Local Food Update and Going Forward

 

It’s really weird how things happen. Sometime after the previous posting, I was locked out of my Blogger. I thought I would never get in; I’d reached a point where I could only hope that Blogger would eventually delete the blog. Finally, after not attempting sign in for many weeks, I decided to go at it once again, and yes, I am here because I was able to finally receive that G-code. I didn’t want the previous posting to be the last thing published to this Local Food blog. 

This post is sort of about food, but of the kind of food that supports the spirit and mental well being of community. 

I begin again. Kroger – the problem being attributed to the technological malfunctioning. Specific questions I posed to the representative employee were responded to by referring me to their corporate statement. It took a while before I could enter any of their stores again; and I seek to never be in store alone, and my exit is slow to make sure that the “machines” have okayed my purchase. May my experience, and Kroger’s offering results and understandings, be experienced through all Kroger management connections. May all the minds and hearts involved be open to healing and healed. 

What a shit storm we are currently living through as our nation goes through a world pandemic and an important social and political recconing! I have always, yes, always believed that we (holding to our national principles) could face our misrepresented past with truth and integrity and not fall prey to the bulley pulpet and adopt true national history atrocities. I never on my worst days imagined that I would live to see persons who say they are for the US move forth an insurrection; and that even as I write this some who do not show support of our democratic principles are attempting to rewrite the story. Perhaps Alzheimers or fear has taken hold on these politicians, and they have forgotten oaths taken to stand for the people, and pledges made to their constituents and the nation, and now with clay feet can set aside truth, honor and justice to censure truth speakers. 

Our nations tattered past story is being outed and presented for the cast system it is. I recall asking a history teacher back in the sixties what the difference was between India’s cast system and the legislated systemic system in the US. They looked the same to me. I was told that I did not understand. Even then, I knew that it was she who did not understand. 

We, the people, have the opportunity to “do the work” to cleanse our nations palate and heal the dishonest and dishonerable past foundation story and replace it with truth. We have the stregnth necessary to do the tough inner and outer work for our national healing. Not an easy task in any way, yet essential that we reach for it. 

I think that the majority of people want a unified country and are willing to explore ways to heal and make this happen. Many understand that supression of others and is not an allowable option. Many realzie how much of their self has to be reduced (is shamed) to hold another down because when someone supresses another because of unconscious or conscious entitlement, they, the surpressor is holding themselves right down there too. 

It is time to let go of the shameful past story and actively reach for what I imagine most want; abundance of joy, love, kindness, health, home, community of wellbeing, regeneration and uplift for every home and on every plate in the kitchen. What a melting pot of a smorgasboard of resources we have to feast upon! 

It is clear that we as a nation, and planet are up against the wall and the “bozo’s”. The real vampires are coming out of closets ready to strike at any who threaten the green blood supply. Either we will love ourselves, love our children and theirs yet to come, love our country and our planet home enough to put our collective energies toward the care and necessary shift work to move this country forward and long term, so that we can continue as the human race. 

Those who cultivate division do so as a necessary distraction and thankfully, more people seem to recognize current actions targeting voting access as acts of desperation; attempts to limit the voice of the people. Acts of fear. Limiting the voice of the people by representatives who are supposed to be representing all constituents is, from my view a relinquishing of sworn national responsibilities so that unsustainable ideas and institutions can continue grasping to ideas that are infertile seeds. 

 Our nation stood against the cast system of India and the segregation within South Africa and continue to wage wars all over the globe in the name of democratic principles (and resources). I have watched, I have listened, and I have questioned and asked through more than half a century of decades, when will the same efforts for justice and equality be taken by the US government to secure the rights of American citizens whether Indigeneous, stollen into slavery or imigrant? Silence regarding unequal treatment is never an option. We as a nation have a great opportunity to love forward. 

Our energies can go toward connecting, healing, stregnthening and rejuvination. I think that most people are ready to balance and heal the collective spirit of this nation because many still hold to an American Dream. Our nations principles are held as an ideal to work toward. I hope that we understand that a shadow will remain across our country as long as we do not not look honestly at our historical past and actively allow the nation’s healing to begin. 

New humanstory books are being written to offer a truthful and inclusive American foundation and development story. Someday, sooner than later, I hope that America will get over fear of its real back story; that we as a nation can move forward with the real American her/history in the hands of all of our students. We are more together. Together, we human beings, have a potential beyond extinction; we have the potential for regeneration and the creation of an amazing country fruited by our collective efforts. 

