Vision
Tuv Ha'Aretz and Hazon's "Vision"
There are two main reasons that Hazon founded Tuv Ha'Aretz. First, we care deeply about supporting sustainable agriculture and local farmers. We provide people with the opportunity to purchase and eat local, organic produce. We help protect land from development and urban sprawl by supporting the work of small farmers. In 2004, one third of the Garden of Eve's (our first partner farm) annual revenue came from Tuv Ha'Aretz members - and we believe that in itself makes Tuv Ha'Aretz a worthwhile endeavor. Tuv Ha'Aretz's title - a play on the Hebrew words meaning both "Best of the land" and "Good for the land" - reflects Hazon's commitment to sustainable farming and eating.
Second, we are interested in creating vibrant Jewish community and educational opportunities. Although Community-Supported Agriculture has existed in America for two decades, Hazon is the first organization to create a CSA within a Jewish framework. Tuv Ha'Aretz offers a powerful and unique way to foster pluralistic and inter-generational Jewish community. It is also an innovative educational platform, which allows members to explore contemporary food issues from a Jewish perspective. The Jewish tradition has a long history of thinking about what is kosher (literally "fit") for us to eat. Tuv Ha'Aretz offers a chance to re-examine and potentially redefine what it means for food to be "fit" - not only for us, but for the community and the earth as well.
Tuv Ha'Aretz is a perfect match for the Jewish community because it provides the opportunity to:
- directly support local, organic farms
- promote the awareness of environmental issues in the Jewish community
- broaden the Jewish commitment of those who are already Jewishly involved
- create an accessible gateway to Jewish life for those who have less or no involvement in the organized Jewish community
- foster volunteer leadership
- create a platform for serious, engaging and innovative Jewish education
- encourage Jewish people to re-examine what it means for food to be kosher - "fit" for us as well as for the community and the earth
Hazon warmly welcomes you to join Tuv Ha'Aretz regardless of whether your own passions lie with healthy, organic food, sustainable agriculture, or building and being part of a vibrant Jewish community.
