EAT Minutes September 2008

Sept 30, 2008 at 6:30 pm, Farmhouse Table Produce Market

The meeting began at 6:30pm and concluded at 8:20pm. Next meeting is Oct 29, 2008 from 12:30pm to 2pm at WVC conference room (to be announced).

Members Present:

Ginny O’Kelly; Rich Colson; Joan Qazi; Angela Schaub; Kim Lohse; Mike Cochran; Amy Simonson.

Dates to Watch For:

  • Nov. 17th, Farm to Table Conference at Wenatchee Community Center
  • Nov. 1st, Farmhouse Table’s Locavore’s Harvest celebration

Treasurer’s Report:

$759.49 is the current balance. Cash box has $175.00. $1200 was spent on transcription services for the Community Food Assessment focus groups. $2100 was used for printing costs (bulk was calendar, EAT brochures, and lamination for signs). $328 profits from calendar sales came in from the Chelan County Fair. $235 in calendar sales resulted from sales from Farmhouse Table Produce and the Harvest Festival.

New Business:

  • Nominate Rich Colson as Treasurer for EAT. Approved by majority vote.
  • IRIS, the Institute for Rural Innovation and Stewardship, meeting last week (attended by several EAT members) discussion ensued about how a public market space could incorporate Farmhouse Table Produce concepts such as cooking demonstrations, canning classes, and the like. IRIS has Local Food Systems support as one of their three missions.

Committee Reports

  • CFA Calendars include CFA data and are 12-month calendars available for sale at $12 each at the following locations: 18-Farmhouse Table. 8-Lemolo. 10-Sage Montain. 5-Pretiola. 5-Anjou. 10-Wenatchee Natural Foods. 6-Sunshine Farm Market. 6-White Trail Produce. Courtney of Cascade Foothills Farmland Association is willing to sell them on site and take credit card purchases. Other ideas included Land Trust Dinner, St. Joseph’s Harvest Festival, Farm to Table. The calendar idea was proposed by Isaac Kaplan-Woolner of KOHO originally and he has agreed to follow up with how we might use media to promote the calendars.
  • Waste Diversion Project Betty was not available to report on the lecture at Barn Beach reserve, but she is working with IRIS to submit appropriate grants to move this project forward.
  • Consumer Education Harvest Festival was relatively well attended and some interest in our new ‘match the fruit or vegetable with its harvest month’ game. Thanks to all who staffed our booth.
  • Grant Work Joan submitted the Heifer ‘end of grant’ report to Colleen in early September. STEPS was also provided with information following up on grant funds.
  • School Garden Committee The Newbery garden club is up and going. The year was started off with a salsa harvest party using peppers from the garden. They are looking for a volunteer to help Rozanne Lind teach kids 1-2x a month. Mike Cochran expressed interest. Newbery is also looking for a pickup to use for their fall cleanup. FMS is meeting next Tuesday to get their club going. Angela will meet with Jake Carvitto, a new science teacher on staff and the appointed staff liaison for the garden. Lisa Robinson is still working on the FMS garden sign. Michel Wavra, Mountain View Elementary teacher, reported through Joan that their school garden program is still active. Last spring a local chef from Cave Bee Winery taught some cooking classes. She is looking at planting the garden bed up in the springtime.
  • Community Gardens No report this month.
  • CSA No report this month
  • Website Sunchokes and Squash Blossom is a blog site for EAT developed by Amy Simonson. Ben Fields is willing to continue doing things gratis but at his own time. Updates will include front page of calendar, school garden updates, reader’s page (interactive through blogger.com), and local seasonality (In season).
  • Media No report this month
  • Farm to Table Nov 17th: Wenatchee Community Center. 9-3pm Set up is at 8am. Healthy Gourmet to cater lunch. Pretiola’s may bring in baked goods. Cascade Harvest, W. Wash food system group is co-sponsor and WSDA is another sponsor. Fred Berman and Patrice Barrentine may return as guest facilitators. Money is funneled through Cascade Harvest. Scott Parsons and Jerilynn Delaney have been appropriated monies for refreshments and publicity. Save the Date postcards were printed but apparently have not been mailed out to last year attendees. Ginny O’Kelley can configure excel mail list to address labels to ensure the postcards will be sent. Panelists have not been confirmed yet. Amy asked about goodie bag for attendees. Current plan:
    • 9:00 AM: Hugh Vibbert, Dean of Agriculture, Introduction Ray Faini, WSU Extension, Introduction
    • 9:15 AM: Agenda, Marcy and Joan
    • 9:20 AM: Introductions of attendees
    • 10:00 AM Distribution Panel (trucking, existing models)
      • Organically Grown Company (OR, WA)
      • John Butler (Okanogan)
      • Okanogan Marketing Producer’s Assoc
      • Farmhouse Table
    • 11:00-11:15 AM: Break
    • 11:15-12:15 PM: Meat Processing>subsidize cooperative mobile meat processing unit
      • Island Grown Cooperative (Lopez Island)
      • Joe Seglosky (Lamb and Beef)
      • Partnership with a Sustainable Methow
      • Norm Silverly, Okanogan Cty Extension Agent
      • Wooly Pigs (Heath Putnam)
    • 12:30-1:30 PM: Lunch Poster Display: Action Agendas, Success stories,
    • 1:30 PM: Break Out Sessions
      • Transportation
      • Meat Processing
      • Cooperative Marketing
      • Farm 2 School
      • Public Space for Local Foods
      • Value Added Processing

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

Ginny will address postcards and mail them out after Joan provides mailing labels and postage stamps. Kim Lohse will check with Watershine about being a Panelist.

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 Oct 29, 2008 from 12:30pm to 2pm at Wenatchee Valley College

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