By Susan Sides

You heard about the Action Groups that formed from our recent community food forums, all as a result of the Fairview Food Assessment. Well, here’s what’s happening, in detail. We’d love to have your input, expertise, ideas, energy, thoughts, and creativity.

• Everyone Comes To The Table: Interested in making a difference in Fairview’s Food Scene? There’s an Action Group that is planning an open forum for later in the year and we welcome the entire community’s participation and input. Fairview and surrounding areas are bursting with great farms, gardens, associations, organizations, churches, businesses, and folks who want to make food changes that benefit everyone. If you are part of any of the above and have an interest in affordable, nutritious, fresh food for everyone in our community, we’d love to hear from you. Join our collaborative effort to ‘come to the table’ and look for ways we can work together. For additional information email: Louise Bijesse at Aresource5@aol.com or Steve Norris at earthsun2@gmail.com
• Building Affordable and Portable Gardens For Those in Need: Interested in being part of a group that’s planning how best to make gardens for those who are struggling the most to meet their food needs? Contact: Jonah Swann at jonahrswann@gmail.com 215-840-3254
• Gleaning is Making Use of Food That Would Otherwise go to Waste: These folks are working with an existing national network – Society of St. Andrews – and with local farmers far and wide to save food that can be used to feed those in greatest need. If this is your passion, contact Angie Parker at 582-8334 or angiemparker0412@yahoo.com
• Transportation To and From Food Resource: This group seeks to reach those who are shut ins, and for whom transportation is non-existent. There are many ways to accomplish this but churches are uniquely poised to respond to this need. If you would like to be part of a group that is seeking direct solutions to transportation needs, contact Franklin Sides at: all4sides@gmail.com
• Fresh, Local Food in Local Supermarkets: If you’d like to see more of what’s grown in Fairview, stay and be purchased in Fairview, then this the group that you want to be part of. For information, contact Walker Sides at: wjsides2@gmail.com
• Always Wanted a Fairview Town Center? Contact Stephanie Sizemore (of the Local Joint) thelocaljoint@gmail.com. She and her group hope to create a space where food, education and the arts come together for all to enjoy. It may even become a ‘destination’ for those in Asheville.
• Food Education for All: From shopping to cooking, this group wants to help everyone learn how to save money, choose the healthiest options and maybe even identify some of the produce that is foreign to most of us. For more information or to join this group, contact: Jessica Molina at jessica molina <bori_214@yahoo.com>
• Or What About Changing Food Policy on a Bigger Level? There’s a group of folks who are active in the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council and with national-level policy change. If you’d like to be part of their efforts, contact Rosetta at rosettastarshine@gmail.com