There is much work to be done. Let’s make steaming piles of compost out of fear, deception, ignorance and hate. Feed a love that nurtures heart, mind, body, family, community, country, planet; there is much love; yes there is love in action here in America, and upon the earth. Our survival as a species depends on our being a loving kind, the health of our nation depends on us growing up, growing together, and becoming a regenerative loving kind. 

End Note: 63 Suffragists of Color Quilt, a commemorative quilt made in celebration of suffragist was recently on exhibit in the Grunwald Gallery in the Eskanazi Museum with a Voters Timeline for People of Color. You can read a little about the quilt here. https://quilterscomfort.blogspot.com/ 

 

 

Key words Kroger, voting, cooperation, healing, regeneration, community, love more, government, voting, compost, local food, local food bloomington, @localfoodbloomington, Indiana, food shopping, hope, collaboration, environment, quilt, Eskanazi Museum, Grunwald Gallery, suffragists

IU Cinema Presents "Little Woods" Directed by Nia Da Costa

 

IU Cinema, thinks it is critical to showcase the underrepresented work of women in film.  

Of the 103 screenings left this season, 40 are F-rated (directed and/or written by a woman). 

For this reason, we are thrilled to host writer/director Nia DaCosta in Bloomington on 1/31 and 2/1 for a screening 
of her debut feature film and an extended, on-stage interview. 


The Tribeca Film Festival calls DaCosta "a name you're gonna need to get familiar with," and we couldn't agree more! Her impressive debut feature, LITTLE WOODS, won the Nora Ephron Award for ‘spirited and bold’ storytelling at Tribeca and stars Tessa Thompson​ and Lily James. The film expertly addresses a range of timely topics including the opioid crisis, sexual violence, women’s reproductive rights, poverty, and healthcare. 

Trailer

  
DaCosta is scheduled to be present for a Q&A after our 1/31 screening of LITTLE WOODS. Tickets are $4 for IUB students and $7 for non-students and can be purchased online here, at the IU Auditorium Box Office, or in the IU Cinema lobby beginning one hour before the film.
 

More Info


Her Jorgensen Guest Filmmaker Program will take place on 2/1 from 4 - 5:30pm and is FREE, no ticket required. ​
-----------------------------------------------------------

IU Cinema hopes to welcome an engaged audience for both of these events, and would love it if you would help us spread the word. Please feel free to use any of this information in your own outreach, and please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.  Thank you and best wishes,



I you have any questions, contact:

Caitlyn Stevens

Marketing & Engagement Assistant | Indiana University Cinema

cinemaea@Indiana.edu

Quilter's Comfort and Wilderlove Farm Indiana Grown Members

 

L.A.O.'s Savory Chocolate Rub and Seasoning

Quilter's Comfort, L.A.O. Organics is a member if Indiana Grown featuring their certified organic nightshade free seasonings and herbal teas.  Another local,Wilderlove Farm, a family farm organically growing vegetables on approximately 1/4 of an acre also became a member of Indiana Grown in October. 

Indiana Grown is a state initiative that promotes growers of all types, food and beverage producers, sellers and agritourism. Its members include a wide variety of farmers, farmers markets, distributors, producers, processors, wineries, breweries, artisans, as well as retailers, grocers, hospitals, restaurants and more. 

Quilter's Comfort is also a new member of Equity at the Table (EATT) -  an easy-to-navigate database for food industry professionals featuring only women/gender non-conforming individuals and focusing primarily on POC and the LGBTQ community.

https://www.quilterscomfort.com/
https://www.wilderlovefarm.com/
http://www.indianagrown.org/
 https://equityatthetable.com/

A Few Good Things about Bloomingfoods Coop And Why It Matters in Community

A Few Good Things about Bloomingfoods Coop And Why It Matters in Community

Local Apples Bloomingfoods Fall 18 by Patricia C. Coleman.  Apples are from Apple Works Orchard

Bloomingfoods matters.  I’ve asked a few people to tell me a few good things about Bloomingfoods.  Most of these folks have decades of experience with the Coop and are also member-owners of the store.  I encourage you to share your own reasons why Bloomingfoods matters. 

