Finding Inspiration At Chef's Garden Ahead Of Climate Week

It’s about to be Climate Week in New York City, and I’ve already had a taste of inspiration. I spent some time earlier this week in Huron, Ohio at the beloved speciality grower Chef’s Garden for the farm’s annual Roots Conference. I let myself take it all in. And I ate! I enjoyed so many bites of raw produce from the farm’s bounty—from fairytale eggplants and cucamelons to a dozen varieties of tomatoes, peppers and squash. The squash blossoms blew my mind, as did the edible flowers and microgreens. The micro lemon balm I snacked on was another one of my favorites.

You may remember Chef’s Garden from the video we did with co-owner Farmer Lee Jones on how he bought back the farm his family lost when he was in high school. It’s a special story, and I’d recommend a watch if you haven’t seen it yet. What makes it so powerful is now that the farm is secure, the Jones brothers have been able to invest for the long-term—in a way I wish more farms could but few do.

Not only has Chef’s Garden fully embraced the principles of soil health and regenerative agriculture, but the farm has gone a step further. It has been working to shore up its on-farm energy supply, thanks to recycled corn cobs and a lot of other projects, and the farm is now going to be able to source 70% of all its electrical demand on its own. That’s huge—especially since energy grids are over-extended as it is, and when an extreme weather event hits, local governments typically prioritize the energy for residents before businesses—even the ones that feed us.

I’ll be taking this energy with me into Climate Week. And I hope I’ll see you there! I’m moderating at a bunch of different events, and it’s bound to generate real yet hopeful discussions. Check out my panel schedule below, and I’ll look forward to hanging out in-person!

Food Tank x James Beard Foundation Summit

Monday, September 23

11:20 a.m. – Intersectional Approaches to New York City Food and Agriculture Policy
11:45 a.m. – The Role of Grocers and Brands at the Nexus of Farmers and Healthy Eating

Forbes Sustainability Leadership Summit

Tuesday, September 24

4:45 p.m. – Championing Hope For Our Oceans

Food Tank x Natural Resources Defense Council

Wednesday, September 25

3:45 p.m. – Pollinators and Pesticides

— Chloe Sorvino, Staff Writer

Order my book, Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed and the Fight for the Future of Meat, out now from Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books.

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