In this update:

* Public Briefing on MC School Garden Policy - Dec. 7
* Free Screening of "Food, Inc." - Dec. 11
* Free Screening of "No Impact Man" - Dec. 11
* Huge Swaths of U.S. Declared Agricultural Disaster Areas
* After War, Finding Peace and Calm in a Garden


Briefing on MC School Garden Policy - Monday, December 7

Final reminder, everyone - a briefing on the evolving Montgomery County Public School system policy on food gardens will be given at a joint working session of the Education and Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committees. It will take place at 1:00pm on Monday, December 7 at the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville (the exact room is subject to change, so ask once you have arrived).

The briefing will cover the status of the community gardens program in both the schools and in the County Parks department, review the policies of the schools and parks departments regarding community gardens, and identify next steps.
The public is welcome to attend, and this will be your best opportunity to learn the current planning of MC Public Schools and Parks Department for food gardens in 2010. We hope to see you there on December 7!

 
Free Screening of "Food, Inc." - Friday, December 11

If you missed this summer food blockbuster in the theaters, here is a chance to see it locally.

"Food, Inc." will be screened at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church in Bethesda (although actually closer to Kensington) on Friday, December 11. The screening will start at 7:30pm, preceded by a vegetarian potluck at 6:45.

Drawing on Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation and Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, "Food, Inc." explores the food industry's detrimental effects on our health and environment, taking a close up look at an industry rife with monopolies, questionable interpretations of laws and subsidies, political ties and rising rates of E. coli outbreaks.

A little uneven in the end - watch for a non-too subtle green-washing of Walmart - this is nonetheless an excellent documentary, and one of the hardest-hitting you'll ever see on food giant Monsanto.

RSVP's are encouraged - send them to Charlotte Brewer at 301-656-0467, or email her at jarvischarlot(at)aol.com

 
Free Screening of "No Impact Man" - Friday December 11

While not purely about food, this fascinating independent film depicts Manhattan resident Colin Beavan's attempt to eliminate his personal impact on the environment for one full year.

Of course, it ends up having a lot to do with food, since his decision means eating vegetarian, buying only local food, and turning off the refrigerator. It also means no elevators, no television, no cars, buses, or airplanes, no toxic cleaning products, no electricity, and no clothes shopping (!).  The beautifully documented experience Colin has along the way, along with his wife and young daughter, is at turns funny, charming and poignant... as well as deeply thought-provoking and inspirational throughout.

The screening, co-sponsored by Transition Takoma and the Center for a New American Dream, will take place at the Seekers Church, 276 Carroll Ave. in Takoma Park (1 block from the Metro station) on Friday, December 11 from 7-9pm. After the screening, there will be a discussion about how we can all reduce our consumption, spend less, and put fun back into the holiday season while getting more of what matters out of it.

This event is open to the public. For directions to Seekers Church, click here. To RSVP (not required but recommended, since this could sell out), click here.

 
Huge Swaths of U.S. Declared Agricultural Disaster Areas

Most of us tend to take the food we eat for granted. We shouldn't.

Through the end of November, large swaths of the U.S. had been declared agricultural natural disaster areas this year by the USDA -- 10 counties in Maryland, 79 in Mississippi, parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana, 69 counties in Texas, many in  New York and New Jersey, and huge areas of the Midwest are on the list.

To see a map of the affected areas, click here. It will give you pause.

While Texas and California are suffering from drought, much of the rest of the U.S. (including Montgomery County) has had unusually wet weather this season, causing the large-scale destruction of crops. Three counties in Kansas were declared agricultural natural disaster areas due to crop damage caused by high winds and hail.

Extreme weather events, whether drought, flooding or storms, are a primary effect of global warming, and are expected to rise in the coming years. Which is yet another darn good reason to start increasing our own local food production in 2010. Have you started to plan next year's garden yet?


After War, Finding Peace and Calm in a Garden

Given this week's announcement on Afghanistan, it seems only appropriate to forward this story from The New York Times. (With thanks to The Growing Edge.)

At a Veterans Affairs Medical Center near Newark, New Jersey, vets suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, substance abuse and other afflictions are finding solace and peace working in the community vegetable garden. As one vet says "It just lowers the volume in my head. It allows me to think on a rational level."

To read about food gardening as a treatment for veterans, click here.


That's it for this week, friends! Don't forget to send us your feedback, as well as ideas for stories or local food events we can promote, by emailing us at info@montgomeryvictorygardens.org.

Yours in nutritious, delicious, sustainably grown local food,

Gordon Clark,
Project Director
Montgomery Victory Gardens