March 3, 2011
Issue No. 30
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Sustainable Biodiesel Summit, Mardi Gras, Chatham County Schools Chef Challenge, Vermiculture + more! 

Dear Abundant People,

It's a certifiable insane week in Pittsboro....we have folks from all over the world here for the Biodiesel Intensive Workshop, getting ready for the Saturday, Sustainable Biodiesel Summit along with Mardi Gras Saturday night.  Check out our upcoming workshops and our Chefs Challenge and of course getting ready for Briar Chapel's April 16th Earth Day event in which proceeds support Abundance.  Lots going on and what a fantastic early spring.  We are grateful for it all. 

Sustainable Biodiesel Summit March 5th
summit


Highlights of the Saturday, March 5th Summit include: 
four Great Projects:  Matt Steiman on the Dickinson College Plant, Eric Henry on Burlington Biodiesel Cooperative, Randall von Wedel of Florida and Kumar Plocher from Yokayo Biofuels in California.   For the full schedule and registration, click here. 
Chatham County Schools Chef Challenge
moncure school
Chef Colin and Chef Jimmy with Moncure School lunch ladies
So, what happens when you take a posh chef, give them basic ingredients, limit sugar, salt and fat and ask him to cook for some of the pickiest eaters around....your kids?!!!

We are thrilled to be working with the Chatham County School System (17 schools, 8000 kids), Briar Chapel, Colin from Fearrington House, Jimmy from Crossroads @ Carolina Inn and Steve from the Natural Chef Culinary Program @ CCCC.  In April, we will be pulling off a pretty large feat!  Each Chef will be creating a menu using the school's ingredients, USDA guidelines, school equipment and also working with the lunch ladies so that they can create this.  From there, over three days, the new creations will be served to the children.  They get to vote on their favorite.  The following week, we'll invite local celebrities to make their favorite choice for the grand winner.  For more information and to keep posted, click here.  To read Superintendent Logan's perspective, click here.  Briar Chapel's blog is here. 
Opportunities for the kids to meet the Chefs close up....March 12, March 19 and March 16th.  If your child would like to interview one of the Chefs, please email:  [email protected].

 

Coming Up...5K Earth Day Run & St. Patrick's Parade
5 k runSave the date for our annual Briar Chapel 5K benefit and Earth Day celebration.  April 16th will start with a 9.00am 5K run...nice and challenging on the beautiful USTF certified course.  We'll have kids activities, local food and beers, gardening talks and a reading by local author, Jonathan Bloom from American Wasteland.  Will be a fantastic day. To register to run, click here.  More information and schedule to come. 

Also, we are joining forces with Larry's Beans for the Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade.  The theme of course is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle".  If you'd like to join us for drumming, dancing, parading, email us!  It's Saturday, March 12 @ noon in Raleigh.  And of course, wear green!
Our goal is to bring sustainability to central North Carolina quickly, innovatively and while enjoying the journey.

daffodils and fryer grease,


Tamela Schwerin
The Abundance Foundation
In This Issue
Sustainable Biodiesel Summit
Chatham County Schools Chef Challenge
Earth Day 5K & St. Patties Parade

  Mardi Gras 
Carnival 2011

March 5th, 7.00pm!


mardi gras

Join us for a night of adventure with tarot card readers, jugglers, aerial dancers, W.I.N.G.S and the music of Durham's Hobex and the Atomic Rythm Allstars.  You do not want to miss this one!  For early tickets, click here. 

  

Proceeds go to 3 different non-profits:

  The Abundance Foundation 

Childcare Networks 

and  

Triangle Land Conservancy 

Un Grand Merci to our Supporters:
Chatham Marketplace
Chatham Mills 

Weaver Street Realty 

Piedmont Biofuels
Joy of Movement Dance Studio 

Pabst Blue Ribbon

The 3 Kings Mardi Gras Float
Hobbs Architects
Skip & Lisa London  

Starlight Mead 


DIY Workshop Series:
kim calhoun
Kim Calhoun educates on how to make your own medicine!

 2011 is going to be the best year for educating ourselves on how to be more empowered around topics of energy, local food, well-being and sustainability.  To register or be put on a waiting list see below:

March 12th-Vermicomposting with Ben Reckendorf (an extremely popular workshop!!) of Carolina Wormcastings: to register, click here.  

March 26th-Make your Own Medicine: creating an herbal home apothecary with Kim Calhoun.  Register here.  

April 2nd-Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants with Alan Russo.  Register here. 

April 16th-Building small off-grid solar electric systems with Rebekah Hren.  Register here.

April 30th-Canning 101 with Rachel Hoff.  Register here.  

May 7th-Sustainable Beekeeping with Catherine Adamson.  Email us to be put on the waiting list. 

New York City 1/2 Marathon Fundraiser for Abundance!!
jess and kaitlin

Wow...we are so lucky to have people even in NYC supporting the work at Abundance.  Jessalyn Estill (ok, yes, she is my lovely step-daughter) is running a 1/2 marathon for the cause!    Sustainability is in her heart...she is passionate about the topic and works with Green Team, a NYC agency that focuses on the Awakening Consumer...  

To check out her page, and help her get to her goal of $1500, click here.  GO JESS!!! And she is 85% of the way there!!!!!!!!!!