- Bloomingfoods and Coop was founded in 1975 and laid the foundation for the mega organics and bulk foods now being sold and consumed in Bloomington, Indiana and in most other communities across the nation.  Everyone realizes that Bfoods is in a major shift time.  What happens to the foundation of healthier foods truly depends upon the community of its members.  Even if you have been hurt by some past experience, that is just it, a past experience.  Let’s all grow on and up otherwise we step aside and allow mega corporation dollars to roll over the foundations of local foods in communities as it forces its way across the nation. 

Those very same corporations that now have their own organic brands previously spent huge sums of money working to deflect  and destroy coops, organic standards and GMO regulations for the healthy foods markets here and in other countries. 

The Coop is a store that has played a role in supporting some local growers and farmers and vendors and made the welfare of growers everywhere a priority.  Bloomingfoods created educational and community opportunities fostering the understanding of healthy food for healthy people and healthy community.  For decades Bloomingfoods has nurtured the seeds of sustainable community.  

I asked a few folks to tell me a couple of good things and here is some of what was offered. 

I appreciate Bloomingfoods because :

-- Bloomingfoods is locally owned, by its members.  This is just one thing, or maybe two,

-- it's the one that matters most, and that no big chain can match

--it is earthy and offers community and a sense of belonging

-- there is so much for shoppers and members to like:

---I can buy favorite foods, even kombu from Japan!

--It is a store where you LOVE to run into friends

--of the fact that Bfoods is of the community, for the community

--the staff for whom this is more than a job

--the comforting scale of the buildings

-- I have seen little children grown up shopping with their parents and then take their

   first jobs there

--of the bulk foods section

-- if I don't like something about Bloomingfoods, I have the power to try to change it

    through the democratic process.  How much power you have depends on whether

   others agree with me, and how involved I'm willing to get. The decisions in national  

  chains are made who-knows-where, to profit the owners or shareholders; if it's

  profitable to close a community's only natural-foods store, for instance, they'll do it. 

--It matters that Bloomingfoods is owned and run by members of our community.

--that it is a welcoming place

--it is ours

--it is a welcoming safe place for my children

--the big variety of local and organic foods

--the affordable and delicious deli

 --good food equals good health which equals longer life expectancy

--co-op is an opportunity to guide our youth in cooperative principles they may not   

   receive elsewhere in their education

--It is a place that has supported local growers and producers educating the larger

   community regarding health and community benefits of locally grown food.

--that it helped educate this city to the amazing health benefits of food.

--  it has helped the community to develop an infrastructure toward sustainability. 

-- it has the good old co-op feeling!

--of the fact that it connects personally to so many peoples’ story and a gem that you

   can still come home to, though very different, you can still come home.

Bloomingfoods Coop has offered and continues to create employment opportunities that connects community through owner membership and education and this has been part of the national muscle that works to educate and obtain protective regulations regarding organics, GMO’s, Monsanto’s pesticides and food labeling.  Our Coop has been invaluable in community building and local foods education in particular and the organization worked diligently with local groups and individuals to develop and strengthen our local Farmers Market, Tuesday and Wednesday Farmers Market as well as the Winter Farmers Market. 

Bloomingfoods Coop is here because a small group of local people received a loan from, I think Cathy Canada, a then local because they valued having healthy organic and bulk foods available in the community.  Cooperative membership has grown to more than twelve thousand member owners.  These members and the community at large will decide what happens to the mother and father of organics, bulk and whole foods in Bloomington. 

I hope that every small business is paying attention because this pattern of destroying or neglecting locally owned small businesses in favor of those with large purses is truly death to communities.  Check out what membership means at Bloomingfoods Coop https://www.bloomingfoods.coop/members/

I want to believe that people in this and other community’s want more connections with their foods than a faceless corporation can ever give.  I hope that the people here want stores that nurture and ultimately will try to stay within our community when times are tough. 

I hope that you will share into the larger community your reasons for why Bloomingfoods matters. 

I am member #244 and I think that the Coop matters.

Local Food Fairy

localfoodbloomington@gmail.com

Trigos Bakery, A Family Tradition

Hello and I hope you are enjoying great celebrations!

A sweet discovery!  A tiny bakery offering traditional Mexican pastries in Bloomington.   For months I drove by the sign for bakery wondering what types of goodies it was creating.    One day, I stopped in and discovered Iban Heredia and tasted my first pastry. a CONCHITAS Pan Dulce and learned of some challenges with ordinances he is working through.  

