July 12, 2011
Issue No. 35
june 2 header

Thank you Z Smith Reynolds & Farmer Foodshare!  TRKfest,  

The Amazing Pittsboro Pepper Festival + Fall Workshops 

Dear Abundant People,

Although we like to slow down a little in the summer, it hasn't happened yet!  (soon!!).  Summer Camp was wild and wonderful, working on this years pepper festival is fun and creative and working with all the amazing projects....we are truly blessed.  Amazing and talented Instructors for our fall workshops...you'll want to sign up for a few!

We thank you for your support and for allowing us to do this work.

Z. Smith Reynolds grants Farmer Foodshare and Abundance Foundation funds to launch Pennies on the Pound (PoP) Project

community

We are pleased to announce a one year partnership with Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to  support local foods-based social enterprises that serve low income or economically-distressed communities with connections to affordable local food, funds for investment and business mentors.

 

 Farmer Foodshare will launch an online direct buying market to become the "Triangle Farmers Fresh Market." It will have a PoP (Pennies on the Pound) buyers group of folks who will be able to buy food at a discount.

The first site for the Triangle Farmers' Fresh Market will be launched in Carrboro and Lizzie Martin will be the Triangle Farmers' Fresh Market manager for this pilot.

 

First Abundance Summer Camp!
camp
Making homemade pizza with the outdoor pizza oven!
It was a wild week at the Eco-Industrial Park!  We had 14 kids of all ages jump in for the Marvelous, Incredible Renewable Energy and Local Food Camp.  They learned a lot and we learned a lot.
From making peanut butter from Farmer Doug's peanuts to making biodiesel to learning about the 11 different types of water we have to how long does it take to make an inch of topsoil to learning about the honey bees to making a local food feast from freshly dug potatoes....We all had a blast and we were quite exhausted in a very satisfied way on friday.  Thanks to all the kids, the parents and the Instructors and Volunteers.  Thanks to head Camp Ranger, Jenny.  It took the whole Eco-Park to pull this off!!
For photos and a slide show, click here.

We are becoming Pepper Possessed this time of year...Lots of fun local Chefs, local Breweries & Wine/Mead, local food organizations and wonderful community coming your way! 

 

October 2, 2011

4-7pm

Briar Chapel  

Community Park 

 

pepper fest 2011

 

Our goal is to bring sustainability to central North Carolina quickly, innovatively and while enjoying the journey.

thunderstorms and lightening,


Tamela Schwerin
The Abundance Foundation
In This Issue
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Grant
Summer Camp Completed
elderberries

A taste of DIY Workshops coming up!! (more topics coming)

 

September 17, 10am-2pm:  Elderberries, Bringing America's Super Fruit into the Modern Age with Rodger Lenhardt and Terry Durham 

 

September 18, 10am - 2pm - Sustainable Beekeeping with Catherine Adamson of Chapel Hill Bees 


September 24, 10am - 2pm - Farmers Market Feast with Andrea Williams  


September 25 - Do-it-yourself Cheese Making with Laurel Shulman 


October 29 - Aquaponics with Mike Yablonski 

andrea  

2011 TRKFest

August 11

trkfest

Trekky Records is proud to announce the return of TRKfest, our annual Summertime blissfest, on Saturday, August 13th at Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro, NC. This year's festival will build upon the framework of the last three years, growing from a fledgling annual event to an essential expression of the North Carolina music scene, as well as the broader underground community.

 

This will be the fourth annual TRKfest. The event began as a one-off fundraiser for the Trekky Records Collective in 2008, but has transformed into an annual event, returning each year by popular demand. As always, the festival will take place at Piedmont Biofuels, a charming industrial biodiesel plant and organic farm nestled into the beautiful Pittsboro countryside. With the help of Piedmont Biofuels and The Abundance Foundation, we will attempt to minimize the ecological impact of the festival, reducing waste and emphasizing local and sustainable foods and drinks.

 

In addition to the music, the day will be bursting with other activities. Attendees will be able to play games, cool off under the sprinklers, vibe out in the Bliss Tent, purchase local clothing and crafts, tour the biodiesel facility and dance til they collapse, all while listening to some of the finest music North Carolina has to offer.

 

Admission will be a $10 suggested donation. No person will be turned away. This is a family friendly event! The rain date is Sunday, August 14th, but, c'mon, its not going to rain on TRKfest!

 

Performers:

Bowerbirds

Mount Moriah

Midtown Dickens

Hammer No More The Fingers

Embarrassing Fruits

Ryan Gustafson

Yardwork

Brice Randall Bickford

Butterflies

Vibrant Green

and more to be announced!

 

Other Attractions:

Local art, crafts and clothing for sale

Pants-off Dance-off

Coffee Sack Race

Musical Chairs Cake Walk

Make Yr Own Tie-Dye TRKfest Shirt

Sprinklers and Water Things

Tour of Piedmont Biofuels

Free Haircuts

Shadow Puppets & the Bliss Tent

 

Slow Money NC

 

Getting financing for small-scale local farms can be a challenge, and that's where Slow Money NC comes in.  Founded on the principles espoused by Woody Tasch in his book, Inquiries Into The Nature of Slow Money, a group of local food activists has found a way to get low-interest loans to independent farmers and local food related ventures. They now have money to lend and are looking for local food businesses that can put it to good use. Since making their first $2000 loan to an aspiring baker in May of 2010, Slow Money NC has guided $25K from local investors into funding for two farm expansions, three bakeries, a restaurant and a cheese shop. A recent infusion of $26K now awaits worthy projects in Chatham and Orange County.  For more information about borrowing or lending, please contact Carol Hewitt. 

slow money
Patrick Walsh and his happy chickens!