The Bite Blog


Coming to Minneapolis!

Topics:
Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Thursday, May 27th, 2010, 2:06 PM

Mom and I are headed to Minneapolis in two weeks and we’re excited about this event, sponsored by IATP and First Christian Church. Flyer here.

The following morning, we’re speaking with the amazing folks who run co-ops around the country – the National Cooperative Grocers Association.

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Snowy Saturday at Duke

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, 4:03 PM

North Carolina got some snow while I was there this weekend, but that didn’t stop people from coming out to hear my talk on the connections between climate change and the food system. Thanks to Stella, Professor Clark and everyone who helped bring me to Duke. It was a great event!

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“What’s on Your Plate?” Coming to national TV this February 7, 2010!

Topics:
Blog, Food Policy & Politics, Local Food, Organic Food & Farming, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, 10:00 AM

“What’s On Your Plate?” is a new food doc following two eleven-year-old New Yorkers as they explore their place in the food chain. With the camera as their companion, the girl guides talk to food activists, farmers, new friends, storekeepers, their families, and the viewer, in their quest to understand what’s on all of our plates.

I had a great time participating in the film—talking with the girls in front of the camera and hanging out behind the camera on the advisory team—and can’t wait to watch the national screening on Sunday, February 7th.

Check it out and join us in the “What’s on Your Plate?” Family Cook-In! to accompany the screening.

Here’s a great toolkit to help you plan a screening and cook-in event:

CookInToolkit

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Early words on Diet for a Hot Planet

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Thursday, January 21st, 2010, 4:40 PM

Diet for a Hot Planet is nearly here, and early reviews are starting to come in! BOOKLIST calls it “responsibly researched and cogently articulated…an impeccable, informative, and inspiring contribution to the quest for environmental reform.” You can pre-order your copy on Amazon or let your locally owned bookstore know that you want first dibs when it’s out in stores in late March.

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More DHP reviews!

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, 4:41 PM

I’m very grateful to my fellow advocates and leaders in the sustainable food movement for taking the time to read an advance copy of Diet for a Hot Planet and offer their gracious feedback.

Here is some of what they had to say:

“Anna Lappé’s message is timely and empowering. Instead of waiting for politicians to do the right thing, we can make simple changes to our diet, enjoy it, and help change the world.”
—Eric Schlosser

“Nothing is more important than connecting the way we eat to global warming. After all, food is an everyday need for everyone. Anna Lappé shows us that eating with intention is our responsibility and our pleasure.”
Alice Waters

“In this tour-de-force, Anna Lappé provides readable, lively, and much-needed answers to question that all too few of us understand: how does our food affect the planet?”
Raj Patel

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Diet for a Hot Planet – coming to a bookstore near you!

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010, 4:47 PM

I’m excited to hit the road this year, with daughter Ida in tow, to share stories and lessons learned from DHP, including ideas for what we can do to make positive changes for the environment and our diets. We’ll be posting event information as it becomes available, so check back frequently for updates. If you’d like to host an event in your community, email Kate at kate[at]smallplanet.org.

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Support This Film

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009, 11:23 AM

Luis Argueta, one of TAB’s allies, is currently in the post-production on his latest documentary, abUSed: The Postville Raid. The film, which has a target release date of winter 2009, is a full-length documentary that tells the story of the most brutal, most expensive, and one of the largest Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the history of the United States. By weaving together the personal stories of the individuals, the families, and the town directly affected by the events of May 12, 2008, the film presents the human face of immigration, the socioeconomic forces which fuel migration, and serves as a cautionary tale against government abuses of constitutional and human rights.

To view a brief, 8 minute trailer of abUSed: The Postville Raid, please visit the website. You can also stay up-to-date with developments by joining the abUSed Facebook group.

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Brooklyn Food Conference on Facebook, YouTube

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009, 2:35 PM

A few months ago, in a cluttered meeting room on the second floor of the Park Slope Food Coop, a group of coop members started talking about the idea of having a community-wide food conference on food politics, and food action, in Brooklyn. Out of those early conversations has sprung one of the most exciting and creative conferences about food that I’ve heard about in a long time.

