Germinating Conversations; On Food, Faith, Eating, and the City

Winnipeg, MB – on Monday, October 15, 2012, a partnership of Canadian Mennonite University, the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Manitoba Peace Program, and A Rocha Prairie Canada hosted the second event in the Germinating Conversations series in Manitoba.

The event invited growers and eaters to the table to listen to one another, and helped bridge divides among people of faith. The desire was to promote an understanding of how land stewardship and food ethics are understood in both urban and rural contexts. Following the first conversation  in Winkler in spring, this October event focused on perspectives of urban eaters and addressed challenging food issues such as satisfying food desires, contradictions seen in consumer practices, and how Christian faith impacts the selection and preparation of food. The previous Germinating Conversations event, held in Winkler, MB on March 21, explored the perspectives of rural food growers regarding faith, stewardship, and farming.

“As farmers’ markets expand and the interest in “eating local” surges, there remains a tension between those who grow food and those who eat it,” says CMU Instructor Kenton Lobe, one of the event organizers. “Germinating Conversations explores what it means for people of faith to eat. How does one’s understanding of food as a gift from God impact daily decisions in the supermarket and in our kitchens?”

The congregated public heard what five urban dwellers from different walks of life had to say about their food choices. Fascinating presentations came from the university head chef, a working mom, an urban young adult fresh off the farm, a “house-husband,” and an avid gardener. The audience filled CMU’s Great Hall, including more than 30 people from outside Winnipeg’s perimeter boundary. The event was highly successful in bringing people together to bring food issues and consumer challenges to the table.

Thank you to all who participated and attended.

~ posted by Bethany Paetkau on behalf of Larry Danielson