Cultivating Culture:
A (virtual) Gathering of Jewish Farmers
In order to reduce zoom fatigue, we gathered over the course of two consecutive Sundays: January 24th & 31st .
​
Sunday, January 24th Schedule & Descriptions
​
Sunday, January 31st Schedule & Descriptions
​
We gathered with over 320 Jewish farmers, farm educators, homesteaders, parents of farmers, home gardeners, academics, butchers, millers, seed keepers and other food system professionals.
​
We gathered to:
-
Continue nurturing the connections that have germinated in our community.
-
Offer brave, timely and relevant content at the intersection of Jewish wisdom, land stewardship and food justice.
-
Springboard our community into a conscious commitment to new and creative ways of applying shmitah in their work as modern farmers (the next shmitah year will begin in the fall of 2021).
​
Highlights:
Songful/embodied community morning practice
Diverse voices from our community sharing about all things Jewish agriculture
Curated “lunch dates” based on geography or interest
Intensive & accessible learning about shmitah
Panels on seeds and land justice
A virtual dance party
Small breakout rooms for reflection & connection
​
Sliding Scale Tickets
Folks were welcome to attend both days of Cultivating Culture for as little as $36! The full true cost of the conference that would enable us to pay our teachers and staff fairly is $180/person. Registrants have as generously as they were able which enabled us to continue offering these programs to everyone, regardless of finances. Thank you for supporting the education of our whole community!
​
We are committed to making all of our offerings financially accessible to EVERYONE. If If the cost of registration was still prohibitive, community members were offered free or further reduced tickets, no questions asked.
​
Land Tax
We gifted 10% of all profits – $818 – from our 2021 virtual conference to the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance, which “supports Native communities nationally with advocacy, education, and networking as they revitalize their indigenous food systems.” For our third conference
​
​
​
Teachers & Facilitators
This conference was made possible by the generous support of the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation and the support of our generous organizational partners:
FAQs
Am I Jewish “enough” to attend?
Yes!!! Jewish Farmer Network formed from the need and desire for a Jewish community that centers and uplifts Jewish agrarians, from every point of the kaleidoscope of Jewish (and agricultural!) identity, background, and experience. We are not gatekeepers or arbiters of who is Jewish. If you hold Jewish heritage or identity, you are welcome. If you come from a multi-tradition household/family, you are welcome. If you are a Jew-by-choice, you are welcome. If you have never stepped into a Jewish space before, you are especially welcome. Come as you are, as you are. We are thrilled to meet you, to learn from you, and to craft ever-more accessible spaces for learning and connection.
Do I need to be Jewish to attend?
No! Jewish Farmer Network holds spaces and programming that center Jewish agrarian wisdom, community and individuals – because that is who we are, and we are tending to our roots. If you do not hold Jewish heritage or identity but have a sincere and peaceful interest in the places where Judaism and agriculture meet, you are welcome. We encourage non-Jewish allies to honor that this is a Jewish-centered space by listening. If you feel the need to contribute, ask yourself first: what am I trying to accomplish? Am I centering myself in this conversation? Evangelizing, hate speech, and/or abuse of any kind by any participant will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to remove participants from the conference without refund.
Do I need to be a farmer to attend?
No! Farmers and agriculturalists of all kinds, at any stage of your journey (current, future, lapsed, retired, questioning) are welcome! Gardeners, seed keepers, shepherds, land stewards, landscapers, vintners, brewers, compost people, foragers, arborists, fermenters, herbalists, natural crafts makers, hydroponics people, aquaponics people, cooks, chefs, food system folks, lovers and eaters of food… if you are or are seeking to be in relationship with land and/or the abundance of the earth, we know there’s something for you here. Even if you’re just curious, you are welcome!
What if I can only come to one day of the conference?
Your conference ticket grants you access to both conference days. So cool! Show up for what works for you. We are unable to offer a further discounted rate for those who can only come for one day, but we hope you will join for as much of the conference as you are able. All sessions will be recorded, and we intend to share them with all participants. Please do not share your access information with a friend for the day you cannot attend. Every person must register separately.
What if I need financial support?
We believe in the education of our whole community, regardless of financial status. We embody that ethic by offering all our programming on a sliding scale. The true cost of this conference is $180/participant, which we are offering for as little as $36 – no questions asked. If $36 is beyond your capacity, WE STILL WANT YOU TO JOIN! Email JFN co-founder and board chair SJ Seldin at sj@jewishfarmernetwork.org with the subject “All of Us” for more information about free and reduced tickets.
Can I get a refund if I cannot attend?
We do not offer refunds, and all sales are final. Even if you cannot attend, we still need to pay our teachers and staff fairly for their time and brilliance. If a refund is the difference between financial hardship and financial ease, send an email to SJ Seldin at sj@jewishfarmernetwork.org.
Will sessions be recorded?
All sessions will be recorded, and we intend to share them with all participants. Even if you can’t attend all the sessions you want to live, you can still learn from them after!