Words from Slow Food Calgary’s new President, Kris Vester – spoken at Local 101 event on Saturday March 13, 2010
Posted March 27th, 2010 by Tonya Lailey
Politics, Economics and Local Food Systems
Good afternoon. I would like to begin today with a line from the great German poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,.
“Erst in der Beschraenkung, zeigt sich der Meister.”
“It is only within limitation that a master reveals himself as such.”
Thank you for taking time from your busy lives to assemble here today to learn more about that which is the very foundation of our civilization, which is all too often cheapened, adulterated, contaminated and taken for granted, food. Food is not only that which fuels us but also that which provides the building blocks of life from which we are initially assembled and constantly renewed and, as such, its importance is obvious to any human with even the slightest awareness. As Vandana Shiva has said, there is no such thing as a post-food society. I am here today to impart to you, my fellow citizens, some insight into the bigger picture of local food and local food systems, that you might leave here today a little wiser and much more motivated to do what you can to ensure that we, collectively, pursuit a path of progress in regards to food which will respect and serve both this beautiful earth, which gave rise to us, and ourselves well, now and in the future. Specifically, I wish to give you a deeper understanding of what local food is, to outline briefly the evolving economic paradigm which has resulted in a decidedly non-local approach being applied to our food systems and, finally, to offer my thoughts on how we can and, I would argue, must engage as citizens in our communities and in the democratic process if we wish to create a new economic paradigm which will result in the revitalization of a sustainable and vibrant local food system.
University of Gastronomic Sciences – Dispatches
Posted March 19th, 2010 by Tonya Lailey
Lindsay Anderson, former Slow Food Calgary Planning Committee member, is enrolled in the University of Gastronomic Sciences. She is sending us dispatches from her immersion in Slow Food theory and practice…
dispatch #1
Ciao! My name is Lindsay Anderson, and I recently began the Master in Food Culture and Communications program at the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNSIG, a.k.a. the Slow Food University). This twelve-month program is based in Parma, Italy, and is made up of twenty-five international students. Rather than a culinary school, it is a place to academically study the many inter-connected roles that food play in the world, as well as develop skills in food journalism and photography. It is the program I have envisioned for years, perhaps since first realizing as a child that food meant more to me than just fuel. I discovered UNISG several years ago, could barely believe my luck that such a program existed, and at once began my pursuit of it.
A native of Prince George, BC, I graduated two years ago from the University of Victoria with a degree in Art History. I have spent the last two years happily vagabonding around this and other continents, working in various food-related jobs.
The wonderful folks at Slow Food Calgary, whom I had the opportunity to learn from for six months while living there, have been kind enough to allow me to share my adventures with you over the next year. I’ll be writing updates on my experiences both in and out of the classroom; as part of the program, we’ll be visiting farmers and producers in various regions of Italy to see their work first-hand, as well as attending Slow Food events such as Terra Madre in Torino. Additional trips to Greece, Belgium and Spain will round out our education at various times throughout the year. I have no doubt that these experiences will yield more than one interesting story, and I look forward to sharing them with you.
One new thing I learned in Italy today? Football (soccer) fans are louder than those of hockey, if you can believe it. Until next time….
Feel free to write me with any questions or comments you have at lindsaylaurenanderson@gmail.com
Wheat, Meat, Potatoes and more… check out the latest additions to the Slow Food Calgary directory of local food producers!
Posted March 16th, 2010 by Tonya Lailey
Slow Food Calgary is pleased to announce a few new additions to our Directory of Slow Food Producers!|
• Certified Organically Grown Alberta “Faith” RED FIFE Wheat -
Seed cleaners and suppliers of “Faith” Red FIFE Wheat
Contact:Bernie or Brian Ehnes
Etzikom, AB
403-666-2047 or 403-666-2047
Artisan bakers coast to coastare baking with Red Fife wheat.
Sharon Rempel started the Red Fife heritage wheat movement in 1986 with a pound of seed and intention to regain commercial viability of the wheat that fed Canada from 1860-1900. In 2009 she took the foundation ‘”Keremeos” Red Fife’ seed she started with from the Keremeos Grist Mill and grew it on Bernie and Brian Ehnes’ farm in Etzikom, Alberta.
