HowToCompostGuide.com » Food http://howtocompostguide.com Guides For Sustainable Living And Growing Mon, 21 May 2012 19:55:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Budget Booster: Trim Your Food Waste http://howtocompostguide.com/2012/01/budget-booster-trim-your-food-waste/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2012/01/budget-booster-trim-your-food-waste/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:27:11 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2012/01/budget-booster-trim-your-food-waste/ My challenge-to-self for 2012: Reduce my household food waste to less than 5%. I spent the week after Christmas clearing out closets, the pantry and the refrigerator — following my own advice. The biggest reveal was when I discovered that my largest kitchen appliance had turned into a scary hybrid compost bin/messy biological laboratory.

Life got away from me for about six weeks during the most food-focused time of year. The CSA produce bags kept coming while I ate at home less due to holiday parties, travel and deadlines. When I finally took the time to assess the damage, only half of the food in the fridge was still edible. My compost bin brimmed, while a back-of-the-napkin tally showed that I tossed nearly 25% of December’s food budget. Ouch.

In the United States, food waste is estimated at 40% and more. While a lot of that food loss occurs pre-consumer, a significant amount occurs once food arrives in households. A 2002 study of American households indicates that families discarded 14% of their food, to the tune of 470 pounds and an annual cost of 0 per year.

Beyond the impact to family budgets, this food waste has startling implications for our national energy policy. An energy study from 2010 claims that the energy embodied in wasted food exceeds that available from most popular “efficiency” programs, such as the annual production of ethanol from (mostly) corn and the annual output from drilling in the outer continental shelf. An estimated 300 million barrels of oil per year, or four percent of the oil consumed in the US was used to produce and transport food that was ultimately thrown away. Yikes!

With help from some smart, passionate folks here at Whole Foods Market, I came up with the following list. Here’s how I plan to respect food, money and the resources that go into growing the crops and getting them to me in 2012.

I will:

  • Plan meals for the week. I can check my calendar on Sunday to determine when I’ll eat at home, spend five minutes assessing what’s already in the fridge and pantry, check online for recipe ideas and make use of the shopping list functionality on this website.
  • Shop at home first. I receive veggies from my CSA farmer for about 40 weeks out of the year. I also grow fruit, veggies and herbs at home. My healthy pantry is well-stocked. I will use these things first.
  • Shop like a European. Many people in Europe visit the market every few days and purchase small quantities of very fresh food — just enough for the next few days.
  • Be less picky about produce. If fruits are going into smoothies, if veggies are going into soups and casseroles, why do they need to be cosmetically perfect?
  • Belly up to the bulk bins. Choosing only the amount I need makes more sense than storing half-filled boxes of pasta or rice — or throwing out two extra cups of cooked quinoa past its prime.
  • Store stuff better. I’m slowly investing in better storage containers — glass where possible — for pantry, pet food and refrigerated items. I’ve also been researching how to store produce properly.
  • Smarten up when eating out. I might spend more per serving on a half-size portion but it costs me even more to toss out what I bring home in a container.
  • Eat and enjoy my leftovers. ‘nuff said.
  • Save the gnarly bits for stock. If you cook with a lot of fresh produce like me, the carrot tops, chard spines and celery stubs can be saved in a designated container for the Sunday soup stock pot.
  • Make a pig, chicken or backyard bird happy. The neighborhood pot-bellied pig or chickens at a nearby farm will love leafy greens and squashes past their prime. The birds will love soft apples and past-prime berries.
  • Drop off garden extras at the food bank. When my prolific peach tree starts bearing this spring I’ll share the bounty instead of stuffing the freezer.
  • Keep a food diary. In addition to the health-focused notes, I’ll include preparation/cooking and food waste disposition entries. I’ll need to track my progress to see if I succeed!

What tips do you have to ensure that the good stuff ends up in your belly and not in the compost bin?

Whole Story

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2012/01/budget-booster-trim-your-food-waste/feed/ 0 Your Favorite Holiday Food Tradition http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/12/your-favorite-holiday-food-tradition/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/12/your-favorite-holiday-food-tradition/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:59:50 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/12/your-favorite-holiday-food-tradition/ No other time of year is so richly steeped in tradition than the holiday season, and lucky for us, lots of those traditions involve cooking, eating and sharing great food.

We’ve all got memorable dishes and must-make recipes connected to this time of year. Maybe it’s Uncle Charlie’s extra-strong eggnog or Grandma Ruth’s red cabbage sauté. How about your own famous scalloped potatoes or a special-batch baklava you make every New Year’s Eve?

We want to know about your treasured holiday food tradition. Tell us about it in the comments section below by December 21 and we’ll pick a winner at random to receive a Whole Foods Market® gift card.

To get in the spirit, we asked some Team Members to share their favorite food traditions.

From Mara:

“Our family is part Puerto Rican and we celebrate Christmas each year with paella. My mother-in-law spends the entire day cooking and makes her own sofrito as the base seasoning for the rice. While I love Christmas dinner, my favorite is leftover paella — it seems to even be more flavorful the next day.”

