It’s a Food Revolution….upcoming cooking classes.

Sharon New April 11th, 2010

There are several cooking classes lined up for Spring and Summer 2010.  The first class will be held on Sunday, May 2 from 2 -4 p.m. in Chester, MD.  This is the first Sustainable Cooking Class to be held on the Eastern Shore.  The second class will be in Annapolis on Saturday, May 15th from 2- 4 p.m.  This class will fill up fast (limited to 12), so please register asap.  The third class will be in Hebron, MD on Sunday, June 6th 2-4 p.m.  To read more about what all you will learn and eat in a cooking class and to register, please go here.

I also wanted to make you aware of some cooking classes that Craig Sewell of A Cook’s Cafe is doing.  I just think it is so exciting and wanted to make sure you knew about it.  “Jamie Oliver, the celeb chef, has a new cookbook and a new TV show with an outstanding mission — to change the health and future of our country one home kitchen at a time.  The goal is simple to express, but difficult for many to do — start cooking and serving real food — by learning some kitchen basics, you can change the eating habits of your kids (and you).  And then pass along what you have learned to two friends — and then they to two more.  Within weeks, we could change the way America eats.  I want to help Jamie on his Mission – by hosting a cooking class to begin his Revolution one home kitchen at a time here in Annapolis. This class will be taught at entry level and at a reduced price. One must want to change the way they eat from fast and processed foods to healthy food. I will show you the way to do that. The cost will be $30 for the class (less than half the usual cost). We will talk about kitchen equipment, things for your cupboard and work on some 20 minute meals for you and your family. I just want you to pledge to teach 2 friends the recipes that we learn, and we can help Jamie’s Food Revolution (the real winners will be you and your kids!) Perhaps some of you foodie veterans know some folks (I am sure we all do!) who would like to change, but just need a nudge and some help to move along. As Jamie expresses, there are literally lives at stake.”  I could almost cry reading this…Craig, I couldn’t agree more. 

Please go to his website to find out more about when the classes will be held and to sign up for his newsletter.  Craig also has a CSA and the 10 week Spring program still has openings for the April 17th kickoff.  In addition to the produce from Davon Crest II farm, you can add to your basket with local organic eggs, grass fed beef, pastured chicken and much more. 
 

 

Working together to Grow Annapolis

Sharon New March 30th, 2010

Local Food Beat has a new partner – Grow Annapolis!  Grow Annapolis mission is to foster the development of community gardens in Annapolis and surrounding communities.  In fact, work is being done now on locating and identifying potential plots for gardens.  Grow Annapolis meets every Tuesday nite at the City Dock Cafe in downtown Historical Annapolis (behind the Market House) at 7 p.m.  At tonight’s meeting they will be joined by Maria Broadbent of the Environmental Program Coordinator for the Annapolis Department of Neighborhood & Environmental Programs.   Local Food Beat will be partnering with Grow Annapolis to grow not only community gardens, but grow community as well.  I am proud to be working with them.

This is such an exciting time to be in the local food movement in Annapolis.  And, as some of the readers know, there was a huge local food event on Sunday, March 21st for two showings of FRESH, the movie and to hear Joel Salatin speak.  Over 34 vendors and exhibitors were present (including Local Food Beat and Grow Annapolis)  and it is very apparent how much things have changed in Annapolis since Jeff and I first began trying to source our food locally.  When we first started eating grass-fed beef, we couldn’t even find any in the state!  Now, My Butcher and More sells it just down the street from us.  Also, for a complete list of where to find grass-fed and pastured products in Annapolis and Anne Arundel Co, please go here.  Please bookmark this list as I will be updating it from time to time.

For a great review of what Joel said and more of the wonderful day spent with other local food lovers, please read here.  And finally, here is a link to the Mid-Atlantic TED conference in which Joel Salatin spoke.  If you missed hearing him a few weeks ago, this 15 minutes will help.