Hope to see you there!

We wanted to share an e-mail from one of the volunteer organizers, Winton, who’s heading up the social networking outlets of the upcoming Brooklyn Food Conference:

Hi All,
Wanted to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Winton and I’m heading up the Facebook and YouTube promotional efforts for the conference. If you have yet to visit either of the sites (the YouTube site is new…) the links to them are below. Please feel free to send me feedback and if you want to help manage content that would be great also. My information is listed as well in case you need to reach me. Looking forward to interacting with you all.

Facebook Group (must sign up to join the group): http://tinyurl.com/cr24cj
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/bfconference

E-mail wintonw@gmail.com for more information, and reserve your place at the conference now!

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A Smash Hit!

Topics:
Blog, New to the Site, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008, 11:31 PM

Our annual auction and party, which was held at COLORS Restaurant on December 8th, was a huge success! We were so honored to be able to further support our amazing core grantees and the work of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

See photos from the event here.

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My Mother Takes on Burger King Advertisers

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008, 4:35 PM

Burger King exploits “Whopper Virgins” in far-off countries to market their fast food mainstay? Hear what my mother has to say about it .

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Join Us Tomorrow Night at COLORS Restaurant

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008, 4:31 PM

Every year, our foundation, the Small Planet Fund, hosts the best party in New York City (but maybe I’m a little biased). Don’t miss it this year. All the deets can be found here. Want to support the Fund but don’t live in NYC or can’t make the event? You can donate online or check out our online auction items.

The Fund supports grassroots organizations around the world addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty, including this year’s special guests from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

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Food Fighters in the New York Times

Topics:
Blog, Hunger & Food Crisis, Organic Food & Farming, Take a Bite News & Events

Friday, October 10th, 2008, 9:11 AM

It’s a funny feeling to wake up and, while perusing the homepage of The New York Times , stumble on what feels like your family — pics and profiles of some of the “food fighters” in the movement afoot for healthy, sustainable food for everyone.

Among the people profiled (including Bryant and me) are my dear friends who started Maverick Farms in North Carolina. The crew of Maverick Farms have created one of the most special spots in the country, and the weekend I spent there on the Grub tour was one of the highlights of my whole book jaunt. After a delicious dinner made with freshly picked everything, a reading from passages in Grub, and a rousing tour de force by Molly on the old baby grand in the corner of hte living room, we all nestled down to watch Garlic is as Good as Ten Mothers on a sheet hanging down the wall. I remember falling asleep full of wine, good conversation, and sore muscles from time down on the farm: a formula for a good night’s rest.

Other profiles include workers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers who we’re excited to be bringing to New York City for our special end-of-the-year fundraiser on the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.

Also, Severine, the awesome force behind Greenhorns, has a great pic and the most impressive fridge.

Check them all out here.

An outtake from our photo shoot on Added Value’s Community Farm in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

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What’s On Your Plate?

Topics:
Local Food, Organic Food & Farming, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008, 1:44 PM

Elizabeth, Latham, Bryant, Ludie, and me at the What’s On Your Plate? documentary film wrap dinner.

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Line up of Climate Change Panels at Community Food Security Coalition Conference

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Take a Bite News & Events

Monday, October 6th, 2008, 2:36 PM

This week, the Community Food Security Coalition holds its 12th annual conference.

With colleagues from around the country, we’ve created a series of workshops on food and climate change and invite you to check them out: conference schedule.

