I Geek Local Food

I Geek Local Food

I grew up in a Southern family with a vegetable garden that fed us for most of the year. Then I discovered Farmer's Markets when living in Minneapolis. As a hub for the Midwest food industry, their market featured food from all over the world really. But the most fun were the local Hmong farmers and the unusual veggies they would sell. Upon moving to Michigan, I heard about one of the very first CSAs (community supported agriculture) and joined it 16 years ago. Community Farm of Ann Arbor is celebrating their 25th year! That has required another level of learning about different vegetables and how to prepare them (different regions have different vegetable favorites I've discovered).

For me, local foods mean sustainable agriculture. I don't believe our world will be able to sustain our current dependence on petroleum in order to feed ourselves. Local foods also mean fair trade to me, since too much of the produce found in supermarkets come at the expense of unfair or slave labor practices. My current favorite quote is from Jamie Oliver, "How you spend your dollars at the supermarket is the most important way to create changes in the food industry."

Chelsea District Library has been a huge resource for finding recipes (I like to review cookbooks before I buy them by trying a few recipes). And mini-workshops and demonstrations have been another great resource (like the recent Growing and Using Herbs co-sponsored with Chelsea Community Kitchen). I'm excited about the upcoming 5H Community Read of In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan and the opportunities this presents to getting people to think about the food they depend on to live.

-Kathy

Whatever you geek, fun or serious, the public library supports you. Get your geek on. Show your support.

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5H Community Farm Tour & Tasting

Visit Community Farm of Ann Arbor (CFAA) to see how a member-owned and supported farm operates and get a "taste" of the community it supports. One of the oldest CSAs (community supported agriculture) in the United States, CFAA celebrates its 25th year of Community Supported Agriculture and biodynamic farming using principles of Rudolf Steiner. CFAA also won "Preservationist of the Year" in 2004 when the Washtenaw Land Trust completed purchase of the development rights on the land they farm. Visit www.communityfarmofaa.org to learn more. In partnership with Chelsea Community Kitchen.

Saturday, September 29 | 4-6pm

Community Farm of Ann Arbor | 1525 S. Fletcher Rd.

Registration Required

Upcoming Programs & Events

We're looking forward to an exciting fall. Take a look at all of the programs happening next week:

9/22 | Artist in Residence Screening Series: Heidi Kumao

9/22 | Digital Copyright - How does it affect me?

9/22 | Real Food, Real Facts (5H Community Read program)

9/22 | Farm Fresh Film Series: Fresh

(5H Community Read program)

9/23 | 5H Kids Edible Farm Walk at Tantre Farm

(5H Community Read program)

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LEGO Read! Build! Play! Project

Nominate Chelsea District Library...and support the unsung heroes of story time! The winning library receives $5,000. The top 200 libraries get early literacy toolkits. Nominations accepted through October 1, 2012. VOTE HERE:

http://readbuildplay.com/

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Winter Hours

Winter hours are now in effect:

Monday-Thursday: 10am-9pm

Friday: 10am-6pm

Saturday: 10am-5pm

Sunday: 1-5pm

About Us

The Chelsea District Library is nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide equal access to quality resources that serve the lifelong cultural, educational and informational needs and interests of all people.The library currently serves 14,000 residents in the Chelsea district - City of Chelsea plus Dexter, Lima, Lyndon and Sylvan townships and more than 20,000 individuals visit the library each month. The library's state-of-the-art facility is an access point for information. In addition to providing dynamic services to complement and support local schools and other important community needs, the Chelsea District Library strives to present timely, interesting and high-quality programs and events to engage and enrich the Chelsea community.

Sincerely,

Anna Cangialosi, Marketing Coordinator
Chelsea District Library