May things be favorably resolved and more of the community have the opportunity to taste his sweets and savories.    A friend said, it is these  special little places that really are a key element in making  a community great.

To see tasty bakery postings and read appreciative comments check out Trigos Bakery on Facebook 

Click Here.

Thanks for stopping by and if you have the opportunity to visit Trigos Bakery, drop Local Food a note.


Delicious food to you,

Patricia

HAPPY EARTH DAY! TALK ABOUT FOOD!!!!

In a few hours a small group of friends will gather in Patricia's Wellness Cafe & Quilter's Comfort Teas, to share an Earth Dinner.  Each person has been asked to bring a dish containing at least one food ingredient from our local community and be willing to share something about the food.  During the evening, we plan on sharing thoughts about local food, and how we see our selves supporting local food today and any ideas for future involvement.

I've prepared a soup featuring O'Henry Sweet Potatoes, an heirloom grown by Sun Circle Farm and purchased at the local coop.  To accompany this, I have roasted garlic stuffed muffins made using a variety of organic grains, including local Agape cornmeal; flours of barley, brown rice and whole wheat pastry.  The garlic came from my friend Glenda's garden in Owen county.  I picked up commercial gmo-free corn chips for the Everything Dip made using plain yogurt and my locally made certified organic Quilter's Comfort L.A.O. EVERYTHING Plus Popcorn seasoning to make a delicious dip everyone loves!  I will also be serving Quilter's Comfort's Gingery Mint (other teas will be available as requested) and a wine from the Butler Vineyard.

Where ever you are, thank you for reading and have a great Earth Day everyday!

Old-House Expo & Architectural Cake Competition Update

"Patricia's Wellness Art's Cafe" cake on display in the Shower's Building


This is a follow up to my last brief post on Bloomington, Indiana's 2nd Annual Old-House Expo & Architectural Cake Contest which took place Saturday, May 11 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the atrium of Bloomington’s City Hall at 401 N. Morton St. Eight non-professional bakers had cakes in the contest. Cakes ranged from a 19th-century jack plane, a covered bridge to the Taj Mahal! Every participant received an award. Judges for the delectable event were Tommy Kleckner of Indiana Landmarks, Gayle Cook of the Monroe County History Center and Erica Sagon of Edible Indy Magazine.


The photo above shows my Patricia's Wellness Arts Cafe cake, recipient of the “Most Herbal Essence” award and later judged “best tasting”, with Carol Krause’s Downton Abby, recipient of the “Masterpiece” award to the left. Beyond that is Kathy Holland’s “Smitty’s Standard Station” on West Second Street). I loved the use of gummy candy as hose for the gas pump and gummy rings with lifesaver inserts for the wheels. It was one of three cakes to receive an award for “Best Looking along with cakes by Marlene Newman and Hiestand.

To my cake’s right is a historic land area of I-69 cake detailing the architectural significance of irreplaceable land and life formations; the Taj Mahala by first time cake baker Sara Schwab stands brightly white in the background. It is easy to see how this cake won an award for outstanding architecture.


Here I am receiving my award! A blue ball jar with gourmet lollypops.

This was my first ever food contest. I truly had no idea of what I was getting myself into, or the amount of time on my feet late at night to have something presentable. I started out with the intention of building my Quilter’s Comfort “Spicy Ginger Mint” Gingerbread Cake. I think I have been around too many builders because I was trapped in the idea of building a structure. I approached the entire thing from the perspective of parts to be assembled. I baked walls, front, back and sides, roof pieces and doors.

It is clear to me that I also may have been unconsciously influenced by my one experience creating a gingerbread house with my children decades ago. I even created little planter pots from my spicy mint dough to hold thyme sprigs standing in for blueberry bushes which turned out very well. I even tried to make post strong enough to hold up the front overhang. They might have worked had I some very small tube pans.

So there I was with all the pieces baked and cooled, vegan Royal Icing and my cream cheese frosting chilling in the fridge, it was time to put it all together. As I worked, I had been wondering, how was I going to get the thing to stand up? I knew that I had zero ideas for assembling everything in an upright position, and as I dried, it was becoming very clear that inner support (which I did not have) would be the only way the cake would stand. I run out of most of my grains by the time I mixed my third batch, and had resorted to using some brown rice and little barley flour. To say the least there was a variety of strength in the pieces and pieces made with the brown rice and barley began crumbling even as I stood them on edge.