Specific workshops include:
Climate Change and Food: What are the problems, and what’s at stake?
Monday, October 6 11:15am
An overview of how the predominant global food system is contributing to climate change; how climate is in turn impacting agriculture; and why the problem won’t be solved by more of the “same old thing” (industrial-scale monocultures for agrofuel production, etc.).
Moderator: Molly Anderson, Food Systems Integrity and CFSC Board. Presenters: Peter Mann, WHY; Molly Anderson, Food Systems Integrity and CFSC Board; Marluce Melo, Pastoral Land Commission, Via Campesina, Brazil; Leticia Galeano, Popular Agrarian Movement, Paraguay

Climate Change and Food: What are community solutions?
Tuesday, October 7, 11am
How can we tackle climate change and build sustainable food systems at the same time? What models and tools exist for building food and energy sovereignty, starting at the community level? How do we spread the word that community food security is part of the solution to climate change? Participants will hear about a diversity of approaches and models from the U.S. and around the world and will leave this workshop empowered to take action.
Presenters: Maria Aguiar, Grassroots International; Deb Habib, Seeds of Solidarity; Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center; Marluce Melo, Pastoral Land Commission, Via Campesina, Brazil; Jac Smit, Urban Agriculture Network

Taking a Bite out of Climate Change: Campaigns Addressing the Food and Climate Change Connection
Tuesday, October 7 2:15pm
With concerns about global warming escalating, movements around the world are embarking on creative campaigns to address the links between climate change and food. We’ll hear from leaders from some of these innovative campaigns who will engage us in spirited conversation and ideas or action. Among the questions we’ll talk about: What are strategies and entry points for action? What can we learn from the successes and setbacks of these campaigns to date? How can we better work together to promote a just and climate-friendly food system?
Moderator: Anna Lappé, Small Planet Institute. Presenters: Ben Burkett, National Family Farm Coalition, President, and Via Campesina Food Sovereignty Commission; Stephanie Demmons, Oxfam America; Danielle Nierenberg, Humane Society of the United States; Meredith Niles, Center for Food Safety; Andrea Samulon, Rainforest Action Network

Climate Change and Food: What are the next action steps for CFSC?
Wednesday, October 8 10:30am
A facilitated discussion among plenary speakers, participants from prior workshops in the climate track, and additional participants (all are welcome). Representatives of all CFSC committees are strongly encouraged to attend.
Co-facilitated by Stephanie Demmons of Oxfam America and Christina Schiavoni, WHY

If you can’t join us at the conference, please e-mail info@takeabite.cc and we’ll be happy to send you a write-up of the panels.

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Climate Change and Food Slow Food Nation Panel

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Take a Bite News & Events

Saturday, September 27th, 2008, 2:23 PM

In case you missed the Climate Change and Food panel at Slow Food Nation over Labor Day weekend, Fora.tv has posted the discussion moderated by Mark Hertsgaard.

Panelists included: Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club; Wes Jackson, Ph.D., author and President and Founder of The Land Institute; Aaron (Ari) Bernstein, MD, co-author of Sustaining Life with Eric Chivian, MD; Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association; and me — Anna Lappé. Check it out and let me know what you think by writing to me here at Take a Bite.

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“Who’s Going to Stand up for Broccoli?” Just Food!

Topics:
Local Food, Take a Bite News & Events

Monday, September 15th, 2008, 12:52 PM

Iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes. These are the top three fruits and vegetables Americans consume, and we’re not talking about heirloom varieties grown in your backyard garden. We’re talking about what’s largely available and thus consumed by the vast majority of Americans.

Here in New York we are lucky to have Just Food, an organization that has been working for the last 14 years to ensure that all of us have access to good, locally produced food.

“When you pick up your Just Food CSA box of produce, I’m betting there’s a bit more variety than just iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and potatoes,” said Anna Lappé.

Last night she took the stage as Honorary Chairwoman at Let Us Eat Local, Just Food’s benefit and ceremony for the first annual presentation of the McKinley Hightower-Beyah Awards.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, La Familia Verde community gardeners, urban farmer/activist Abu Talib from Taqwa Community Farm, and farmer/advisor Ted Blomgren of Windflower Farm were recognized for their dedication to working toward food justice for all in New York City. In the spirit of McKinley Hightower-Beyah, a tireless leader, community gardener, activist and educator, the award honors those who carry on his legacy in their work to nourish New Yorkers from all economic backgrounds with locally grown produce.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees, and may McKinley’s spirit continue to inspire your admirable work!

