One of the goals of the Alliance is to promote the relocalization of food production.  We feel that this will counter some of the negative effects of global climate instability, peak oil, the present day shaky economic situation plus it will stimulate the local econ-omy, support local farmers and provide fresher and healthier food to the people of the Lehigh Valley.  With this in mind the Alliance created a Community-Food Connection group and a Permaculture group to work on these issues. Two members have worked with local school districts to encourage them to get better quality of food into their cafeterias and to buy local. The CFC group has encouraged and supported  school gar-dens at Emmaus High School and at elementary schools in the area. In January of 2007 we sponsored a Building a Regional Food System conference held at the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Bethlehem. Two of us spoke at Ag Summit II put on by the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service in March.  In November of 2007 we organized a farmer-buyer event in Allentown to introduce local farmers to restaurants, health food stores, and institutions and to encourage them to buy locally-grown food. Over 50 people attended that gathering.

In January of 2008 we sponsored a Seed Conference  at Morning Star in Bethlehem to discuss seed saving, view videos on GMOs, and review seed catalogues.

We are presently involved with the newly-forming Lehigh Valley chapter of the nationwide "Buy Fresh Buy Local" campaign, a marketing program to promote and support local farmers by educating people about the benefits of buying local. One member of the Community-Food Connection group is working with the newly formed Lehigh Valley Food Co-op, which has as a main goal the support of local farmers. Based on their recent survey of over 700 people, the main reason for coop membership is to be able to conveniently buy local fruits and vegetables. We will be working to allow members of Community Exchange Time Bank to obtain local produce from the new Food Coop, health food stores, and farmers markets using time-dollars they have earned.

The Permaculture group has sponsored study sessions and one- and two-day design workshops to help people understand this wholistic and highly-integrated agricultural system for use on small and large properties. It is currently supporting the Maze Garden effort in South Bethlehem.

The Alliance sees the whole relocalization of food production effort not simply in terms of supporting farmers but also encouraging everyone to get involved in food production wherever they are. This includes:ransforming many lawns into gardens; promoting the development of and participation in community and school gardens; encouraging prisons, high schools, colleges, and retirement complexes to grow their own food; and educating people about green roofs for edible plant growing. The Alliance sees potential crises due to climate, pollution, energy, and monetary problems but feels that the relocalization of food production provides solutions for maintaining economic and social stability in the years to come.

To work with us, contact us by email or call the Alliance office.