Food & Farm Events Sorted by Date
last updated 2/2| Saturdays, 1/30/10-4/17/10 9:00am-1:00pm Edible Garden Series: From Design to Harvest To register call 650-493-6072 or click the link. Class size limited - register early. Learn garden design and planning, composting, soil testing and preparation, seed propagation and transplanting, watering, and how to nurture healthy edible crops. You can create a garden oasis of beautiful edibles in the front, side or back of the home. Master harvesting techniques and learn what compost crops to plant after harvest. Permaculture design and GROW BIOINTENSIVE methods harmonize together in this special series. Home owners and professional landscape designers will gain valuable knowledge to create gardens of nutritious and delicious organic food in your homes and communities. Make lasting friendships! Learn about proper tools, supplies, books and resources throughout the course. Drew is the talented and wonderful Common Ground Demonstration Garden Manager and the manager of Jesse Cool's Seeds of Change Garden. Location: Common Ground, 559 College Ave City: Palo Alto Cost: $325 |
| 2/1/10-2/28/10 Special Events at Omnivore's Books on Food Check their site for the ever-growing calendar! Location: Omnivore's Books on Food, 3885a Cesar Chavez Street City: SF Cost: Free |
| 2/1/10-2/28/10 Special Events at 18 Reasons 18 reasons is non-profit community space focused on engaging our community with the people who feed us. A proud member of the Bi-Rite Family of Businesses. Location: 18 Reasons, 593 Guerrero St./18th City: SF Cost: Varies |
| Tuesdays, 2/2/10-2/23/10 6:30pm-9:30pm Frugal Foodies Tuesday Night Dinners Do you want to meet new people? Are you ever hungry? Do you want to learn how to prepare generally healthy, organic vegetarian meals? And would you like to do it in a friendly environment, for very little money, and with a bit of adventure along the way? If so, come check out Frugal Foodies, the weekly gathering of people who come together to meet, eat, and be frugal. Frugal Foodies happens every Tuesday night, but each week it’s a different group of people, a different menu, and an altogether different experience. You must register in advance; there’s room for about 15 people each week. Click the link for details, and register by email at info@frugalfoodies.com. Location: A live-work studio City: Southwest Berkeley Cost: $7/person |
| Wed-Sun, 2/3/10-2/7/10 San Francisco Ocean Film Festival The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival celebrates the sea with inspirational films that increase our appreciation of the oceans that surround us. Come view the beauty and mysteries of the ocean, experience the thrill of saltwater sports, explore coastal cultures, and pause to reflect on the importance of this vital ecosystem… The San Francisco Ocean Film Festival is dedicated to using film to increase public understanding of the environmental, social and cultural importance of marine ecosystems and foster a spirit of ocean stewardship. SFOFF is now the premier venue in North America for ocean films, and will reach its seven year mark when it expands to a five-day event on February 3-7, 2010. Every year, SFOFF produces an acclaimed festival of ocean-themed films from all over the world that are largely unavailable to the general public. Themes range from marine science and industry to sports and adventure. The films are intended not only to entertain the audience but, more importantly, to educate and encourage active participation in ocean conservation. Location: Theater 39, Pier 39 City: SF Cost: Varies |
| Wed-Sat, 2/3/10-2/6/10 Annual Whole Hog Dinners Oliveto in Oakland is hosting its annual Whole Hog Dinners this week from Wednesday February 3rd-Saturday the 6th, but from what I hear, the dinners are pretty full. However, here’s a little insider tip for you: the normal Sunday menu will feature many of the Whole Hog dishes. Location: Oliveto, Rockridge Market Hall, 5655 College Ave. at Shafter Avenue City: Oakland |
