well as pasture-raised craft meats direct from farms and through retail spaces and restaurants.