The soils and climate interact with the heritage variety genetics (terroir) to produce a unique flavor and profile for that year, that land and the crop. Just like grapes and wine, the wheat variety you choose can greatly influence the quality of bread or other product you produce with wheat.
The marketing and promotions coordinator for “Faith ‘Red Fife’” is Sharon Rempel, godmother of the Red Fife Heritage Wheat movement. Contact information: Sharon Rempel, www.grassrootsolutions.com; email: slrempel@shaw.ca This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and www.tgibc.org (Note: most of this info was taken from the ehnesorganic.com website).
• EAT Food for Life – The Meats Market - grass-fed beef, pastured soy-free turkey and chicken
CSA – Community Supported Agriculture
Contact : Owners, Tim and Maighread Axe
Box 630
Clandonald, AB
T0B 0X0
780-853-6046
This is the first meat CSA in Alberta. A CSA is a community supported Agricultural initiative. Patrons buy shares and receive deliveries of meat each month. The consumer benefits by having a source of good, clean and fair meat delivered to them and the producer benefits by having secured a market for their product. 50 Subscriptions are available on-line at the website above starting in April. Terra Cariatis Patris Farm is certified organic and has exclusively grass-fed beef and pastured soy-free turkey and chicken.
• Eagle Creek Farm – Bowden SunMaze – flowers, heritage variety potatoes, garlic
John Mills, Youth Grower, Terra Madre attendee
CSA – Community Supported Agriculture
Bowden
403-224-3995 / 403- 224-3995
John Mills announced Saturday, March 13 at the Local 201 conference in Calgary that he will be offering a CSA – Community Supported Agriculture cooperative for the 2010 growing season. You can purchase a half share or full share and have vegetables delivered to Calgary or Olds for 12 weeks in the 2010 growing season. Check out the details and pricing at the weblink above.
Janice Beaton Fine Cheese and Wild Rose Brewery
Posted March 13th, 2010 by Tonya Lailey
“Beer and Cheese” Pairing
Monday, April 19 from 7 to 9 pm
Wild Rose Brewery, in the Currie Barracks
4580 Quesnay Wood Dr., SW
This fun event features two local favourites in our first ever beer and cheese pairing night. Guests will enjoy six hand-crafted Wild Rose brews lovingly paired with Canadian cheeses and charcuteries delicacies while learning about how both the beers and the cheese are made.
Slow Food Calgary Members: $35; Not-yet Members $45
*Price includes the beer and accompaniments.
To purchase tickets to any event listed, call or visit:
The Cookbook Co. Cooks, 722 – 11th Ave. SW/ 403-265-6066
And the nominees are…
Posted March 10th, 2010 by Tonya Lailey
It’s time to submit nominations for Terra Madre 2010!
21 Oct 10 – 25 Oct 10
TERRA MADRE world meeting of food communities
Turin, Italy
Terra Madre is Slow Food’s project to build an international network of food communities, including food producers, cooks, educators, and youth, working to establish a system of good, clean and fair food production. Since 2004, thousands of representatives of these communties come together in Turin, Italy every two years in an international meeting.
WHO to NOMINATE ?
Southern Alberta Farmers…
• who have not been to Terra Madre
• who practice good, clean and fair farming without chemical inputs
• who would like to do more toward making their farm practices sustainable
• who would like to do more toward growing and distributing good food in clean and fair ways
• the cultivation or interest in same of heritage/heirloom varieties will be considered
Southern Alberta Youth Farmers…
• same criteria as above only candidates must be younger than 35
Southern Alberta Cooks…
• who have not been to Terra Madre
• who have a demonstrated track record of supporting locally grown and raised food but who are keen on learning more about what it means to successfully source good, clean and fair local produce/products and to build a sustainable/marketable cuisine from them
DEADLINE: March 31, 2010
Names of candidates, a brief description of who they are and what they do and any words or letters of support should be sent to:
info@slowfoodcalgary.ca
WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
follow us on twitter
Posted March 4th, 2010 by Tonya Lailey
slow food calgary tweets
Artisan bakers coast to coastare baking with Red Fife wheat.