| Thu, 2/4/10 6:30pm Slow Food SF Convivial Table: Dinner at Hayes Street Grill The Slow Food San Francisco Convivial Table (formerly the Dinner Club) invites you to a special evening of fresh, local, and sustainable seafood. Thursday, February 4, at Hayes Street Grill. We will be sampling the best of the daily catch from local fishermen, expertly prepared for us in the Hayes Street kitchens. For three decades, Hayes Street Grill has proudly featured fresh seafood (and naturally raised meats) paired with local seasonal produce in numerous simple preparations designed to let the natural flavors and freshness of the ingredients shine. Due to the larger size of this Dinner Club gathering, tickets will be made available to the public following this initial offering to Slow Food members. Location: Hayes Street Grill, Hayes Street/Franklin City: SF Cost: $48 per person includes dinner, tax, tip and donation to Slow Food drinks are additional |
| 2/5/10-2/14/10 SF Beer Week ~ Many events w/ local breweries & local/organic restaurants Click the link for the full schedule. Location: Varies by event City: Bay Area Cost: Varies by event |
| Fri, 2/5/10 1:00pm Food Justice & Urban Agriculture on KPFA's "Terra Verde" Radio Show Oakland Food Policy member Nathan McClintock (author of Cultivating the Commons) will be a guest on KPFA's "Terra Verde" this afternoon at 1:00pm, with Brahm Ahmadi of People's Grocery and Erika Allen of Growing Power (Will Allen's daughter). They will be talking about food justice and urban agriculture. Tune in to 94.1 FM, or www.kpfa.org! Location: Your radio City: Your city |
| Sat-Sun, 2/6/10-2/7/10 CCOF Education Conference 'Healthy Soils, Healthy Food' CCOF’s 2010 Education Conference will include an exciting opportunity for participants to learn about the role that soil health plays in climate change policies, and how improving soil leads to further opportunities for organic growers, processors, retailers and consumers to help mitigate for climate change. Noted researcher and organic spokesman, Tim LaSalle, Executive Director of The Rodale Institute will be the keynote speaker. Participants will also hear from other presenters about farming, processing and consumer practices that can lead to a healthier environment and improved food system, through things like carbon sequestration, water conservation and activism. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with speakers, to learn hands’ on solutions, to find out what policies are being developed and how to influence those policies, and to take away valuable knowledge and solutions that can be implemented on your farm, in your operation or through your food dollars. Location: CSU Chico, College of Agriculture City: Chico Cost: $15-$85 |
| Sat, 2/6/10 10:00am-2:00pm Farm to School Workshop Come learn how to bring more local, fresh produce into school cafeterias and increase nutrition education in classrooms and school gardens. We’ll eat a locally-grown lunch, learn about the basics of Farm to School and identify opportunities in Santa Clara County to connect schools with farms. Activities, lessons and resources that link nutrition, food and farming education to school gardens and the classroom will be highlighted. RSVP by emailing Emma Mae Hoag at emma@caff.org or by calling 831.254.3112. Hablamos Español Llama 831.761.8507 si uds quieren información tenemos materials en español. Location: Kennedy Commons Sustainable Building, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real City: Santa Clara |
| Sat, 2/6/10 10:00am-4:00pm Groundhog Day Pork CSA w/ Live Culture Join us for Groundhog Day and make 2010 your year of living high on the hog! Groundhog Day is a pork CSA event co-hosted by Live Culture and Blue Bottle Coffee featuring 10 lb. shares of bacon, sausage, and pork chops! Order your share now and choose a time slot (between 10 am and 1 pm or between 1 pm and 4 pm) to come pick it up, we'll be waiting for you with grilled goodies. How Much: $70 per 10 lb. share ($7/lb). Location: Blue Bottle Coffee @ 300 Webster St. City: Oakland Cost: $70/share |