From Anna:

“When invited out on Christmas I ALWAYS bring a huge green salad with lots of crispy fresh veggies with mandarin sections and dried cranberries. I use a light lime dressing. It is a tangy wonder that offsets all of the heavy food we love to eat this time of year.”

From Jennifer:

“The children in our Chinese-American family insist on traditional holiday food – stuffing, ham, turkey, cranberry sauce, casseroles — the works! A few years back, one of my cousins who isn’t big on cooking ordered noodles from a Chinese restaurant as his contribution. Now our holiday meals aren’t complete without some takeout Chinese noodles — it’s the one dish at our table guaranteed not to have any leftovers.”

From Elizabeth:

“For the past four years, my nephew and I have baked molasses cookies while listening to the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. The cookies have gotten tastier as he’s gotten older, and now we know the songs by heart.”

From Betsy:

“It’s an unofficial Jewish tradition to go out for Chinese food on Christmas, so last Christmas Eve, my husband, in-laws and I decided to try a hole-in-the-wall Chinese barbecue joint. We enjoyed an amazing feast of Peking duck, hot and sour soup, fried rice, Chinese broccoli and all of the fixings. It was so good we now plan to ring in Christmas every year with Chinese barbecue.”

From Allison:

“My husband’s family in Houston does tamales and chili every Christmas Eve. My mother-in-law makes the chili and the tamales come from our favorite Mexican restaurant down the street, and we open presents with plenty of hot sauce on the side.”

What’s your favorite food tradition of the holiday season? Share it with us by December 21 for the chance to win a Whole Foods Market gift card. We can’t wait to hear about your festive feasting traditions!

The fine print: No purchase necessary. Promotion ends December 21, 2011. Must be a legal resident of the US or Canada (except in Quebec, where it is void) age 18 or older to participate. Taxes on prize, if applicable, are the responsibility of the winner. Employees of Whole Foods Market, Inc., are not eligible. Void where prohibited.

Whole Story

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/12/your-favorite-holiday-food-tradition/feed/ 0 Jeff Cox: The Smaller the Farm, the Better the Food http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/12/jeff-cox-the-smaller-the-farm-the-better-the-food/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/12/jeff-cox-the-smaller-the-farm-the-better-the-food/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:04:13 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/12/jeff-cox-the-smaller-the-farm-the-better-the-food/ From Jeff Cox It’s vitally important to know your growers and suppliers. Here are several correlates if you want truly great-tasting, fresh food. Like all generalizations, there are exceptions, but for the most part these rules hold true: The Smaller the Farm, the Better the Food Chances are that at small family farms, more care will [...]
Your Local Market Blog — Bellevue, Seattle — Recipes

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/12/jeff-cox-the-smaller-the-farm-the-better-the-food/feed/ 0 Navigating Holidays with Food Allergies http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/11/navigating-holidays-with-food-allergies/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/11/navigating-holidays-with-food-allergies/#comments Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:31:03 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/11/navigating-holidays-with-food-allergies/ Do you or your kids suffer from a severe food allergy? Our social relationships so often revolve around sharing food that it can be extra difficult to figure out what’s safe to eat and what’s not during the holiday season. Holiday food is frequently prepared using one or more of the top eight allergens; milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. And, because food allergies can range in severity — it’s ultimately up to the sufferer (or the sufferer’s parent) to sort out the necessary precautions they need to take to stay safe.

After developing a life-threatening allergy to tree nuts in my mid-30s, I’d never realized how much I’d taken stress-free eating for granted. I went from being able to eat anything, anywhere, any time, to being that high maintenance person with a food allergy. And just when I’d gotten to be a pro at reading food labels — the holidays arrived.

The good news is, with just a little preparation and planning you can enjoy the holidays without a trip to the emergency room. Here are some approaches I’ve found really helpful, and I hope you will too.

Prepare an all-in-one dish. If you’re bringing a dish to a party, make something that will serve well as a stand-alone meal in case there are no other dishes that you feel comfortable eating. One Pot Meals are an easy way to cover your bases. One of my new favorite things to bring to a brunch gathering is this Savory Sausage and Cheddar Breakfast Casserole, and for lunch or dinner I’ve been smitten with this Potato and Leek Soup with Brie Croutons.

Encourage signage. If you’re planning a potluck, ask the cooks to write an ingredient card with their name on it to place in front of their dish. This way, food allergy sufferers can easily identify the dishes they’re comfortable eating – or locate the cook if they need more information about how the dish was prepared. Get more tips on entertaining for guests with special dietary requirements.

Call ahead. Dining out can be one of the toughest things for food allergy sufferers to navigate. If you’re invited to a meal at a restaurant or a party that’s being catered, call the restaurant or catering company a week or two ahead of time to ask about your options. Some chefs are willing to discuss alternative food preparation methods and ingredients.

Don’t hesitate to investigate. If your food allergy has the potential to cause anaphylactic shock; read labels closely, steer clear of foods with a likelihood of cross-contamination (food from bulk bins, deli cases and salad bars to name a few) and when in doubt, play it safe.

