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The old adage “what’s for dinner” carries a lot of weight these days. Not only are we concerned about what we’re eating and where it is sourced, we’re also concerned about whether we’ll have enough of it, and whether it will be safe.

In this issue of IslandWire, we feature the work of Earth Island Institute projects that support and build resiliency in our community food systems. Their role in our world is more vital than ever.

In the midst of soaring food insecurity in the San Francisco Bay Area, food is going to waste at bulk scale as suppliers find themselves stuck with products that closed restaurants and businesses can’t use. Food Shift’s food recovery operation fills in gaps where regular food supply chains are interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, linking excess produce from wholesalers to front-line food assistance organizations. Food Shift is supplying food to local organizations serving roughly 8,600 people suffering from food insecurity, including unhoused, elderly, and immunocompromised people. Read more about the issue here.

At Mira Vista School in Richmond, California, West County DIGS is getting more interest from families than ever before about growing their own gardens. In addition to offering online garden education resources for teachers to share with their students, West County DIGS has been giving away bundles of plant starts to parents to plant with their children. As these family gardens begin to produce vegetables, there are plans to distribute the food throughout the school community.

CalCAN continues to advocate for California’s Climate Smart Agriculture grant programs that support resilient farming, agriculture-based climate solutions, and the economic viability of farmers and ranchers. The organization is keeping its network informed of vital program updates and other important resources supporting the food and farming system’s pandemic response and recovery.

Seeding Sovereignty has launched an Indigenous Impact Rapid Response Initiative that will respond to the physical and mental health, economic, and cultural needs of Indigenous peoples. By allocating funds to directly affected communities, providing crucial remote health support services, shipping supplies, and distributing meal kits for elders, Seeding Sovereignty hopes to rally badly-needed and deserved services. The organization is well positioned to respond to the unique set of challenges facing Indigenous communities through its years of work in this arena.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a run on vegetable seeds across the nation, which brings into sharp relief the need for resilient local food and seed systems. Cultivate Oregon and its coalition partners have been advocating for protections for the vegetable specialty seed industry so Oregon can ensure a climate-adaptive seed system that improves regional food security. The project is also participating in the national Cooperative Gardens Commission to distribute seeds to people in need.

Numi Foundation is working to ensure food security for low-income families and students impacted by Covid-19. The organization’s relief program has already delivered over 15,000 meals to food distribution sites and remote communities in the Bay Area with the help of a repaired Oakland Unified School District food truck. The foundation is also providing free produce to immigrant families who are unable to access culturally appropriate foods, and is hoping to launch an ethnic CSA program to serve families in food deserts so that they can save money, eat healthier, and enjoy the cultural foods they love.

Real Food Real Stories is committed to uplifting the food change makers who are working to keep us nourished through this crisis, while helping us all to “bounce forward” toward regenerative and just food systems. RFRS is approaching the deep disruption that Covid-19 has created as an opportunity to reimagine and co-create a truly resilient food system. Starting with spaces for generous listening and authentic sharing, it has moved its monthly gatherings online so that food system heroes can continue to share their stories with eaters; is facilitating story circles for impacted farmers, chefs, and business owners to connect with and support each other; and will be inviting stories of hope towards a reimagined food system.