| Sat, 2/6/10 10:30am-12:30pm Workshop: Introduction to Organic Garden Design Learn how to grow a healthy and beautiful garden that minimizes the impacts on the environment. From building a healthy soil with compost to selecting beautiful plantings appropriate for the Bay Area's climate, this workshop will give you the basics to implement sustainable gardening practices. We recommend enrolling in all three Introduction to Organic Gardening workshops, though classes may be taken individually. Register by phone or email. Info: 415-731-5627, info@gardenfortheenvironment.org, . Location: Garden for the Environment, 7th Ave., @ Lawton St. City: SF Cost: Free |
| Saturdays, 2/7/10-2/28/10 10:30am Meet the Producer & Seasonal cooking demonstration at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Meet local producers (10:30) and enjoy a cooking demonstration by local chefs and cookbook authors using ingredients purchased that morning at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market (11am). Click the link to find out whose up this week! Upcoming special Saturdays: Oct 25 Harvest Festival, Nov 22 Holiday Pie Party. Location: CUESA's teaching kitchen, outside under the arcades north of the Ferry Building's clock tower. City: SF Cost: Free |
| Sundays, 2/7/10-3/7/10 9:30am-12:30pm Class: City Chickens and Ducks 3 Classes available: Sunday, February 7th 9:30 am -12:30 pm, Sunday, March 7th 9:30 am -12:30 pm and 2pm-5pm. Almost everyone buys eggs, and almost anyone with a small backyard can keep a few chickens or ducks. They are relatively quiet, create a wonderful nitrogen source for your garden (their composted poo), and their feed can be supplemented with kitchen scraps and weeds. Most hens lay an egg every day or two, so their eggs will be a source of delight and culinary inspiration. Chickens and ducks also teach us about our connection to the natural world. In this class, we’ll empower people to make the leap into chicken ownership. We’ll go over chicken requirements, responsibilities, setting up coops, raising chicks, anatomy, predation and disease, and best breeds for the city. Instructors: Urban Eggs; Cooper Funk and Paul Glowaski. Location: BioFuel Oasis 1441 Ashby avenue City: Berkeley Cost: $30 |
| Tue, 2/9/10 6:00pm reception; 6:30pm program Referendum on the Jewish Deli Menu: Can a retro cuisine be part of the avant-garde? What is sustainable leadership in the Deli? Panelists: Michael Pollan; Gil Friend, CEO of Natural Logic, Author: The Truth About Green Business; Willow Rosenthal, Founder, City Slicker Farms; With Karen Adelman and Peter Levitt, Co-Owners, Saul's Restaurant and Deli. Evan Kleiman of KCRW's Good Food will be moderating. What does sustainability mean for the future of Deli cuisine and culture? Local, organic VS. industrial systems, externalized costs of cheap food and...collective memory and food traditions? Even “authentic” cuisine can obstruct progress towards more just, sustainable food. How does a business committed to being part of the solution persuade traditionalist customers of the importance of change? For example, towering pastrami sandwiches once signified success, security and abundance, an immigrant’s celebration of the American Dream. But given the realities of meat production in America today – 99% is factory farmed – how can we continue to stand by this as an icon? What memories and flavors of The Deli have been provided by an industrial food system? How can we look at our nostalgia critically? How might we evolve a shared cuisine together and how can we bring our people along with us - away from grieving the disappearing deli, into the conversation and into the future? Location: Saul's Restaurant and Deli, 1475 Shattuck Ave City: Berkeley Cost: $10 Proceeds benefit The Center for Ecoliteracy |
| Wed, 2/10/10 6:30pm HUB, 8:15pm Gather Resto Slow Money Northern CA gathering Following up from our G-R-E-A-T first Dinner Meeting at Gather in Berkeley, January 13, 2010, the 2nd Slow Money Northern California Region (SMNCR) Gathering meets on Feburary 10th, the second Wednesday, first at the HUB in the Brower Center from 6:30-8pm—the main entrance-2150 Allston Way, come up to the 4th Floor—we’ll have something to nibble on to tide you over until dinner, but we’ll also be able to hear each other! and then from 8:15 to 9:30pm or so for dinner or soup or wine and dessert and the opportunity to continue our conversations at Gather, should you be able either to stay or join us for this portion of the Gathering! Please email Theo Ferguson (Theo.Ferguson@vitalsystemsca.com) if you can come to the Gathering from 6:30 to 8 and not the follow up conversation at Gather or visa versa or BOTH, please let him know so that we have everything prepared to welcome you! Location: The Hub, 2150 Allston Way, Suite 400; Gather Restaurant Allston/Oxford City: Berkeley Cost: Free |
