Four chances throughout the Bay Area to learn more about the Ride Each presentation will feature alumni of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Hear about their experiences at the Arava Institute, where Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians come together to study environmental issues in the region. (more…)
Info Session
 for Wilderness Torah’s B’nai Mitzvah Mentorship Program Free Introductory evening – Meet the Mentors – Learn about B’naiture (begins this fall)! Monday, September 12th – 7-9 pm at the JCC of the East Bay Make your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah the adventure of a lifetime with Wilderness Torah’s B’nai Mitzvah Nature Mentorship! B’naiture takes your child on a journey through nature to experience the transition from childhood into adolescence. 

Through immersion camping trips and bi-monthly gatherings, B’naiture weaves nature skills, personal challenge, and non-parental mentorship together with Jewish teachings and story to craft an empowering coming-of-age process. Separate male and female cohorts honor their unique journeys. A parallel parent group explores how to best support your children at this critical time. B’naiture supplements traditional B’nai Mitzvah education or serves the independent family journey. To learn much more, please visit www.WildernessTorah.org
Thursday, October 13th, 5 PM to Sunday, October 16th, 12 PM Early Bird Registration closes August 22nd! Register at wildernesstorah.org For those observing chag, please join us on Wednesday before sunset. (more…)
September 25, 2011, 12-7 pm www.festivalofeden.org Eden Village Camp will be hosting the inaugural Festival of Eden, a day full of farming and greening workshops, local organic food from our own and neighboring farms, live music, art, and nature adventures on our gorgeous 248-acre site in the Hudson Valley. All of the proceeds from the day will go to the Eden Village Camp Scholarship Fund which received over $80,000 in requests this past year. Ticketing and other festival details at www.festivalofeden.org (more…)
Tuesday, September 13, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm 332 Pine St. Suite 600 on the 6th floor San Francisco, CA 94104 co-sponsored by The Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation Topic: Tzedek and the City, Urban Issues and Jewish Values, Sustainability from Tanach to Tel Aviv (more…)
Everyone’s talking about “food justice” these days, but what is it – really? What are all the pieces at play? How do they all connect? In what ways does “food justice” reflect our Jewish social justice values? And what are the best ways to plug in and take action? Whether this conversation is new or familiar to you, we hope you’ll join us for Chewing on Food Justice, a break down of our broken down global food system. Chewing on Food Justice: Fruits of Our Labor Join us for the third session of the series to learn about workers rights across the food chain. While food workers are some of the most exploited workers in the global economy, they are also leading up some of the most creative and effective organizing campaigns to improve their conditions and bring about a truly fair food economy. Their struggles remind us that a sustainable food system can only be achieved when the people harvesting, packaging, preparing, and serving our food are treated with respect. Our Jewish values demand it and our collective moral compass compels us to work toward it. Come and learn about some of their dynamic efforts and find out how you, […]
UPDATE 7/21/11 6:14 PM: Due to the expected Heat, we are changing the start time on Sunday. NEW Start Locations and Departure Times You can meet us in Manhattan at the JCC Manhattan (76th and Amsterdam) at 7:00 am or in Brooklyn at Grand Army Plaza at 7:30 am if you want to bike to the ferry. Both groups will meet at the Staten Island Ferry to catch the 8:30 am ferry, or you can take the subway and meet us at the ferry terminal. Note about the heat: We have moved this ride extra early because of the current heat wave – the high on Sunday is 90 degrees. Please be sure to bring TWO water bottles, ideally one filled with an energy drink. We strongly recommend having snacks to eat on the ride, especially something salty. For more about about the heat, check out the tips sent this week from our friends at Bike New York. This Sunday, Ride to Staten Island with Hazon! Start at the JCC Manhattan (40 miles total) or starting at Grand Army Plaza (35 miles total) and ride to Staten Island for a 25 mile loop around the northern half of the island. Hazon […]
Everyone’s talking about “food justice” these days, but what is it – really? What are all the pieces at play? How do they all connect? In what ways does “food justice” reflect our Jewish social justice values? And what are the best ways to plug in and take action? Whether this conversation is new or familiar to you, we hope you’ll join us for Chewing on Food Justice, a break down of our broken down global food system. Chewing on Food Justice: Got Access? Join us for the 2nd session of the series to learn about food access and sovereignty, featuring a range of guest speakers and presenters. Drawing on inspiration from Biblical stories of land distribution, we’ll explore questions related to poverty, exclusion, power, ownership, control, and democracy… and how all of the above interface with our current global food system. We’ll connect the dots between the urban agriculture movement right here in our own backyard and the international peasant movement that is gaining ground around the world (both literally and figuratively!) – and we’ll learn about how both are part of the same global struggle to take back control of our food system. WHEN: Monday, July 25, 6:30 […]
Sunday, July 31 2011, 9am-1pm 16 mile ride from Ekar Farm to Delaney Farm and back along the Highline Canal bike path. We’ll stop at Delaney Farm for a tour and fresh Palisade peaches, then on to Sprout City Farm at Denver Green School to see their new farm, and back to Ekar for grilled Colorado Olathe corn, and live Bluegrass music! Bicycle tuning before and repairs during Tour will be provided by Mobile Bicycle Repair $18 per rider, $50 per family All proceeds directly benefit Ekar’s programming and donation of produce to Jewish Family Service’s Weinberg Food Pantry. Ekar Farm and Community Gardens is a communal urban farm, inspired by Jewish values. We work to build community, provide experiential and environmental education, and grow sustainably produced fruits and vegetables, expanding access to those in need.