–Jeanne

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Oprah and the Delicious Revolution

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008, 4:27 PM

Celia Barbour quotes Take a Bite’s Anna Lappe in this O Magazine piece about sustainable and local food out on the newsstands today.

Barbour’s piece features the growing popularity of the sustainable food movement, emphasizing young non-farmers bit by the farming-bug, dropping the office casual and heading for the field, hoe in hand.

Anna talks about that inner voice that tells you what you’re hungry for, that voices that too often gets drowned out by the billions of dollars worth of media messages convincing us to chow on cheap fossil food.

When was the last time you heard that voice?

Biting into a late summer plum might be what sends you out to the field, too.

–Jeanne and Anna

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From South Korea to the South Mission

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Friday, August 29th, 2008, 7:33 PM

Still a bit jet lagged from the haul back from Seoul to San Francisco, but I have safely landed and looking forward to the weekend festivities of Slow Food Nation. Check out the full schedule online. I’ll be speaking at Herbst Theater tomorrow and then attending Bryant’s cooking demo on Sunday.

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Report from Busan, South Korea: The Indigo Humanities Fair

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Take a Bite News & Events

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008, 8:42 PM

I spent last night’s dinner talking with a 19-year-old Korean who has been attending Indigo’s humanities reading program for a couple of years. For her, like many of the young Koreans I’m meeting here, Indigo is a lifeline: A community where they “get a breath of fresh air,” as one put it, away from the stress and competition of their hectic high school lives.

It’s hard to describe Indigo, and I’m only myself just beginning to comprehend its significance. Indigo is part-bookstore, part-publishing house, part-humanities educational program, part-social movement.

Started 20 years ago by Aram (her name means–”My name means Indigo), the organization runs an after-school program based on an interactive humanities curriculum and recently expanded into a beautifully designed eco-building and an “ecotopia” vegetarian restaurant (inspired by Hope’s Edge!) run by volunteer parents of students in the programs.

Narrow and tall, the organization’s new home was built around a Gingko tree that grows up through its middle and whose leaves you can see through each of the floor’s interior windows. A five minute walk to a mountain within the city limits and to the beach in the other direction, the building catches a breeze that naturally cools it despite the city’s hot summer weather.

I was invited to speak at this year’s book fair because Indigo published the Korean version of Hope’s Edge. Tomorrow, at my talk, every student will have read the book and come to my workshop with questions for me. The student I had dinner with last night will moderate the conversation.

Over kim chee and other delicious Korean food, she and I talked about the significance of Indigo for her. It’s not unusual, she said, for her and the typical student to study at school until 10 or 11 at night, six days a week, often on Sundays, too.

“We don’t get to see our families much,” she says, with a slight downturn of her eyes.

The educational system not only demands these long hours, but also strict obedience to a teaching style that prioritizes memorization above all else.

During our dinner conversation, a visiting American teacher pipes in to explain the contrast between Indigo’s methodology and the typical Korean school: Indigo’s classes are based on rigorous reading, yes, but also on critical thinking and interpretation. Indigo teachers encourage students to think for themselves. In contrast, at the typical school here, students will read literature or poetry alongside sanctioned interpretations, interpretations they then have to memorize; they’re tested on the official version. The teacher tells me about a poet who met with Korean students studying her work. She tried to take the test based on the official interpretation of one of her poems and got half the questions wrong!

Tomorrow, after my talk, I head to Seoul where I’ll be focused on research for my book, meeting with representatives of farmers movements here. With newspapers here still filled with news about the protests against American beef, it will be an interesting time to talk with farmers and consumer advocates about what “food sovereignty” means to them.

Here are pictures from Indigo’s reading room with myself and founder Aram and of the exterior of the Indigo building (my photograph certainly doesn’t do it justice!).


Anna and Aram


Indigo’s Green Building

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Hitting the Road: Farmers Movements in South Korea

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Blog, Organic Food & Farming, Take a Bite News & Events

Monday, August 18th, 2008, 11:22 AM

I’m rushing out the door to the airport — via my trusty local Arecibo car service — where I will hitch a ride to South Korea. I’m headed first to a conference on engagement put on by the Korean publishers of Hope’s Edge and then to Seoul where I will meet with members of a global farmers movement, La Via Campesina, whose work embodies what they call “cool farming” and an alternative to fossil-fuel addicted farming.

