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What's Fresh:
1. Congratulations to Stephen Trinkaus at Terra Organica for winning the Healthy Environment Sustainability Champion Award for his work in Community Energy Challenge, Labeling GMO's and so much more. And to Jessica & Mataio Gillis at Ciao Thyme for winning the Buy Local First Sustainability Champion Award, for the large amount of their food budget they spend locally supporting our farmers and encouraging us to taste local ourselves! 2. Check it out, farm fresh Veggies & Snacks straight from a vending machine in Chicago. Founder, Luke Saunders, of Farmer's Fridge,is working with his Salad Making team to have fresh food easily accessible. Read more here.
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Winter Farmers Market
3rd Saturdays in Feb, March
The winter market is on at Bellingham Farmers Market. We know it's a long time to wait but there are 2 more market days until April when the market is back in full swing. Don't miss out on your winter fill of produce and artisan made goods on Saturday February 15 & March 15. For more details and vendor profiles, visit bellinghamfarmers.org
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Top 10 Food Apps for your phone
New tools to find quality food
Here's a great way to use your phone, apps that actually help you vote with your forks for a better food system. Thanks to Rodale News for rounding up the 10 best must-have smartphone apps for anyone concerned about getting the most out of grocery shopping.
- Fooducate
- Seafood Watch
- Wild Edibles
- What's on my food?
- Non GMO Project Shopping Guide
- True Food
- NRDC Eat Local
- Dirty Dozen
- Eden Foods
- Harvest
Click here to get the details on each app.
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February Bountiful Events January 30-February 1 7th Annual Organic Seed Grower's Conference seedalliance.org February 3 Slow Food & Nurishing Traditions with Gigi Berardi, PhD communityfood.coop February 5 Lummi Island Fish with Robert Fong communityfood.coop February 6 Thursday Supper Club leaf&ladle Facebook February 9 Best Buy Red Tasting vinostrology.com February 10 Sexy Desserts with Roberto Cortez ciaothyme.com February 11 Raw Chocolate for Lovers with Bruce Horowitz communityfood.coop February 12 Tango Night, every 2nd Wednesday of the Month February 13 Vincent Stanley at Brown Bag Business Lunch villagebooks.com February 14 Valentine's Day Incognito Dinner ciaothyme.com February 15 Fruit Trees & Advanced Vegetable Gardening pt.1 cloudmountainfarmcenter.org February 16 Bellingham Farmers Market Open bellinghamfarmers.org February 17 NW Farm-To-Table Trade Meeting February 24 Making friends with whole grains with Sonja Max, RD communityfood.coopFebruary 27
Growing your own Backyard Beans & Grains with Krista Rome
communityfood.coop
February 27
Incognito Dinner Series
March 7
2014 Northwest Washington Sustainable Agriculture Conference
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Eat Local First Campaign
To be a part of the Eat Local First Campaign, businesses commit to growing their local food budgets by 10% each year!
Be sure to check out our newest additions, and ask what's local?
For the complete list of all participating Eat Local First Restaurants click here.
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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 "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!
With January nearly behind us and we ease into the month of love, I'd like to ask: What's your relationship like with food? What are relationships you've gained because of food?
Many of you may have made health or food based New Year's resolutions. Is that you? Though through the end of the first month the newness may have worn off. Need a goal to keep yourself going? Eating locally is a great place to start. Not only can you feel good about the food you are putting into your body, you can celebrate the fact that you are consciously supporting families and businesses rooted in our community. Local food is most often whole based foods: vegetables, fruit, dairy, nuts, grains, meat -- and are an excellent base toward a year of healthy, clean eating.
Fall in love with a farmer: the Bellingham Farmers Market is open during winter months, every 3rd Saturday, a swell place to stock up on locally grown vegetables, meats and more. Try ordering a weekly box from Acme Farms + Kitchen, including meal plans featuring locally grown and made products, or Dandelion Organic Delivery Service, delivering organic produce to your door. What could be easier? And, many locally owned grocery stores like the Community Food Co-ops, Terra Organica, and grocery chains like The Markets and Haggen carry select local products throughout the year as well -- just look for the Eat Local First logo.
Happy belated New Year all you food lovers out there. Wishing you all the best in your food relationships this season! -Sara Southerland, Food & Farming Program Manager
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A Local Valentine's Day
Local date spots for you and your valentine
 Deciding how you want to celebrate your Valentine's Day? Explore these different local date ideas from romantic restaurants to cozy cafes and DIY Valentine's Day desserts.