| Thu, 2/11/10 6:00pm-8:00pm California Culinary Academy Farmer Series Thanks to a recent collaboration with CUESA, the California Culinary Academy (CCA) is hosting a series of farmer lunches and dinners in the student restaurant, Carême 350. The prix fixe meals mark the culmination of each class' culinary education and will feature produce grown by a local farmer. The next dinner, on February 6 from 6-8 pm, will feature the dried fruits and vegetables of Everything Under the Sun. Reservations are available through OpenTable.com (click link). Location: CCA Careme 350, 350 Rhode Island Street at 16th Street City: SF |
| Fri-Sun, 2/12/10-2/14/10 Strengthening the Roots: Food & Justice Convergence The convergence is organized by the California Student Sustainability Coalition/West Coast Real Food Challenge and regional partners. This regional gathering of STUDENTS and allies will strengthen the roots of our movement for just and sustainable food by bringing 200 students and allies together for workshops, panel discussions, and leadership trainings. The convergence will empower high school and college students to actively engage in their local communities and institutions by providing them with leadership skills, successful models and case studies, and a broader network of activists and allies. This will be the largest regional meeting in California exclusively dedicated to students and young leaders working on sustainable food, fair trade, and food justice! This convergence will be a rallying point that will inspire continued engagement throughout the 2009-2010 school year. If you have any questions, email strengthentheroots@gmail.com. Location: University of California, Santa Cruz City: Santa Cruz Cost: $25-50 |
| Fri-Sat, 2/12/10-2/13/10 Food from the Heart 2010 - SF Ferry Building & Slow Food SF With cupid in the air, fall in love with your favorite Napa Valley wines when the Napa Valley Vintners partners up with Slow Food San Francisco and San Francisco Ferry Building to bring you Food from the Heart. Experience the beauty of the waterfront by night as the entire Marketplace will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. for Valentine shopping. There will be tango and salsa dancing, and classical music to serenade visitors. Bring your appetites as the merchants and restaurateurs of the Marketplace will offer chocolate tastings, seasonal hors d'oeuvres ($2 - 4 per taste) and local Napa Valley Vintners will pour wine ($2-4 per taste). And for chocolate lovers, local confectioner Michael Recchiuti and Parisian artist Mark Alsterlind will demonstrate what happens when art mixes with confections by painting with chocolate. Proceeds from purchases of wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres benefit Slow Food San Francisco sending a delegate from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market to Slow Food Terra Madre in the Fall of 2010. Tickets are available the night of the at tables throughout the Marketplace. On Saturday the romantic revlry continues with music in the Marketplace, chef demos and special Valentine offerings from merchants. Location: Ferry Bldg Mktplace, Market and Embarcadero City: SF |
