News from Ceres

In this issue:
 Letter from Cathryn
 Harvest of the Heart 2015
   in Pictures
 Client Vegetable Boxes
 Nutrition for Wellness
   Program Expands

 
 Nutrition Article:
 How to Detox Safely
 Recipe of the Month:
 Quinoa Pilaf with Almonds
Note from a Client
Classes & Events

 Ways to Support Ceres

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Each time we hold our Harvest of the Heart event, I'm reminded of how powerful it is when we come together as a community. All of us, working together, have the ability to accomplish so much. To touch and transform the lives of the clients and teens we serve, and join together in service, creating a healthier, more connected community.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in our August 15 celebration: our wonderful guests, teen and adult volunteers, sponsors, Senator McGuire, our chefs, beverage providers, auction donors, band and barker. I'm grateful to the hundreds of people who participated! 

Together, we raised more than $237,000 to bring healing meals to our neighbors facing a health crisis like cancer, and to give teens life-changing opportunities to serve their community and gain life and leadership skills. This brings us to 67% of our Annual Fund goal of $1,600,000.

Thank you for being a part of our building a healthier community, one client, one teen and one healing meal at a time!

Warmly, 

Cathryn Couch
Executive Director
HarvestPictures

Sumptuous Sonoma returns again this year with a delicious all-day adventure and party
Saturday, October 10, 2015
9:30 am - 9:30 pm

Go behind the scenes at some of Sonoma County's most beautiful and interesting farms, restaurants and food producers! 

The day will begin with a special crepe brunch in the luscious Ceres Community Garden. A luxury bus will pick you up and take you to Occidental Arts & Ecology Center for a wondrous tour and garden-fresh lunch.

Permaculture Program Director, Brock Dolman, will delight you with a mini introduction to Permaculture, a holistic approach to sustainable and self-sufficient landscaping and agricultural ecosystems.

After a few surprise stops along the way, we'll end our day at Fork Roadhouse with a delicious and enchanting outdoor, creekside, wine-maker dinner created by owner and chef, Sarah Piccolo, in conjunction with Wind Gap Wines owners and winemakers, Pam & Pax Mahle. Ian and Emily, owners of one of Fork Roadhouse's main produce suppliers, Handlebar Farm, will join the group to talk about their beautiful and bountiful Sebastopol farm.

Tickets:
Price for this unique foodie adventure is just $300 per person including brunch, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks and so much more! 
Limited to 23 guests. 

We are grateful to all of the donors who are making this very special day possible - Brock Dolman, Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, Handlebar Farm, Fork Roadhouse and Wind Gap Wines.

We have an exciting new offering dedicated to supporting low-income clients who are transitioning off Ceres' meals program: a weekly delivery of fresh vegetables from the Ceres Garden!

The program launched on July 30 with six clients receiving boxes the first week and nine clients the second week. Nutrition Education Program Manager, Thais Harris, has been working with Garden Manager, Sara McCamant, and Ceres intern Lindsay Kaufman to provide information and recipes to accompany the produce. 

This program will support our clients so they can continue to eat well after meal delivery is complete. 

Terry & Joanne Dale, who provided both start up and ongoing funding for the garden, stepped forward to fund the Client Vegetable Box program for our clients. Thank You!

Read the lovely note below sent by one of our transitioning clients after receiving the first vegetable box!
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Hi Sara,

Thank you for the box of veggies I received on Thursday.
What a treat - more vegetables in my fridge than I've seen in a while.
And such good ones, too.

The first eaten were some of the green beans. It was like when I was a kid. Dad grew green beans and we kids snapped them for Mom to cook or can. I steamed them and they were delicious.

Then I got out some potatoes. They smelled like the healthy ground they were grown in, like the ones my Dad brought in from the garden. I made a stew with some potatoes and carrots, etc.

Now I'm adding olive oil and lemon juice to the kale for a stackable salad.

Next is cooking beets, and I want to find out how to pickle some, as Mom did that, too.

It's great to have such a variety of flavors to choose from or look forward to.

Thanks to you and the teens for growing everything and for initiating a great program to help me start cooking with more healthy vegetables.

~from a client
































Alexander Valley Healthcare in Cloverdale is the latest local clinic to offer Ceres' Nutrition for Wellness classes with our team of teachers. AVH joins West County Health Centers' Foresteville Wellness Center  in partnering with us on this program to bring basic nutrition classes to their patients.

Physicians can refer patients living with, or at risk of developing a chronic disease like diabetes or heart disease for these classes that focus on practical information and techniques for improving health through diet and lifestyle changes. Each class includes simple cooking demonstrations and samples. Thanks to a partnership with Laguna Farm, we're also able to offer reduced-cost bags of fresh vegetables at most classes.
19th Annual
Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival will once again benefit Ceres

September 26

11:00am - 4:00 pm

 

Some tickets are still available to attend this wonderful event.


