EAT Minutes November 2008

November 19, 2008 at 6:30 pm, Farmhouse Table

The meeting began at 6:30pm and concluded at 8pm. Next meeting is Dec. 17, 2008 from 12:30pm to 2pm at Wenatchee Valley College (conference room to be decided).

Members Present:

Amy Simonson; Kim Lohse, Scott Parsons, Jim Allyn, Shirley Allyn, Laurie Riegert; Sherri Schneider, Nadine Lehrer; Kim Langston; Sandy Limbeck, Amy Hendershot; Joan Qazi.

Dates to Watch For:

  • December 3rd, Women Farmers Round Table

Treasurer’s Report:

$1205.29 is the current balance in the account. Cash box has $415 to be deposited. Calendar sales to date: $1205

New Business:

  • Welcome to new EAT members Amy Hendershot, Shirley Allyn and Sandy Limbeck. New member Bonnie Shanafelt attended the Farm to Table workshop but was not able to attend the meeting.
  • Amy Simonson is working on a Farm to Table directory based on the registration data collected at the Workshop on Monday. Discussion about how to contact others who might be interested in being on the Directory (through previous farm to table list, through other listservs, OPMA and Farmhouse Table) and whether to do just online, hard copy or both. IRIS is also interested in partnering on this project.
  • Joan represented EAT at Alcoa on Nov. 19th at their Make an Impact presentation by the Pew Center for Climate Change. Alcoa has recognized the importance of the green movement and created a carbon footprint calculator for our region which can be accessed through the Alcoa website for Wenatchee Works. Highlighted in this presentation was the importance of eating locally and eating lower on the food chain as the way to make the biggest personal impact on reducing carbon footprint. EAT will be linked to the calculator on the local resources page.
  • Scott and Ruth have developed a ½ acre chef’s garden that they may expand from 2 to 5 acres next year. They use the produce in their catering business and sold excess to Farmhouse Table. Their late season arugula is very popular. They are hoping to have up to 100 prepared food subscriptions by early next year. Then they can teach others how to duplicate this model. Check their website: http://www.healthygourmet.blogspot.com
  • Discussion about how we might address the fresh food needs of our senior citizen population, including those at nursing homes and retirement centers. Suggestions included a healthy soup preparation and distribution or other fresh whole food deliveries.

Committee Reports

  • CFA We are having a year-end push on the calendars since by mid-January, they may not sell so well anymore. We gave 7 complimentary away for the panelists and keynote speakers at the Farm to Table meeting. Over 100 have been sold. Next, want to compile data into a policy recommendation type report for audiences such as Ray Faini of WSU Extension, City of Wenatchee or City of Leavenworth,
  • Farm to Table Workshop Thanks to all the EAT members who made the Farm to Table meeting on Monday the 17th a success. Special thanks to Michel Wiman for all her preparatory work. We had about 100 attendees and the Wenatchee World ran a front page newspaper article about Local Food to Local Tables on Tuesday (no mention of EAT). Compliments to Kim Lohse for speaking so well on the Distribution Panel. Comments after the meeting were generally positive. Some liked the focused format (dealing with issues that came up in the first Farm to Table) and some missed the networking (speed dating type) aspect of the first meeting in 2007.
  • School Garden Committee No report this month.
  • Community Gardens Dave Gerlach coordinator for the Wenatchee Community Center under the City of Wenatchee approached EAT to help build a community garden at the Community Center. There are two potential locations behind the center and between the parking lot and the road. He has access to soil from the cemetery and can get the City to provide water. Nearby residents have expressed an interest in maintaining the garden. Scott agreed to help and suggested to Dave that he check out Newbery garden to see if keystones might work for the Community Center garden. Nadine and Amy H. were also asked if they would like to be part of this project to engage the neighborhood Latino population after having attended the Strategies to Increase Latino Participation workshops. Laurie suggested WIC as another avenue for outreach. Eron Drew expressed an interest in roof-top gardens as an alternative. Sandy thought that the YMCA might be one possible location.
  • Website Updates to include front page of calendar, school garden updates, reader’s page (interactive through blogger.com), and local seasonality (In season). Directory is also intended to be online through the website.
  • Media Jim floated the idea of one month next Summer eating only food that he could get locally as defined by his ability to ride there on his bicycle. Others suggested that he record his experiences on the EAT blog, maybe called “the bike riders guide to eating locally.”

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

  • Joan will set up a meeting with webmaster Ben Fields and Amy Simonson and perhaps Nancy Warner regarding the Farm to Table Directory.
  • Scott Parsons, Nadine Lehrer and Amy Hendershot will follow up about Latino outreach and the potential for a community garden at the Wenatchee Community Center.
  • Check Spanish local food survey results to see interest in community gardens and whether anyone in particular signed up to help with this.

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 December 17th from 12:30pm to 2pm at WVC…we can decide upon any holiday projects or plans at this meeting.

NCW Food Events