We began our adventure by playing some name games to get to know each other a little better, then driving to The Leaven Church to set down our belongings. We then divided ourselves into groups dedicated to organizing our breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the week. We went to New Seasons grocery store to purchase the food needed for our meals. After a successful and fun trip, we went to a nearby home to learn about and work with Portland Fruit Tree Project. Here, we learned how to harvest figs, sort and organize them, as well as talk with the Beneficial Harvest leaders of the organization about many food justice issues and concerns. After that, we went back to the church where Hayley, Paul, Jack, Teague, and Carolyn cooked a delicious dinner of rice with curry, mushrooms, red peppers, onions, and spaghetti squash. Then we reflected on our day with discussion, while enjoying vegan chocolate ice cream. Lastly, we ended the night by watching a TED talk called “A Guerilla Gardener in South Central.” We decided to go to sleep after all of this, because we knew that the days to come are going to be jam-packed with service activities and hard work.
All in all, day one was an exciting first step in our adventure into the realm of Food Justice. Talking with people who devote their lives to these issues was a great way to gain a deeper understanding of the struggles facing organizations and citizens who are trying to improve their communities through sustainable living. Portland Fruit Tree Project helped give us an idea of the work that’s being done and the work that still needs to be done. They also gave us a more nuanced look at food deserts, access to fresh produce, and the challenges of trying to get projects started in the parts of our community who need it most.
“You give a kid a piece of kale, and they won’t eat it, but if you get them to grow it and pick it themselves, then they’ll want to eat it.”