This signature event reveals the delicious flavors of more than 150 heritage varieties of tomatoes grown in Kendall-Jackson's expanded estate culinary gardens. Enjoy the perfect fall day with garden tours, exceptional wine and food pairings, dynamic wine and garden seminars, and this year Grammy-nominated Andre Thierry brings his Alternative Creole sounds for all to enjoy!  


Don't miss the Chef's Challenge featuring some of your favorite Celebrity Chefs in live cooking competitions. Around the rest of the festival, nearly 50 wine country and Bay Area chefs will create tomato-inspired bites, vying for the coveted Critic's Choice award.


This event sells out, so get your tickets while they are available!

Tickets are available through Kendall-Jackson for General Admission, Wine Club Members and the exclusive Premier Package.

For full details visit Kendall-Jackson's web page.

Invite friends on Facebook!
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NutritionArticleNutrition Article
How to Safely Detox
by Thais Harris, NC
Nutrition Education Program Manager, Ceres Community Project

Last month, we shared 15 Ways to Love Your Liver. Following up we invite you to explore this article on ways to safely detox (without starving yourself).

Summer is one of the best times of year to embark on a cleanse or detoxification. Warm weather makes it easier for the body to let go of toxins, and sweating is a great vehicle for this. It also makes sense to eat light raw (and cooling) foods in the summer, as we crave them and they are available in abundance, such as beets, cucumbers, watermelons, tomatoes and apples. Helpful herbs such as
cilantro, parsley, basil, and fennel, all of which can assist the liver in processing out toxins, are also widely available. 



And if you missed last month's article on 15 Ways to Love Your Liver, you can find it here.

RecipeRecipe of the Month
Quinoa Pilaf with Almonds

This light and flavorful dish was served as part of our menu at Harvest of the Heart. We hope you get a chance to try it out!

As you can see, this is also one of the recipes our Kale Club members are receiving as part of their collection of recipes in August. Click here to learn more about Kale Club.

Click here for the pdf of the recipe!

We love to hear from you when you've tried our recipes! You can post your experiences here on our Facebook page


RecipeBreast Cancer Prevention Events
Two Upcoming Events Mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Commonweal, California Breast Cancer Research Program and Plumbline Consulting present Who Gets Breast Cancer and Why? This workshop provides information on environmental exposures and health disparities, and how they contribute to breast cancer risk. "Are you concerned about breast cancer? Confused about who should get a mammogram? Worried about whether your household products are exposing you to harmful chemicals?" Explore these issues during this free workshop in Santa Rosa. Details and registration here

Join Chris Holder, ND, LAC for a Breast Empowerment Workshop on Saturday, October 17. "Come get to know your breast friends with this informative and interactive workshop on breast health. Empower yourself with tools for breast health enhancement. Leave inspired and uplifted!" Learn more about this event here.

ClientNoteNote from a Client
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"I completed a 25 week HepC treatment in 12 weeks.
My digestion is working better than ever.

This Program has changed my life for the better.
I am stronger, my systems work better.
I feel well. I am able to care for my grandchildren.

A gift of love in my life to have the energy, strength
and kindness of your wonderful program.

Oh yeah, the food tastes 5 star great! You wow me!"

~ from a Client

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UpcomingEventsUpcoming Classes & Events

Please note the location of events, as this calendar lists events for our Sebastopol, Sonoma Valley and San Rafael locations.

You can also find our events listed on our website here.
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SEP
15
Volunteer Orientation - Sebastopol 
6:00 - 7:00 pm

Take the first step towards becoming part of the Ceres volunteer family. If you are interested in attending, please visit the volunteer pages to learn more and register. Registration opens the first day of the month of that orientation.  (Parents of teens need not register.)

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Healing Foods BASICS - Sebastopol
SEP
24
6:00 - 8:00 pm


 
Make the connection between your health and the food and lifestyle factors that influence it. This class offers an overview of Ceres' nutrient-rich approach to healthy eating while providing a fun environment and loving community. It will take place at:

 

Ceres Community Meeting Room

7351 Bodega Avenue

Sebastopol, CA 95472

 

Invite friends on Facebook!
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SEP
26
19th Annual Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Festival to benefit Ceres
11:00am - 4:00 pm

We are grateful that the Heirloom Tomato Festival will once again benefit Ceres.


 

Event highlights:


*delicious flavors of more than 150 heritage varieties of tomatoes 

*garden tours

*exceptional wine and food pairings

*nearly 50 wine country and Bay Area chefs will create tomato-inspired bites

*dynamic wine and garden seminars

*Chef's Challenge featuring some of your favorite Celebrity Chefs in live cooking competitions

*and this year Grammy nominated Andre Thierry brings his Alternative Creole sounds for all to enjoy!  


 

This event sells out, so get your tickets!


For full details visit Kendall-Jackson's web page.

Invite friends on Facebook!
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SEP27
Ceres Marin Presents: 3rd Annual Garden Party
3:30 - 6:00 pm

Our Marin program celebrates their 5th Birthday and 50,000th meal. Tickets are available now for this fundraiser to support Marin county clients and teens. 


