Community seminar held at Sedalia
By Joan Janzen
A two-day community seminar was held at Sedalia Community Hall on August 18th and 19th. The guest speaker was John Graff, president of Living Streams, a non-profit organization based in the Regina area, which was formed in 2018. He spoke to approximately 45 citizens from the Sedalia region in an effort to help them build their community and make it stronger and more self-sufficient.
Throughout the weekend, he gave his listeners access to a wealth of information on food supplies and alternative energy systems. At the back table, he had samples of a monthly newsletter available for people to read and share with others.
John Graff, President of the non-profit organization Living Streams, spoke at a seminar at Sedalia, AB, on Aug. 18th and 19th. He encouraged communities to become stronger, more connected and more self-sufficient. Photo by Joan Janzen
Graff not only farms with his wife and four children but also has broad career experience. He is a former Olds College Professor, an expert in ag production, a Bible teacher, a consultant to world leaders on food security, a former consultant to big pharma, and a corporate executive. He’s also worked as an animal nutritionist for cattle producers in this region. Now he uses his science, business and academic background to provide information networks so farmers, ranchers, business owners and citizens can help one another within their own community.
He started offering courses in November 2022 on a wide range of topics—a portion of his instruction centres around the technical components of ways to provide alternative energy sources.
“As a college instructor, there are certain classes I teach, but we have other people who are experts in fermentation and animal classes. It’s amazing when you look at a community interacting with people. There are people all around who have interests that they have become experts in. They spend hours and hours researching and perfecting. We have to have a system where those people can pass on their expertise.”
Graff teaches courses in off-grid energy, how to make a home space heater and courses on solar power. He brings in teachers who offer classes on canning, agriculture, bread baking, gardening, beef and dairy production, making cheese and yogurt, and animal nutrition. However, he emphasizes that every community has experts who live right in their own neighbourhood.
“Farmers have a key place in our society. As we see farmers decrease in percentage of the population, we see society creep further and further away from believing in the beauty of God’s provision. Young people only have a theoretical understanding of where their food and provision comes from,” he observed. As a dad, he loves teaching his kids how to get dirt and grease under their fingernails, gaining hands-on experience in the food production process.
The goal of his non-profit organization is to help other groups around the country set up and get organized, teaching people they can provide for themselves if they need to. This is one aspect that can relieve stress for people.
“We’re trying to show that we have value in our communities. That individuals have value, and they can serve others,” he concluded.