The director of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Nancy Creamer, will speak at the Sierra Club meeting Monday.

The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 131 Oakmont Drive, Greenville. The program is free and open to the public.

Creamer will discuss CEFS and its initiative, Building a Local Food Economy in North Carolina. Dedicated to sustainable agriculture research, extension and education, CEFS’s mission is to develop and promote food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond.

“Building a Local Food Economy in North Carolina seeks to connect North Carolinians with local, regional and statewide organizations that are committed to building North Carolina’s sustainable local food economy,” Creamer said.

Elizabeth Greene, chairwoman of the Cypress Group of the Sierra Club, said, “The time is right for a presentation on this topic in our area. People are increasingly interested in buying locally to support local farmers and to cut down on transportation costs and reduce environmental impacts. We hope the public will want to learn about the CEFS’s efforts to provide new economic opportunities in rural and urban communities; to develop technologies that promote a cleaner and healthier environment; to educate the next generation of farmers, consumers and scientists; and to engage communities in the food system.”

For more information, contact Sylvie Henning at hennings@ecu.edu.