Saturday Workshops

Session One : 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture
Where does your food come from and why does it matter? Learn how the food choices you make affect the health and well-being of your community—and communities around the globe—and why supporting a more sustainable agriculture reflects our stewardship of creation.

— Robin Kohanowich is the Coordinator of the Sustainable Farming Program at Central Carolina Community College.

Cooking Locally and In Season 101
Learn from a master chef how to cook healthy, tasty meals out of local delicacies like Swiss Chard, Beets, Kale, and Mustard Greens.

— Vimala Rajendran, local chef who cooks with local food. Vimala Rajendran raised her family on homegrown vegetables, growing bitter melons, yardlong beans, armenian cucumbers, snake gourd and bright red amaranth greens re-creating a taste of her former home India. She started sharing her home cooked food with neighbors and friends on a regular basis and it became a way to share her culture and knowledge of cooking good food with her community. Vimala teaches cooking especially to youth and caters on location using a variety of cuisines.

Conversations with farmers on Sabbath
Hear Cedar Grove’s own farmers talk about Sabbath farming with keynote speaker, Norman Wirzba.

Eating in Community
Hear how the Rutba House, an intentional Christian community in Durham, NC, addresses their struggle to share table fellowship with those in the community and those who come to them hungry and needing to be fed.

Session Two: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Intro to Sustainable Agriculture II
An overview of the biointensive method of growing food, which has been practiced for millennia in cultures around the world. Whether in your backyard or small farm, learn why this method of organic farming can produce the most food on the least amount of land. This workshop is required for those doing the Saturday 1/2 day workshop.

— Steve Moore, Farmer of 20 years and Extension/Research Agent for NC State’s Center for Environmental Farming Systems.

Biblical Animation
Stories of Loaves and Fishes, Manna in the Desert, and others. Learn how to read scripture with agrarian eyes through these stories.

— Steve Taylor

Just Eating Bible Study
Learn an overview of the “Just Eating” bible study curriculum, and do a sample exercise.

— Kate Forer, Duke Divinity Student and Former Intern at Anathoth Community Garden.

Make Your Own Communion Bread and Juice
Led by Rhonda Parker, Director of Camp Chestnut Ridge, a UMC camp that is focusing this summer on food and faith.

Special Workshop (optional): 1:00–5:00 p.m.

Garden Class
In this hands-on workshop we will explore the essential points of Biointensive agriculture. Main topics include soil building and meeting dietary needs. Discussion will also include techniques and practices of closed-loop fertility, plant spacing, open-pollinated seeds and improving soil structure. A hands-on class at Anathoth Community Garden where you can learn the basics of how to start your own organic garden. Prerequisite: Intro to Sustainable Ag. II Led by Steve Moore. Steve, Carol and family have farmed organically for over 30 years. For the first 26 years their farm power was provided by horses. Now they use Biointensive methods. Steve is the Farm Manager at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NC State, Goldsboro, NC.