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What's Fresh
1. The Markets at Lakeway is featuring the Food To Bank On project as one of the beneficiaries of their Good Neighbors donation program.
When customers $25 or more, a special receipt is generated at checkout and customers choose which of the Good Neighbors groups to "vote" for by dropping the receipt. Thank you to The Markets!
3. The Bellingham Food Bank's Garden Project empowers limited-income residents of Bellingham to grow their own vegetables by providing raised-bed vegetable gardens along with soil, seeds, plant starts and more. Applications for new gardeners and for those who would like to be mentors are due Friday, April 12 for the 2013 season. For more info, click here!
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Seeds or Starts?
From Edible Portland
As the days lengthen and the urge to garden becomes almost overwhelming, many novice gardeners face a quandary: Should they buy seeds or nursery transplants? Read the full article here!*Note that our growing season in Northwest Washington is about a month behind Portland.
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Bellingham Farmers Market opening!
The wait is over--Bellingham Farmers Market's regular season is back! Opening day is Saturday April 6, with the traditional cabbage toss, live music, welcoming of new and returning vendors, and plenty of savory ready to eat foods. Don't forget to pick up a copy of the Whatcom Food & Farm Finder at the Sustainable Connections booth, too! What: Bellingham Farmers Market opening day When: Sat. April 6, 10am-3pm Where: Depot Market Square, 1100 Railroad, Bellingham More info: bellinghamfarmers.org
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April
Bountiful Events
April 2
Eat right to Beat Diseas w/ Lisa Dixon, RD
Spring Wine Release:Bottle yourself a bottle of wine vewinery.com
Opening Day for Bellingham Farmers Market
April 6 Exotic Fruits for Whatcom County Workshop
Vegetable Patch Design Class
Grow your own-The Locavore's Garden Workshop & Seed Starting Workshop
April 8Make your own gluten free crackers w/ Elizabeth Cardarelli
Italian Favorites: Pizza & Gnocchi w/ Kathleen Bander The Fascinating world of Terrariums and Miniature Gardens Workshop
April 13 Organic Fruit Growing for Homeowners Workshop
Chef & Farmer Mixer,
North Sound Wholesale Market/Food Hub
April 17 Spice up your Spring w/ Robert Fong
April 18 Mexican Kitchen: Soup of the Seven Seas w/ Ana Jackson
communityfood.coop
April 20
Planting Day, Bring your own containers Cool Season Gardener w/ Bill Thorness villagebooks.comApril 22
Make your own Masa tortillas from scratch w/ Krista Rome
Island Grown Farmers Cooperative Meat Cutting
Workshop Growing Tomatoes in Whatcom County City Goats: The Goats Justice League's Guide to Backyard Goat Keeping w/ Jennia Grant villagebooks.comApril 24 Spring Dinner Party w/ Olaiya Land
ciaothyme.com
April 25-26 Future of Business Conference April 26 Whatcom Farm to School Celebration
April 27 April Brews Day Beer Fest bbaybrewery.comApril 28Dirty Dan Days Seafood Festival
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Take action for a healthy food system!
Want to help support a strong local food system? Do these 3 simple things:
1. "Like the Eat Local First" on Facebook to stay up to date with all the localicious happenings.
2. Patronize the list of businesses participating in Eat Local First and tell them we sent you.
3. Forward this newsletter to 3 of your friends with a personal note about why you are involved in the eat local first movement.
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Greetings!
Isn't April grand? Regional farmers markets are opening, rows of plant starts welcome us to grocery stores, the sun becomes just a little more familiar, and it actually starts feel like spring! We're happy to announce the anticipated release of the 2013-14 Whatcom Food & Farm Finder, at the opening day of the Bellingham Farmers Market. We hope to see you! Drop by to pick up your copy at the Sustainable Connections booth. Throughout the month, we'll also distributing it to 250+ locations throughout the county and Puget Sound region. Spring is a good time to reflect on our food budgets and plan for local foods throughout the season. How? In this issue we explore Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, an excellent value and a fun way to taste the seasons and eat more local, while supporting local farms. Events are really picking up this month and we're excited at Sustainable Connections to host the Future of Business Conference April 25-26 in downtown Bellingham. Save the date to attend and gain hands-on tools for successful, sustainable business, including a delicious opening reception featuring local food and libations, a great line-up of speakers and workshops, and did we mention ending the day with beer/rootbeer floats? Yes, that too. Register by April 1 for early bird rates! Here's to a healthy dose of vitamin D, healthy plants, and more local food in our lives this spring. Tastefully yours,  Sara Southerland Food & Farming Program Coordinator |
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Get your NEW Food & Farm Finder!
THE comprehensive guide to local food in
Whatcom County
 It's that time of year again, when the Food & Farming Program releases the brand new 2013 Whatcom Food & Farm Finder -- the region's comprehensive guide and map to local food and agriculture. Full of local farms, restaurants, grocery stores, wineries and breweries, locally-made products and more, it's a great resource to get more local foods on your plate.