Eat before you party down. If you’re attending a function and are unsure if you’ll be able to eat the food — have a light meal before you go out and pack a small snack to get you through the evening in case you discover there’s nothing you’re comfortable eating. I really love roasted pumpkin seeds and with a sprinkling of spice, they’ll be my secret stash snack for holiday parties. I roast then portion the spicy seeds into single servings that I can tuck into my coat pocket.

Host the party. When you do the cooking, you control the ingredients. Then, just ask guests to bring things like ice, beverages (labeled) and board games. Get inspiration for your next party menu from our collection of holiday recipes.

Do you or one of your family members have a severe food allergy? If so, what are some of your tips for enjoying the holidays?

Whole Story

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/11/navigating-holidays-with-food-allergies/feed/ 0 Good Food and Even Better Company http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/11/good-food-and-even-better-company/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/11/good-food-and-even-better-company/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:08:11 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/11/good-food-and-even-better-company/ Stress levels run high during this time of year. From finding the perfect recipes and pairing the wines to tracking down the trivets and recreating a centerpiece from the page we tore out of that magazine, our Thanksgiving to-do list quickly becomes as long as a table runner. It’s at these times that we often forget what really counts: the people at the table.

Thanks to our friends at The FN Dish (Food Network’s blog), we were reminded of the significance of the people at our table this season. They invited us and other food-fanatic friends to celebrate a virtual Thanksgiving today. Each of us is contributing a dish and then sharing the full menu with our readers. This way, it’s as if you have a seat at the table too.

At Whole Foods Market, we decided to bring our Mixed Green Salad with Pears, Hazelnuts, Blue Cheese and Homemade Croutons. This fuss-free recipe is just the thing for a holiday potluck ― you can prepare all the ingredients separately ahead of time and then toss together just before serving. The sweet pears and tangy blue cheese are perfectly pulled together by a simple dressing, and the toasted hazelnuts and croutons give it a wonderful crunch.

Mixed Green Salad with Pears, Hazelnuts, Blue Cheese and Homemade Croutons

Ingredients

1/2 cup hazelnuts
1/2 baguette, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (5-ounce) package mixed baby greens (about 3 cups)
2 Bartlett pears, cored and cut into thin wedges
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, such as Stilton or Rogue River Blue cheese

Method

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until lightly golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Wrap nuts in a clean dish towel and rub together to remove skins. Set aside until cool enough to handle, and then chop nuts. To make croutons, toss bread cubes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Toast until golden, 10 to 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk together mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a thin steady stream, whisking constantly until combined. Add greens, pears, blue cheese and hazelnuts and toss until evenly coated. Toss in the croutons and serve immediately.

This season we give thanks for the vibrant food community from our growers, producers and shoppers to food writers and food lovers who generously share their stories, recipes, photos and tips with us. We are inspired daily by you. Our on-going conversations are proof that good food brings people to the table but great company keeps them there.

Here are the recipes that our friends brought to the virtual Thanksgiving table today. You can join us at the virtual table on Twitter by searching for #pullupaseat. Just don’t laugh if our centerpiece doesn’t look quite like it did in the magazine.

Cocktails, Appetizers, Salads and Breads:

Mains:

Sides:

Desserts:

What dish will you bring to the table?

Whole Story

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/11/good-food-and-even-better-company/feed/ 0 Bellevue — Win Free Food For 6 Months http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/bellevue-%e2%80%94-win-free-food-for-6-months/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/bellevue-%e2%80%94-win-free-food-for-6-months/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:49:50 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/bellevue-%e2%80%94-win-free-food-for-6-months/

Prize Details

• Enter to win six months of free groceries from Your Local Market (up to a 00 retail value) on Facebook. Your Local Market is located in downtown Bellevue, Washington and it is the city’s newest grocery store, bringing the best of local, organic and natural products alongside the mainstream brands you trust.
• Prize is up to 0 per month
• Prize is up to ,000 over a six month period
• Total retail value of prize package: ,000
• One winner will receive free groceries for six months from Your Local Market in Bellevue, Wash. Winner MUST pick up groceries from store. Online shopping not applicable. Delivery not available for offer.
No Purchase Necessary
Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Sweepstakes Starts
October 19, 2011

Sweepstakes Ends
November 11, 2011 at 11:59 PM (PDT)

Need more Details?
See the contest rules and regulations below.

Prize Eligibility
Only persons who are at least 18 years of age can enter.
Sweepstakes Starts
October 19, 2011 @ 12:26 pm (PDT)
Sweepstakes Ends
November 10, 2011 @ 11:59 pm (PST)
Need more Details?
About the Company
Your Local Market is a new concept in grocery stores. The mix of products at Your Local Market is 80 percent local, organic and natural, and 20 percent mainstream brands… [more]

Instructions for Contestants

Click the Enter Sweepstakes button above!

