working to sustain and enhance the local foods economy and community in Indianapolis by developing the Culture of food and urban agriculture in Indianapolis.
In partnership with Spirit & Place 2010 - Food For Thought, you are invited to join Big City Farms farmers, Matthew Jose and Tyler Henderson, and Growing Places Indy partner Laura Henderson for a farm tour and picnic on Friday, Oct. 1 @ 5:30 p.m - 7 p.m. (Early enough to enjoy First Friday galleries & events as well!)
Meet at the Cottage Home Community Green Space on the south-west corner of St. Clair St. and Highland Ave. (~700 block of N. Highland Ave.) We'll take a walking tour of Big City Farms, and then return to the CH Community Green Space for a picnic* and conversation. Learn about the Big City Farms and Growing Places Indy partnership, our vision for urban farming in Indy, and our upcoming trip to Turin, Italy as Slow Food USA delegates to the Slow Food International Terra Madre conference. We'll share why we are excited to be delegates, and we'd love to hear what you hope we'll bring home from our experience!
Big City Farms and Growing Places Indy will provide iced tea, water and beer. Please bring your favorite picnic, including blanket/chair, food, dining ware, etc. Also, be prepared to walk about 1 mile!
This event is free but will be limited to the first 30 people to sign-up. Email laura@growingplacesindy.org to make a reservation. Families are welcome. Be prepared for walking and remember your picnic essentials and accessories!
Terra Madre is an international conference, held every two years, that gathers sustainable food producers, farmers, cooks, educators and activists from around the world to connect and share their stories and traditions, as well as their innovative solutions for keeping small-scale agriculture and sustainable food production alive and well. Delegates come from over 150 countries. You can watch a video from Terra Madre 2008 and view the 2010 pamphlet here.
We take our role as delegates seriously, and we are honored for the opportunity to represent the many efforts around sustainable farming and food production growing in the Indianapolis area. We look forward to bringing back our experiences from Terra Madre to share with you and further nurture our collective sustainable food movement.
GOING LOCAL Week 2010 will be celebrated in the Hoosier state starting this Sunday, September 5 through Saturday, September 11, 2010. It is a one week “challenge” to Indiana citizens to eat at least one Indiana locally grown or produced food at each meal during the seven day event.
“I encourage everyone to take part in GOING LOCAL WEEK,” said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman. “If you don’t already, visit a local farmers’ market this week and buy local grown produce and meats – or try Indiana Artisan special creations such as hot sauces, delicious baked goods or Indiana wines. I have traveled and enjoyed these different local foods all across our state. I am so proud of our Hoosier producers and the high-quality, delicious foods they offer each community.”
The objectives of GOING LOCAL Week are to:
·Create an appreciation for the abundance and diversity of the Indiana food shed.
·Make Indiana citizens more aware of the availability of local foods in their own communities.
·Provide support and recognition for Indiana local food producers.
·Increase Indiana residents’ consumption of locally grown/produced foods in a long-term effort to encourage them to regularly purchase more locally produced items for their weekly meals so that the consumption of Indiana locally grown and produced foods will become the norm, not a novelty at Hoosier dinner tables across the state.
“Here at the Department we are going to celebrate with field trip to the Original Farmers’ Market in Indianapolis on Wednesday and then enjoy an in-office potluck of locally grown foods on Friday,” said Indiana Agriculture Director Joe Kelsay. “I encourage everyone to join us in celebrating Indiana’s incredible local foods and destinations.”
GOING LOCAL Week was created in 2008 by Indiana local food blogger, Victoria Wesseler, who authors the GOING LOCAL site (www.goinglocal-info.com).She notes, “If half the families in Indiana shifted $6.25 of their current weekly food budget to the purchase of Indiana grown or produced local food this effort would provide an annual contribution of $300 million into the local Indiana economy. Is this impressive? Yes, but that's not the final number. Studies consistently show that a dollar spent locally will multiply itself by 3 to 5 times making the actual economic impact of that one dollar in the local community where it was spent far greater than a buck. Initially it may be impossible to believe but, with a subtle shift in our food spending habits,we can make a $900 million to $1.5 billion economic impact on Indiana in one year.”
Ideas to celebrate GOING LOCAL Week:
·Do some of your weekly shopping at local farmers’ markets, farm stands, and farm markets.