The hour being late, I had been on my feet form nearly five hours, was tired of standing and I decided to lay out the building as you see in this image below and fell into bed.


I woke early the next morning with a plan. Drive to town, get flour, yogurt eggs; start over, this time making Spicy Ginger Mint Pound Cake. After a day in the “Café” I mixed up a new batch of icing and began the process of layering the soft, yet firm cake pieces together with thin coatings of cream cheese frosting. I then cut and layered pound cake to define my store, I was simultaneously deconstructing the first cake, taking large slabs of the crunchy gingerbread cake into my new cake body. Large slabs with Vegan Royal Icing were also layered to the back of my new cake.

As I worked, I thought of the eaters and how they would experience a variety of textures and taste with Quilter's Comfort's Spicy Ginger Mint as the central flavor and the different color layers ranging from caramel to light molasses.

Once I used up all the icing I had, I wished I had more frosting, then the crumbs would have disappeared and left me with a smoother finish and a slightly less rustic appearance. I knew it would taste good.

The little ginger bread pots received a dollop of frosting to secure the thyme representing blueberry bushes. Originally, I thought I would add popcorn to the little branches to represent flowers. I looked through my jars of herbs hoping to find one dried oregano branch to use as the linden tree outside the shop, alas, I did not find one so the sprig of fresh oregano would have to do. I pushed its thick limp stem down into the cake side sidewalk and supported it with amaranth linguini.



On the drive into town next morning, I asked myself what had I been thinking and that this could be thought of as a once in a lifetime experience. Upon delivering my cake and looking at all the others, I found myself wondering, what building will I bake next year?

For more information about the Old-House Expo & Architectural Cake Contest visit
http://cakecontest.wordpress.com/

Patricia's Wellness Arts Cafe & Quilter's Comfort Teas is located at 725 West Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington, Indiana. Hours are 1:00pm to 6:00pm and every first Friday 1:00pm to 8:00pm where Patricia and Yuko serve delicious herbal foods and Quilter's Comfort teas. Sometimes there is pound cake on the menu. Visit Patricia's Wellness Arts Cafe on the web at http://www.hartrock.net/cafe.htm.

Best Tasting Architectual Cake!

Dear Readers,

This note will be brief, as I intend returning very soon to add the many food notes and images I have been accumulating since my last posting.

The last few days and nights have been extremely intense as I prepared my cake submission for Bloomington's 2nd Annual Architectural Cake Contest. Sitting here, I am happily surprised that my "Patricia's Wellness Arts Cafe" cake received an award for "The Most Herbal Essence" and was judged the best tasting cake!

Images and more details to follow.

Thanks for reading!

Dear Readers,


Thank you for being out there. I hope that 2013 brings you much happiness, joy and great food!


I just posted an update to Local Food News. Following my brief note is an article written by a new local about a great organization, Food NOT BOMBS!


Patricia's Wellness Arts Cafe & Quilter's Comfort Teas is almost ready to announce the winner of the 2nd Annual "Name the Tea Contest". The selection of jellies, herbal, coffee, beer and wine has increased. Currently all are made using Certified Organic or locally sourced herbs from growers using organic and sustainable practices.


Visit Food News at for lots of articles and information concerning food, gardening, and food in the news.


May your gardens be abundant.



FOOD NOT BOMBS!


Bloomington, as most readers would agree, has a notable, functional, people-powered food security infrastructure to address hunger resulting from poverty. The product of decades of continuous hard work, the folks of these community organizations provide the town with a peace of mind that would otherwise not be available, and is (unfortunately) seldom found on this scale in towns throughout the US.


Most of these folks come together with a pretty straightforward goal: provide a consistent source of wholesome nutrition for every member of the community. Food security, like physical and health security, is considered by many a basic human right, and with it comes a collective responsibility. These issues are handled in many ways, from neighbors providing mutual aid, to centralized services provided by local, state and federal government. Some believe that food security can and should be kept without encouraging the exploitation of those providing and receiving these vital services(a constant risk when the solutions to such basic human rights issues are made into commodities). One group of Bloomington residents respond to this concern by not only providing free, nutritious food, but by sourcing it outside any monetary system. Free food, made free.