| Fri, 2/12/10 5:30 reception, 8:00pm show Soul Food for Thought/ The Real Roots of Liberation Celebrate Black History Month & benefit the International Fund for Africa (www.ifundafrica.org) in an evening of music, food & thought-provoking speakers with comedian LEO FLOWERS as MC! Featuring R&B legend LENNY WILLIAMS singing TOWER OF POWER favorites, Reggae & World Music sensation MIDNIGHT SUN, plus FUA DIA CONGO dance troupe; champion bodybuilder KENNETH G. WILLIAMS; DRS. ANTENEH ROBA and MILTON MILLS rap about the health secrets of traditional African diets, how we can prevent and overcome heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and saving the environment here and in Africa; breathtaking video of the Grandeur of Africa today; silent auction of rare art and artifacts from Ethiopia, Ghana and South Africa; fashion, beauty & cosmetics; sample cuisine from Bay Area’s finest restaurants at reception. SPONSORS: San Francisco Vegetarian Society (www.sfvs.org), In Defense of Animals (www.idausa.org) and www.GoVeganRadio.com. CONTACT: Bob Linden at 818-623-6477 or Bob@GoVeganRadio.com. Tickets: 415-392-4400 or click the link. Location: Herbst Theater, 401 Van Ness Ave. at McAllister City: SF Cost: $10 balcony, $15 dress circle, $20 box/orchestra, $40 orchestra with reception |
| Sat, 2/13/10 10:00am-12:30pm Workshop: Introduction to Organic Garden Care Planning ahead for low-maintenance design and sustainable products is a key element to a successful organic garden. Join us to learn about natural maintenance practices that will keep your garden beautiful and your labor to a minimum. We recommend enrolling in all three Introduction to Organic Gardening workshops, though classes may be taken individually. Register by phone or email. Info: 415-731-5627, info@gardenfortheenvironment.org, . Location: Garden for the Environment, 7th Ave., @ Lawton St. City: SF Cost: Free |
| Sun, 2/14/10 A Valentine’s Day Wine and Dine Tour at the Moss Room at the Cal Academy of Sciences “Sex and Science” At the California Academy of Sciences, love isn’t just in the air—it’s also in the water and on land. Celebrate Valentine’s Day this year with the Academy’s special “Sex and Science” themed Wine and Dine tour, and take your cues from some of our planet’s most amorous creatures. On this evening, we join the academy to offer a special dining and tour package. This includes a 4-course dinner designed by Rising Star Chef Justin Simoneaux, a champagne reception and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the planet’s most amorous creatures. To reserve your 6:00pm or 7:00pm spot, call 415.876 Location: The Moss Room, California Academy of Sciences City: SF Cost: $199 per person |
| Tue, 2/16/10 6:00pm-9:00pm 5th Annual Mardis Gras Benefit at Fish Restaurant Support a great cause and come out for Fat Tuesday. Eat, Drink and Dance the Blues away on the water at Fish Restaurant. Down home style Southern Creole cuisine. Live music by Bluesbox Bayou. Live Auction. Wear your beads and c'mon out cuz doing the right thing has never been this much fun! All costs for this event are being donated as well as all of the proceeds to benefit Local Commercial Fisherman Dedicated To Sustainable Practices. Proudly Sponsored by: Fish. Restaurant and Non-Profit F.O.C.B. Fish or Cut Bait Location: Fish Restaurant (click link for details) City: Sausalito Cost: $100, all-inclusive; all proceeds will be donated |
| Fri, 2/19/10 10:00am-1:00pm Volunteer: Berkeley Youth Alternative Gardens Get your hands dirty in one of Berkeley Youth Alternatives' two large production gardens. Drop in anytime during volunteer hours. Tasks may include weeding, bed preparation, sowing, transplanting, composting and harvesting. Some background: The Bancroft Garden was started in 2003 through a collaboration with Berkeley Youth Alternatives, the surrounding community, UC Berkeley, and the City of Berkeley. The project transformed a vacant railway corridor into a burgeoning, productive, and welcoming space. This half acre of land is shared with neighborhood gardeners and the BYA Garden Program and leased from the City of Berkeley. The newest features are beehives, a clay oven, and a rainwater catchment system. Our other garden, the Orchard Garden, is located behind our youth center (formerly a bread factory!) on Allston Way and contains 34 young fruit trees as well as annual row crops and native perennial plants. The gardens are tended by high school aged paid interns year-round. We practice ecologically-friendly management techniques. Call with questions. Info: 510-647-0709, . Location: Berkeley Youth Alternatives Garden, Bancroft Way, between Bonar and West St. City: Berkeley |