Special Class Offering…Nourishing Yourself After Baby

Sharon New March 30th, 2010

This special one-time class offering is a partnership between Local Food Beat and Nourishing Creations.  Elizabeth Grange of Nourishing Creations , who will be teaching the class, received her degrees from the University of Utah in Health Promotion Education and Nutrition. She has since pursued her education focusing on healing through a nutrient dense diet.   Elizabeth is the mother to her two-year old daughter, Jade.  She has her own custom cake and food business, Nourishing Creations. Email Elizabeth at nourishingcakes@gmail.com.  To download flyer, go to Elizabeth’s class flyer.

INFO ABOUT THE CLASS:  Have you recently had a baby or have kids and feel worn-down, tired, lifeless?  Do you spend all your energy filling and nourishing your children, but feel you have let your own well-being slip to the side?  Come revitalize and rebuild your well-being. When you take care of yourself, you have more to give to your little ones.   Learn about:   Foods that fill you and sustain your energy. What supplements do you really need? How do certain health conditions like postpartum depression, tooth decay, and poor eyesight relate to our personal nourishment after pregnancy?  How to rebuild your depleted nutrient stores. Learn about which foods are the most nutritious to eat and how to prepare foods for maximum absorption. Taste some Nourishing Creations!  Great introductory price:  $25 suggested donation.

WHEN:                      Saturday, April 24, 2010

TIME:                         10:00 a.m. – noon

LOCATION:              Glen Burnie LDS Church, 409 5th Ave  SE, Glen Burnie, MD 21061,

 

Watch Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution – This Friday Night

Sharon New March 23rd, 2010

Join Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution – bringing real food back to our schools – and watch this Friday night on ABC his new series which will take place (this season) in West Virginia.  To watch the first episode right now, you can go here.  However, before you watch the episode, I highly recommend you watch Jamie’s presentation at the TED Conference where he spoke passionately about cleaning up our school’s food system.

From ABC.COM: 

When we first heard the term “Food Revolution,” we weren’t exactly sure what that meant. Did a lazy Susan suddenly start spinning out of control? Was ketchup attempting a hostile takeover to dethrone salsa as top condiment? But then, with world-renowned chef and best-selling author Jamie Oliver’s name attached, we knew it was going to be all about “good food.” Enough said.

Yes, Jamie Oliver is here to start a revolution. The impassioned chef is taking on obesity, heart disease and diabetes in the USA, where our nation’s children are the first generation NOT expected to live as long as their parents. Now that’s scary!

Jamie is inviting viewers to take a stand and change the way America eats, in our home kitchens, schools and workplaces with the thought-provoking new series, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, which has a special sneak preview SUNDAY, MARCH 21 10|9c on ABC, followed by a 2-hour premiere on FRIDAY MARCH 26 8|7c.

In the six-part series, Jamie heads to Huntington, West Virginia. Why? Well, Huntington has been called the unhealthiest city in America. Jamie wants to do something about that. Through his efforts in this one town, he hopes to start a chain reaction of positive change across the country.

Jamie says, “There’s an incredible community in Huntington, and I want this experience to be a celebration of what we can achieve when people come together.” Jamie goes on to say, “Wonderful stories will unfold in Huntington, and hopefully this will inspire the rest of the States.” Sounds like a plan!

Needled by local naysayers, challenged by ingrained unhealthy habits and government bureaucracy, and welcomed by some of the most surprising youngsters, families and local leaders, Jamie shows how, in just a few short months, he tried to transform Huntington as a template for the entire country. The stakes? Simply the health of our country’s citizens and the legacy for its children.

New Updates to Local Food Beat Website

Sharon New March 10th, 2010

Hello everyone!  I have completed a long-term project and wanted to let you all know.  First, the 2010 Summer dates for Anne Arundel Co. Farmers Markets are here.  But the  big news is I have completed the Local Food Resource List.  Both of these documents can be found on the Local Food Resource page of this website.  Please let me know if you think anything should be added to the list.

Only Two More Sunday Winter’s Farmers Market

Sharon New March 4th, 2010

Can this be the first sign that Spring is around the corner?!   Anne Arundel County Winter Farmers’ Market is open this coming Sunday March 7  and for the last time this year on Sunday, March 21st beginning  at 11am to 3pm at the Westfield Annapolis Mall Nordstroms Parking Garage – 1st floor.  Products available are:  beef, chicken, pork, eggs, winter greens, baked goods, pottery, alpaca products, honey, coffee, herbal products, dairy, jams and soaps.  For more information go to www.aaedc.org or call 410-222-7410.  Dress warm – really warm.

