Setting the Table for Sustainable Living in Mississippi

Fourth annual conference brings ‘heavy hitters’ to Oxford to address field-to-table issues, March 1-3

By Tad Wilkes

tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com

How Mississippians grow, access, and prepare food will be the focus of the fourth annual Mississippi Sustainable Living Conference and Food Summit, March 1 through 3 at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center and Oxford-University Methodist Church in Oxford. The event, titled “Setting the Table” this year, is hosted by the University of Mississippi Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute and the Appalachian Regional Commission, who promise speakers who are “heavy hitters to inspire us.”

Mary Berry, daughter of the internationally acclaimed Wendell Berry and founder of the Berry Center of Sustainability is coming to Oxford along with award-winning food activist and author Mark Winne, local health advocates, Mississippi policy makers, and small farmers.

On Friday, March 1, the food summit poses the question, “How do we get healthy food to Mississippians from the field to the table?” with keynote speaker Winne. Saturday, March 2, brings a keynote address by Berry and hands-on and instructional sessions in four strands: Eat Well, Home Grown, Smart Living, and Make and Take.

This year’s conference adds a children’s program on Saturday. Attendees may also meet at the Oxford Community Garden Sunday morning for one of two field trips: Farm and Garden or Home and Health, to experience real-life examples of sustainable living.

Other opportunities in the event include book signings, vendors’ movie screenings, live music, local food, and even a square dance.

For more information about the many different attendance packages and ticket prices and to register online,  visit www.ggsim.org.

For more information, contact info@ggsim.org