Worm recycling, a process which involves having worms crawl though a screen causing them to split and then regenerate new bodies, was one of the topics discussed at the first annual Local Food Works Conference.

The conference, held in the Main branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, ran from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and emphasized the importance of locally grown food through workshops, information booths and speakers.

Michael Szuberla, coordinator of Toledo GROWs, organized the conference along with Holly Myers-Jones, director of environmental programs at the University. The conference was funded by a BGSU Partnership for Community Action grant and planned by Myers-Jones’ environmental strategies class.

“Food forms the foundation of culture and sets the basis for health,” Szuberla said. “It is a billion dollar economic industry, but the money doesn’t stay local.”

To address the problem, Szuberla asked Will Allen to be the keynote speaker for the event. Allen, co-director of Growing Power, a non-profit group that helps to develop community food systems and centers and encourages the urbanization of farming. Allen is a former professional basketball player turned organic farmer.

“[Allen] is one of those people who has his toes in many different ponds,” Szuberla said.

In his presentation, Allen stressed the importance of communities growing and buying food within the community rather than relying on external sources.

“It’s really, really important that everyone in the community gets involved,” Allen said. “We cannot have healthy communities without a healthy food system.”

Allen also discussed the benefits of city grown food, urban agriculture. His organization, Growing Power, works at transforming inner city lots into gardens.

He said in places there is no grass, they put compost right on top of the asphalt and begin planting the same day.

Farming has positive effects on the youth, Allen said.

“It’s a myth to think that kids don’t like to work,” Allen said. “They really get into growing food.”

He said that children who participate in Growing Works youth programs learn valuable lessons as well as important skills.

“Youth programs are important because they are the ones who are going to be taking this work to the next level,” Allen said.

Heidi Danzl, a student in Myers-Jones’ environmental strategies class, found Allen’s presentation interesting because she used to work on a farm.

“I’m impressed by his enthusiasm to produce better food because it is essential for communities,” Danzl said.

To prepare for the conference her class created informational fliers and sent out invitations to the event.