Food Systems

The public is warmly invited to an open house at the Rural Health and Nutrition Initiative greenhouse at 175 River Road, Dayton, Nev., on Saturday, October 8 from 10am-1pm. The free event kicks off October as Farm-to-School month, an annual celebration of food education.

Dayton Valley Golf Club and Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey are joining together to hold the third annual Fall Harvest Classic Golf Tournament, “Drive Out Hunger” on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. All proceeds benefit HCC’s food pantries. You can participate by being in the golf tournament, sponsoring a 4 person team, or donating raffle items.

Food insecurity is a systemic problem magnified by the economic effects of COVID-19.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, about one in 10 Washoe County residents were unable to acquire enough food to "live an active, healthy life," according to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization. On top of that, nearly half of all Washoe County School District students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

The first USDA Business and Industry CARES Act loan, intended to protect America’s small farms and businesses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, went to an aquaculture farm in Iowa and was brokered by Carson City-based Greater Commercial Lending (GCL). These CARES Act loans provide working capital to help rural businesses prevent, prepare for or respond to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Zion Belcastro, 16, moved from Oroville, Calif., to live with her aunt in Carson City to be a part of Carson High School’s agriculture program, specifically the Greenhouse Project.

“Where I’m from, it’s cows, sows and plows,” she explained. “Here, it’s more than that. It’s public speaking. It’s leadership. It’s the greenhouse. It’s a lot more than ranching.”

DAYTON — Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties hosts its farmers market in Dayton for the 10th summer in a row. The market will be open on Thursday evenings from 4-7 pm this summer, beginning June 20th. It will be co-located with Healthy Communities’ new community garden, known as the Solidarity Garden. This will offer market patrons the opportunity to join the community garden as well.

The Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties will have 3 guest speakers for their February breakfast meeting. The meeting is on Thurs February 9th at 9am at the Silver Springs Community Center.

Speakers include Lori Nichols from Foster Care Recruitment, and Sally Hazard from the Fernley office for the Advanced Foster Care Program. They will explain the pressing need for foster homes in the Lyon and Storey County region, and offer ways to help increase the number of foster parents.

The January Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties (HCC) meeting has been canceled since the Nevada Human Services Network award breakfast is at the same time. Healthy Communities would like for staff and group partners to have time to attend the important awards ceremony in Reno to honor the very deserving awardees.

State and federal agencies and non-profit organization leaders will meet Wednesday with Nevada’s First Lady Kathleen Sandoval at the Governor's Mansion in Carson City to address food and hunger issues during the Northern Nevada Food Summit.

Sustainable industries and the future of energy-savings for businesses and companies will be the focus of a luncheon for regional industry and corporate leaders on Wednesday in Reno.

"You can grow it, now sell it," is the message of Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute's workshop for small farms. The daylong workshop is Saturday, April 2, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the WNC Carson City Campus, 2201 West College Parkway. Cost is $35 if registered by March 23 or $45 if registered after March 23. Lunch is included, and seating is limited.