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to Your Local Market and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for updates and announcements in accordance with the Your Local Market privacy policy .
~~

Bellevue Local Organic Food Grocery Market, Shop Local, Recipes, Small Farms, Family Farms, Seattle, Blog

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/bellevue-%e2%80%94-win-free-food-for-6-months/feed/ 0 Food Day Washington State — Coming Monday October 24, 2011 http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/food-day-washington-state-%e2%80%94-coming-monday-october-24-2011/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/food-day-washington-state-%e2%80%94-coming-monday-october-24-2011/#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:51:45 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/food-day-washington-state-%e2%80%94-coming-monday-october-24-2011/

From DEBS
Food Day Washington State

Food Day Calendar is Here! “Eat Local Now!” dinner and other fun stuff you should do for Food Day

Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. We will work with people around the country to create thousands of events in homes, schools, churches, farmers markets, city halls, and state capitals.

Don’t see your event listed below? Add it to the Food Day website here, and send an email to debs at seattle local food/com. 

What’s happening in Washington State for Food Day?

EVENTS SORTED BY DATE, OCT 11-29 
For events sorted by location or searchable on a national map, visit the Food Day website at www.FoodDay.org 

Saturday, October 22

Seattle Tilth Farm Works Open House in Auburn  invites media and public to tour the farm, meet farmers and staff, and see harvesting and field preparation. Executive Director Andrea Platt Dwyer will be making an exciting announcement. 10-11:30 am, United People’s Farm, 17601 SE Lake Moneysmith Rd. Auburn
AUBURN
Details

Community Alliance for Global Justice will host a teach-out field trip to Hilltop Urban Gardens, an urban agriculture and education project.
TACOMA
Details

Seattle Farm Co-op is hosting its Harvest Party, Barter, Potluck, Square Dance and Book Release, for the new Urban Farm Handbook, and launching the organization Backyard Barter. Phinney Neighborhood Center 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 5:30 – 9
SEATTLE
Details 

Make Your Bed! Party at P.e.a.c.h. Community Farm in Cheney! Come help P.e.a.c.h. Community Farm cover its beds with mulch for the winter, then relax with a potluck lunch. Call 509 216 9273 to RSVP soon! 9 am at 10425 Andrus Rd, Cheney
CHENEY
Details

City Fruit is hosting cooking classes focused on how to use the fall fruit harvest. 10 am 1417 NW 70th Street
SEATTLE
Details

Nourish Your Neighbor: Each Saturday, Rainier Valley Food Bank distributes delicious organic produce grown by our neighbors at the Seattle Community Farm. Introduce a neighbor to a new vegetable or simply feel the joy of nourishing you fellow neighbor with healthy organic produce. 4205 Rainier Avenue South
SEATTLE
Details 

Harvest Stew Scavenger Hunt at the Vancouver Farmers Market! A sample of the Harvest Stew will be handed out along with the recipe. Then you will get to explore the market to find your own ingredients so that you can make the stew at home. Esther Short Park. 10 a.m.
VANCOUVER, WA
Details

Celebrate Tri-Cities Food Day! At the farmers market, we will have a chef demonstrating how to prepare various winter veg from the farmers’ mkt and a doctor to talk about the nutritional benefits of these foods. This will be translated for the Spanish speaking market-goers. Several groups in the community will have tables with information on their various causes. 9 am @ Pasco Farmers Market
PASCO

Join an Apple Harvest Celebration in Carnation, making apple cider and apple butter, selling the latest produce, eggs, and meat, giving horse-draw carriage rides, and Jerry Mader, author of “Saving the Soil–the New American Farmer,” will be here to sign his new book. 7026 Tolt Highlands Rd NE, Carnation, WA  98014, 10 am
CARNATION
Details

Sunday, October 23

Edible Seattle will host a Cake vs. Pie contest, focusing on local pears, and collect donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. West Seattle Farmers Market, 9-2
SEATTLE
Details

Community Alliance for Global Justice will host a Tango for Food Justice fundraiser for Our Food, Our Right publication. Yoga Den: 514 12th Ave Ste B, Seattle. 2-4 pm
SEATTLE
Details

Monday, October 24

The City of Seattle will proclaim Food Day jointly between the Seattle City Council, the Mayor’s Office, and the King County Executive. 1:30 pm. King County Courthouse, Council Chambers on the 10th floor of the Courthouse at Third and James.
SEATTLE/KING COUNTY

Clark County Board of County Commissioners signed a proclamation proclaiming October 24, 2011 as Food Day!
CLARK COUNTY

The 8th Annual Eat Local Now! Dinner will be the flagship dinner event of Food Day, with keynote speaker Greg Atkinson. They will be highlighting local farmers, and encouraging participants to eat well. 6 pm, Herban Feast.
SEATTLE
Details

Central Co-op (formerly Madison Market) will host Fresh Starts, a multi-part Food Day event including a session on the 2012 Farm Bill and a free screening of The Greenhorns, as well as events in the store. Screening of The Greenhorns is Monday night at 6:30 at Northwest Film Forum.
SEATTLE
Details  

Soda-Free Sundays will feature a Food Day event, a collaboration between the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition and the Seattle YMCA. If you’re in Downtown Seattle on Monday, stop by the YMCA at 4th and Cherry to take the Soda-Free Sundays pledge and learn what YMCA is doing to curb consumption of sugar-loaded beverages. More at www.SodaFreeSundays.org 5-8 pm @ 909 4th Ave
SEATTLE
Details and FB page

Edmonds Community College will celebrate Food Day with a number of great activities.