Ciao Thyme Caf�
An intimate space with gourmet meals for those special occasions. Reserve a spot for the Valentine's Day Incognito Dinner. A romantic multi-course menu and live music, details of the menu are concealed until meal time, as the name Incognito implies.
The Table
Located next to the Mount Baker Theatre, enjoy dishes featuring fresh, locally grown and produced items and beautifully crafted pasta that is made on site.
Winter Bellingham Farmer's Market
Thinking of cooking a special meal from scratch for a romantic night in? Don't forget the Winter Farmer's Market will be open Valentine's Day weekend! Community Food Co-op ClassThe perfect opportunity to indulge in chocolate in a hands-on class called "Raw Chocolate for Lovers." Delicacies will be made with cacao, coconut sugar, raw cashews, fresh vanilla beans, and health-empowering superfood ingredients like goji berries, and lucuma powder.
Mallard Ice Cream
Who wouldn't want to finish the night with delicious locally made ice cream? This is Bellingham's best micro batch gourmet ice cream with an emphasis on organic ingredients and locally grown produce.
Bellewood Acres
Get your tickets now to enjoy Burlesque & Brandy on Valentine's Evening, featuring The Provacatuers, a Libido Bar hosted by Drayton Harbor Farms, a rapturous dinner by Crave Catering and Flying Prohibition Jazz from Julian MacDonough Trio. You're bound to fall in love with these local spots. Click on the links above for more information and have a Happy Local Valentine's Day!
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NW Washington Farm-To-Table
Trade Meeting
Register now to meet with other farmers, food artisans, chefs, restauranteurs and buyers!
 We're calling on Farms, Food Artisans, Processors, Grocery Buyers, Restaurant Owners, Chefs and Distributors from Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan and Island Counties!
Join us for a day-long conference full of opportunities to learn and connect, with new speed networking, popular one-on-one consultations, engaging panel discussions and a delicious local lunch. This year's Farm-To-Table Trade Meeting is a great opportunity to hear the latest on what's happening with NW Washington's farms and food and learn how you can contribute.
NW Washington Farm-to-Table Trade Meeting
Monday, February 17, 9am-4pm
St. Luke's Community Health Education Center
3333 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham
Register Here. $30 registration fee, $50 for a Trade Table, includes 1 registration. A delicious local lunch included!
Questions? Contact Sara Southerland: 360-647-7093, ext. 114
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Thank You WECU!
Your support will help 9 new farmers be successful.
 We wanted to be sure to give a huge thank you to WECU Social Responsibilty Program for helping support our Food To Bank On  program this year with a $1,000 donation.
We truly appreciate all that you do in our community and for helping to grow new farmers in 2014.
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Get Involved:
Easy ways to contribute and be a part of our local food system
 What: Volunteer opportunities with the Bellingham Food Bank
Why: The Bellingham Food Bank relies on support from the community with help from over 300 volunteers and more are always welcome. Helping the Bellingham Food Bank is a great opportunity to give back to the community at large!
How to get involved:
- Volunteer your time: Help pick up, prep or distribute food at the food bank. Or become a Small Potatoes Gleaning Project or Garden Project volunteer.
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- Grow a Victory Garden by donating your surplus to the food bank.
- Organize a food drive
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Educate others. Food Bank staff members are available to speak with your group.
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Recipe: Heart Beet Cookies
A festive vegan cookie to suit your valentines.
 These vegan beet cookies area great way to celebrate Valentine's Day. Not only are they tasty and colorful but they're pretty decent for you too. Feel free to swap out canned beets or raw beets just be sure to follow the recipes accordingly. We hope these cookies help you spread the love.
2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup beets 2 tablespoons oil Click here for the Raw Fine Shredded Beets recipe from Weelicious.com. And here for the Canned Beets recipe from the Apron String Blog
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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 County Farm Tour & September Eat Local Month
 Like us @ Eat Local First on Facebook
Get Involved! We have many upcoming volunteer opportunities. Contact erin@sconnect.org
Have an event or tidbit to share? Send it to becca@sconnect.org
You can also help make our work possible by Donating, too!
Thanks so much for everything you do! |
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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2014 Food & Farming Program Sponsors
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Thanks to our Food & Farming Sponsors
Currently seeking sponsors for 2014! Contact sara@sconnect.org
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Each month as 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 and farms, and your upcoming events by sending a message to sara@sconnect.org or becca@sconnect.org
Cheers!
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