Cookin' in the 'Cuse

Healing our Relationship with the Earth--a Conference on September 18

Greenblade--an organization that seeks to integrate creation, faith, and justice--is one of the coolest things going in the Episcopal Church.  They were the ones who took on the challenge of eating local as a community over the course of a year--several years ago.  Their first conference is being held in Camillus this Saturday and with topics like hyrdrofracking, food gardens in faith communities, and Sr. Catherine Grace of Bluestone Farm in Brewster on the agenda--it is something you won't want to miss.  Just as an aside--the community at Bluestone Farm has been working on local, sustainable food issues for a long time and they totally walk the walk. They make their own tofu from soybeans they grow themselves--they are hardcore!

The official press release is included below.  Three other things to note:  the suggested donation is just that--suggested.  Pay what you can--if it is only a couple of bucks--no problem.  And the food is being catered by Abigail Henson--formerly of the Restaurant at Elderberry Pond.  Her food is amazing so count on lunch being spectacular.  Finally, with a nun giving the keynote--there will be God-talk here, Greenblade is about healing the planet from a faith perspective--but people of all faiths, and none, are heartily invited to come--don't let that get in the way.

I hope to see you there!

 

Healing Our Relationship with the Earth: Learn, Reflect Act,  will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Camillus, New York.

We know we must heal our relationship with the earth or the environmental and spiritual legacy we leave coming generations will be grim indeed. In this conference we will explore what healing means, what it requires of us, and how we do it.  Most of all, we will explore how this healing can bring all of us, human and non-human, to a place of fulfillment, abundance, and joy. Greenblade welcomes all who struggle with these questions to bring their thoughts, passions and beliefs and join the dialogue.

The keynote speaker will be Sr. Catherine Grace of Bluestone Farm, an organic farm run by the sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit, in Brewster, N.Y. Her talk is titled “Grounded in the Cosmos: A New Context for Healing.” Participants will have the opportunity to discuss this talk and then to participate in three afternoon workshops. The topics for these workshops are: “Hydrofracking: Beyond ‘For’ and ‘Against’”; “Landscaping: Listening to the Land”; and “Church Gardens: Food to Share”.

A suggested donation of $40 includes a catered lunch of local and seasonal food. We invite participants to pay as they are able. To register please download and mail the form on the Greenblade site, www.greenblade.org.  Payment is by check.

St. Luke’s is located at 5402 West Genesee St., Camillus, New York. There is plenty of parking and handicapped access.  For further information please email Susan Dixon at [email protected].

Meanwhile...back in Syracuse

While I love the example that Michelle Obama is setting by planting an organic vegetable garden at the White House, I'm even more excited by some of the things happening right here in Central New York. Check out these two events that are helping to move along the conversation and the action here in our region.

American Farmland Trust Regional Conference, Wednesday, March 25, Holiday Inn, Liverpool

More than 150 farmers, local officials, environmental groups, economic development agencies, local food advocates and others from across Central New York will gather for a conference to highlight ways that public and private partners at the local level can bolster Central New York’s agricultural economy and protect the land upon which farmers depend. 

The conference titled Planning for Farms, Food and Energy in Central New York will be held on March 25th at the Holiday Inn on Electronics Parkway in Syracuse from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Conference session topics include: Tools for Planning for Agriculture; Protecting Water and Agriculture; Revitalizing Local Food Systems; Farm Friendly Zoning; Agriculture’s Impact on Local Economies and Budgets; and Energy Opportunities and Agriculture.

Alethea Harper, of Food First will visit the campus of SUNY-ESF on April 1--Time and Location TBD

Alethea is Coordinator of the Oakland Food Policy Council (OFPC), a new organization being incubated at Food First. Before starting at the OFPC in 2008, Alethea was the AgParks and Food Systems Project Manager at SAGE, where she coauthored the San Francisco Foodshed Assessment: Think Globally - Eat Locally. Alethea holds a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. Her award-winning Master's thesis was entitled Repairing the Local Food System: Long Range Planning for People's Grocery.  

Top Ten Food & Farm Experiences of 2008: The Final Five

I am finally coming up for air after the holidays, moving into a new residence, and writing nonstop for the other parts of my life--thanks for hanging around during my hiatus! 

