August has turned into the uber-farm-n-foodie month in the SF Bay Area. Slow Food Nation kicks off on Friday, the Commonwealth Club has been talking food since August 1, and then we've got the ever-growing number of "regular" food and farm events around town. Oh, and the August San Francisco Magazine is all about FOOD - lots of it sustainable. Great issue.

ps Need tix to the sold-out Slow Food Nation Panel with Alice Waters, Michael Pollan, Carlo Petrini, Wendell Berry, Vandana Shiva, and Eric Schlosser on the 30th at 4pm? Selling a few at face value: $25/each. Email info@omorganics.org.

Foodie paradise in SF for the next week. At least check out the free Civic Center Marketplace. But, there's really 100 other fun, edible and/or educational things to do:

Get Stuffed
Taste Pavilions at Fort Mason, Aug 30-31
Hot ticket in town! Buy admission and then taste artisanal, heritage foods until you are stuffed silly. Sunday eve (5-9) tix are the only ones left... Get yours asap!

Peruse and Nosh in the Sun
Marketplace in Civic Center, Aug 29-31
Free! Farmers market-style with artisanal food stalls where you can buy delicious dishes to enjoy near the beautiful Victory Gardens (temp edible gardens).

Feed Your Brain
How We Eat Series: Commonwealth Club, throughout August
Food for Thought: Herbst Theater, Aug 29-30
Educational and political talks/panels on lots of great topics w/ lots of great speakers. (Need tix to the sold-out SFN Panel, email info@omorganics.org!)

Picnic While Listening to Cool Bands
Slow Food Rocks at Great Meadow, Fort Mason, Aug 30-31
Not sure how this fits into food, but what the heck. Sat: Gnarls Barkley, Ozomatli, The New Pornographers and Medeski Martin and Wood. Sun: Phil Lesh & Friends, G Love & Special Sauce and John Butler Trio.

Dine Out for Farm/Food Non-Profits
Slow Dinners, various restaurants all week
Each dinner benefits a different non-profit organization involved with sustainable agriculture, food /or farming.

Details, schedules, tickets for what's above as well as Slow Farm Tours, Slow Hikes, Slow Art, Slow Tastings, Slow Classes/Demos, . . .

....from the last while:

Yes on Prop 2 -- Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, an initiative that will appear on California's November 2008 ballot. Check out the user-friendly website.

Whole Foods tainted meat -- E.Coli is found in Whole Foods meat, they blame (and recall) Coleman Natural Foods beef, who then blame the meatpacker Nebraska Beef w/ a history of food-safety violations. Duh. What WF had to say. (The August SF Mag issue has a great article on local, sustainable meat processing & packing facilities.)

Monsanto sells its cow growth hormone -- Hooray, no more BST hormone milk from Monsanto. But, the hormone was bought by pharma giant Lilly for $300M. Scared where it'll end up next.

Radiating greens passed by FDA -- Technical fix to a biological problem. Expensive, time-consuming, possibly damaging to the texture, and unknown long-term effects... Yay.

No spraying of stowaway moth from Oz/NZ -- After CA petitions and activism, aerial pesticide sprays were ditched to kill the Light Brown Apple Moth in favor of more environmentally- and human-friendly alternatives.

All organically/sustainably-minded:

• Amanda's Feel Good Fresh Food Restaurant, Berkeley
• Awaken Cafe, Oakland
• Boccalone Salumeria, SF
• Camino, Oakland
• Dynamo Donut and Coffee, SF
• Luce, SF
• Maritime East Seafood & Spirits, Berkeley
• Mono Restaurant & Wine Bar, Oakland
• Murray Circle, Sausalito
• Nibblers, Pleasant Hill

More about these newbies...
More restaurants...

18 Reasons -- A new event space and gallery from the Bi-Rite folks celebrating local food and art. 593 Guerrero St. at 18th St., 415-252-9816. Become a member ($40) and get a free scoop of Bi-Rite ice cream, free rental at Fayes Video, and $5 off at each: Delfina Pizzeria, Dolores Park Cafe, Bi-Rite Market, Tartine.

Tasty Exhibit -- Exhibit highlighting the work of local artists who have explored the shape and color of eating in a variety of media. Creativity Explored, 16th/Mission in SF.

