Food Resilience
The Food Resilience Team equips islanders to be food self-sufficient in major disasters. We train residents in both home storage of shelf-stable food and home food growing. Our relationships with community partners give us a large and effective network for learning and action.
Mission and Community Impact
The Food Resilience Team promotes a strong emergency food supply. We focus on earthquakes, but the skills and networks involved also equip us for challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and economic stress. Because an earthquake could isolate our island for weeks to months, we promote home storage of shelf-stable emergency food. Because resilience is a community function, we also teach home food growing so that, in a crisis, we have not only more food but also a network of skilled and resourceful growers ready to work together.
About the Team
To lower barriers to preparedness, we teach people flexible ways to store the right amounts and types of food. Our trainers present engaging, hands-on food-storage briefs to any Map Your Neighborhood group. Our Veg Club and Fruit Club classes and field trips educate and connect home food gardeners to grow more and better food. Our Grow for Helpline initiative gives growers and would-be growers many ways to harvest for our local food bank. See Resources, below, for more links to our programs.
Resources
Great guidance on creating or improving your own emergency food supply.
Our stored-food presentation brings your group engaging, hands-on examples of flexible food options, what to put in your go bag, and how to know when you’ve stored enough.
Grow a bigger, better food garden with Veg Club’s classes and field trips.
Grow great fruit, even in a small space, with BI Fruit Club’s classes, events, and field trips.
Learn how you can grow for Helpline House, even if you’ve never grown food or have no space.
Buy high quality, shelf-stable emergency food from Cascadia Quake Kits (through a partnership that provides financial support to our nonprofit) or from local vendors like Wildernest and Bay Hay & Feed.
Resources and Questions
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The Food Resilience Team works to ensure food security by promoting household emergency food storage, local food growing, and preservation.
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During an activation, we may assist with food distribution from local sources such as stores and farms.
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We are activated during a significant emergency in which food resources become a critical concern for the community.
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Support from the team can be accessed via Bainbridge Prepares during an emergency. Outside of emergencies, connect with the team by emailing Carol Appenzeller.
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To learn more about the team and apply to join, please email Carol Appenzeller.
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Engage your neighbors in preparing for emergencies with Map Your Neighborhood.
Read great guidance on creating or improving your own emergency food supply.
Grow a bigger, better food garden with Veg Club classes and field trips. Sign up for details and notices of upcoming Veg Club events at bit.ly/VegClubSignup.
Watch previous classes at bit.ly/VegClubVideos.
Grow food for Helpline House in your home garden or by volunteering at a food bank farm. Read about why and how, where, and what to grow here.
Help local food banks with Grow-a-Row in your home garden or by volunteering at a food bank farm by contacting Carol Appenzeller.