Wisconsin and Illinois farmers' products will be featured in a Mid-Winter Farmers' Market and benefit sale at Berry Memorial Methodist Church from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12. Wool products, meat, sorghum, syrup, cheeses, farmstead milk soap and other regional farm and global Fair Trade products will be sold. Ten percent of all proceeds will be donated to the Harvest of Hope emergency fund for farmers.
The sale is ecumenical and inter-faith. It is open to people of all walks of life and faiths. The public is welcome to attend and to help build the work of Harvest of Hope.
"Harvest of Hope has helped more than 1,000 Wisconsin farmers through emergencies since the 1980s farm crisis," said Tony Ends, of Churches' Center for Land and People. "We're expanding this work into Illinois and Iowa. Our ecumenical supporters from eight denominations in three states and the farmers are pleased to partner with Harvest of Hope in an expanded project this winter.
"These benefits link family farmers and their products with urban and suburban people who share the same values. They bring economic justice to farmers and reward their stewardship practices; they strengthen local economies and build community," Ends said.
Ends directs Churches' Center for Land and People, which is centered at the Dominican motherhouse in Sinsinawa, WI, and serves Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Berry Memorial hosted one of three trial benefit sales last winter with Lutheran, Catholic and United Methodist churches in Madison and Milwaukee. This project is being expanded statewide in Wisconsin and also into northeast Iowa and the Chicago area. Last year's effort raised about $2,700 for Harvest of Hope.
Consumer support for farmers is helping to replenish the emergency fund. Harvest of Hope Fund was created by the Christian community of Madison, WI, to help farm families who have emergency medical, utility or farm bills. The fund is supported by the Wisconsin conferences of the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ.
"Christians, Jews and Muslims are all rooted in the same fundamental identity, vocation and relationship with this world. We share the same great commission to 'till and keep' the fertile soil," Ends said. "Our populations have slipped away to cities and suburbs, but the need to steward the Earth is still vital. We do it through our farmers and our consumer support for farmers who are good stewards. We invite people of all beliefs to come reflect on issues affecting our farmers and support them in this sale."
This mid-winter farmers' market is a cooperative effort of the Churches' Center for Land and People, Berry Memorial Methodist Church, St. Benedict Parish Peace and Justice Committee, Center for Land and People, and the Ravenswood Ministerial Association.
For more information, contact Tony Ends, Churches' Center for Land and People, a 16-year-old licensed, nonprofit and ecumenical organization based in Sinsinawa, WI, (608) 748-4411, ext. 805; or email cclp@mwci.net; or call Michael O'Malley, Pastoral Associate, St. Benedict Parish, (773) 588-6484, ext. 206. |