I’ll be posting as much as I can from the road, in the meantime, check out the travels of our friends over at the WHO Project (that’d be White House Organic Project) who are jumping on board their veggie-oil-powered bus and winding their way across the country to meet up with the crowds gathering for Slow Food Nation!

Now, before I miss that plane… signing off.

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Tasting Pavillion at Slow Food Nation

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Blog, Organic Food & Farming, Take a Bite News & Events

Friday, August 15th, 2008, 6:54 PM

The line up for the highly-anticipated Green Kitchen at the fast-approaching Slow Food Nation has been released! Chefs from the famous French Laundry and Chez Panisse, as well as authors and cooks from around the world, will take turns demonstrating their savvy skills at the Taste Pavillion at Fort Mason.

On Sunday, August 31, you can catch Anna’s co-author, the culinary maestro Bryant Terry, make his own edible contribution to this landmark tasting event. Check out Eater San Francisco’s coverage of the full line up here.

Bryant and Anna will sign copies of Grub after the cooking demo.

–Jeanne

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Organic Valley’s Kickapoo Country Fair

Topics:
Organic Food & Farming, Take a Bite News & Events

Thursday, July 31st, 2008, 6:12 AM

We had an amazing time over the weekend in La Farge, Wisconsin at the Organic Valley country fair.

If you don’t know ‘em, Organic Valley is one of the most successful stories of cooperation in this county. Started in 1988 with seven visionary Wisconsin farmers, Organic Valley now boasts 127 produce farmers, 937 dairy farm families, 146 beef, 87 egg, and 26 pork producers, 14 juice and 12 soy producers, and 3 poultry growers.

Pretty amazing for a rag-tag group of young farmers!

This was the coops 20th anniversary and the fifth time they invited the local (and not-so-local) community to celebrate organic family farming.

Here are some pics from the weekend, including a shot of Viroqua Food Coop. If you ever find yourself two and a half hours from Madison and in need of a good meal, head to the coop and stay at the lovely Viroqua Heritage Inn B&B.

Workshop with Frances Moore Lappé at Organic Valley
Workshop with Frances Moore Lappé at Organic Valley

We the Farmers Bus
We the Farmers Bus

Viroqua Food Coop
Viroqua Food Coop

Sunflower biodiesel demonstration
Sunflower Biodiesel Demonstration

Proud to be a farmer
Proud to be a Farmer

Organic Valley Festival
Organic Valley Festival

Obama poster at OV festival
Obama Poster at Organic Valley Festival

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Take a Bite on Green Patriot Radio

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008, 10:11 AM

Listen here to Anna chat about “Greening Your Food” on David Steinman’s Green Patriot Radio. Anna touches on ways to keep your diet cool, fair trade and her own coffee addiction, and how traveling at an early age opened her eyes to the food choices we make as Americans.

Green Patriot Radio is dedicated to educating listeners about sustainablility and sustainable ways of living.

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“The Roots of Hunger? A Scarcity of Democracy, not Food” A tribute to Frances Moore Lappe

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Friday, June 13th, 2008, 10:56 AM

This year my mother, Frances Moore Lappe, was honored with the James Beard Foundation Humanitarian Award. This video was created for the Award ceremony and includes words of tribute from Wangari Maathai and my brother and me as well as footage from India, Brazil, and Kenya on our journey to write Hope’s Edge.

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Frances Moore Lappe on the Wall Street Journal Online

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Wednesday, June 11th, 2008, 11:44 AM

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If you’re in New York City next week…

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008, 1:54 PM

My friends and I are hosting a benefit dinner at iCi Restaurant in Fort Greene, Brooklyn on Wednesday, June 11th, 6:30pm.

