GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Bard College at Simon's Rock will host the 9th annual ThinkFOOD conference, at Bard College at Simon's Rock on Oct. 15, 2022. 

 

The theme of the 2022 ThinkFOOD conference, hosted by the Center for Food Studies, is "Regenerative" and will explore food practices and traditions that honor shared roots and empower the restoration of the food system, according to a press release.

 

The 2022 ThinkFOOD conference will be held at the Fisher Science and Academic Center at Simon's Rock with in-person and virtual workshops on Saturday, Oct. 15.

 

The conference is free for all students. Tickets are $25 for access to all sessions, $15 for half day, or $10 for keynote only; lunch tickets are $10. Discount tickets are available; email for details. 

 

To register to attend, click here.

 

According to a press release, ThinkFOOD 2022 will give participants new perspectives on food, farming, and resiliency from those who work the land. Interactive sessions with practical takeaways and new ideas from experts in and around the Berkshires and beyond will be offered. Workshops and sessions will address regenerative agriculture, honoring indigenous practices, farmers of color, New England food in context, empowering young growers, food in community, food insecurity, land access, community gardens, seed-saving, and Berkshire-local initiatives. 

 

"The theme 'Regenerative' was selected because we're coming out of the pandemic and we want to give people hope, highlight how to be regenerative to food systems, be gentler to the land and the people who work the land, and emphasize how climate change will affect farming in the Berkshires. We also are highlighting diversity in farming and have several panels and workshops hosted by farmers of color," said Maryann Tebben, Head of Center for Food Studies and Professor of French. 

 

Karen Washington of Rise & Root Farm and Black Urban Gardeners will give the keynote address at 2:45 pm on Saturday, Oct. 15. 

 

Washington's address, "Growing Food and Feeding People," will address how the Industrial revolution impacted food systems and how the future of growing food is focusing on methods that "honor the past, which encourages diversity and is rooted in tradition."

 

ThinkFOOD 2022 is sponsored by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and ASFS (Association for the Study of Food and Society) and promoted in partnership with Berkshire Grown, Great Barrington Agricultural Commission, and Guido's Fresh Marketplace.

 

For more information about the 2022 ThinkFOOD conference, visit here. For speaker bios and workshop descriptions, visit here.