The South Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association has organized a meeting open to the public, featuring speakers on health, food, and rural development.

The featured speaker is Phil Crosby, who has information on alternative health care which follows the Naturopathic approach. He sees many similarities between the practices needed to maintain healthy bodies and those for keeping the soil healthy. A panel discussion on food and rural development will be led by: Lisa Lindberg from the Cottage Café in Amboy; Doug Hilgendorf from Whole Grain Milling Company; and Brett Olson from the nonprofit group, Renewing the Countryside.

The meeting will be held Saturday at First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove with registration starting at 9 a.m. The morning program will begin with a business meeting and the rest of the morning will be devoted to Phil Crosby’s presentation on health. A noon meal of homemade soup, bread, organic cheese, milk, and other items will preceed the panel discussion on food and rural development. The meeting will end at about 3 p.m., following the panel discussion. All are invited to this meeting where there will be plenty of time allowed to visit and share information on sustainable agriculture. The noon meal can be purchased for $5 and membership in the Sustainable Farming Association will be available for $15.

South Central is one of nine SFA chapters spread across the state that are devoted to promoting and advancing sustainable farming. Members of the organization have become increasingly aware that sustainable farming is intimately connected with human health, healthy food, and rural development. Members are interested in learning about ways to protect their own health that are consistent with their interest in producing healthy food. Featured speaker, Phil Crosby, was raised on a farm and has more than 40 years of experience providing health care services. Through his business, Just Plain Talk, Phil helps people take care of their health by providing information on nutrition and on alternatives to conventional medicine.

The panel discussion will include the topics of food and rural development. Lisa Lindberg will share information about healthy food served at her café. She will also have information about her shop, near the café, where she can sometimes be found working at a spinning wheel. Other panel members include Doug Hilgendorf who started a milling company on his farm which produces flour used at Lindberg’s restaurant. Hilgendorf also produces and sells various processed grains, packaged mixes, and other natural foods including corn chips. Lisa, Doug, and Doug’s wife, Lin, were featured in a calendar that the other panel member, Brett Olson, helped produce.

Olson is employed by Renewing the Countryside. Renewing the Contryside is a group that develops and manages programs for strengthening rural communities including Green Routes, a program which promotes environmentally friendly tourism.

Any one interested is invited. Call 256-4876 for more information.