There is so much I want to write about here but finding the time and energy to do it has been difficult.  But lest anyone think that I can't really count to ten, I herewith present the final five of my Top Ten Food and Farm Experiences of 2008:

CSA and Market Explosion

Watching the increase in demand for locally grown and produced food in the Syracuse area was an amazing thing to see.  In the year 2008 we nearly doubled the number of options for shopping at farmers' markets and subscribing to community supported agriculture programs.  New markets like the one at Green Hills Market in the Valley, the organic market in Skaneateles, and the second year of the market at Loguen Park meant that one could obtain fresh, local food almost everyday of the week.  Add the new CSAs distributing in Syracuse like Wyllie Fox Farm and Common Thread Community Farm and you can see the beginnings of what I hope will be a deep and lasting alternative food system for our area.

Slow Food Central New York and Syracuse Grows

If there is anything Syracuse has in abundance it is grassroots energy.  The near simultaneous development of Syracuse Grows and a local Slow Food chapter have fired up our community for action while providing lots of ways to get involved in creating a just and sustainable food system.

From their mission statement:  Syracuse Grows is a grassroots network cultivating a just foodscape in the city of Syracuse. We provide programming resources and education to grow equitable local food production, distribution and consumption through urban agriculture and community gardening.   They meet the second Tuesday of the month at the Cornell Cooperative Extension.  Check out what they've been up to here.

Slow Food CNY had a record turn out at its last meeting and it is so exciting to see how much enthusiasm they've generated in the community.  I've posted about Slow Food events on this blog in the past but these events were not hosted by our local convivum (chapter) because we didn't have one.  Now we do and they are working with Syracuse Grows and other area groups to support the preservation of our local foodways and to encourage the pleasures of the table.  And they'll advocate for sustainabiity along the way.  Check out their blog here.

Discovery of Boom Boom Mex Mex

Talk about slow--I just discovered this place--the day before it closed for the season back in October.  I'm always looking for good, authentic Mexixan food and this place is the real deal.  It is definitely worth the drive to Marcellus to pick up a burrito with all the fixings prepared fresh--no cans of premade salsa here--you can watch them prepare right in front of you.  I'll post more about Boom Boom when they reopen in the spring.

The Gramercy Tavern--an Unforgettable Meal

This meal really needs its own post--perhaps I'll get to that eventually.  But let these words suffice:  Chocolate bacon tart.  For dessert.  It was an incredible way to top off an amazing tasting menu put together on the fly by chef Michael Anthony at Gramercy Tavern.  And yes, this is about Central New York because Michael Anthony grew up here--went to Camillus High and everything.  It was a meal to remember but what made it so great in addition to the food, was conversation with Michael in between courses.  He's a true advocate for local, seasonal food and when he gets in the kitchen, he really knows how to make magic happen from simple ingredients--house made pasta, house made sausages--nothing is wasted.  He's my hero and I can't wait to get back there.

and speaking of heroes....

President Barack Obama

Not a food or farm experience per se, but the election of now President Barack Obama means, among other things, that the "can do" spirit and creative imagining can live once again in the hearts of the people of this country.  There will be changes in our country--some of them will be immediate and others will be slow to come but there is a sense of optimism and hope that will no doubt permeate the world of food, food justice, and sustainable food production so that even in a time of financial difficulty.  And personally, it meant more than I thought I knew to finally see a  person of color take the oath of office for President.  What a time to be alive.  Here's to 2009 and all of the delicousness that awaits!

State Senator Valesky Gets It

I don't tend to get into state politics on this blog--I prefer to leave that sort of thing to those who know what they are doing.  But thanks to a tip from reader and blogger David Pratt I pulled Senator David Valesky's constituency newsletter out of the recycling pile to find these fascinating morsels:

How Many Food Miles Did Your Apple Travel?

...One problem is we don't always know where food is from.  I have proposed a bill to include "Food Miles" on the labels of fresh fruits and vegetables.  You can also ask your grocer, and let them know you care about such things.  By reducing how far our food has traveled we can cut our energy impact while we help the local economy.

And this:

Linking What We Grow with What We Eat

When I talk to farmers in Central New York about the prospects of selling more of their products to consumers downstate, many tell me how hard it is to break into these markets....New York's customers want fresh, locally produced foods.  Upstate New York has the ability to supply these products.  Together we can improve our economy, our health and our environment and create a better link between what we grow and what we eat.

