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A Call to Farms

Farm Fresh, RI

10 Sims Ave, Providence, RI 02909, USA Rhode Island

41.8270445 -71.4335016

Description

Since 2010, the Slow Money Movement has been connecting thousands of folks around the country who are “bringing some of our money back down to earth”—investing in things that we understand, near where we live, starting with food. More than $100 million in low-interest and 0% loans has gone to over 1000 small organic farms and local food enterprises, via volunteer-led activities in dozens of communities. On November 13-14, this conversation comes to Providence, Rhode Island. Please join us for “A Call to Farms,” a public conversation about food, money, soil, and culture. The event will feature a number of Slow Money friends from around the country as well as farmers, food entrepreneurs, and other food system stakeholders here in Providence. To view our detailed event schedule and more information on speakers and attendees, please visit our website at: https://www.slowmoneyprovidence.org/event-schedule DAY 1: THE SLOW MONEY MOVEMENT: FIRST 15 YEARS AND NEXT Since 2010, the slow money movement has catalyzed the flow of more than $100 million to more than 1000 small organic farms and local food businesses, via volunteer-led activities in dozens of communities. Tens of thousands have attended hundreds of events. Over the past several years, a new, local, grassroots financial model has emerged: 0% loans made by vote of members, with members annually donating capital in amounts ranging from $25 (farmers), to $250 (non-farmers) and up (angel donors have made individual contributions of as much as $50,000). To date, five such groups (four in Colorado and one in Virginia) have made some 200 loans, totaling over $4 million. A fifth group just started in Israel and another is brewing in Amsterdam. This event brings some of the slow money movement's key stakeholders together in person for the first time since the pandemic. Sessions include... Jesse Rye from Farm Fresh RI Woody Tasch: Slow Money—From Venture Capital to Nurture Capital Mary Berry: 50 Years Promoting Agrarian Values Will Harris: Regenerative Agriculture at White Oak Pastures Amber Lampke: Maine Grains—Starting a Regional Grist Mill with Slow Money Making 0% Loans—the SOIL Trust model. SOIL Boulder and Foodshed Capital. Tana Schultz, Brian Coppom, Michael Reilly Other Innovative Financial Strategies. Walden Mutual Bank and Berkshire Ag Ventures. Charley Cummings and Rebecca Busansky From Finance Down. Investment professionals reflect on the challenges of reconciling the imperatives of finance with the needs of small farms and local food systems. Eric Becker, Jeff Rosen, Kevin Egolf From Farming Up. Farmers reflect on the challenges of monetizing the ecological and cultural benefits of diversified organic farming and local food systems. Jack Algiere, Martin Ping, Nicole Vitello Regional/Local and the Question of Scale. Farmers reflect on how local is local and how small is small. Will Harris, Pat McNiff, Sienna Vietti Next Gen Thoughts on Beetcoin and Slow Money Europe. Daniel Boese, Roberto Meza, Robin Van Asperen TOWN HALL MEETING - Any and all insights, concerns to explore, and stories to share, along with two over-arching framing questions: How many SOIL Trusts could there be in a generation? Can we imagine a widespread “SOIL Trust Alliance”? DAY 2: THE RHODE ISLAND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM Day 2 of the conference will explore what’s possible for innovative financing models for Rhode Island's food system. The morning will feature interactive presentations that highlight the current landscape, existing efforts around alternative financing, and systemic challenges and opportunities. After lunch, participants will collaborate in small groups to brainstorm creative solutions, drawing on insights from Day 1 and grounded in the local context. We’ll conclude with reflections from conference organizers, focusing on actionable next steps for a resilient food community in Rhode Island. Sessions include... Networking and Introductions: Impromptu sharing of 3 successive 5-minute rounds of triplets — who the speakers are and what brings them here The RI Food System Landscape: Ten local groups share their work and perspectives, providing a sense of what is happening on the ground in RI and the region. In successive rotations, participants choose a roundtable. Presentations will be made by many stakeholders of the local food system, including farmers, food entrepreneurs, and representatives of these and other sister organizations. What are the systemic challenges and opportunities facing the Rhode Island food system, and what are the specific opportunities for an innovative finance model? What are the possibilities for developing a new financing model in RI? A brainstorming session in small groups (speakers from both days distributed among the groups)

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Start: 2024-11-13T09:00:00-05:00

End: 2024-11-14T17:00:00-05:00

Tickets

Individual Single-Day Pass 95.0 USD 250

Individual Two-Day Pass 145.0 USD 250

Professional/Corporate/Institutional Single-Day Pass 295.0 USD 250

Professional/Corporate/Institutional Two-Day Pass 395.0 USD 250