EAT Minutes January 2009

 

January 28, 2009 at 6:30 pm, WSU Tree Fruit Research

The meeting began at 6:30pm and concluded at 8:00pm. Next meeting is Feb.25, 2009 from 12:30pm to 2pm at Wenatchee Valley College, conference room to be decided.

Members Present: Rich Colson, Joan Qazi, Kim Lohse, Amy Simonson, Michel Wiman, Oly Mingo, Allison Neher, Kim Langston, Nadine Lehrer, Mike Cochran, Mike Brogan, Patty Moore (Jim’s sister), Jim Allyn. 

Dates to Watch For

  • February 7, 2009: Garden for Food Workshop by WSU Master Gardeners at Chelan County PUD Auditorium from 10am to 12 noon.
  • February 10, 2009: Public meeting for a Leavenworth-based Community Farmers Market at 6 pm at Barn Beach Reserve in Leavenworth.
  • February 23, 2009: Farm to Table Networking at La Bonne Terre restaurant in Chateau Faire Le Pont from 9:30am to noon for farmers and institutional buyers.
  • March 19 to 21, 2009: Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Portland hosted by CFSC.

Treasurer’s Report

$1868.49 total in account. $1944.00 spent on calendars. $1250.00 revenue from calendar sales so far (but haven’t collected from Top Foods, etc). $138.00 in cash box. Some calendars were given out pro bono as thank-you gifts to panelists at Farm to Table in November.

New Thoughts and Reminders

  • Welcome to new members—Allison, who has worked for CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) and their Be a Local Hero campaign, and Oly, who has graphic design experience and works for Howell at the Moon Productions.
  • Kim Langston reported on the Leavenworth Community Farmers Market envisioned as a very successful, thriving market for consumers, chefs and tourists alike. The mayor is awaiting the group’s proposal for this. They are looking for steering committee members and volunteers. There is a blog and an email address: blog.sustainablencw.org, market@sustainable ncw.org. Sustainable NCW is a great website that has blogs on this area’s sustainability, including local food. Annie Schmidt requested that EAT members post some relevant blogs. 
  • Rufus Woods is starting the center for sustainability in the old El Mundo building, which will house IRIS, Farmhouse Table, possibly EAT. IRIS may do a regional food assessment, building on the EAT assessment and reaching up into the Okanogan.
  • Calendars are still available and on sale for $10. Rich contacted Rocky Reach Dam café and they would like some calendars. Kim offered to take them to Colleen Clark. 
  • Eat Local cards for students to learn what’s fresh at Thanksgiving and other activities are downloadable and we could use to share with local students.
  • We are working on a new course for teachers to apply for clock hours at schools with edible schoolyards to show them how to use the school garden resource guide well. 
  • Mike Brogan has plans for a CSA-community garden partnering with Andy Kahn.

Committee Reports

CFA Preliminary report available. Consider what might be some recommendations based on analysis (gleaning program, preserving, etc.) and let Joan know. We will share the report with City of Wenatchee, WSU Extension, and other policy makers. Amy hopes to have Farm to Table Directory printed and available for networking meeting.

Consumer Education No report on Fresh Foods program that would increase the availability of fresh produce to seniors in the valley was brought up at the last meeting. EAT is looking for an individual to coordinate this project. 

Community Gardens Nadine and Allison attended meeting with David Gerlach, Community Center director who works for City of Wenatchee. He showed the 10 feet by 140 feet area to use as community garden at community center and he has ideas for funding. Wants to dig out gravel, get free dirt from cemetery, build up with keystones. Dave will approach neighbors, get ideas and gauge interest. Community meeting is next step, in a few weeks at community center, with food. Largely Hispanic neighborhood (high interest in community garden). Has city contacts, can get volunteers, boy scouts, and seeds purchased by EAT. What kind of garden would it be- pea patch, shared garden? Possible EAT project, trellis gateway to train vines up- possibly homebuilders can build and donate. Dave has interest from neighbors already. There is a water connection, at some distance, requiring infrastructure. Doug Bergstrom, master gardener, was at the meeting. Bonnie Shanafelt was also there, with ideas for other community garden sites.

Website Current challenge is maintaining farmer updates on EAT website. Elaine Woodland has been recommended to help current webmaster. 

Media Community food security/world hunger year flyers available in English and Spanish. We received them for free, but they want to know how we use them. One talks about local food being affordable, one talks about healthy food in the community, one talks about food security. Ideas on how we can use them effectively are welcome. Possibly have them available for viewing of Good Food film at museum on March 17th. NCW Greenways insert in Wenatchee world came out last week including Joan’s column called ‘our sustainable table’ which will provide another venue to bring CFA data back to the community. 

Farm to Table Networking Meeting Feb 23 9:30-noon- postcards available to market event. Last Farm to Table meeting feedback indicated interest in further networking opportunities. Meeting will be at La Bonne Terre restaurant at Chateau Faire Le Pont. Market to farmers, buyers (restaurants, grocery stores, schools, other food service managers). Rachel Evans wants to have a community classified board where people can pin information up, like in the Methow, to communicate what farmers have, what buyers want, what equipment people need, etc. available at meeting and in the community. Cards going to participants of last meeting, and anyone else possibly interested. Personal invitation is very effective- take them to the places you like to eat. (Lemongrass is looking for local produce).

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

  • Everyone please promote the Farm to Table Networking meeting to farmers and institutional buyers.
  • Need follow-up on school garden grant writing at next meeting.

Committee Sign-Up

  • Working Group Chairperson Joan Qazi; Meeting Facilitator: Joan Qazi; Minute Taker: Angela Schaub; Treasurer: Rich Colson; Webmaster: Ben Fields; Newsletter: Fran Taber; Media Diva: Kim Langston; Fundraising: Scott Parsons
  • Community Food Assessment Chairperson Joan Qazi; Michel Wiman, Colleen Donovan; Kim Langston; Judy Preston; Angela Schaub (Data Analysis); Marcy Ostrom; Laurie Riegert; JoEllen Colson; Consuelo Coronel
  • Consumer Education Chairperson None; Kim Langston; Joan Qazi; Ginny O’Kelley; Laurie Riegert; Judy Preston
  • Community Garden Chairperson None; Jenn Crawford; Nadine Lehrer; Bonnie Shanafelt; Douglas Bergstrom; Allison Neher
  • 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; Marcy Ostrom; Joan Qazi; Colleen Donovan; Michel Wiman; Amy Simonson.

Suggestions for next meeting

  • Next Meeting Feb. 25, 2009 from 12:30pm to 2pm at Wenatchee Valley College.
  • Debrief on Farm to Table Networking and Community Garden meeting.
  • Plan for CFA policy report distribution—local foods lunch?
  • Possible workshop for commercial food prep. Joan will draft a survey to feel out possible participants.

 

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