Valesky's district is the 49th covering Madison Country, and bits of Onondaga County (including the city of Syracuse and some of its eastern suburbs) and some of eastern Cayuga County.  It's an odd map but when I look carefully I note that many of the farms that supply the food I eat are in this district.  So finally, I feel that I can write a letter of encouragement to one of our legislators. 

It would be an amazing thing for New York to take some leadership on putting food miles on our food--it may even nudge the national Country of Origin Labeling legislation a bit further.  I'll also want to support his efforts to expand our markets to consumers downstate but with one huge caveat.  I'm all food my family in Brooklyn and Staten Island partaking of Central  New York's bounty, but not if I can't get to it too.  I find it more than a little frustrating that some of the best stuff leaves our area for NYC markets only.  I shouldn't have to go to the lower east side to get Evans Farmhouse Creamery butter.  Clearly, there are distribution issues I don't fully understand and I guess I'm lucky that if I really want that butter I can go directly to the farm--but let's not send all the good stuff away--we upstaters enjoy it too. 

That aside, it is great to see Valesky tracking on these issues--let's hope his colleagues get on board too.

Archive Alert:  On this date in 2005 I was sharing a little link love with a shout out to the York Staters blog.

Is anyone else worried about the weather?

Don't get me wrong--I'm loving this weather.  It feels like I'm back in Berkeley, CA without the traffic.  But it is so warm that some bulbs are coming up and geese are still flying overheard--I'm not sure they know where to go.  The one's I saw the other day as I drove east on the NY State Thruway were going south so I'm hoping they just got a late start.  Meanwhile, cattle are freezing in Colorado.

From a food standpoint, though, it is also confusing.  I'm feeling like salads and leafy greens and don't feel motivated to do anything with all that winter squash in my root cellar.  The seed catalogs are arriving and I'm itching to go and do garden work now.  I know that here in Central New York we will have winter until at least early April so I have no illusions that we are off the hook--not yet.  But I also know that food production in these parts does depend on a particular weather cycle that includes a fair bit of cold temps.  We can probably expect to hear of reports of food costs going up or down based the mild weather we've had. 

When the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY meets at the end of this month I'll look forward to hearing how the farmers are making out.  The conference will be held in Liverpool and it isn't too late to register.  Click here for a registration form.  And though I say it with just a bit of nervousness--enjoy the 60 degree weather!

The year of water

Just a quick post to assure folks who have been tracking the flood stories here in Central New York that we in Syracuse are okay.  It has been exceptionally wet and rainy here but no flooding.  Thank you for your notes of concern--it means so much.

It has been difficult, though, to see the images of flooding in places like Sidney, Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott.  Nine years ago, in my first position after seminary, I lived in Johnson City and served a church in Endicott.  I still have many friends there and the Southern Tier, as it is called, will always have a special place in my  heart.

There are some photos of the situation (from a few days ago) posted on a MySpace site (thanks NYCO for the lead). 

I know that there are years when the weather does unexpected things--the El Nino years in California in the late 1990s come to mind.  But I'm really beginning to wonder about the string of rains and floods that seem to be hitting nearly every part of our country this year.  The excessive rains in the Bay Area this winter, the flooding along the Massachusetts Cape several weeks ago, and now this. 

Water, food, sustainability, the environment--it is all related.  I think I'll spend the rest of my lifetime trying to figure out how to live in a way that honors and respects all four.

Who Knew?

Food innovation is not always what comes to mind when folks think about Central New York so let's give credit where credit is due.  Perhaps this is old news to natives and long time residents of the area but these two facts were made known to me today:

1.  Ina Garten, aka, the Barefood Contessa earned her bachelors degree in Economics from Syracuse University.  According to Chefography, a Food Network special, Garten solidified her desire to cook and entertain while discovering science and economics were not her calling right here in the Salt City. 

But more importantly...

2.  Robert C. Baker, an alum and long-time professor at Cornell University, died on Monday.  Never heard of him?  Have you heard of chicken nuggets?  Ground poultry?  Chicken hot dogs?  You can thank Baker for all these and more.  His obituary as printed in New York Newsday can be found here.