My Farm -- Get an edible backyard garden installed, or order a CSA-style box from your SF neighbors' backyards.

The Low Carbon Diet Calculator -- 1/3 of global greenhouse emissions are caused by our food system. Play with your food in this fun, interactive tool to gauge your diet's carbon footprint.

Menu for the Future from the Northwest Earth Institute -- Curriculum to facilitate a six-session course exploring the connection between food and sustainability. Set up a session for your organization or in your community, wherever you are. Order materials online and get support from the NWEI staff. Looks easy.

Check our organically-inclined Events page for more happenins as they are announced.

Easy Market Meals at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6/3/08-9/16/08, 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm
CUESAÕs Dacor Teaching Kitchen, in the North Arcade in front of Ferry Building in SF

First Friday Food Fests at Conexions
1st Fridays, 6/6/08-9/5/08, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Conexions Center, 1023 Corporation Way in Palo Alto

Commonwealth Club Food Series: How We Eat
7/31/08-8/28/08 Varies in SF

Meet the Producer & Seasonal cooking demonstration at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Saturdays, 8/2/08-8/30/08, 10:30am
CUESAÕs teaching kitchen, outside under the arcades north of the Ferry BuildingÕs clock tower in SF

Frugal Foodies Tuesday Night Dinners
Tuesdays, 8/5/08-8/26/08, 6:30pm-9:30pm
A live-work studio in Southwest Berkeley

Tantalizing Market Tapas Summer Series - Farmers Market Cooking Classes
Wednesdays, 8/6/08-9/17/08, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Ferry Building North Arcade in SF

The Sage Table Cooking Classes
Varies, 8/12/08-9/10/08, Home in Temescal neighborhood in Oakland

Slow Food Nation - Taste, Marketplace, Art, Dinners, Concerts, Gardens+
Thu-Mon, 8/26/08-9/1/08, Fort Mason & Civic Center, Other events around the Bay Area

Annual Tomato Dinner at Millennium Restaurant
Wed, 8/27/08, 5:30pm-9:00pm reservations Millennium Restaurant, 580 Geary St./Jones in SF

YBCA and House of Campari present Sustainable Systems: 3 Local Solutions
Wed, 8/27/08, 6:00pm-8:30pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission Street in SF

An Evening with Dr. Vandana Shiva
Wed, 8/27/08, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Jackson Theater at Sonoma Country Day School, 4400 Day School Place in Santa Rosa

Marion Nestle discussing her book, Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine
Wed, 8/27/08, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Prevention Institute, 221 Oak St in Oakland

Chez Panisse Birthday
Thu, 8/28/08, Chez Panisse, 1517 Shattuck in Berkeley

Chefs Collaborative Meet & Greet
Thu, 8/28/08, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Acme Chophouse, 24 Willie Mays Pl. in SF

Hungry Planet Opening Reception
Thu, 8/28/08, 6:00pm-8:00pm
World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor in SF

ÓSoil, Not Oil! -- Securing Our Food in Times of Climate ChangeÓ w/ Dr. Vandana Shiva
Thu, 8/28/08, 7:30pm
First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison St. in Oakland

Corn Crazy Celebration
Sat, 8/31/08, 11:00am-3:00pm
Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel

Shumei Santa Cruz Farm "Open Farm DayÓ
Sun, 8/31/08, 1:30 gates open Makoto Taiko, 6040 Bonny Doon Road in Santa Cruz

Dr. Raj Patel Speaks about his book "Stuffed and StarvedÓ
Tue, 9/2/08, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Global Food Crisis in Burlingame

How To Grow a Great Vegetable Garden
Thu, 9/4/08, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd in Ross

Book Reading/Signing: Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System
Thu, 9/4/08, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way in Berkeley

U-Pick Days at Mariquita Farm
Sat, Sept 6th. Thur, Sept 11th. Sat, Sept 13th. 9:00am-1:00pm
Mariquita Farm in Hollister

Class: Chef Traci Des Jardins of Jardini�re Restaurant with Akiko and Ken Freeman of Freeman Vineyard and Winery
Tue-Fri, 9/9/08-9/12/08 Covello Point in Fort Baker, near Sausalito