“Your Sustainable Table” Class at AACC

Sharon New March 4th, 2010

I will be teaching a continuing education class at Anne Arundel Community College beginning April 27 – May 17, 2010.  The information is as follows:

CUL 374 – Your Sustainable Table - Reconnect with the food on your plate and learn about the latest trends in sustainable food practices. Define sustainable food and discuss issues ranging from local food sourc­ing, real foods, contemporary nutrition and personal food choices. $141† includes $50 fee. Sec. 201 *16235* sessions HUM 207 – Tu 7-9 pm April 27-May 18.  Our textbook will be Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food. To register, please go here.

Besides spending time in the kitchen cooking some local, sustainable foods, we will also watch some videos and:

The class will review the following:  What does “sustainable” mean?  Current state of our food system including overview of confined animal factories, genetically modified foods, food accessibility, processing and distribution of food – how does all this impact our environment and health. 

Discussion on epidemic of obesity and why we are over-fed and under-nourished.  We will discuss the history of fats in America and how we can return to “real” foods and nutrition.

Foods that heal:  Continuation of the discussion on returning to “real” foods and nutrition including a discussion on the role of supplements, foods that help fight inflammation and fatigue, and foods that help build and heal the immune system.  

How can we fix it?!  Resources for local foods will be provided; discuss how to change your life to be more sustainable.  Discuss how to make the connection from field to plate to food to health.  Review class assignments and conclude discussion on Mr. Pollan’s book.

I hope you will register for this class!

9th Generation Anne Arundel County Grass-Fed Farmer

Sharon New March 3rd, 2010

 

This past Saturday Jeff and I spent the afternoon with Allen Colhoun of Ivy Neck Farm.  I wrote an article this past summer for Annapolis Magazine about local food sources and that’s when we came to know Allen and have been buying some of our grass-fed beef from him.  We toured the most beautiful property (about 150 acres) which backed up against the Rhode River.  Allen shared with us that he was a direct descentant of  “Samaul Chew of the lost town of Herrington Harbour, who moved up to the County in the early to mid 1600’s.”  So Allen is a 9th generation Anne Arundel County farmer, his family has farmed the same lands since the 1680’s.

Ivy Neck Farm is currently certified organic. The farm currently produces certfied organic seasonal produce, free range eggs and 100% no antibodies or growth hormones all grass fed beef. Those are some happy chickens in that picture.  Allen currently has 53 heads of cow (a calve was born just a day or so before we were there) and he said that the carrying capacity of his property will allow for approxmately 60 cattle.  How different the mindset is of the sustainable, responsible farmer to that of the confinement/factory mentality that believes you have to fill every square inch of land with animals.  If you are interested in ordering grass-fed beef and/or eggs, please contact Allen at 443-221-1310 or  allen@surfnetusa.com.  Allen will also be one of the panelists for the free showing of Food, Inc. this Friday, March 5th at Ridgley Retreat.

Three Great Real Food Blogs

Sharon New February 28th, 2010

I have just discovered three great real food blogs.  The first one I want to tell you about is The Nourishing Cook.  Here’s a little about Kim Knoch, the person behind the blog:   “Nutrient-dense eating is personally important to me because I need all of the nutrients that I can get.  I had weight loss surgery in 2001 and lost 200 pounds, and as a result of that became severely anemic and had a shortage of other vitamins and minerals in my blood.  ’Nourishing Traditions’ got my eating back on track.  For awhile, I made sure that everything that I put in my mouth was the best quality that it could be.  It worked, and my anemia has been corrected and my vitamin/mineral levels are normal, partly due to the methods that I talk about in this blog.  I am not a fanatic about eating the ‘right’ food all of the time, that kind of behavior just stresses me out.  But if I’m eating healthy home-cooked meals 80% of the time, that is an amazing thing for me, and a huge improvement.”  Kim is currently cooking through all of Sally Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions 773 recipes before December 31, 2011.  You can follow her on her Facebook page.