| Sat, 2/20/10 2:00pm Pie Ranch Workday and Barn Dance Every third Saturday of the month Pie Ranch hosts its barn dance and community potluck. For those of you who don't know, Co-founder Jered Lawson helped launch Buy Fresh Buy Local way back when in 2002 and now serves on the campaign's Steering Committee. Today he carries on his love for local food and farming by digging in at his farm, shaped like a pie and is co-owned by Jered, his wife Nancy and Karen Heisler. Karen runs Mission Pie in the city and is out on the farm whenever she can be. This farm-to-city connection is educating children about farming and is a premier model in the Bay Area. Location: Pie Ranch, 2080 Cabrillo Hwy. City: Pescadero Cost: Free |
| Sat, 2/20/10 4:00pm-6:30pm MEATPAPER presents The Rabbit Course: a rabbit butchery and cooking class with Samin Nosrat Rabbits are the new chicken. As one of the most sustainable meat choices available, rabbit is quickly becoming a favorite for conscientious home cooks. Come spend an afternoon with Mark Pasternak of Devil's Gulch Ranch and Chef Samin Nosrat for a hands-on butchering and cooking class. In the first half-hour, Mark will describe his rabbit husbandry practices at Devil's Gulch Ranch, where he raises rabbits for some of the Bay Area's finest restaurants, including Chez Panisse, Zuni Cafe, Quince Restaurant and The French Laundry. Next, we'll move into the kitchen where Samin will show you the ins and outs of butchering a rabbit—then it'll be your turn: each student will receive a rabbit to break down into primal cuts. The class will end with a cooking demonstration of how to extract the most flavor from your rabbit, with recipes for a rich stock, kidney and liver paste, Tuscan rabbit ragu and tips on how to best season, grill and braise rabbit meat. CLASS SIZE: 12 students max. Each student will butcher and take home his/her rabbit and a butchery and recipe guide. Location: 4629 Martin Luther King Junior Way (At the corner of 47th and MLK) City: Oakland Cost: $99 |
| Sun, 2/21/10 10:00am-1:00pm Backyard Beekeeping Honey bees are a joy to keep in the backyard simply for their buzzing presence and, on hot days, the smell of honey, wafting through the air within ten feet of the hive. They increase pollination in your yard and therefore increase your yields from fruit trees and vegetables. You may also harvest honey (gallons per year), beeswax, pollen, and propolis from the hive. We’ll cover what you need to know to feel ready to have a Langstroth backyard beehive - how to get bees, what equipment you need, where to put the hive, how to extract honey and upkeep the hive. Featured snack will be apples, cheese, and chocolate dipped in local honey. At the end of class, we will take a short walk over to a local beehive. Location: BioFuel Oasis 1441 Ashby avenue City: Berkeley Cost: $25 |
| Sun, 2/21/10 7:00pm Performance and Food: Food Justice Series This performance is the first of three installations of the Food Justice Series (2/21, 3/14 and 4/25). Renowned author Bryant Terry and acclaimed choreographer Amara Tabor Smith have curated an evening of performance and food. Info: 510-849-2568, info@lapena.org, . Location: La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave., (@ Prince St.) City: Berkeley Cost: $15 |
| Sun, 2/21/10 7:00pm-10:00pm MEATPAPER Meat & Greet at Pizzaiolo: Issue 10 Launch Party We’re honored to collaborate with Pizzaiolo and a crew of amazing chefs to bring you a range of beautiful, seasonal dishes and artisan cocktails. Please raise a glass with us! A cocktail party, celebration, and fundraiser for Meatpaper. There will be small bites (both meaty and vegetarian. Click the link for tickets and details. Location: Pizzaiolo (51st & Telegraph) City: Oakland Cost: $50; advance ticket required |
| Sun, 2/21/10 9:30am-2:30pm Preserving in the Seasons with June Taylor - Marmalade An intimate, one day, hands-on class that concentrates on the principles and processes of marmalade making and the experiential nature of preserving fruit. Topics include: * Evaluation and selection of fruit. * Stages of preparation. * Making natural pectin from the fruit. * Cooking and jarring of the marmalade. The class will include a tasting and evaluation of a variety of winter citrus for marmalade making, as well as a comparative tasting of international, commercial, and local artisan marmalades. Students will take home a jar of the marmalade they make in class. June Taylor products are offered at 10% off on the day of the class. Light refreshments, including June Taylor products, will be served. Location: Still Room, 2207 4th Street City: Berkeley Cost: $195 |