 

Event highlights:


*delicious food from Ceres' teens and local purveyors

*fine wine

*silent auction

*live music

*a heart-felt story from a Ceres client

 

Learn more and get tickets by clicking here

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SEP
30
Teen Volunteer Orientation - Marin
  
5:00 - 6:00 pm

Ceres Marin continues to grow and invites teens to attend an orientation to learn about the volunteer roles. 

 

This orientation will take place at:

 Ceres Marin Kitchen
4308 Redwood Highway, Suite 100
San Rafael, CA 94903

Note: The kitchen is in "The Vineyard" on Frontage Road between Freitas Parkway and Smith Ranch Road.


Reservations are essential due to space limitations.

Please contact Rebecca Schilling, Teen Program Coordinator, to reserve your space at 415-450-5251 or email [email protected]

Invite friends on Facebook! 

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OCT
7
Adult Volunteer Orientation - Marin
  
6:30 - 7:30 pm

Ceres Marin continues to grow and invites teens to attend an orientation to learn about the volunteer roles. 

 

This orientation will take place at:

 Ceres Marin Kitchen
4308 Redwood Highway, Suite 100
San Rafael, CA 94903

Note: The kitchen is in "The Vineyard" on Frontage Road between Freitas Parkway and Smith Ranch Road.


Reservations are essential due to space limitations.

Please contact Kay Law, Adult Volunteer Coordinator, to reserve your space at 415-342-3242 or email [email protected] 

Invite friends on Facebook!

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OCT
13

CeresFest
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

It's time again to gather and enjoy Oktoberfest Ceres-style at the Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma!

Featuring organic, seasonal food


Other highlights of this fun fundraiser:
* Live Music with Western Swing Hall of Fame singer, piano pounder, guitar picker extraordinaire Tommy Thomsen -   tommythomsen.com
* Great company!

Stay tuned for updates and ticket sales!

Invite friends on Facebook!
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OCT
20
Volunteer Orientation - Sebastopol 
6:00 - 7:00 pm

Take the first step towards becoming part of the Ceres volunteer family. If you are interested in attending, please visit the volunteer pages to learn more and register. Registration opens the first day of the month of that orientation.  (Parents of teens need not register.)

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Healing Foods Essentials -Sebastopol
OCT 29
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Make the connection between your health and the food and lifestyle factors that influence it. Healing Foods Essentials is open to those who have taken a Healing Foods Basics class. 

In this class, we will delve a little deeper into:

♥ Anti-inflammatory Foods
♥ Fats: which to use and how to cook them properly
♥ Managing your blood sugar

This class involves a hands-on portion, and we will make a healthy dish together!

Space is limited, so please register early.

Invite friends on Facebook!
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SupportMore Ways to Support Ceres


*Join Our Kale Club*

Become one of our monthly donors and you'll automatically be enrolled in our Kale Club.
Kale Club membership perks include a monthly email with a collection of delicious and healthy recipes from the Ceres kitchen!

*Purchase the Ceres Cookbook*

Ceres' Nourishing Connections Cookbook is filled with 
delicious and healthy recipes...

PLUS read about how Ceres came to be, and benefit from the extensive section outlining Ceres' Food Philosophy and hands on strategies to empower you to make healthy change in your life. More details and sample recipes here.


*Whole Foods*

Visit Whole Foods Market and enjoy a delicious, healthy deli salad or soup adapted from Ceres' Nourishing Connections Cookbook. 

Ceres receives a $1.00 donation for every pint purchased. Look for special signage in these Whole Foods locations:

Santa Rosa (Yulupa)
Coddingtown
Sebastopol
Petaluma
Sonoma
Blithedale
Novato
Mill Valley
San Rafael
Napa
and other Northern California locations!

*Community Cards*

Earn funds for Ceres when you shop at Oliver's Markets, Petaluma Market, Fircrest and other local markets.

Pick up your eScrip Community Card the next time you shop, and designate Ceres as your beneficiary. The markets will donate 3-5% of your spending to us.

escrip petaluma mkt escrip olivers

*AmazonSmile*

You can easily support Ceres through the purchases you already make on Amazon.com.

Visit Smile.Amazon.com to choose Ceres as your beneficiary organization and then access Amazon via Smile.Amaszon.com every time you shop.

The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Ceres.


OPERATING PRINCIPLES

Heart Centered & Love Guided

We are committed to expressing love, trust, respect and integrity in our lives, work and organization. 

 

Everything Matters

Nothing is left out. We work to have every action and choice lead to the greatest positive impact.

 

Young People are the Future

Young People are intelligent, responsible, capable, creative and caring, and must be central participants in shaping our collective future.

 

The Universe has a Purpose

Everything is connected, and life continually invites us to experience gratitude, abundance, connection, community and healing. 



Ceres Logo 2012
We create health for people, communities and the planet through love, 
healing food and empowering the next generation.