Join Local Matters and Oxfam America for dinner on Friday, October 12 at 6 PM in Whetstone Park Shelterhouse (3901 N High St, Columbus) to celebrate the power of local food from Columbus to Obi, Nigeria.

Learn how small scale farmers are an essential part of creating a fairer food system from: Oxfam Food Heroine Susan Godwin of Nigeria; Bryn Bird of Bird Haven Farm, Granville, OH; Noreen Warnock of Columbus's Local Matters. The program will include small group discussion on how we, as consumers of food, can improve the food system through Oxfam’s GROW Method, Local Matter's programs, and more. Free materials will be available for you to host your own World Food Day dinner on October 16.

This event is free but advanced registration is required. Space is limited.

Bryn Bird is a second-generation family farmer and Rural Coalition organizer from outside Granville, OH. She returned to agriculture after experiencing the disconnect between the consumer and the farmer who grows it while living the big city life. She completed her masters in public health at The George Washington University. Ms. Bird is committed to the Rural Coalition's mission "to work together for a just food and farm policy." She has recently appeared on NPR, MSNBC, and other media outlets.

Susan Godwin is one of Oxfam’s 2012-2013 Food Heroines. She farms two hectares near Obi, Nigeria. Believing in the power of women small scale farmers to combat chronic hunger, Mrs. Godwin became chairperson of the United Movement for Small Scale Farmers. She helped paved the way for a successful farming resiliency project with Oxfam and advocated for microcredit programs from local government.

Noreen Warnock is co-founder and Director of Public Policy and Community Relations of Local Matters. Her passion is for ensuring that everyone in our community has equal access to local, healthful and sustainably-grown food—and finding the resources so this can become a reality. Ms. Warnock is co-chair of the Franklin County Local Foods Council and serves on numerous other regional and national groups concerned with strengthening and expanding local food systems.

Directions: Whetstone Park Shelterhouse is located at the east side of the Park of Roses in Whetstone Park. Convenient parking is found within the park. From the intersection of North High Street and Hollenback Road, follow Hollenback Road past the library and into the park. Hollenback Road terminates at parking lot. Click here for a map.

Catering provided by In Good Taste Catering/A Tasteful Garden.

Thanks to these promotional partners: Columbus Council on World Affairs and Ohio Council of Churches

For more information, please contact Adam Olson at 734 546 6582.