| Mon, 2/22/10 MEATPAPER presents: East Meats West II at Bar Tartine Chefs Chris Kronner of Bar Tartine in San Francisco and Sean Rembold of Diner in Brooklyn team up to create a 4-course dinner featuring Devil's Gulch rabbits. There will be signature cocktails and wine pairings. Two seatings, 6pm and 9pm. $100; Email events@meatpaper.com with your name, preferred seating time, and the number in your party, and we will reply to confirm your reservation and provide instructions to pre-purchase your ticket. Location: Bar Tartine, 561 Valencia Street City: SF Cost: $100 |
| Sat, 2/27/10 8:30am-1:00pm Harvesting for the Hungry In collaboration with Village Harvest, we organize teams of volunteers to pick fruit from neighborhood fruit trees. Each season we take a morning to harvest over a ton of produce for local food closets. Volunteers have fun while learning the seasons of local fruit, the hungry benefit by receiving fresh produce, and homeowners appreciate having their trees harvested. Type of Fruit: Citrus. For more information about Village Harvest, visit www.villageharvest.org. Location: Meet at Conexions 1023 Corporation Way City: Palo Alto |
| Sun, 2/28/10 4:30pm-8:00pm Cochon 555 SF: Five Chefs, Five Pigs, Five Winemakers Don't miss COCHON 555, where a group of chefs will each prepare a heritage breed hog from head to toe in a friendly competition. Guests and professional judges will determine a winner based on creativity, utilization and overall best flavor. The winner will be crowned the “Prince of Porc”. In addition, five selected winemakers will showcase their wines. COCHON 555 is a tribute to heritage breeds, local chefs and family-owned wineries. For the competition, each 125 pound heritage pig can be braised, grilled, pressed, pickled, rubbed, smoked, seared, sauced, spiced, injected, marinated, cured or otherwise prepared. Guests of the event will experience the chef creations during a 2.5 hour stand-up reception and have the opportunity to vote for the winner. Chef stations will alternate with winemaker tables. The purpose of COCHON 555 is to promote heritage pigs and breed diversity in local and national communities. Additionally, we will be supporting the “Napa Fire Explorers”, a local youth vocational program. Location: Silverado Resort City: Napa Cost: $110 GA / $160 VIP (discount to industry) |
| Tue, 3/2/10 6:30pm-8:30pm Produce to the People: New Ideas for Local Distribution There are now over 5,000 farmers' markets in the U.S., yet still only a small percentage of Americans regularly eat fresh produce from local farms. Join CUESA and Kitchen Table Talks for a lively conversation about inspiring models for getting fresh, local food to more Bay Area residents. The panel will include: Grayson James, executive director of Petaluma Bounty, a non-profit organization that helps people grow their own healthy food, redistributes surplus food, and provides affordable fresh food to low-income families and seniors; Melanie Cheng, founder of FarmsReach, an new online farm food marketplace that connects farmers to business buyers; and Christine Cherdboonmuang, coordinator of Healthy Farms/Healthy Communities for Oakland’s East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC) and the Oakland School District, who works to bring fresh produce to parents through farm stands at 12 Oakland schools. The panel will be moderated by Michael Dimock, President of Roots of Change (ROC), a non-profit organization whose purpose is to spawn a sustainable food system in California by the year 2030. The conversation will begin promptly at 6:30 pm and will culminate with refreshments and a reception from 8:00 to 8:30 pm. Refreshments will be donated by Bi-Rite Market. Kitchen Table Talks is produced in partnership with CivilEats.com and 18 Reasons. Location: Port Commission Hearing Room, 2nd floor of the Ferry Building City: SF Cost: Free |
