The Ecology of Food:

by Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin

Northfield Middle School principal Jeff Pesta has seen how poverty interferes with learning in a variety of ways. At a recent Rotary Club lunch, Jeff spoke about the challenges facing "at risk" youth and the school's commitment to support them.

Economic instability at home is often linked to emotional distress and poor nutrition, which directly affect learning abilities, physical and social development and other key aspects of a child's formation—especially with middle school age children. Jeff's rule of thumb is that five percent of students take 95 percent of his time and attention.

Jeff's presentation struck a chord with me because supporting immigrant families who are working to break the cycle of poverty is the primary goal of the Rural Enterprise Center's agripreneur training program. Our "students" could easily be some of the parents of the kids Jeff described, struggling with economic challenges that add stress to their lives and can't help but spill over into family life.

Like the schools, we're committed to pulling together the resources and support they need to succeed over time. Our new model of small-scale sustainable agriculture includes hands-on learning, culturally compatible training, the opportunity to become part of a cooperative farming system, Hillside Farmers Co-op and partnerships with established farmers. It's not a "traditional" approach to job training. It taps into a traditional way of life that focuses on available assets and has the potential to lift families up.

Maria Sosa connected with the Rural Enterprise Center in 2008 to explore her options in farming, a family tradition and something she knows could provide a healthier lifestyle for her, her husband Jose and two children. Despite her willingness to work hard, the challenges of access to land, financing and relevant, flexible training and meeting the day-to-day needs of her family, had kept her from realizing her farming dreams.

This summer, Maria grew black turtle beans and garlic on several acres at Todd Prink's Oakridge Farm in Cannon Falls. (Todd is an established organic farmer.) The beans will help feed her family and along with the garlic harvest, will supplement the family's income. The seeds she saves will allow her to expand production next year, while keeping costs down. She's working from a business plan she wrote, and in partnership with Todd and as a member of the Hillside Farmers Co-op, has a clear vision for long-term farming success. In Maria's words, "Over the years, we've tried many different ways to secure a piece of land and achieve our farming dreams. The training and the cooperative have given us a renewed sense of opportunity."

Mercedez Solorzano grew up in Guatemala, surrounded by lush, green fields and rich scents of the soil. The most wealthy two percent of Guatamala's population own 90 percent of the productive lands there, so poverty eventually drove his family to Minnesota.

After 10 years here, he joined the Rural Enterprise Center's agripreneur training program and was one of the first aspiring farmers to get involved with raising free-range poultry using our natural protocols. The training makes it possible for him to slowly walk a path out of both poverty and dependence on the processed foods he knows to be unhealthy. "The smells and the feel of the land makes me think of home," Mercedez says. "But having these feelings in Northfield makes me feel at home here as well."

Our society is big on instant gratification, but helping people find a path out of poverty takes time, patience and creativity. Maria's and Mercedez' farming enterprises are two pieces of the larger ecology of sustainable food production that we're working on – a new system that offers opportunities for many other immigrant families in southeastern Minnesota. Investing our time and attention in their future success is a good investment in the future success of our communities.

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin will speak at the Wedge Annual Membership Meeting in late October. See his full bio below. Portions of this article original appeared in columns written for the Northfield News.