The Food Studies theme hosts Vermont author and organic movement elder Grace Gershuny discussing “Organic Farming for the Planet” on Oct. 19. at 4 p.m. in Alden 319. She also will participate in a panel discussion following a showing of the film Food Evolution at 7 p.m. at the Athena on Court Street. Books will be available for sale and signing.

Book cover for Organic Revolutionary: A Memoir of the Movement for Real Food, Planetary Healing and Human liberationIn her new book, Organic Revolutionary: A Memoir of the Movement for Real Food, Planetary Healing, and Human Liberation, Gershuny argues for encouraging as many farmers as possible to convert to organic methods as quickly as possible as the most immediate route to reversing the increase in greenhouse gas emissions that now endangers communities everywhere. Organic Revolutionary reflects on the 40-year evolution that established the meaning of “organic” for foods and fiber. Beginning with the back-to-the-land movement of the late ’60s and ’70s, working with the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) to shape the organic certification process, and later with USDA’s National Organic Program to develop the organic regulations, Gershuny interweaves the story of building a national movement with the evolution of her life.

These events are free and open to the public.