·Bring in fresh Indiana fruit for the staff instead of pastries during the week.
·Have an in-office potluck lunch where everyone brings in something they’ve made with a local ingredient.
·Go out to an after-work “happy hour” at a local winery or brewery.
·Dine out at a restaurant featuring locally produced food items.
·Visit an orchard or U-Pick and harvest your own produce.
·Ask your local market if they sell locally grown food. Find restaurants that do the same. Support these establishments.
·Participate in a CSA.
·Take a farm tour in your area.
·Research special foods that may be local to your area and seek them out.
·Take a cooking or food preservation class which features local foods.
·Encourage others to join you in this effort during GOING LOCAL Week. Host a pitch-in picnic or covered dish party and ask everyone to bring something made with local ingredients. Spend the evening talking about the food’s origins and learning about what’s available in your area.
·For more ideas about how to celebrate GOING LOCAL WEEK or information about Indiana local food and producers, visit the GOING LOCAL site at www.goinglocal-info.com.
Information about Indiana food and producers, listings of local food events and farm tours, as well as recipes featuring Indiana’s fresh, local, and in-season foods can be found on the GOING LOCAL site (www.goinglocal-info.com).
A weekend of Yoga to Benefit Kelly Funk – September 17, 18 & 19, 2010
Three Indianapolis Yoga Studios are teaming up to support Kelly Funk of Seldom Seen Farm.
Kelly was struck by lightening on July 8th while working on the farm. She is making gradual progress toward recovery, and Kelly’s extended “farm family” has launched a number of efforts to ease the family’s financial burden during this difficult time. You can read more about Kelly’s recovery process at www.seldomseenfarm.com. All donations will go to the Kelly Funk Recovery Fund (www.kellyfunkrecoveryfund.com).
Everyone who knows Kelly knows her warm smile, strong will, and endless positive energy. We invite Indy’s yoga community to join a class - or all three - and send strength, grace and love back to Kelly and her family. If you are part of another studio that would like to participate, please contact Laura Henderson, laura@indywinterfarmersmarket.org.
Friday, Sept. 17th @ 5:45 p.m. – Invoke Studio – 970 Fort Wayne Ave. Suite C – www.invokestudio.com - 317.631.9642
This benefit Vinyasa class will be lead by Laura Henderson. Laura has been lucky enough to know Kelly and her husband John for a few years. Not only have they critical supporters of and participants in the Indy Winter Farmers Market, but they have been mentors and co-inspirers to Laura and her husband Tyler as they have begun their farming path.
All are welcome with a donation of any amount. Additional donations made out to The Kelly Funk Recovery Fund may be left in an envelope c/o Laura Henderson at any time.
Saturday, Sept. 18th @ 11:00 a.m. – The Yoga Center – 6245 N. College Ave – www.theyogacenterofindiana.com - 255-9642
This benefit Slow Flow class will be lead by Karen Fox. Kelly grew up in the Broad Ripple area. Seldom Seen Farm has now been an emblematic grower-vendor at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market for several years. Kelly’s parents and brother frequently help work the market. Since Kelly’s accident, friends and farm patrons have stepped in to help the family work the market.
All are welcome with a donation of any amount. Donations will be received at the studio all day on Saturday Sept. 18th.
This benefit Vinyasa class will be lead by Jocelin Romero. Jocelin has gotten to know and enjoy John and Kelly through the Trader’s Point Creamery Summer Farmers Market, where she works with her own family selling Raw Gourmet Delights.Her parents are loyal Seldom Seen CSA members.
All are welcome with a donation of any amount. Additional donations made out to The Kelly Funk Recovery Fund will be received at CITYOGA through Sept. 19th.
URBAN – (adjective): in, relating to or characteristic of a city or town.
CULTURE – (noun): a refined understanding or appreciation of • the customs, arts, social institutions and achievements of a particular citizenry, people or social group regarded collectively • (with adjective): the attitudes or behaviors characteristic of a particular group or movement – the emerging Food Culture • (verb): maintain in conditions suitable for growth • (From Latin): cultura – ‘growing, cultivation.’
AGRICULTURE – (noun): the science or practice of farming • (From Latin): agr- ‘field’ + cultura – ‘growing, cultivation.’