With the slogan 'Solidarity, not Charity!', B-Town Food Not Bombs has been a fixture in the local community, on and off, for nearly ten years and FNB has been around globally since 1980. As the group's name indicates, they can trace their roots to the Nuclear Disarmament movement of the '80s and are committed against violence and state aggression. The central difference between FNB and other groups/collectives is their penchant for sourcing their delicious (as the author and many residents can attest) vegan or vegetarian meals from no-cost, local sources. These are often vendors such as grocery stores, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) groups, local farmers and backyardeners whose donated food would have gone to waste for one reason or another, but is otherwise perfectly good and ready for our and our neighbor's plate.


The 'feeding frenzies' are free to all and take place in public spaces (here at Peoples Park most Sunday evenings) as a way to combat hunger but to also encourage real, meaningful discussion and action against poverty and homelessness...an issue that, even here, is kept more silent than it can and should be. That said, the folks are genuine, friendly and encourage a sense of community with all who attend. Cliquish-ness is discouraged by a common ground; fixing hunger.


So, as a member's invitation went one Sunday, 'B-Town Food Not Bombs presents a real, tasty meal! Come one, come all at 5:45 p.m. to People's Park. Bring the whole household, even pets! Tell a friend, tell a foe.' I'll see you there, in hunger and solidarity.


Kyle F is a recently transplanted Bloomington resident interested in food security and community-powered projects in general.'

Morel Mushrom Haiku and Pictures

A week ago Tuesday, my son in law and daughter visited for his birthday. Before coming in to say hello, they spent about ten minutes walking around the house and these are the beautiful morels they found in that short time!

I wrote a few (very quick)Haiku's to accompany them.

*********************************************************************************

Blessings of mushrooms to all.

Abundant Morels
Look before you take a step
Mushrooms everywhere




Morels cooking with
onions and garlic cozy
along the pans edge





Look at the size of
These morels tall, full fleshed
Delicate of taste




I want to bite these
Morel mushrooms all up, NOW
even uncooked




I know I am ahead of the season, yet, I am wondering if the Chanterelle's will be as abundant. If so, yum yum yum!

Food for Thought Traveling Exhibit in Bloomington, Indiana

Food for Thought traveling exhibit. The Center on Aging and Community, and the Bloomington Food Policy Council are hosting the exhibit and a lineup of events connected to it.

Food for Thought is an interactive exhibit, created by Indiana Humanities, will be on display at Bloomington’s City Hall from May 6 – 20, 2011 during regular hours (Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.). The Food For Thought traveling exhibit continues its adventure across the state when it makes a stop at Bloomington’s City Hall (in the Atrium) May 6 – 20. The Center on Aging and Community and the Bloomington Food Policy Council will partner to host the exhibit.
Stop by the exhibit (City Hall Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.) to learn about Hoosier food through the engaging displays, and take part in engaging programs to discover how Bloomington has contributed to Indiana’s food culture.

~ May 6 (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.), there will be a Senior Expo story tent at the Twin Lakes Sports and Recreation Center, where you can share your own fun, touching, or ridiculous food stories with each other. Also on this day, check out the launch of Food Flix, an intergenerational filmmaking initiative, in Bellevue Gallery between 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
~May 7 and 14 (8 a.m. – 1 p.m.), head to the Food For Thought exhibit and pop by the Farmers Market as well.

~ May 7 (10 a.m.), anthropologist Anya Peterson Royce will discuss the history and culture of chocolate at 10 a.m. in the McCloskey Room, Bloomington City Hall. Did I mention there will be free samples? Finally, May 7 also includes a talk at 11:30 a.m. by Nancy Hiller called “From Producers to Consumers: The Hoosier Cabinet in Kitchen History.” Arrive by 11:25 a.m. for a chance to win the door prize, a freshly baked persimmon pudding made with homegrown fruit and a vintage Bloomington recipe! Nancy will be signing copies of her book, which would make a great Mother’s Day present.

~May 16 (7:30-8:30 p.m.), Food For Thought is bringing a heart-healthy menu of songs and poems all about food, presented by Voces Novae and the Writers Guild, to City Hall.

Attend the Inter-generational Picnic, held at Lake Lemon, on May 28 (3-6 p.m.).
Also on the schedule is a discussion about African-American food traditions in Indiana. Stay tuned for details!

Learn more about the Food for Thought traveling exhibit here. And, watch videos from the Story Silo,here.

