Author Archives: Els Hegger

Seminar on Voluntary Simplicity in Food Choices

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voluntary seminarVoluntary Simplicity in Food Choices – A seminar to navigate through theory and practices of responsible food consumption

Voluntary simplicity is a movement that promises better lives on a more healthy planet. But how does this work in our every day food practices? WASS proposes an afternoon on the theories and practices of voluntary simplicity and critical food consumption: How can voluntary simplicity be understood in a food context? What would it look like? Could it be expressed in movements of artisan local production, organic farming, alternative food networks, etc.? And how?

This seminar features both leading thinkers (Philip Cafaro, Colorado State University; Jeanine Schreurs, Maastricht University) and local practitioners (De Nieuwe Ronde, Veld & Beek, Project EAT). Next to a figurative taste of theories and practices, it offers participants a literal taste of actual locally produced simple foods in order to induce a lively and inspired discussion.

Date: September 10th, 2013
Time: 13:30 – 18:30
Place: Leeuwenborch building, Wageningen

For more information and how to subscribe, contact Simon d’Amico (simona.damico[at]wur.nl).

New course: Food Sociology

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IMG_3023In May we start with a new course – Food Sociology: Emerging theories & themes.
This course addresses the dynamics of food provisioning – i.e. the range of activities from the production, acquisition and preparation to the consumption and disposal of food – from a sociological perspective. These activities are examined in their socio-cultural, political and physical context by specifying and clarifying which activities are carried out, how, why and by whom. Specifically this course focuses on newly emerging food provisioning practices and the networks and institutions shaping these practices as well as on the social theories to reflect on these dynamics, networks and institutions. The specific contents of the course will differ from year to year as it based upon current international scientific collaborative research programmes and PhD projects. The students will enjoy an interesting variety of learning activities. Continue reading →

Study trip to Poland

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polandAre you interested in rural development, agricultural policy, nature conservation and climate change? Do you want to know more about how globalization processes affect these areas in an EU Member state, and what local responses can be identified? Join the study trip to Poland, organized by RUW Foundation and the Rural Sociology Group. In a 10 day intensive program, we will visit different cities and rural areas in Poland, meet with interesting organizations and work on a farm! Continue reading →

Thesis: Studying the social effects of community gardens on the wider neighbourhood

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3973780265_157e56b55fThis thesis concerns community gardens and their influence on the wider neighbourhood, especially people not involved in the gardens. The starting assumption is that people maintaining and working in community gardens meet others by doing so. That way these gardens create or strengthen their social relations. However, not all residents of the local community are involved in the community gardens and the gardens may be maintained by people from outside of the direct neighbourhood. To what extent does the social cohesion that exists and is grown at the community garden ‘spread’ beyond that garden, into the neighbourhood? Do local residents that are not involved benefit from the social cohesion created by the gardeners? (I.e. because they see the neighbourhood being beautified, because they stop and talk to those working in the garden, because they feel that something is brooding…). Continue reading →

Interesting forum discussion: Urban and Peri-urban agriculture and short food chains: Lessons from the South

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The SUPURBFOOD project (www.supurbfood.eu) is looking to identify experiences from the global South and North with recycling of nutrients, waste and water in urban and peri-urban agriculture, short chain delivery of food in urban and peri-urban areas, and multifunctional agriculture in urban and peri-urban areas in order to enrich South-North exchange and collaboration. We are specifically interested in innovative experiences – with a special focus on the type of business models that were applied, the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and their sustainability.

This specific discussion will run on the Forum from 4-30 March 2013. Continue reading →