Tomales Bay Oyster Co.- Bivalve Dairy- Pt. Reyes Vineyards
Thu, 9/11/08, 12:00pm-4:00pm
Bay Oyster Co., 15479 Highway One in Marshall

Urban Farming Tour with CUESA
Fri, 9/12/08, 9:45am
Meet at the Ferry Bldg in SF

PeopleÕs Grocery Annual Brunch Fundraiser
Sat, 9/13/08, 10:00am-12:30pm
Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive in Oakland

Full Moon Feasts with Three Stone Hearth
Sat, 9/13/08, 6:30pm
Addison at Bolivar in Oakland

Class: Preserving with Cannard Farm and June Taylor Jams
Sun-Fri, 9/14/08-9/19/08 Covello Point home base in Fort Baker, near Sausalito

Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust 4th Annual "Fall Harvest CelebrationÓ
Sun, 9/14/08, 5:00pm-9:00pm
Historic Taylor Ranch, 2450 Taylor Lane in Byron

Family Movie Night - Hidden Bounty of Marin
Thu, 9/18/08, 7:00pm
Tomales Town Hall, 27150 Shoreline Hwy in Tomales

"An Ode to West MarinÓ, A Fundraiser for Marin Organic presented by Ode Magazine
Sat, 9/20/08, 5:00pm-10:00pm
Stubbs Vineyard at 1000 Marshall - Petaluma Road in Petaluma

Dairy Delight: Straus Dairy Tour with Greenbelt Alliance
Thu, 9/25/08, 10:30am-1:30pm
Straus Creamery in Olema

Family Movie Night - Hidden Bounty of Marin
Fri, 9/26/08, 7:00pm
Point Reyes Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station

Taste of Petaluma
Sat, 9/27/08, 11:30am-4:30pm
Downtown in Petaluma

Economic Mini-Farming Class w/ John Jeavons
Sat, 9/27/08, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Common Ground, 559 College Ave in Palo Alto

Class: All About Fish with Paul Johnson and Tom Worthington of Monterey Fish Market
Sun-Fri, 9/28/08-10/3/08 Covello Point home base in Fort Baker, near Sausalito

Farm Fresh Cooking Class: Creating with Heirloom Tomatoes
Sun, 9/28/08, 11:00am-3:00pm
Tomato tasting at Allstar Organics at Nicasio Valley Farms, 1⁄4 mile north of Nicasio Square, followed by cooking class at Druids Hall in Nicasio

Allstar Organics Tomato Tasting
Sun, 9/28/08, 2:00pm-4:00pm
Allstar Organics Farm, 1/4 mi north of Nicasio Square in Nicasio

Three Wise Farmers Tour with CUESA
Sun, 9/28/08, 8:00am
Meet at the Ferry Bldg in SF

Seed Saving for the Home Gardener
Thu, 10/2/08, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way in Berkeley

World Veg Festival in San Francisco
Sat-Sun, 10/4/08-10/5/08, 10:00am-6:00pm
San Francisco County Fair Building , 9th/Lincoln in SF

CUESAÕs sixth annual Sunday Supper
Sun, 10/5/08, 6:00pm reception, 7:30 supper Ferry Building, Market/Embarcadero in SF

Slide Ranch Harvest Celebration
Sat, 10/11/08, 10:00am-4:00pm
Slide Ranch, 2025 Shoreline Hwy in Muir Beach

Bioneers Conference: "Revolution from the Heart of NatureÓ
Fri-Sun, 10/17/08-10/19/08 San Rafael

Organic Beer and Wine Tasting
Fri, 10/24/08, 4:00pm-8:00pm
Ferry Bldg Mktplace, Market and Embarcadero in SF

Even a little snack! If you use these newsletters, use our website, or simply enjoy having delicious, organic food in the Bay Area, please support our programs that serve local, organic farms and the community. Om Organics is a project of the San Francisco Foundation - Community Initiatives, and can only continue with the help of contributions from conscientious people like you!

Any amount is appreciated!
You can make a donation:

• via Paypal.com: to donate@omorganics.org
• by credit card: via the Community Initiatives donation page
• by check: "Om Organics: Project of SFF CI", 354 Pine St., Suite 700, SF, CA 94131

THANK YOU!