| Sun, 3/7/10 9:30am-12:30pm OR 2:00pm-5:00pm City Chicken and Ducks Almost everyone buys eggs, and almost anyone with a small backyard can keep a few chickens or ducks. They are relatively quiet, create a wonderful nitrogen source for your garden (their composted poo), and their feed can be supplemented with kitchen scraps and weeds. Most hens lay an egg every day or two, so their eggs will be a source of delight and culinary inspiration. Chickens and ducks also teach us about our connection to the natural world. In this class, we’ll empower people to make the leap into chicken ownership. We’ll go over chicken requirements, responsibilities, setting up coops, raising chicks, anatomy, predation and disease, and best breeds for the city. Location: BioFuel Oasis 1441 Ashby Ave. City: Berkeley Cost: $30 |
| Sat, 3/10/10 11:00am-3:00pm 2nd Saturday Farm Fest at Capay Organic Farm Come visit the farm, take a trailer ride, meet the farmers that grow your veggies and harvest what's in season. Enjoy numerous kid-friendly activities, learn about farming and listen to live music in the farmhouse garden. Bring a picnic and plan on staying into the afternoon. No RSVP necessary. This is a free event. Call our office at 800-796-6009 for more information. Location: Capay Organic Farm, 23800 State Highway 16 City: Capay Cost: Free |
| Fri, 3/12/10 10:00am-11:30am Fantastic Fridays - Fun with food Audience: Families, Preschool Students. Food, food everywhere. Come join us at the new Crissy Field Center where you and your toddler will make tasty organic snacks and have a blast learning about healthy eating! Remember, you are what you eat! Pre-registration is recommended for all programs. Financial assistance is available. Location: Crissy Field, Crissy Field Center City: SF Cost: $15 |
| Sat, 3/20/10 10:30am-12:30pm Herbs in the Garden, Herbs in the Kitchen Plant an organic herb garden! Bring a beautiful diversity to your garden with a variety of culinary and medicinal herbs. Herbs bring harmony and health to us and our gardens with their beauty, fragrance, flowers (that attract beneficial insects), and everlasting qualities that enable them to be brought indoors to share and enjoy. Learn how to grow and harvest perennial and annual herbs, herbs in containers, and essential herbs for the kitchen. Plant lists, recipes and tasty samples will be provided. Everyone will plant herbs to take home. Jody is a local food and garden writer, educator and consultant. Her specialty is creating organic vegetable, herb and berry gardens. Location: Common Ground, 559 College Ave. City: Palo Alto Cost: $31 + $5 materials fee |
| Sun, 3/21/10 10:00am-1:00pm The Complete Rabbit Rabbits are the new chicken. More and more urban farmers are discovering the benefits of raising rabbits for meat and fur. Bunnies are very low impact in a city environment: they’re quiet, prefer to be kept in shady locations (thus don’t take up vegetable space) and reproduce quickly. Their meat is low fat and delicious when properly prepared; their tanned hides can be used for many craft projects; and their poo makes a great amendment for your garden. This class will cover rabbit basics: housing, sourcing food for them on a budget, breeding, and harvesting. A quick and humane technique for killing meat rabbits will be discussed. For those with interest, we will do a hands-on demo of how to undress and prepare the rabbit for the table. Instructor: Novella Carpenter. Location: BioFuel Oasis 1441 Ashby avenue City: Berkeley Cost: $30 |
| Sat, 3/27/10 8:30am-1:00pm Harvesting for the Hungry In collaboration with Village Harvest, we organize teams of volunteers to pick fruit from neighborhood fruit trees. Each season we take a morning to harvest over a ton of produce for local food closets. Volunteers have fun while learning the seasons of local fruit, the hungry benefit by receiving fresh produce, and homeowners appreciate having their trees harvested. Type of Fruit: Citrus. For more information about Village Harvest, visit www.villageharvest.org. Location: Meet at Conexions 1023 Corporation Way City: Palo Alto |