Kick off the season right by picking up your own copy at the Sustainable Connections booth on the opening day of the Bellingham Farmers Market, April 6. Also find it online!
What: Release of the 2013/14 Whatcom Food & Farm Finder
When: Saturday, April 6, 10am-3pm
Where: Bellingham Farmers Market, 1100 Railroad Ave.
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Local Food Budget: CSAs
Want more bang for your local food buck?
Sign up for a CSA!
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Contents from a spring CSA box from
Photo from Helsing Junction Farm
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CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is an arrangement between a farmer and the customer, (possibly you!) where you buy a subscription to a local farm in advance of the season. The farmer can then use the up-front funds for seeds and everything needed to grow and raise the food. In return, the farmer delivers your weekly "share" of the farm harvest, with a newsletter about happenings on the farm and recipes for cooking all of the goodies you'll receive in your box. Most CSAs are available from June-October with fall and winter share options.
CSA boxes generally include seasonal vegetables and fruits, often with the option to add on additional products like flowers, eggs, meats, cheeses, honey, soaps and more. Take a look at the 2013 CSA Farm List we compiled with the Co-op to see which farms are offering and what they have in store. Participating in a CSA is a great way to support local farms while enjoying delicious foods, and is an excellent value saving you money on grocery costs throughout the season. To make things even more convenient many farms offer Workplace CSAs, or a CSA delivered right to your work or church or community group, with a minimum of five participating shares--hassle free! Click here to learn more about Workplace CSAs, how to set one up, FAQs and more.
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Keenan's at the Pier
New restaurant inside The Chrysalis a savory escape
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Chef Rob Holmes and Manager Sam Kisbye
Photo by Bellingham Business Journal
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Keenan's at the Pier is the new in-house restaurant at The Chrysalis that opened earlier this year. The atmosphere is casual yet elegant with a new face and spin on flavors.
Executive Chef Rob Holmes brings a fresh menu featuring local ingredients. Get a chance to dine on fine northwest cuisine for breakfast, lunch or dinner, while enjoying a free panoramic view of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands at any table. Click here to see the menu.
Keenan's at the Pier
814 10th St, Bellingham
(360) 392-5510
Website
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Whatcom Farm-to-School Celebration
Whatcom Farm-to-School is gathering momentum, and this is a great time to join the fun
 | Kaeden loves spinach!
Photo credit Colin Potts
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Join Whatcom Farm-to-School for this spring celebration and an evening of festivities and fun for the whole family. Sample four new school lunch menus featuring locally-grown ingredients, and cast your vote for the winner of the Ideal Real Meal Contest. The first-prize menu will be served in participating schools throughout Whatcom County and at Western Washington University.
View the winning one-minute videos from the Veggies Go Viral Video Contest, watch Jason Quick the One-Armed Juggler perform feats with food as he "balances" his diet, and meet the farmers growing food for local schools this year. What: Whatcom Farm-to-School Celebration When: Friday, April 26, 7-9pm Where: Squalicum High School, 3773 McLeod Rd, Bellingham More info: whatcomfarmtoschool.org or on Facebook!
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Recipe of the Month: Nettle Tea
Take a trip to the wild side of spring eats
with Whatcom Locavore
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Nettles Tea, Courtesy of the Whatcom Locavore
Photo credit Joan Ging
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Whether you harvest your own or pick some up at the Bellingham Farmers Market, nettle leaves are a healthy spring tonic and a powerhouse food that grow abundantly in our area, and aren't as difficult to work with as you might imagine. Whatcom Locavore Nancy Ging recommends to take gloves, clippers, and a couple of big bags and enjoy a leisurely walk in the woods to collect them. If you're not into foraging, a few vendors at the Bellingham Farmers Market have been carrying bundles of fresh nettles, too. Read the full article on Stinging Nettles from the Whatcom Locavore, here. And see her simple way to start, with Nettle Tea.
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What we do:
The Food & Farming Program at Sustainable Connections promotes, educates and connects farmers, food buyers and eaters (like you!) who support local food and agriculture. We are the home of the Eat Local First campaign, Whatcom Farm Tour & September Eat Local Month. 
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Food & Farming Program Goals:
1. Increase market demand and competitiveness of locally produced seasonal agricultural products
2. Increase the share of agricultural products consumed locally that are produced locally
3. Increase the number, diversity, prosperity and sustainability of local agricultural producers and food entrepreneurs.
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2013 Food & Farming Program Sponsors
 
 
Thank you, Food & Farming Program Sponsors
*Header photo, What's Fresh & Farmers Market photos by Cynthia St. Clair
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Each month we hope to give you the most juicy, important and pertinent information about skills for eating seasonally, what's up with local farms and the good food happenings in and around Whatcom County. How are we doing? Your feedback means a lot to us.
Let us know what you liked, your favorite recipes or farms, and your upcoming events to sara@sconnect.org. And a big THANK YOU to volunteers, Becca Taber, Dan Hauer and Mardi Solomon for their help with the April newsletter.
Cheers!
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