  • Office of Student Life presents: “Junk Food Hall of Shame”, squash painting, trivia game, and zucchini derby races (pumpkins donated by Stocker Farm);
  • Fruit/Veggie ID and Sampling with 100 kids at Center for Families (produce donated by PCC Natural Market and Rubberneck Farm). Presented by Food Revolution Snohomish Co.;
  • “Moving the Bottom Line” presentation by Nick Rose, Nutrition Educator at PCC Natural Market;
  • Showing of FRESH the Movie;
  • Farmer’s Market with SnoIsle Food Co-Op, WSU Extension, Mother Nature’s Organics, Mycological Society, Heather Freund’s Chia Energy Bars. We will even have a goat and chicken!;
  • Food Demo and Tasting of Roasted Veggie Bites and veggie soup by EdCC’s Poseidon Catering and Full Circle Farm;
  • Display and free dessert coupon from The College Cafe;
  • Launch of “Menu for the Future” community discussions.
    11 am, 20000-68th Ave W Lynnwood, WA  98036

LYNNWOOD
Details

A community member is hosting a Rainier Valley Potluck and Recipe Exchange. 4437 41st Ave S,  6:30 pm. You’re invited!
SEATTLE
Details

Travis Bettison, owner of Junip Foods, will host a sustainable foods dumpling party with roast duck at his home. 5 pm.
SEATTLE
Details

In Bellevue, a farm harvest day features Garden Treasures and Farmer Mark for Arlington WA. 3 pm, 4800 139th Ave. SE
SEATTLE
Details

Bastyr University is inviting students to make films about the six Food Day principles. Films will be shown at noon, 14500 Juanita Drive NE Kenmore, WA  98028
KENMORE
Details

Everett Community College, a Real Food Challenge Campus, will host a Food Day event including movie screenings, 3pm.
EVERETT
Details

Public Health Seattle/King County will celebrate Food Day! Public Health will host SNAC nutrition/cooking classes in schools, WIC nutrition/cooking classes in Public Health centers, and an Access and Outreach table at Crossroads Mall featuring the WIC and Basic Food Breastfeeding Program. Check out the special Food Day website under the details link below.
SEATTLE and BELLEVUE
Details

Celebrate the harvest at Marra Farm! Students from Concord International Elementary will come to the Lettuce Link Giving Garden at Marra Farm to harvest the pumpkins they planted last spring! We will also be pressing apples into fresh cider, saving seeds for next year, and touring this community-powered sustainable urban farm. 10 am.
SEATTLE
Details

Food Day activities at Washington State University include:

• Debate Under the Big Tent: “How do we feed 6,965,236,343?” noon in the Compton Union Building (CUB), first floor.

• Food Day Service Projects : Join fellow WSU students and volunteer at the WSU Organic Farm or the Pullman Community Garden, help cook a “real food” dinner at Sojourners’ Alliance, a local transition house. Students must register at Service Learning Pro and will meet in CUB L45.

• Film Series: Watch three documentaries and munch snacks provided by the WSU Organic Farm. All films are shown in CUB L46. Shows include “Future of Food” at 1:30 p.m., “Food, Inc.” at 3:30 p.m. and “The Garden” at 7 p.m.

• Reflection: “Hunger at Home: Feeding the Palouse” 5-7 p.m. in the CUB L45.
PULLMAN
Details 

Plant a Row for the Hungry in Spokane! Plant a Row is a people-helping-people initiative to assist in feeding hungry members of our community. The program encourages community members to dedicate a row (or more) of fruits and vegetables in their garden to help feed those in need. Just as often, Plant a Row is a means for excess garden produce to not be wasted. 8 am
SPOKANE
Details

Throughout the month of October Seattle Public Schools and the Tom Douglas Restaurant Group are hosting Family Nights at 4 Seattle Schools to promote local chef (Tom Douglas Restaurant Group) inspired recipes that SPS plan sto be part of our future menu cycle.  This work is tied to our Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant from CDC.  We have held 2 events already and have 2 more to go this month – John Muir Elementary on October 20th and Emerson Elementary on October 27th.  We will also host 2 events in November (Maple Elementary on Nov. 3rd and Van Asselt Elementary on Nov. 10th).  The menus have been very successful so far.  We served nearly 400 on October 6th at Roxhill Elementary and another 200 last night at Concord Elementary.

