March 2014 Newsletter

In This Issue

Taste the Ark of Taste

Cocktails at the Taste the Ark of Taste

Microgrant Program Launched

Building a Cob Chicken Coop

Green Scene

Pat Welsh Talk Recap

Join the Slow Food Movement!
We invite you to join the Slow Food movement! Slow Food Orange County is working hard to preserve and protect local foods and food traditions. Our convivium plans events and programs in places across Orange County-anything from community gardens, taste education dinners, and farm tours-join the network and become active in planning and participating in these diverse initiatives. Click here for Benefits of Membership, here to join, or send us an email if you have questions.

Chair's March Message

Dear Slow Food Members,

Every 2 years, Slow Food International collaborates with its worldwide network to hold Terra Madre in Turin, Italy. This is a one-of-a kind cultural exchange with people from around the world who are passionate about food. Farmers, fishers, chefs, Slow Food members, leaders and supporters come together for a 5-day event. Terra Madre, a political gathering of Slow Food delegates and supporters for conferences and workshops, is held simultaneously with Salone del Gusto ("Hall of Taste") which is composed of three exhibit halls of food producers/vendors. The theme for this year's Terra Madre event is "The Ark of Taste." Salone del Gusto will contain a large exhibit of the International Ark of Taste. Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto is a unified event from October 23-27 with tickets available in May 2014. Each day visitors can enjoy food booths, vendors, tasting workshops, educational workshops, conferences, tours and dinners.

Taste the Ark of Taste - Family Event

Date: Saturday, April 12th

Time: 5 PM - 7 PM

Location: Annaliese School 20062 Laguna Canyon Rd Laguna Beach, CA

Members and non-members welcome

Slow Food Orange County and S.E.E.D.S. Art and Education Inc. are co-sponsoring a Tasting Event using foods from the Slow Food Ark of Taste. The Ark of Taste is a living international catalog of delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction. Industrial standardization, regulations of large-scale distribution, and environmental damage threaten these foods. By identifying and championing these items on the Ark of Taste we keep them in production, on our plates, and we protect biodiversity in our food system. The Annaliese's edible garden program in conjunction with Slow Food OC is growing produce items on the Ark of Taste.

Cost:

Adults $50 for non-members, $45 for Slow Food members
Children (5 and up) $25 for chidren of non-Slow Food members , $20 for children of Slow Food Members

To Purchase Tickets:

http://slowfoodoc-seeds-tasteofarkoftaste.eventbrite.com

Cocktails at the Ark of Taste Event
Ben Webb will be working his cocktail wizardry with American Rye Whiskey at "Taste the Ark of Taste," the event shown above. Ben will craft a cocktail using a American Rye Whiskey from a small batch producer using traditional distilling methods and free of genetically modified grains. Ben will craft a unique cocktail for the evenings event!

SFOC Micgrogrant Program Launched
Slow Food Orange County is pleased to announce that our microgrant program has officially launched. Twice annually, we will be awarding cash microgrants to local community groups, organizations, and businesses whose programs and products promote the core values of Slow Food. For detailed information about the program, deadlines, and forms, visit our newly-created Microgrant Program website. Our next application period will be July 1st - 31st so spread the word and forward this to anyone you know who has a project we might like to support.

Slow Food Orange County Needs You

We are looking for active participants for our Events and Outreach Committees. No experience necessary, just a desire to effect positive change in our community and, of course, a hearty appetite for good food!

EVENTS COMMITTEE: Want to share ideas on how to promote good, clean and fair food? Then take the lead on one specific event or volunteer for the day and help out. To get involved email Stacey Blaschke, Events Chair, at stacey.blaschke@gmail.com.

OUTREACH COMMITTEE:

It's time for Green Scene at the Fullerton Arboretum! The Outreach Committee is looking for volunteers to assist with this wonderful event for 1-2 hours on April 12th and 13th. Our booth will provide Green Scene-goers information on joining the Slow Food effort and getting involved in the specific projects of our Orange County chapter. Come join us! Email Gillian Poe to volunteer at gpoe@ocfoodaccess.org.

Also, if you would like to become a Slow Food Ambassador, please join us for an overview and training on Tuesday, April 1st from 6-8pm at Greenleaf in Costa Mesa. This is a great opportunity to learn about Slow Food and how you can spread the word (and the love!). RSVP to Gillian Poe at gpoe@ocfoodaccess.org.

