Eat Local, Kalamazoo! 2008 Schedule of Events

Events for 2009 are coming soon, with the theme of "Practical Local Food." But here's the flavor of last year's offerings.

• Sept. 4, The Eat Local Experience, Kalamazoo Public Library

  We taste tested great local food prepared by area chefs. Afterward, participants enjoyed a casual conversation about the challenges, solutions and amazing experiences of eating locally. Led by Kalamazoo's very own Donna McClurkan, one of 15 people who took part in Splendid Table's Locavore Nation challenge.

• Sept. 8, Eating Local: The Health Connection, Bronson Gilmore Center

  We learned how choosing to eat locally grown and produced foods can affect your health. Together we explored how nutrition, connectivity and soil health impact our overall well being.

• Sept. 11, Edible Forest Gardens, Kalamazoo Public Library

  Dave Jacke explored the ecology and design of home-scale food forests in "Edible Forest Gardens." He designs high-yield gardens featuring fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, other useful plants, and animals in a way that mimics natural ecosystems.

• Sept. 13, Community and Urban Garden Tour

  There's a variety of community and urban gardens scattered throughout Kalamazoo. We hopped on bikes for the first Garden Hop Bike Tour.

• Sept. 16, Community Based Food Systems: Link to Healthy Eating, Bronson Gilmore Center

  Community-based food systems impact healthy eating: We found out how. Featuring Ruth Blackburn, Farm to School Project Consultant for the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, and Dr. Mike Hamm, CS Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at MSU.

• Sept. 17, Your Granny's Goats: Heritage Livestock Breeds and Why They Matter, Food Dance

  Traditionally, farmers throughout the world have raised hundreds of different animal breeds. Today's industrial farms rely upon only a few specialized types of livestock, so many animal breeds are disappearing. We learned why we should care, what is being done and what we can do.

• Sept. 22, Connecting Local Food and Social Justice, Kalamazoo College Campus

  In 2008, we heard Will Allen of Growing Power explore the link between local food and social justice.

• Sept. 24, The Burgeoning Green Economy, Kalamazoo Public Library

  Tim Young, entrepreneur and founder of Food for Thought, talked about the economic benefits of developing a business that helps sustain and preserve our natural world. Food for Thought's organic jams, juices, preserves, and condiments are sold throughout the Midwest and beyond.

• Sept. 25, Local Food Chef Showdown, Kalamazoo College

  The third annual Farms to K: Local Food Showdown featured chefs representing A Food Affair, Food Dance, The People's Food Co-op, Sprout, and K's own Sodexho cafeteria preparing dishes using at least 80% locally sourced food!

• Sept. 26, Sleep Tight Sweet Garden, Kalamazoo Public Library

  When the growing season is winding down, there are some things we can do to give our garden a nice winter rest. Experts from Fair Food Matters offered suggestions for preparing the garden for springtime success.

• Sept. 30, Community Dessert Potluck, Bronson Gilmore Center

  Finally, in 2008 we celebrated the beautiful bounty of the local harvest with a community potluck. Everyone was encouraged to show off their culinary creativity by bringing a dessert using locally grown ingredients. It was a festive evening of music, food and conversation.