Hello,

Summer is flying by as usual. If you are a gardener, I hope your harvest is bountiful. I also hope everyone is enjoying the bountiful harvest available at the local farmers markets! In Southern California, late summer and early fall is the time when the local farmers markets are at their best. Customers are likely to find the flavor of seasonal produce to be at its peak, plus you have the opportunity to choose from the widest variety of produce. August 4th through 10th was designed National Farmers Market Week by the USDA. Slow Food USA encouraged chapters to support their local markets during that week. There are now 8,144 farmers markets listed in the National Farmers Market Directory, which is an increase of 5,000 since 2008. California has the most registered farmers markets in the nation, with 759. The Slow Food Orange County website now has a listing of Orange County farmers markets. Farmers markets are one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture and provide a tremendous opportunity to "vote with your dollars" in support of local food. Locally grown food benefits your health and taste buds. It benefits the environment by reducing the number of miles food has to travel to reach your table. Local food strengthens the local economy. National Farmers Market week is important because it is one week out of the year when the USDA draws the attention of government officials to the our farmers markets.

You may have missed National Farmers Market week, but you haven't missed the opportunity to make a weekly stop at a farmers market a part of your routine. When shopping in the market, think about finding a farmer to express appreciation to for his/her efforts. Another way to support local food and farmers markets is to use the Grow Method in planning meals for your family and guests. The Grow Method uses five principles in planning meals: 1) reduce waste, 2) cook and buy food efficiently, 3) buy only what is in season, 4) reduce meat consumption, and 5) buy products that benefit small scale producers. By connecting with these environmental issues in our everyday choices, we can be more effective in creating healthy, secure access to food in our country. You can learn more and find recipes at http://www.oxfam.org. If you are interested in knowing exactly what is in season in Southern California you might like this new product that Slow Food members in San Diego helped to develop: Southern California Food Wheel: What's in Season! http://www.localfoodswheel.com/ $12.95 retail. 

Linda Elbert
Slow Food Orange County, Chair 

"The Ark of Taste is an online catalogue of foods at risk of disappearing that are a part of the cultures and traditions of the entire world. Plant and animal species board the Ark, but also processed products, because, together with plant and animal biodiversity, cheeses, cured meats, breads and sweets are also disappearing: expressions of farmers' and artisans' knowledge that exists not in written recipes, but as complex and rich skills and practices passed down through generations." (Ark of Taste brochure, Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity http://www.slowfoodusa.org/documents/Ark-of-Taste.pdf)

The purpose of the Ark of Taste is to point out the existence of these products, draw attention to their risk of extinction and invite everyone to take action. One way of taking action is to protect ark items is by seeking them out to buy and consume, telling their stories, supporting their producers and in some cases promoting their conservation and reproduction. Here are some facts to stress the importance of this which, given that bounty of food we see available in the market place, may not be obvious. We are in fact losing thousands of distinct varieties worldwide much in the same way as wild animal species are being lost. Ancient breeds and varietals are especially threatened. Industrial agriculture raises only a few animal breeds and grows a few crop varietals. Small farms are disappearing from the landscape. In The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food, the author Janisse Ray, cites a University of Georgia study of of seed varieties. Researchers found that 94% of the 7,262 seed varieties available in seed catalogues from 1903 were no longer available in in 2004 seed catalogues. The 2004 catalogues listed a total of 430 varieties. Within the varieties many new seeds were developed over the century, however, the heirloom, open pollinated varieties have disappeared.
Why does this matter? Well it is a sad loss to our plates. It also represents loss to sovereignty over our seeds and ability to control our food. However, probably most significant is the loss of biodiversity. A shrinking gene pool strips crops and animals of the ability to adapt to change (i.e. climate change, new disease).

How can you help? Slow Food is working diligently to identify more products to nominate for boarding the Ark of Taste. We have a California Ark of Taste committee along with several other regional committees across the country. Our members are working with farmers, ranchers, garden groups, chefs, historical societies, and anyone who has knowledge of these disappearing edibles. Our committee needs members to work on this research. If you are interested in working on this project please contact me as I am the chair of this California committee chairone@slowfoodoc.org. Also if you have knowledge of a product you believe should be nominated to board the Ark of Taste please contact me. Finally, we are working to develop Ark of Taste gardens and an Ark of Taste Trunk (exhibit of products). If you would like to volunteer your time on these projects let me know as well!

Linda Elbert

These Bodega Red Potatoes are an item added to the Ark of Taste this year from Northern California  

Karakul Sheep - currently being reviewed by California Ark of Taste committee

Author/ Expert Gardner Pat Welsh speaking on Growing Great Cool-Season Veggies, the Organic Way

Date: Saturday, September 28th

Time: 1 PM - 4 PM

Location: Tankersley Hall, Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach

Members and non-members welcome

On Saturday September 28th, we will be hosting a lecture on organic winter gardening by noted author and organic gardener Pat Welsh, followed by a Q & A session and book signing by the author.

Pat Welsh is an Emmy-award winning garden-writer, author of books including  Pat Welsh's Southern California Organic Gardening (3rd Edition): Month by Month, which is one the top 10 gardening books on Amazon for the Garden and Landscape Design - Western Region. Pat Welsh was born in England, took up gardening at the age of three, and has had her hands in the soil ever since. She's written countless articles and columns and hosted over 500 television segments and videos. Pat resides and gardens in Southern California.

For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://patwelsh-organicwintergardening.eventbrite.com/