BAMCO is celebrating Food Day at Seattle University!
SEATTLE
Details

At UW, continuing from the Sustainability Summit, there will be an evening showing of Carbon Neutral and Zero Waste.
SEATTLE
Details 

Forza Coffee will promote “Wildly Organic” for Food Day to customers.
SILVERDALE
Details

Herban Gardens Cafe will feature a special Food Day lunch menu. Pumpkin Soup with fresh baked local Bread, Fresh Green Salad from local Farmers. 3330 NW Lowell Street
SILVERDALE
Details

Senior Centers and Adult Day Centers all over Snohomish County will serve an entirely local-foods lunch in honor of Food Day!
SNOHOMISH COUNTY
Details

Attend a screening of the film Nourish Food + Community and harvest exchange!  This year, to celebrate Food Day, Healthy People Alliance is hosting community screenings of Nourish, an educational initiative designed to open a meaningful conversation about food and sustainability, particularly in schools and communities. The events will also include information tables, guest speakers, local food producers, local restaurants and a preview of the Nourish Middle School Curriculum Guide. White Salmon Library (77 NE Wauna Ave)
WHITE SALMON
Details

Evergreen State College will host a Food Day event! More details soon.
OLYMPIA
Details

Western Washington University will host a Food Day event! More details soon.
BELLINGHAM
Details

Lower Columbia College will host a Food Day event! More details soon.
LONGVIEW
Details

Eastern Washington University will host a Food Day event! More details soon.
CHENEY
Details

Skagit Valley College will host a Food Day event! More details soon.
WHIDBEY ISLAND
Details

Kick-off to Ending Childhood Hunger in Skagit County Planning. In response to our “Ending Childhood Hunger in Skagit County Summit” held on August 16th, we will kick-start creating a plan to end local childhood hunger on Food Day. Graham Kerr, author and TV personality of Galloping Gourmet fame, is our cheer leader and mentor! 320 Pacific Pl, Mount Vernon, WA  98273, 3:30
MOUNT VERNON
Details

The Everybody Eats Challenge at One World Spokane! One World Spokane will participate in the Everybody Eats Challenge by either offering a free item to their customers and/or collecting food or donations for a local food pantry or food related organization 11 am @ 1804 East Sprague
SPOKANE
Details

Project Hope Spokane will host Leaves and More! Raking, collecting and distributing leaves to the 7 urban garden lots in West Central Spokane. Turning compost. BYOR = Bring your own rake! 3 – dark @ 2605 W Boone
SPOKANE
Details

Healthy Corner Stores: Parkside Grocery is proud to be Spokane’s newest Healthy Corner Store! We carry 12 or more varieties of fresh fruit & vegetables, whole grain, and low-fat dairy. We have baby supplies, accept WIC, and have an on-site butcher who provides us with fresh cut meat daily. Take the tricycles and leave the car at home – we’re located in the middle of one of Spokane’s oldes and most walkable neighborhoods! All day @ 1913 W. Maxwell
SPOKANE
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Check out the café! New Leaf Bakery Cafe provides opportunities to homeless and low-income women through culinary job training. Through the program women learn food service skills, job readiness skills, and receive job search support. The six month program helps women develop into dependable and confident workers for the growing food service industry in Spokane. All day @ 3104 W. Fort George Wright Dr.
SPOKANE
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Food Day Donation Event at Bravern Sur La Table in Bellevue! Sur La Table has recently partnered with Wholesome Wave to bring fresh and local fruits and vegetables to communities in need with monetary support from employees across the United States. In addition, Sur La Table is hosting a Food Day Donation event on October 24th, encouraging customers and employees alike to make donations online and at any store location, which will directly benefit Wholesome Wave. Sur La Table will match your donations up to ,000 on this day. 11111 NE 8th Street Suite 30
BELLEVUE
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PNW Co-op “Eat local” challenge! As members of Spokane County’s Food Access Coalition, we’re inviting everyone to cook a meal with local ingredients. They could include veggies from your garden or farmers market, or our PNW Co-op lentils and split peas from the bulk department of Main Market Co-op, Pilgrim’s Market or Moscow Food Co-op. Be creative & share your recipe ideas on our PNW Co-op Specialty Foods page on Facebook. You never who you’ll inspire!
SPOKANE, your home, and everywhere.

Building Blocks of Healthy Nutrition! Celebrate National Food Day by learning about the basic building blocks of healthy nutrition at Columbia Basin College. 3:30 @ 26000 N.20th
PASCO
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Tuesday, October 25

PCC’s annual membership meeting will be a Food Day event! (closed)  

Clark County Farm-to-Table Trade Meeting! Find local products. Meet buyers and farmers. Make connections: Join local producers, distributors, health care professionals, school nutrition directors, chefs, sustainable food advocates, and consumers for a day of network building, expert panel discussions, and more. Help build connections, creating healthier people, jobs, and environment. Trade meeting topics: * Sourcing local “101″ * Farm-to-restaurant buying * Farm-to-institutional buying * Farm-to-retailer buying * Supply & demand logistics * And more! Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA  98668, 9 a.m.
VANCOUVER, WA
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Wednesday, October 26

Seattle Tilth will host a screening of The Greenhorns in the Chapel at the Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N. 4th Floor, Seattle, 7 pm.
SEATTLE
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Questions about the 2012 Farm Bill? Get them answered! Central Co-op (formerly Madison Market) will host Fresh Starts, a multi-part Food Day event including a session on the 2012 Farm Bill and a free screening of The Greenhorns, as well as events in the store. The Farm Bill 2012 session is Wednesday night at 6:30 at the Douglass-Truth Library.

