Visionaries
A handful of forward-thinking community members in the High Country recognized their responsibility to help feed those in need and believed the One World Everybody Eats business model could make a difference. These individuals currently serve on F.A.R.M. Cafe’s board of directors.
Renee Boughman
[The Best Cellar] I’ve been in the food industry for over 25 years and am currently a Chef at the Best Cellar in Blowing Rock. I support the F.A.R.M. Café because I believe in strength of community. In “A Place Called Community”, Parker Palmer said, “… in true community we do not choose our companions. Instead, they are given to us by grace.” I believe the task of feeding those in need is the catalyst for feeding the larger need of all for community. The F.A.R.M. Café serves as a place for this to occur.
Shelly Wilson
[Pastor, High Country United Church of Christ.] F.A.R.M. Café represents so much that is joyful about belonging. It is, in many respects, a community center, where everyone shares in the conversation. At F.A.R.M. Café, there is room at the table of bounty for all who enter. Opportunities abound for learning, for meaningful work, and for reminders of how important nurture and nourishment are to all of us. As a minister, I long for justice and food security for all God’s children. F.A.R.M. Café, all persons are greeted with respect. Each one is treated with dignity, and as delicious and healthy foods are served, everybody eats, regardless of means.
Andrew Long
[Chef, Storie Street Grille]
I am the chef de cuisine of Storie Street Grille in Blowing Rock. This concept speaks to me because of its ability to celebrate relationships built through food in its purist form, without the everyday goal being the almighty dollar. Our goal here is to build community trust through personal responsibility promoting solidarity, not charity.
Stuart Mangum
[Owner/CEO, MPrints]
I founded M-Prints Screen Printing & Embroidery in 1991 and for almost 20 years I have put all of my energy into building a business. Through M-Prints, I have always tried to support community based causes but feel that the time has come to be more directly involved in those efforts. I strongly believe that, with the abundance of local resources available to us, the issue of hunger is one in which we can have a positive effect. At the same time, we can create a viable business that can continue to be a positive influence in the community for years to come.
Christof den Biggelaar, Ph.D.
[Agroecologist, Sustainable Development Program, Appalachian State University] I am a faculty teaching Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture in Appalachian State’s Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Program. In our Agroecology concentration, students learn both the theory and practice of sustainable agriculture, learning about its ecological, economic as well as social and ethical aspects. Given students’ often limited budgets, questions frequently come up about affordability of local, organic: Is it, or should it be, something only for the rich? Food as a basic human right does not say anything about the quality of the food, which, for the poor who often do not have access to health care, is to me an even more crucial aspect. Everyone should be able to eat real, good, local food (organic if possible) in exchange for whatever they can afford or contribute (in money, labor, talent, or otherwise): Feed All (and well) Regardless of Means.
By Boone offers F.A.R.M. Community Dinning « Banner Haven B&B and Cabin Rentals May 6, 2012 - 8:04 pm
[...] cafe was the brainchild of a few local people interested in providing good food … to everyone. The Cafe Mission is “F.A.R.M. Cafe [...]