Education program to inform about sustainable agriculture

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 22, 2008

Sustainable agriculture is not only a topic worth learning about, according to Father Marvin Boes, director of the Diocesan Peace and Justice Action Commission, but it is also something to actively promote.

The priest hopes to continue informing people about this topic in the Diocese of Sioux City through an education program.

"In our proposed education program, we focus on the local people in their local community in inviting their active participation in helping local people in their building of a living and sustainable local community in both urban and rural areas," wrote Father Boes in a letter sent out to priests and people in the diocese.

The education program would focus on four areas in which sustainable practices and development are happening including local households, local food systems, local independent farming and business enterprises and the other various kinds of local human enterprises.

Father Boes is in the process of getting presenters for the education program in the diocese. The presenters in the education and training program would include leaders, educators and trainers in the fields of sustainable development and social teachings of churches. He mentioned that he is attempting to find funding sources to help bring the educator(s) to the diocese.

"When I went out into the diocese, the final analysis was that people were vitally concerned about the sustainability of their communities and especially family farming," said Father Boes. "As a result, what I started doing was to find out what is happening in sustainability. What I found out is that there is a whole lot happening."

Some examples he gave of resources include the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture as well as the Sustainable Agriculture Association. There are also organizations that are looking at making their communities sustainable, added the priest.

"My idea is to educate people in what sustainable development really is and all the nitty-gritty of that in agriculture and in the various local community organizations - social or economic," said Father Boes. "Sustainability works not only on the idea of economic sustainability but also the social and physical sustainability."

The topic of sustainability is facing people head on.

"What we are trying to do is offer the facility, an institute, to bring in the experts in the particular areas, the practical persons - the farmers, the ones setting up green companies. There isn't any excuse for any operation to operate in a way that they aren't concerned about sustaining," said Father Boes.

Pope Benedict XVI is concerned about the idea of building sustainability as well, Father Boes pointed out.

"As I understand it, the pope has directed the Vatican state to take the action necessary to make the Vatican a green state - the first in the world," said the priest.

A video called "Building a Living and Sustainable Community in Today's World" is available with three 60-minute presentations including presentations from Dr. Fred Kirschenmann, Brother David Andrews and Carol Smith and Mike Holten. The presentations include various aspects of building a living and sustainable community in today's world.

A Video Viewing Program, another presentation by Dr. Kirschenmann, has been presented in the Carroll and Fort Dodge areas. Father Boes is sending information about this program out to one deanery at a time. The last letter will be sent at the end of May.

Parishes or clusters in the diocese can set up a time to show the Video Viewing Program. Those interested in either video should contact Marilyn Murphy at Catholic Charities in Sioux City.