SEATTLE
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Thursday, October 27

The University of Washington Nutrition Sciences Program in the School of Public Health will host a symposium on nutrition, food access, food justice, and health. UW Student Farm will host an event and film night.
SEATTLE
Details (NOTE: Details don’t include the evening events, which include a film and potluck with UW Student Farm and UW Student Co-op)

Attend a screening of the film Nourish Food + Community and harvest exchange!  This year, to celebrate Food Day, Healthy People Alliance is hosting community screenings of Nourish, an educational initiative designed to open a meaningful conversation about food and sustainability, particularly in schools and communities. The events will also include information tables, guest speakers, local food producers, local restaurants and a preview of the Nourish Middle School Curriculum Guide.
5:30 Community Room @ Goldendale Library (131 W Burgen St)
GOLDENDALE
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Dragonfly Cinema in Port Orchard: As part of its West Coast tour, The Greenhorns will stop at Dragonfly Cinema in Port Orchard Washington. Film director Severine von Tschamer Fleming will be there to discuss the film and answer questions.  822 Bay Street, Port Orchard, WA  98366 7 pm
PORT ORCHARD
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Friday, October 28

Seasonal Feast – A celebration of URBAN abundance! The event is a farm-to-table experience. Farmers, chefs, and foodies from across Clark County come to the Seasonal Feast table to share a meal and create friendships that will build the web of our local food system. 1710 SW 9th Ave. Battle Ground, WA  98604, 6 pm
BATTLE GROUND
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Seattle Local Organic Food Market, Shop Local, Recipes, Small Farms, Family Farms, Bellevue, Blog

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/food-day-washington-state-%e2%80%94-coming-monday-october-24-2011/feed/ 0 Gene Logsdon: Pope Mary and the New Wave of Food Hubs http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/gene-logsdon-pope-mary-and-the-new-wave-of-food-hubs/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/gene-logsdon-pope-mary-and-the-new-wave-of-food-hubs/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:24:17 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/gene-logsdon-pope-mary-and-the-new-wave-of-food-hubs/

From GENE LOGSDON

When I wrote “Pope Mary and the Church of Almighty Good Food,” I thought I was proposing a rather preposterous idea. In my fictional story, the congregation of a church that was closed much against its will decided to turn their property into a sort of food center to grow and process fruits, vegetables, and grains for the neighborhood. But when Susie Sutphin visited us recently (Foodchronicles.net) she told about a closed church, St. George’s Lithuanian Church in Cleveland, Ohio, that was doing very much like what my fictional story described. The people turned their church building and land around it into what they describe as a “food hub” called Community Greenhouse Partners to grow food for the surrounding neighborhood. CGP is the brainchild of Timothy Smith who is its executive director. Can you imagine?

A few days later, Ed Searl, a Unitarian minister in Hinsdale, Illinois who was inspired to base a whole sermon on Pope Mary, gave me one of his annual Gannett Awards for my blog posted here a couple of weeks ago about how farming could increase jobs. (searlsermons.blogspot.com). When I thanked him and mentioned the Cleveland church, he told me of other churches turning themselves into “food hubs” including one in Youngstown, Ohio. He said maybe I was on the “forming edge of wave.”

I get nervous about being part of any new movement except maybe healthy bowel movements, but I confess to feeling very elated about this food hub idea and any part I may have played in it. For some reason, when I write novels that sort of make fun of organized religion, it is organized religion that seems most appreciative. Amazing. Mike Mather, who is pastor of a Methodist church in Indianapolis (www.broadwayumc.org) came to visit me too. He had a message we all need to hear. He and the people in his church are part of the new “food hub” wave, although he didn’t call it that. He just wants to encourage the people in his church to start asserting their food independence. But instead of going the usual route of venturing forth and trying to teach the people how to grow food, Mike decided to ask the parishioners themselves how to go about it. Much to his surprise, he found out that there were plenty of people already gardening and establishing their food independence in the neighborhood. What was lacking was any inclination to organize promotional efforts. Most gardeners and farmers do not really like to face the public. We are rather private people by nature and feel very ill at ease in public. (I think that is why communicating with each other on blog sites appeals to us— it is a way to be private and public at the same time.) So Mike and his church leaders took on the job of publicity and promotion. The gardeners stepped up and handled the rest.

I think there is a lesson here for all of us visionaries of a food hub future. Many people imbued with the missionary spirit ask me how I would go about converting more of society to food independence. They want to go into the schools and other institutions and teach gardening skills. Going this route is okay, but you generally find yourself dealing with idealists or first fervor types who like to talk about producing their own food but who have no idea of how much hard work is involved.

