Pamm Larry, farmer, midwife, businesswoman, and a gutsy grandmother of three was so distraught about our modern day food system that she quit her day job and spent her time educating herself on GMOs and how to apply for a ballot initiative in California. Join Grandma Larry and be inspired by her passion to represent the sane, spirited voice of a growing number of skeptical Americans who don't necessarily trust better living through chemistry.

You can't vote for I-522, the Washington State Initiative for mandatory labeling of GMOs, if you aren't registered to vote or your voting information is not current. Go to MyVote before the October 7 deadline to register or update your voter info!

The second annual Bellingham Beer Week will take place in Bellingham from Friday, September 20 through Sunday, September 29. All three Bellingham craft breweries--Chuckanut Brewery, Boundary Bay Brewery, and Kulshan Brewery--plus many regional breweries, numerous pubs, restaurants, and other businesses will host beer-related events. Check the BBW event calendar, follow Bellingham Beer Week on Facebook, and to complete your celebration stop by the Co-op to get some beer recommendations from James (Cordata) or Mike (Downtown) and catch up on the musings from the Co-op's beer buyers at our Bellingham Beer Blog.  

The goal of farm internships is to provide a hands-on learning environment in which interns may build a skill set that improves their knowledge, understanding, and opportunities in sustainable agriculture. Interns join the staff for 40 hours a week to learn all aspects of planning, production, marketing and environmental stewardship. Interns will be paid for 32 hours for their time contributing to the daily operation of Cloud Mountain. The other eight hours per week will be spent learning, both indoors and outdoors, in discussions, and in direct activities focused on specific topics as outlined in a syllabus. Applications are due no later than October 30, and positions may be filled as suitable applicants apply. Learn more online or contact seth@cloudmountainfarmcenter.org.

 

Film producer, Dulanie Ellis, will talk about the film and the national social action campaign to support veterans in sustainable agriculture. Chris Brown, director of Growing Veterans, and Dulanie Ellis, film producer in attendance. Chris will share his experiences. "Growing Veterans provides a place where veterans can get together in support of a positive and worthy cause, allowing them to experience an informal peer-support setting, while also encouraging them to use skills gained in the military or school to support the broader community. While working in the fields we talk about our wartime experience, issues we're having gaining access to the VA, struggles we face in school using the GI Bill, suicide, politics, medications--we even laugh and poke fun at each other, sometimes ruthlessly, because that's what camaraderie is all about. After all, most of us are vets." Film producer, Dulanie Ellis, will talk about the film and the national social action campaign to support veterans in sustainable agriculture.

Tickets: $10 at eventbrite.com.

By Lori Rotenberk

 

Five years ago, there were no rooftop farms in North America, says Steven Peck, president of the Toronto-based nonprofit Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. (Gardens, sure, but nothing producing food on a commercial scale.) Today, he estimates there are 20. Five years from now, there will be more than 100, he says, and numbers will continue to soar.

 

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," Peck says. "Rooftop farming is under consideration in every major city in America."

 

Read the full story at Grist.org.

Whatcom Farm to School Program 

On September 25, schools across the state observe Taste Washington Day, a celebration of Washington-grown foods in school meals. In Whatcom County, Taste Washington Day coincides with the first Harvest of the Month lunch for this school year, featuring the September Harvest item--salad greens. Throughout the school year, districts will typically serve the Harvest of the Month lunch on the last Thursday of the month. This is a great opportunity to support school Food Service programs in their efforts to serve more fresh and local foods in school meals. See what your kids will be eating at the Whatcom Farm-to-School website.

The Whatcom Harvest Dinner is a spectacular family-style dinner, and a family-friendly event to celebrate local farmers, fishers, and chefs. The event aims to educate families about healthy locally produced foods and provide support to food and farming programs, all while building community by sharing a fabulous meal.

Tickets available at Co-op stores or online at brownpapertickets.com. Sliding scale pricing and some scholarship tickets are available.