Free Public Showing of the Movie Fresh - Creating a Sustainable Food System

Date: Saturday, March 15th

Time: 3 PM

Location: Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E Chapman Ave, Orange, CA 92866

Members and non-members welcome

The Orange Public Library Foundation is hosting a free screening of the film documentary FRESH, which will be followed by a panel discussion on sustainable food and is inviting all interested in sustainability to attend.

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur's 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.

More information about the movie can be found at http://www.freshthemovie.com/

Central OC Food Swap

Date: Sunday, March 16th

Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: The Village, 1505 E. 17th St., Santa Ana 92705

Members and non-members welcome

A Food Swap is part silent auction/part village marketplace/part fun-loving open house where your homemade creations (breads, preserves, special concoctions, canned goods, etc.) become your own personal currency for use in swapping with other participants. What better way to diversify your pantry and network with like-minded friends and neighbors?

We welcome everyone, as long as you bring something you made, grew, or foraged yourself. We will also consider other homemade non-comestibles (soaps, beauty products, etc) on a case-by-case basis.

Bring an assortment of your homemade edible specialties, think pickles, preserves, baked goods, honey, granola, pasta, fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, you name it!) to exchange for other handcrafted delights.No money exchanges hands.

Cost: Free

NOTE: You must sign up prior to the event. You may use this link to put yourself on the list.

You will also find additional details about the event, including downloadable forms, when you sign up.

Wings of Life Event

Date: Wednesday, March 26th

Time: 6-9 PM

Location: Frida Theatre, 305-100 E. 4th Street, Santa Ana

Members and non-members welcome

Our friends at The Harvest Club of Orange County invite you to enjoy a Celebration of Pollination on March 26^th from 6-9pm at The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana. This event includes a private screening of the Disneynature film "Wings of Life" as well as Q&A with the Emmy nominated cinematographer and director, Louie Schwartzberg, and local bee experts, the Backyard Bees. Don't miss out!

For tickets and information visit, http://bit.ly/1dEludR.

Proceeds support The Harvest Club, providing fresh fruits and vegetables to the hungry in OC.

Book Club Meeting

Date: Friday, March 28th

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Corona del Mar

Members and non-members welcome

The March bookclub meeting will be on March 28th in Coron del Mar. The book is Tomorrow there will be Apricots by Jessica Soffer. RSVP to Diana Tierney at diana.tierney3@gmail.com

Learn to Build a Cob Chicken Coop

Date: Saturday or Sunday, March 29th & 30th

Time: 10-12 noon + lunch

Location: eastern OC

Members and non-members welcome

Come join Pete Fust, who has taught cob building for 20 years in New Mexico and California, as he leads a class in building a chicken coop in Modjeska Canyon in eastern Orange County.

"Cob is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, some kind of fibrous or organic material (straw) and earth. Cob is fireproof, resistant to seismic activity, and inexpensive. It can be used to create artistic, sculptural forms and has been revived in recent years by the natural building and sustainability movements." (Wikipedia)

We will be making our coop out of cob, which has been used all over the world. There are many different names for this building method, and the Anasazi used this material and method. Archaelogists refer to it as coursed adobe. In layperson's terms what we will be doing is very similar to building a coil pot.

Green Scene, Fullerton Arboretum

Date: Saturday, April 12th and Sunday, April 13th

Time: 10 AM- 4 PM

Location: Fullerton Arboretum

Members and non-members welcome

Fullerton Arboretum's annual weekend-long outdoor garden event is the spring event to find bulbs, succulents, organic vegetables, varietal plants, garden accessories and garden products. Stop by the SFOC table and say hello!

Past Events

Pat Welsh Talk Recap

A group of avid Slow Food gardeners heard Southern California gardening expert Pat Welsh give a fascinating and informative talk on "Growing Great Veggies, the Organic Way" this last Saturday, March 8th, In Laguna Beach. Masterfully mixing information with personal anecdotes, Ms. Welsh quickly covered the basics of gardening before discussing, in-depth the importance of the proper timing for the growing of warm and cool season vegetables in our Mediterranean climate - important because it differs from that of much of the rest of the country.

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