Instead, follow Mike Mather’s example. Go out and acquaint yourself with the people who are already gardening and farming because they love it. Help them find more land or empty lots. Get city officials to find a place where they can have a public market. If you are a large scale farmer and want to get involved, donate an acre or two to the cause.  Start supporting politicians who want to help the food hub idea, like Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown who hosted a meeting at CGP recently. Do all that legal beagle work that gardeners and farmers have no taste or talent for.

One thing I am sure of, even if I am somewhat of a heathen. If you get organized religion behind the idea that we can no longer let the likes of Monsanto produce our food for us, we’ll take a giant leap forward.
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Seattle Local Organic Food Market, Shop Local, Recipes, Small Farms, Family Farms, Bellevue, Blog

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/gene-logsdon-pope-mary-and-the-new-wave-of-food-hubs/feed/ 0 Food News and Recipe Links — No Fluff http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/food-news-and-recipe-links-%e2%80%94-no-fluff/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/food-news-and-recipe-links-%e2%80%94-no-fluff/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:15:11 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/food-news-and-recipe-links-%e2%80%94-no-fluff/

From DAVE SMITH
Editor/Publisher

God’s Country — Farming for spiritual reasons [VIDEO]: There are those who farm for food, those who farm for money, those who farm because it’s what they have always done. And then there are the Stollers. This family in central Ohio farms for spiritual reasons. They raise organic dairy cows and practice a way of life that is simple, beautiful, and in real connection with the land and each other. Similar to Mennonites and the Amish, they have chosen a life outside of mainstream culture. We spent two days with this family and, despite our differences, we fell in love with their way of life… Video here [Grist]

Eat It Up: Wasted food is the elephant in the sustainable kitchen. Not only is our squandered food somehow ignored, it’s both massive and stinky. Unfortunately, the majority of the smell occurs not in our homes, but at the dump. That’s unfortunate for two reasons: rotting food in landfills prompts environmental problems, and were we to notice our waste, we’d be more motivated to do something about it. Like anything. Hopefully the following eight items will prompt you to heed your own wasted food and take steps to reduce it…. Full article here [Culinate]

Baked Quinoa Patties [Recipe]: On the subject of packing food for airplane flights, it appears that a number of you were curious about how I go about it. The specifics. So I thought I’d share a few more photos, and include a more detailed explanation. My lunch-on-the-go is an ever-evolving system which (currently) involves a collapsible container, two thick rubber bands, and a plastic fork/spoon thing. All food goes in one container, and I avoid anything liquid to get through security. A good splash of sauce seems to be fine though. For my flight to London, I packed the potstickers I shared last week. What you didn’t see was the way I buried them under a layer of these baked quinoa patties. I’ll tack on the recipe for those down below… Recipe here [101 Cookbooks]

What Is Community Gardening?: If you are interested in being a part of a community garden you can visit the American Community Gardening Association’s website to search for gardens in your area. If there are none, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has a fantastic Community Garden Start-Up Guide that thoroughly outlines how to start one. It requires a bit of work but can be an amazing asset to your community. Whether in your community or in your yard – get out there and grow!… Article here [Cascadian Farms]
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Seattle Local Organic Food Market, Shop Local, Recipes, Small Farms, Family Farms, Bellevue, Blog

]]> http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/food-news-and-recipe-links-%e2%80%94-no-fluff/feed/ 0 Fig Food Co. http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/fig-food-co/ http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/fig-food-co/#comments Sun, 09 Oct 2011 01:09:53 +0000 Admin http://howtocompostguide.com/2011/10/fig-food-co/ We love our producers, suppliers and vendors and we think most of them have some pretty interesting stories behind their products too. We’ll be sharing some of our favorites here in an ongoing series. Read on for a chance to win a gift card.

Fig Food makes delicious soup. If you’ve tasted it, you may already know this — but did you know that in every batch of organic, kosher soup, someone has thought about how to pack in the most organic plants possible? “The choices we made around being kosher, being organic, using a new package; it all comes from my own personal passion and wanting to leave a legacy of making the world a better place,” says Joel Henry, founder and owner of Fig Food.

Every choice that Henry has made can be traced to this philosophy, from the seasoning of their soup, the decision to go organic to naming the soups after the areas from which they draw flavor inspiration. (Tuscan White Bean, Yucatan Black Bean and Umbrian Lentil are a few examples.) “Part of making the world a better place is about reconnection; connecting to the farmer, connecting to other people,” says Henry. “I thought if we named the soups with cool names, people would explore the regions to see what they stood for.”

When Henry made the decision to go organic, he asked himself, “ ‘Is it more important to get more people access to plant-based foods and be conventional, or be organic?’ To me, organic growing practices are all about a better environment, and so if I have healthier people in an environment that’s declining, that didn’t sit well.” And so it was. Their lightly salted soups are organic, plant-based and tasty.

Have you ever considered all of the thought that goes into the soup you’re eating? Let us know about your thoughts on Henry’s soup philosophy. Watch the slideshow above and leave a comment with your answer by October 25th. One comment will be chosen at random to win a gift card to our stores.

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