Cross-Discipline Community Discussions | Final Straw: Food, Earth, Happiness

In the past year, we have produced exhibitions, lecture events, and have worked with local groups of eco-conscious individuals, K-12 schools, and Universities, to create activities and interventions aimed at developing simple solutions for a more sustainable life.

The following events were produced by Final Straw, with the help of local organizations and institutions who align with our cause.

Food, Art, and Ethics — Edinburgh, Scotland

We hosted a diverse panel discussion featuring Dr. Emily Brady (Edinburgh University, Professor of Environmental Philosophy), Mike Small (Director of Fife Diet, Europe’s largest local food project), and Ben Twist (Director of, Creative Carbon Scotland). These three leading doers and thinkers in three specific areas of environment and sustainability responded to the notion of a holistic view of nature and humanity, one which asks for a closer relationship between people and environment.

This free event was produced with the cooperation of University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art, and our speakers all graciously donated their time to serve on the panel.

Patrick gives some opening remarks at the Final Straw panel discussion at University of Edinburgh / Edinburgh College of Art.

Local food activist, Mike Small speaks at the Panel Discussion at opening night of the Final Straw exhibition, November 26, 2013 at Edinburgh College of Art.

Emily Brady, Ben Twist and Chris Fremantle discuss at opening night of the Final Straw exhibition, November 26, 2013 at Edinburgh College of Art.

Human:Nature — Megijima, Japan

We came together as a community, to learn from some of Japan’s most innovative farmers, all of whom approach sustainable agriculture in different ways. Our goal was to better understand how the connection between people and nature can help build a future for our environment and for our own local communities.

The event was produced for the Setouchi International Triennale by Final Straw in partnership with Isao Suizu, Kei Toh, and Ikumasa Hayashi, with funding from Aichi University of the Arts.

Mr. Matsuzawa lectures at the [HUMAN:NATURE] symposium in Megijima, Japan.

Johann Barbie and Songyi Lee discuss the [HUMAN:NATURE] application at the symposium in Megijima, Japan.

Farmer Hiromu Kohno discusses the intersection of farming and art at the [HUMAN:NATURE] symposium in Megijima, Japan.

Open Source Farming and the City — Seoul, South Korea

Our first lecture event to raise awareness and to tell the story of what on earth natural farming has to do with office workers and apartment-tower dwellers. Natural farmer, Ryosok Hong was our keynote speaker.

The event was produced by Final Straw with gracious support from the executive team at Project Noah.