Contributors

The following list of writers, artists, professors, shopkeepers and activists contributed to the publication of Eat Well:

Henry Bakker is working on completing a master’s degree in English at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. He, his wife Sarah, and their son Moses, are the owners of Field Sparrow Farms, where they raise and market grass-fed beef. The Bakkers are also co-owners of Russet House Farm, a sustainable-living education centre and co-host of the Practicing Resurrection conference.

Karen and Stephen Baldwin have three children and two grandchildren and are living in St. Louis, Missouri where Stephen is pastor in residence at Covenant Theological Seminary.  With their passion for food, Stephen gave Karen a gift of a week-long cooking course at the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Shanagarry, County Cork, Ireland while church-planting in Dublin.  Karen eventually returned for the full course in 1997.  The Baldwins believe that redeemed people ought to value every vocation, every art,  including the humble art of food.

Raymond Blanton is a native Texan. He attended Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth and earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication with an emphasis in Human Relations. Upon graduation he married Hope Annette and moved to Philadelphia where he obtained a Master of Divinity degree with an emphasis in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Ray then entered Student Affairs, which took him to New England for one year and to Drexel University in Philadelphia for two. He currently works for the University of Texas at Austin where he, Hope, and daughters Cana Annette and Thea Hope are enjoying the weirdness of Austin.

Byron Borger owns, with his wife Beth, Hearts & Minds Bookstore in central Pennsylvania. He is also an associate staff member of the CCO, a campus ministry organization that focuses on discipling college students to live out their faith in every aspect of their lives.  Byron writes about books regularly at his Booknotes blog.

Brianne Donaldson is a scholar activist living in Michigan.  She received her undergraduate degree from Goshen College in Bible, Religion and Philosophy and a graduate degree in Theology and Ethics from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.  Her thesis is titled "Here Below: Extending Honesty and Moral Imagination to All Creatures." 

Denise Frame Harlan makes applesauce in scenic Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband Scott and the young cooks Madeleine and Brendan. Denise studies Creative Writing through Seattle Pacific's low-residency MFA program. Currently a contributing editor for Living Crafts magazine, Denise's stories have been published in Lost Magazine, Black Purls, and Interweave Spin-Off.

Dale Hasenick works the land at White Yarrow Farm CSA in Marcellus, Michigan.  In the 2008 season, he and his family will provide fresh produce, herbs and flowers to 60 families in their region, and many more through local farmers’ markets.

Bred in the swirling vortex of Beulah, Michigan, (Meredith K.C. Gipson) Katie Hoogendam has fumbled her way through the labyrinthine mazes of both Hope and Calvin Colleges, as well as the feared and revered Oregon Extension Program. It was in Oregon that she met the brilliant and seemingly stoic Jordan Hoogendam, now her husband of nearly five years. After teaching high school (English and social justice) for three years in Toronto, Katie is taking a year off to loose herself and use her right brain. Her current modi operandi involve living well and slowly, and she accomplishes this by hooking rugs, playing with cameras, reading about Carl Jung and, in moments of desperation and peace, writing.

Karla Kauffman, D. Min., is a spiritual director, hospice chaplain and sustainable food advocate. After growing up on a dairy farm in Ohio, she was an urbanite until she moved to the Three Rivers, Michigan area three years ago. When Karla realized that several of her interests—Latin America, justice, spirituality, family farms—are all connected through our food system today, she decided to dig deeper into the food sustainability web, and received the Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton Ohio on Spirituality and Sustainability in December 2006. As part of her studies for the degree, she formed the Three Rivers Sustainable Food Group, which meets monthly for a potluck of locally grown foods and coordinates local food advocacy and education.

Sylvia Keesmaat is a gardener, biblical scholar and homeschooling mother who lives at Russet House Farm in Cameron, Ontario. At the moment she is adjunct professor of Biblical studies at the Institute for Christian Studies, in addition to being in charge of the gardens at the farm. Along with her husband, Brian Walsh, she is the author of Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire, as well as editor of The Advent of Justice.

Joy-Elizabeth Lawrence has lived in seven states and one province. She received her Master of Christian Studies from Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her eclectic interests include theology, women's studies, theatre arts, cooking and food preservation, and making toys for her godchildren. She lives with her husband in Michigan where she is on staff at Calvin College and works as a freelance writer.

Laryn Kragt Bakker is a husband and a new father. He does graphic design and web development for non-profits and also enjoys writing and other creative outlets. The majority of the food he and his wife Janel eat is rescued from the trash. It tastes great and has never made them sick.

Erin O’Connor-Garcia graduated from Calvin College in 2005 only to find her way back a year later to Calvin’s Student Activities Office.  She lives in the neighborhood of Alger Heights in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she loves sharing new recipes, cheap-ish wine, and good films with her husband, Daniel, and their snow-loving-wonder-dog, Conrad.

Jacqueline Rhodes serves as Assistant Dean for Multicultural Student Development at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Before coming to Calvin in 1996 to assume the role as Academic Counselor, she worked as a Residence Hall Director at Grand Valley State.  In addition to working as a college administrator, Jacque is a founding member of a female gospel music ensemble Imani.

Kari Stewart recently moved from Grand Rapids, Michigan to London, England with her British husband. She is discovering the delights of English cuisine (honestly!) and enjoys exploring the Turkish, Greek and Polish food shops of her north London neighborhood. After many years working at Calvin College, she now helps run a climate change campaign.

Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma is the publications director for *culture is not optional, which includes editing the bi-weekly catapult magazine.  Getting her hands dirty in the garden, commuting by bike and getting caught up in rolling conversation around a big kitchen table are among her chief delights.

Stephen Vander Woude is a practicing attorney residing in an 80-year-old house in Hammond, Indiana with his wife and three children.  He agrees with Calvin Seerveld that good art is like good food; it should be nourishing, full-flavored fare, prepared skillfully, shared generously, received gratefully and digested patiently. 

Adam Wolpa grew up in Los Angeles, received his BA in Studio Art from The University of Virginia, and his MA and MFA in Printmaking from the University of Iowa. He is currently Assistant Professor of Art at Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, teaching sculpture, drawing, and visual culture. Wolpa's research field includes relational printmaking, place and psychogeography, art and activist strategies, minimalism, farming and agriculture, eating and food. He enjoys playing karaoke, taking the bus and eating vegan cupcakes.