The dinner will support Heifer China’s community rebuilding efforts in the wake of the devastating earthquake. All proceeds benefit Heifer’s China program, addressing the roots of hunger through sustainable agriculture and community development.

iCi Restaurant
246 Dekalb Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
$75 to $250 donation sliding scale

RSVP today, space is extremely limited:
rsvp@silentfive.com

Can’t join us, but want to make a tax-deductible donation? Visit www.heifer.org/helpchina

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Food, Fuel, and the Future of Farming: A Conference on Sustainable Agriculture

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Blog, Take a Bite News & Events

Friday, May 16th, 2008, 9:13 AM

I’m heading to Vermont and Wisconsin this summer for a bunch of food and climate change events as well as lots of conversations with farmers. Should be fun… and if you happen to find yourself in South Royalton, Vermont, come on by.

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Newsday Takes a Bite

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Take a Bite News & Events

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008, 11:43 AM

Newsday’s Sylvia Carter chimes in on the messages of Take a Bite and the Cool Foods Campaign and includes a tasty recipe from our friend Peter Hoffman. Yum.

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Communing about Food at the Food and Society Conference

Topics:
Food Policy & Politics, Take a Bite News & Events

Thursday, May 1st, 2008, 11:18 AM

I’m offline for a couple of days communing with more than 500 people from around the country. This year’s Food and Society meeting is housed at the conference center in the Gila River Indian Community.

In her welcome, one of the community leaders told us about the ways the community is rebuilding its ability to feed itself and tapping its deep agricultural traditions. As a result of the decimation of local farming and water systems and the onslaught of American-style processed foods, the community has one of the worst rates of diabetes in the world: nearly 90 percent of the population is afflicted with diabetes. Dialysis for teenagers is just beginning.

Community leaders shared with us how reconnecting with traditional foods is helping reverse this trend. And after decades of struggle, the community just won one of the longest battles over natural resources in American history, reclaiming their power over their water and their ability to determine the fate of the land. So this location seemed a particularly apt place to bring together a community of people working to bring to life food sovereignty and making the connections between food, health, and justice.

Here’s a tasting of some of the wonderful people I’ve been hanging out with in the hot, hot desert outside of Phoenix:

- Claire Cummings, whose new book about the corporate control of the seed supply, Uncertain Peril, I read on the flight here and is now dog-eared and pock-marked with traces of my yellow highlighter. No surprise, then, that I highly recommend it!

- Sam Fromartz, of Organic Inc. fame, and I compared notes about our experience talking with folks in the food industry. He keeps an up-to-the-minute blog at ChewsWise.

- Bonnie aka “The Dairy Queen” — the beauty, brain, and braun behind The Ethicurean — was in full form and brought together an ad hoc group of food bloggers and media makers. We’re plotting. Stay tuned.

- I got a sneak peek of the table of contents for Bryant Terry’s new cookbook. He’s my good friend and co-author of Grub, and while, therefore, I may be a little biased, his book looks phenomenal! With a nourishing vegan reinterpretation of more than 100 soul food dishes, the recipes looks delicious and totally in line with our mission here to take a savory (or sweet) bite out of climate change.

- Curt Ellis, the filmmaker behind King Corn, which is now in wide release, and I discussed the creative power of documentary film. If you haven’t seen his King Corn yet, you have no excuse.

- I got to meet all of my fellow fellows.

- Brahm Ahmadi was inspiring as ever and it was great to hear the latest news about how his work at People’s Grocery is taking off.

- My dear friend, maverick farmer, and Grist food editor, Tom Philpott made an experience and we schemed about various Take a Bite and Grist partnerships.

- Over lunch one day, I learned about the secret behind the best compost in the world (shh: it’s the worms) from one of our country’s leading urban farming luminaries, Will Allen, founder of Growing Power

- On the way home, I got to hail a cab with another Will Allen, this one the author of War on Bugs, who was proudly sporting his Farms Not Arms t-shirt at JFK.

It was amazing to see everyone and to get recharged by the work everyone is doing. The starry night sky and steaming hot tub weren’t bad either.

