2008 Woodie Awards
Andrew Faust talks about bioregionalism and the spiritual role of food
Deena Zaru
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 3 next >
"How can I live in a way to enhance my sense of the sacred?"
Andrew Faust '90, head of the Center for Bioregional Living in Pocahontas County, W.Va., proposed this query to an engaged audience during a weekly QLSP meeting for worship on April 6.
According to Faust, "the sacred" refers to the human biological and spiritual connection to the planet Earth.
"What I'm interested in is enhancing the sense of the sacredness of being alive on the planet Earth," said Faust.
This conference with Faust was planned by The Council of Elrond (TCE), a group of nine junior QLSP students. It was a required event for all QLSP members, yet it was open to the entire campus, and many non-QLSP students attended events throughout the weekend.
At meeting for worship, Faust spoke about connections between food, food production and spirituality.
On Saturday, he gave a fermented food workshop, where he taught students how to make environmentally-friendly and healthy foods, such as sourdough and kim chi. After lunch, he gave a talk about bioregionalism and spoke about ways in which we can become functioning parts of the ecosystem in which we live.
Faust wrapped up the conference on Sunday morning with a follow-up discussion on bioregionalism.
Junior Natan Harel, a member of TCE, had worked with Faust last summer as an intern at the Center for Bioregional Living.
"I was familiar with what Andrew could share, and it fit really well with (TCE's) theme for this year, which is food," said Harel. "The production of food, food as a medicine and the spiritual aspects of food (in Faust's presentations) fit especially well with our theme."
The main issue Faust addresses is the necessary reform of the entire economic infrastructure that American society is built on.
"There's a system of production and distribution of goods and services that needs to shift away from being highly centralized and mechanized," said Faust, "to being more regional and small scale and powered by biological systems, rather than powered by nuclear power or coal burning in electricity plants. In this society, we need to be more economically sound by changing how we produce energy and being conscious of where the materials come from."
Andrew Faust '90, head of the Center for Bioregional Living in Pocahontas County, W.Va., proposed this query to an engaged audience during a weekly QLSP meeting for worship on April 6.
According to Faust, "the sacred" refers to the human biological and spiritual connection to the planet Earth.
"What I'm interested in is enhancing the sense of the sacredness of being alive on the planet Earth," said Faust.
This conference with Faust was planned by The Council of Elrond (TCE), a group of nine junior QLSP students. It was a required event for all QLSP members, yet it was open to the entire campus, and many non-QLSP students attended events throughout the weekend.
At meeting for worship, Faust spoke about connections between food, food production and spirituality.
On Saturday, he gave a fermented food workshop, where he taught students how to make environmentally-friendly and healthy foods, such as sourdough and kim chi. After lunch, he gave a talk about bioregionalism and spoke about ways in which we can become functioning parts of the ecosystem in which we live.
Faust wrapped up the conference on Sunday morning with a follow-up discussion on bioregionalism.
Junior Natan Harel, a member of TCE, had worked with Faust last summer as an intern at the Center for Bioregional Living.
"I was familiar with what Andrew could share, and it fit really well with (TCE's) theme for this year, which is food," said Harel. "The production of food, food as a medicine and the spiritual aspects of food (in Faust's presentations) fit especially well with our theme."
The main issue Faust addresses is the necessary reform of the entire economic infrastructure that American society is built on.
"There's a system of production and distribution of goods and services that needs to shift away from being highly centralized and mechanized," said Faust, "to being more regional and small scale and powered by biological systems, rather than powered by nuclear power or coal burning in electricity plants. In this society, we need to be more economically sound by changing how we produce energy and being conscious of where the materials come from."
Be the first to comment on this story