Moveable Feast for Wildlife and People

In 2000, the MCA and the Glynwood Center formed a partnership to explore the relationship between local agriculture, wildlife diversity, and the roles that small and mid-sized farms play in the protection of wildlife, natural landscapes, the maintenance of rural communities and economies, and the production of healthy and tasteful food. The Moveable Feast for Wildlife and People™ was borne out of this collaboration. Our aim is to demonstrate the values and unique interdependencies of systems that:

• Protect wildlife and a diversity of habitats on working farms
• Produce healthy and tasteful food
• Preserve natural landscapes and a "sense of place"
• Sustain rural economies

The Moveable Feast for Wildlife and People™ is a festive banquet featuring locally produced food accompanied by a description of the farm and family, how the food is produced, and the wildlife beneficiaries on the farm. The first Moveable Feast for Wildlife and People™ took place on August 2, 2004 in New York City at the annual conference of the Society for Conservation Biology. Eight local farms were showcased, including:

Blooming Hill Farm (Blooming Grove, NY)
Glynwood Farm (Cold Spring, NY)
Harrier Fields Farm (Schodack Landing, NY)
Hawthorne Valley Farm (Ghent, NY)
Prospect Hill Orchards (Milton, NY)
Rainbow Valley Farm (Hopewell Junction, NY)
Ronnybrook Farm Dairy (Pine Plains, NY)
Skate Creek Farm (East Meredith, NY)

We hope that the first Moveable Feast for Wildlife and People™ serves as a template for others to follow. Through smart dining choices we can help sustain the biodiversity and the economic viability of responsible farms and farming communities.