Ciao,

I am writing from Italy still "basking in the glow" of my Terra Madre experience. I feel so fortunate that since becoming Chair of Slow Food OC, I have had the opportunity to attend the Slow Food National Congress in Louisville and was then selected as a delegate to the International Congress at Terra Madre in Turin.  These experiences have broadened my perspective on the Slow Food organization by allowing me to hear the stories and in some cases speak personally with people whose lives have truly been changed by Slow Food. During the Congress, three projects or areas were identified for growth in the Slow Food organization over the next four years before the Congress will reconvene.

The Slow Food Biodiversity Foundation has a project titled 1000 Gardens in Africa. Delegates from counties such as Kenya, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Mali and others spoke to the International Congress at Terra Madre about the impact of these gardens on their communities. The objective of this program is to create food sovereignty and to support local farmers in recreating their farming traditions. Farmers are supported in recovering seeds from indigenous crops that thrive locally without a high need for external fertilizers or pesticides. The gardens are planted on community land with many at schools. The stories delegates told were of collaboration between generations and people with different backgrounds, restoration of culinary traditions, and restoration of prestige to small farmers. Slow Food president and founder Carlo Petrini proposed that this project be revised as 10,000 Gardens in Africa. He charged his new International Vice President, Alice Waters, to request support from Michelle Obama assuming she would have a second term in her position as First Lady.

The Slow Food Youth Movement is extremely active in Europe. A group from Belgium shared a fun project that translates as "Chopping Dance." The students collected unused, perfectly good food from restaurants and markets, held a large party where everyone alternately danced, chopped vegetables and worked to make soup for the homeless. The idea behind the project was to create an awareness of food waste. The number of vats of soups created was astounding. A representative of the Slow Food Youth Movement was added to the newly elected International Executive Committee. Greater involvement with college students and high schools students is an area for growth targeted by the International Congress.  We have included two high school students on our board this past year, which is apparently quite unusual. Local chapters are encouraged to reach out to young people by encouraging participation in the chapter itself, supporting formation of independent youth chapters and collaborating with like-minded organizations on colleges or in communities. It would be great if our chapter could expand in this area.

The boarding of more products on the Ark of Taste and in the Presidia program was a third area targeted for growth. I learned that there are only about 1000 products on the ark and 400 of them are from Italy.  Chapters were strongly urged to identify their own locally endangered edible products and culinary traditions.  The Slow Food USA  Biodiversity Committee has been working on a procedure to streamline the boarding of products on the ark, which is near completion.  So, if any of you know of products that might be appropriate, please let someone on the steering committee know.  If you have  grandparents and great grandparents who might know of products talk with them. To better understand this project you can read the information at www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/programs/details/ark_of_taste/.

I am still in Italy visiting an organic farm where I coincidentally met up with 2 farmers from Washington State who had also been Terra Madre delegates. It has been fun to further share in the Slow Food community with them. I will be home next week and look  forward to our Slow Food OC future events and projects!

Linda Lewis Elbert

Slow Food OC, Chair

The Slow Food Book Club is off to a great start. If you are interested in joining us, there is still room for more. Our next meeting will be January 18th at 7pm. We'll be reading "The Kitchen Daughter" by Jael McHenry. It will be followed by "Cheese and Culture" by Paul Kindstedt for our meeting on February 22nd (we are taking off the month of December to enjoy the holidays). Email Diana.tierney3@gmail.com to RSVP.