2015 Long Island Food Conference Featuring Stephen Ritz

On Saturday, April 25, 2015 well over 400 people from across Long Island attended the 2015 Long Island Food Conference at Hofstra University. Sponsored by the North Shore Land Alliance, the Long Island Food Conference (formerly the Small Farm Summit) was a full-day event dedicated to educating Long Islanders about the benefits of healthy eating, growing their own food, living sustainably and protecting our existing farms and farmland. The conference included an exhibitors’ hall filled with over 40 exhibitors, nearly 30 workshops on topics such as local food production, raising shellfish, creating school gardens and eating for health, as well as discussions on policies and programs that affect our locally grown food sources and socially responsible investing.

Stephen Ritz, an award winning teacher and founder of the Green Bronx Machine, kicked off the conference with an inspiring keynote address about empowering children to live healthier and more productive lives by growing their own food. By creating community gardens in unused plots of land and installing hydroponic vertical towers in classrooms, Mr. Ritz has helped the children of the South Bronx to grow more than 30,000 pounds of food, improve their academic performance and create jobs right in the South Bronx. His motivating speech reminded the audience that “children are our future and when you give kids positive learning experiences, they are empowered to move into spheres of success.”

The Food Conference also included children’s workshops and interactive programs focused on gardening and food-related topics that ranged from beekeeping to the role of worms as compost makers to the life cycle of plants. The conference concluded with a reception for volunteers, speakers, exhibitors and attendees who had the opportunity to exchange ideas related to protecting and expanding local growing, farming and healthy eating opportunities.

The themes of education, the next generation, community and our local food production system were evident throughout the conference. It’s clear that people throughout our community are starting to reimagine the traditional concept of farming as being rows and rows of verdant crops and are starting to transform our urban/suburban landscape into tiny backyard plots, community gardens and vertical gardens that maximize growing space. We remain optimistic that this year’s Long Island Food Conference will help provide individuals and organizations with the tools and information necessary to effectuate change, whether it be at home and in the garden or in the broader community through sustainable food policies and programs.