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‘Scuse Me While I Eat The Sky: Advisory Member Weighs In on HuffPo

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Thursday, April 17th, 2008, 12:13 PM

Our very own Kerry Trueman–blogger extraordinaire–writes about us, the Simpsons, and the falling sky. Read more here.

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Welcome to Take a Bite: Dive in, Dig In, and Dish Up

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Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008, 12:00 PM

Today is our big day over here at Bite Central. While we’re off toasting with our friends from the Center for Food Safety at the media launch at Blue Hill, take a look around and let us know what you think.

About the Site: We’ll be continuously adding tips, resources, and action ideas, so keep your eyes peeled on our blog where we’ll let you know what’s new.

Ongoing features: We’ll be posting new Q&A’s with invited guests every month, starting next week, and sharing those interviews with the folks over at Grist.org.

We’ll also be featuring a tip-of-the-month – a simple thing you can do starting on Earth Day, so send us your brilliant ideas.

Talk to Us! We would love to hear your have favorite resources, questions you’d like answered, or topics you’d like covered. Please email us or share your comments with others here.

From all of us at Take a Bite, thanks for checking us out.

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Take a Bite on BlogHer

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Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008, 10:01 AM

Did this fun podcast with Elisa, one of the founders of the BlogHer community. I’ve always thought a good interview will like a good conversation, this certainly did.

One of the questions Elisa asked was submitted by someone in the community. How can we make sense of what’s good for us with all these different terms being tossed around: organic, sustainable, local, fair trade. What do they really mean and what difference do they make?

The terminology may feel like alphabet soup, but the principles of good eating–and I mean good for you and for the planet–are really quite simple: nutritionist Marion Nestle sums them up here in just a few words.

When it comes to choosing a climate-friendly diet the principles are pretty simple, too. Check out the resources on our site and the Center for Food Safety’s Cool Foods Campaign to help you – and your family – take a bite out of climate change.

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Celluloid Food for Thought

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Take a Bite News & Events

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008, 8:13 AM

In New York City this weekend? Join me for this fantastic film festival. Find out what you are really eating; how it affects your health, local and global communities, and the planet; where your food comes from, and why you should care… and see some of my favorite flics all at the same time.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19th
Cooper Union’s Wollman Auditorium
51 Astor Place at Third Ave
Directions: 6 Train to Astor Place

Opening address by Borough President Scott Stringer
12:00pm- The True Cost of Food and Black Gold
Post screening discussion with Scott Codey
3:15pm- Trailer for Asparagus: Stalking the American Life and Life and Debt
Post screening discussion with Anna Lappe

6:00pm- The Meatrix I, II and II ½ and King Corn

Post screening discussion with Director Aaron Woolf and Greg Schwartz
Brought to you by Nani Ola Productions
For more information go to www.foodfilmfest.com or call 347-439-4110

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Hey, Big Apple! Meet the Big Food List

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Take a Bite News & Events

Saturday, April 12th, 2008, 11:30 AM

In New York City and want to know about this week’s delectable local, sustainable food tastings? Curious about where you can get your hands in the dirt? Interested in food-related films, lectures, book readings? Check out our very own Jeanne’s weekly list for food happenings in the Big Apple.

Jeanne pulls together her what’s-what list each week and will shoot you an e-mail every Monday morning. Just have a pencil and your calendar ready. To get on the list, e-mail Jeanne [at] smallplanet.org.

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Eat the Sky Meets Seattle

Topics:
Take a Bite News & Events, Urban Agriculture & Community Gardening

Thursday, March 13th, 2008, 7:38 PM

Tonight in Seattle, I gave my first Eat the Sky speech for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Seattle Tilth, a community gardening institution in the gray city.
After, my friend and colleague Ethan Schaffer from www.growfood.org pulled together a gathering at Six Arms of local foodies, farmers, and food activists. The night ended with a not-so-local Cosmo at The Hideout and ultimately collapsing back at the hotel and falling asleep to the subtle swooshing of “Fasha,” my room’s pet goldfish. (What will boutique hotels think of next?)

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