EAT Minutes August 2008

August 27, 2008 at 12:30 pm, Wenatchee Valley College

The meeting began at 12:30pm and concluded at 1:30pm. Next meeting is September 24, 2008 from 6:30pm to 8pm at Farmhouse Table unless otherwise announced.

Members Present:

Bob Gillespie, Michel Wiman; Mike Cochran; Rich Colson; Mike Brogan; Joan Qazi

Dates to Watch For:

  • September 1 (noon to 3:30pm): Methow Valley Creamery farm walk (tilthproducers.org)
  • September 4th to 6th (9am to 10pm): Chelan County Fair, EAT will have a booth
  • September 19th (evening): Dr. Chuck Henry, UW, lecture on waste stream diversion issues at Barn Beach Reserve in Leavenworth
  • September 20th Wenatchee Downtown Harvest Festival, EAT will have a booth
  • November 17 (9am to 3pm): Farm to Table Workshop at Wen. Community Center

Treasurer’s Report:

$2,542.96 is the current balance with all focus group transcription work paid for. $1,000 of this amount is earmarked for G.I.S. mapping of open space for community gardens, etc. as part of the Community Food Assessment AND for socio-economic analysis as part of the CFA.

New Business:

  • Mike Brogan will email with the name of a G.I.S. person who might be able to help with the CFA mapping. Also, Mike’s farm is still available for community garden interest.
  • Mike Cochran recommended the Cascade Harvest website, but Chelan County data is missing.

Committee Reports

  • CFA Michel brought the ‘proof’ of the EAT seasonal harvest calendar that runs from September 2008 to December 2009 and features data from the CFA as a way to publicize the findings. The compilation and design of the calendar entailed a huge effort and Michel produced a fantastic final product. It was decided that the first printing would be at least 200 calendars at a cost of $1280, and that we would sell them for $12 each for our fundraiser. The aim is to have them available at the Chelan County Fair booth on September 4th to 6th and then for sale at Farmhouse Table and potentially the Harvest Festival, McGlinn’s, Lemolo’s, White Trail Produce, Sage Mountain, Hastings or other venues. They would make nice holiday gifts as well.
  • Consumer Education Chelan County Fair booth will be shared with Cascade Foothills Farmland Association, but EAT will provide the volunteer labor. This means that we need EAT members to sign up for a couple hours to staff the booth and ‘share the message’ of support for local farms and healthy eating. Joan will send a sign-up list by email and please consider helping out if at all possible.
  • Grant Work EAT’s report to Heifer on the indicators of progress for the Community Food Assessment grant monies is due. Joan is working on providing the report to Colleen.
  • School Garden Committee The school garden resource guide is now available for downloading from the website under the Resources link.
  • Community Gardens No report this month.
  • CSA Bob reported that he has been helping to pick up farm produce and deliver to the College cold storage for Farmhouse Table CSA using the College van. The refrigerated truck needs replacement hoses that will cost around $1000 even using student labor, so this vehicle has not been used lately. Discussion ensued about the limited cold storage for Farmhouse Table produce and the possibility of setting up Mike Brogan’s 3-phase system at the College next to the cold storage currently being used.
  • Farm to Table Next workshop is scheduled for Monday November 17, 2008 from 9am-3pm at Wenatchee Community Center. The focus of this meeting will be distribution and how to make it most efficient for local institutional buyers to source from local growers. A “Save the Date” postcard for previous attendees and new attendees has been designed and sent by Cascade Harvest staff. It was suggested that Hugh Vibbert (WVC dean) and/or Bob Gillespie would be great resource panelists on the issue of distribution, especially since part of the College mission is to promote local entrepreneurship.
  • Harvest Festival We need volunteers to staff the EAT booth and exhibit at the Wenatchee Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 20th in downtown Wenatchee. EAT is part of their Science Fair and has been invited to present information on the benefits of eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture. Last year there were about 3000 visitors so this is a great opportunity to let the public know about the results from the Community Food Assessment through interactive displays such as a match the fruit or vegetable with the season game, a map of where produce is grown in Washington, etc. Michel has a USDA disk with a quiz on farming that could be interesting for many age groups if we could bring a laptop. Rich suggested that the Junior Master Gardeners might have some related display materials. Contact Joan asap if you can help with the displays or staffing on that day, (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Follow-up on Topic(s) that were discussed in this meeting:

  • Please sign up to help staff the booth at the Chelan County Fair on 9/4, 9/5, 9/6 or 9/7 for a three hour shift. Joan will send out a sign-up sheet.
  • Mike Brogan will find out if the MAC at the College still has a cold storage unit and if his 8 by 12 foot cold storage unit could be used at the College.
  • Mike Cochran as possible G.I.S. mapping person?

Committee Sign-Up:

  • Working Group Chairperson Joan Qazi; Meeting Facilitator: Joan Qazi; Minute Taker: Angela Schaub; Treasurer: JoEllen Colson; Webmaster: Dave O’Connor; Newsletter: Fran Taber; Media Diva: Kim Langston; Fundraising: Scott Parsons
  • Community Food Assessment Chairperson Joan Qazi; Billie Jo Ellis; Fran Taber; Colleen Donovan; Kim Langston; Judy Preston; Angela Schaub (Data Analysis); Marcy Ostrom; Laurie Riegert; JoEllen Colson; Consuelo Coronel
  • Consumer Education Chairperson None; Kim Langston; Billie Jo Ellis; Shawn Hansen; Joan Qazi; Ginny O’Kelley; Laurie Riegert; Judy Preston
  • Community Garden Chairperson None; Jenn Crawford; Sharlynn Cobaugh; Kim Langston; Shawn Hansen; Dawn Fisher; Michel Wiman
  • 501c3 Exploratory Chairperson Angela Schaub; Angela Schaub; Fran Taber; Colleen Donovan, Sharlynn Cobaugh;
  • Edible Schoolyard /Farm to School Chairperson Angela Schaub; Angela Schaub; JoEllen Colson; Joan Qazi; Scott Parsons; Dawn Fisher
  • Farm-to-Table Chairperson None; Fran Taber; Marcy Ostrom; Bill and Vonnie Smith; Michel Wiman

Suggestions for next meeting:.

  • Next Meeting September 24th at 6:30pm at Farmhouse Table.

NCW Food Events