The second blog I discovered is The Nourished Cook. Elizabeth Walling shares what The Nourished Life is all about:  “I want to inspire you to take a journey to find nourishment in life through traditional foods and natural living. This blog is here to help bridge the gap between real food and real people, making nourishing foods more achievable for you and your family. Here at The Nourished Life, it’s not about doing it all right – because no one can! It’s about learning what you need to know to live a more nourished life, taking bite-sized steps on this amazing journey down the road of nourishment. After all, it’s not just about reaching a destination – it’s about all the incredible experiences you have along the way.”

The third is Maria Atwood’s blog called Traditional Cook.  Maria struggled with health issues for decades until after cooking just a few months from Sally Fallon’s book, Nourishing Traditions (NT), “my energy level skyrocketed, my low spirits slowly disappeared, my anxieties lessened, and the stiffness and pain I felt in the morning dramatically improved. I have also learned of the dangers in taking synthetic supplements and now stay with the time tested whole food supplements made by ©Standard Process. Looking back, I believe I was literally starving to death and simply did not recognize the symptoms! Yes starving! Please take the time to go on-line and look up the symptoms of starvation and you’ll be amazed how closely they sound like our modern day health problems.”

So…do you see a theme?  Yes, Nourishing Traditions.  This is one of two cookbooks I have in my kitchen (the other is Greens, Glorious Greens). Nourishing Traditions is the cookbook which challenges all the politically correct nutritional advice which, in my opinion, is why we are all sick and fat.  This is more than a cookbook, it is everything you’ve ever wanted to know about fermented foods, nutrient dense eating, meat preparation, and even how to make whey.  The other theme with these three women is they all say that none of them is perfect all the time.  Sometimes life just intervenes too much and you have to do a frozen pizza.  But everyone agrees that the majority of your families’ food should be real and wholesome and healthy.

P.S. I want to add two more to the mix. I’ve actually been following these two for a while. The first is Living the Local Life (and I actually met the author at the Four Fold Healing Conference in New Hampshire where she lives). The second is Hartke is Online.  Kimberly Hartke may have the most thorough blog on NT and real food cooking.

Two Proposed Bills That Really Need Your Attention

Sharon New February 24th, 2010

Well, it’s that time of year again – yes, the Maryland Legislature is in session.  I received this alert earlier this week and wanted to pass it along.  Please consider contacting your Delegate about supporting HB 1070 (cross-filed as SB 912).  Background: Existing federal law allows farmers to sell up to 20,000 farm-processed chickens, turkeys and rabbits directly to consumers in their home state each year without inspection.  But the MD Department of Health and Mental Hygiene imposes an unnecessary restriction requiring these products to be sold on the farm.  MD requires poultry and rabbit sales at farmers’ markets to be processed in a USDA inspected facility even though the meat is exempt from USDA inspection.  Since there are no USDA poultry processing facilities in MD that accept birds from independent growers, small farms in Maryland are left no option of selling poultry and rabbit to consumers at farmers markets. This law would exempt poultry and rabbit sales at farmers markets from permitting & licensing.  This law would only apply to producers and meat that qualify for the federal exemption.  Wouldn’t it be great to get poultry at our Farmer’s Market along with great eggs?  Please go here to contact the committee members of the Health Government Operations Committee and express your support of this bill.  Feel free to use this language if you’d like:  

“I support HB1070 and SB912, introduced by Del. Shank and Senator Brinkley Please vote FOR HB1070 or SB912.  As a Marylander who shops at farmers markets, it is important that we have access to our farmers’ chickens at these local markets.  Thank you for your support.”

The second bill I would like to draw your attention to, however, is not as encouraging. Senator John McCain is sponsoring the Dietary Supplement Safety Act (DSSA) of 2010.  In fact, on Monday, he defended his DSSA by stating that “opponents of the bill and their well-paid Washington lobbyists” who have “spread false statements and rumors about the legislation…”  Of course, it’s hard for me to imagine supplement companies having more lobbying power and money than the FDA and pharmaceutical companies.  Please go here to read more about the background of the bill and to take action.

 

 

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