When: October 1 – 16, 2011 Why: We have the right to know what’s in our food, and to choose safe, healthy and sustainable non-GMO food and products. This right is not being respected, so it’s time to… – Mobilize concerned citizens and organizations to speak with one loud voice – Raise awareness about the risks of GMO seeds and crop production – Ask the government to label food and products made from GMO crops These recent actions have created momentum to rally for the right to know about GMOs: – The decisions by the USDA to approve genetically modified Round-Up Ready Alfalfa seeds to be grown without restrictions – The court decision to hold Bayer responsible for the LibertyLink contamination of rice – The pre-emptive action by organic farmers and seed sellers to sue Monsanto for protection from patents on genetically modified seed – The participation of hundreds of organic and natural companies in the Non-GMO Project’s initiative to give consumers an informed choice and protect a non-GMO food supply – Grassroots organizing of the March 26th Right to Know Rallies and the response of 68,478 letters to Congress asking for GMO Labeling (more…)
July 14 – 15, 2011 Join us to share knowledge and skills to revitalize ancient Jewish traditions of grains and artisan bread. More information at GrowSeed.org July 14 – Growing Local Grains UMass Crops, Animal, Research & Education Farm, 89-91 River Rd, north of 116, South Deerfield MA (Exit 24 on I-91) 8:50 – Welcome: E. Rogosa & R. Hazzard 9:00 Why Grow Landraces; the Value of Biodiversity Glenn Roberts, ansonmills.com 9:45 – Breeding Wheat for Local Farms and Community Vitality Guidelines to breed under organic management, using selection criteria, mixtures, weed competition, seeding rates and capacity to adapt to weather, community systems for local grains. Dean Spaner, organic wheat breeder, University of Alberta, Canada 10:30 – Building a Local Grain System Discussion on the work in Vermont and Maine in local production with a focus on organic fertility management and grain quality. Heather Darby, University of Vermont, Ellen Mallory, Organic Bread Wheat Project, Maine Extension 11:15 5,000 Years of Bread: Biodiversity, Climate Resilience and Culinary Arts An overview of the agrobiodiversity and culinary versatility of small grains with guidelines for breeding, seed-saving and culinary creativity. Abdullah Jaradat, USDA-ARS 12:00 Lunch 1:00 – Field Tour of Heritage Wheat Trials with […]
Make your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah the adventure of a lifetime with Wilderness Torah’s B’nai Mitzvah Nature Mentorship! B’naiture takes your child on a journey through nature to experience the transition from childhood into adolescence. Through immersion camping trips and bi-monthly gatherings, B’naiture weaves nature skills, personal challenge, and non-parental mentorship together with Jewish teachings and story to craft an empowering coming-of-age process. Separate male and female cohorts honor the unique journeys they take at this time. A parallel parent group explores how to best support your children at this critical time. B’naiture supplements traditional B’nai Mitzvah education or serves the independent family journey. Learn More about Wilderness Torah’s B’naiture. Join Wilderness Torah for an introductory evening to learn about B’Naiture Meet The Mentors Wednesday July, 20th, 7pm Jewish Community Center of the East Bay
Wednesday, July 20 from 4 – 5 pm ET Online Webinar Join Live Here http://www.anymeeting.com/hazon1 The Farm Bill affects a wide range of issues -from what food is readily available to how much it costs and from how we provide for the hungry to maintaining open land for conservation. The Bill contains billions of dollars in funds for agricultural subsidies and farm relief programs, hunger relief and emergency food aid, environmental conservation programs, and many other government programs. Oran Hesterman, author of Fair Food, will explore the key elements of the Farm Bill, how it shapes our food system, and how it is could help create a healthy, sustainable food system. The Fair Food Network, led by Oran, and Hazon will explore why we, as a Jewish people, should make our voices heard for support of farm and food initiatives that will bring fair food to all.
By Judith Belasco, Director of Food Programs, Hazon My first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pick up of fresh, local, organic veggies is a few days away. In mid-winter, I plunked down $550, signed up for my volunteer slots, and felt good that I was voting with my fork for a healthier, more sustainable food system. During the 2011 growing season, I’m joined by a network of 56 Hazon CSAs and thousands more CSAs in communities across the country. While I am excited for the East Coast season to begin, I’m aware of the many people who are unable to access CSA shares and those who are unable to access healthy food at all. Our food system is broken. Joining a CSA is a great first step, and there is more we can do in order to fix it. Enter Fair Food: Growing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All, a practical guide to changing not only what we eat, but how our food is grown, packaged, delivered, marketed and sold. Author and founder of the Fair Food Network, Oran B. Hesterman, shows how our food system’s dysfunctions are the unintended consequences of our emphasis on efficiency, centralization, higher yields, profit, […]
Kayam Farm’s Leaders Kollel aims to provide an in-depth learning experience of Jewish agriculture, sustainability, and pluralistic Jewish community. We ask that participants bring their full and honest selves to the program, including your passions and expertise as well as your challenges and imperfections. We hope this experience will strengthen your knowledge, understanding, and commitment to Jewish tradition as it relates to sustainability. Upon leaving the Leaders Kollel, we ask you to take on a new/continued leadership responsibility to empower your Jewish community to live in greater balance with all of G!d’s Creation. DATES: July 12, 2011 – July 24, 2011. TUITION: Tuition covers room & board, program supplies, and staff time. Before June 1, 2011: $800 Before July 1, 2011: $900 After July 1, 2011: $1,000 APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW: The 2011 Kayam Farm Leaders Kollel is limited to 20 participants. Please review the below materials and send in your application as soon as possible. We look forward to speaking with you! Please be in touch with any questions, and hopefully we’ll see you this summer! Jessy Gross, Kayam Leaders Kollel Director jessygross@gmail.com Jakir Manela, Founding Director, Kayam Farm jakir@pearlstonecenter.com Learn more about the 2011 Karam Farm Leaders Kollel [PDF]
