Community Action Tools & Resources

Empowering individuals and communities to gain access to affordable fresh, local food, to join together to form youth programs, community gardens, farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) projects, and food and nutrition education programs has positive effects all around. Participation in such programs is growing across the country, as people everywhere are working to reclaim their food.

Tools and resources to help individuals take action:

Here are some simple ways for you to get involved in your community’s food system.

Vote with your dollar. Buy direct from farmers at farmer’s markets, farm stands, and CSAs. You can also support restaurants and grocery stores who are buying from local farms by giving them your business, or ask for local products if they are not carrying them already!
Join your community garden, or start one in your neighborhood and plant a garden. Even growing a little bit of food goes a long way.
Volunteer with your local food bank, farmers’ market, or the farm down the road. Food projects take many hands and lots of energy.
Make sure your farmers’ market accepts food stamps so that local food is accessible to everyone in your community.
Start a Buy Fresh, Buy Local chapter in your town, or work on a Farm to School project to get healthy, fresh food into schools.
Host a neighborhood potluck that features local ingredients – this can start a dialogue about food, and it brings people together to enjoy a delicious meal.
Let your elected officials know, from your town to the Federal Government that food and farms are important to you.

Tools and resources to help communities take action:

Building Local Food Networks

A toolkit for food system organizers who would like to bolster their local food economy, and help make connections between food buyers and food sellers.

Buy Fresh, Buy Local Toolkit

This Food Routes toolkit can assist community leaders with starting a Buy Fresh, Buy Local chapter in their area.

Local Food Pledge

At Change.org you can take the local food pledge and show your commitment to local, socially responsible farmers.

7 Ways to Save Farmland

The American Farmland Trust outlines seven simple ways for you to support local farmers and save farmland across the country.

Slow Food USA Educational Programs

Slow Food is a global organization linking the commitment to community and the environment. In the US, their campus and community-based youth projects have established partnerships and networks, while creating and making available resources to educators and community organizers interested in starting their own local projects.

Farm to School Program

This national program connects schools with local farms and offers training and technical assistance, informational services, networking, and support in policy, media and marketing activities that promote the Farm to School movement.