Open Call For Papers - The Essential Principles of Small- and Mid-Scale Food Value Chain Development

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development announces
Two SPECIAL TOPIC Calls for Papers

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development is the only international, online, peer-reviewed journal focused on the practice and applied research interests of agriculture and food systems development professionals and scholars. For details about JAFSCD (ISSN 2152-0801 online, quarterly) and author guidelines, visit www.AgDevJournal.com/submissions. Use our query form to submit a paper or concept for a paper.

The Journal welcomes articles at any time on any subject related to the development aspects of agriculture and food systems. Content can focus on:
• conservation and farmland protection
• value-adding
• cooperative marketing
• value chains
• distribution
• farm labor
• market research
• consumer decision‐making drivers, or
• other topics.

Upcoming calls for manuscripts:

The Essential Principles of Small- and Mid-Scale Food Value Chain
Development

Manuscripts are due
February 15, 2011

Food value chains (FVCs) are a hot topic among agriculture and food systems development professionals. In FVCs, farmers and ranchers are treated as strategic partners, not as interchangeable — and exploitable — input suppliers. Values-based food supply chains (value chains) are strategic alliances between farms, ranches, and other supply-chain partners who distribute rewards equitably across the supply chain. They can include farm-to-institutions (schools, hospitals, prisons), multiproducer processors and wholesalers, multifarm CSAs, food hubs, food webs and networks, and the like. All partners in these business alliances recognize that creating maximum value for the product depends on significant interdependence, collaboration, and mutual support. [1]

Papers can explore specific components within a chain (a farmer co-op or association), interactions of two or more links in a chain (farmers, wholesalers, processors, retailers, and eaters), or an entire chain. Examples include:
• Case studies of successful or failed FVC programs
• Research and education strategies that help build resilient FVCs
• How are FVCs playing a role in rural development?
• The role of FVCs in increasingly multifunctional rural landscapes
• Systematic analyses of key differences between FVCs and traditional food supply chains
• Local and global FVCs: influence of globalization on FVCs; should these be accepted or mediated?
• Overview analysis of the values chain sector (comparisons or outcomes across many cases)
• Implications of new food safety legislation on values chains
• Storage and transportation logistics
• Branding and geographical identity
• Performance and impact analysis
• Scaling up
• Building trust and transparency
• Business planning and/or record-keeping
[1] Adapted with permission from Stevenson, G. W., & Pirog, R. (2008). Values-based supply chains: Strategies for agrifood enterprises of the middle. In T. Lyson, G. W. Stevenson, & R. Welsh (Eds.), Food and the mid-level farm: Renewing an agriculture of the middle. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Food System Planning Theory and Practice

Manuscripts are due
April 20, 2011

Food Systems Planning is a nascent field in the planning profession. Until recently, planners have largely ignored the food production, distribution, and consumption sectors, considering them to be issues of the free market. However, bolstered by growing societal concerns about the equity and environmental sustainability of the global food system, planners are becoming increasingly engaged in local efforts to analyze and address food system challenges and opportunities.

In additional to planning professionals, food system planning is increasingly practiced by architects, landscape architects, and a growing number of nongovernmental organizations and public agencies. In this special topic focus, we encourage practicing planners and other professionals who are engaged in food system planning, as well as planning scholars and students, to submit applied research–based papers such as case studies, surveys, focus groups and the like as well as commentary and reflective essays on a wide range of topics.

Examples of topics include food deserts, swamps, and oases; siting of community gardens and public, farmers' and mobile markets,; development of food oases; innovations in emergency food assistance; retail access; regional planning and economic development related to farm and agribusiness retention and expansion; mapping of food distribution systems; farmland protection; metropolitan agriculture; food policy councils; or integrating food policy into state and federal agencies. As there is little attention paid to their work in the literature, rural planners are especially encouraged to submit manuscripts.

Thank you Local Food Readers

May this brief end of the year note find you each well in every part of your life. Thank you for supporting Local Food Bloomington!

We hope to have new volunteers in 2011 and will continue to share local food information with you and improve on the Local Food Bloomington website, home to Local Food News, celebrating its 10th Anniversary!

Interested in supporting Local Food? Contact us with your ideas. Together we can share more about local food!

Send your tax deductible donations to:

Local Food Bloomington
P.O. Box 8172
Bloomington, Indiana 47407

Violet Wine Fermentation Picture

I finally went through some of my images and found the picture I took of the beginning stages of fermentation for the Violet Wine I made this spring! I love the colors and all of the bubbles!



It took me so long to get the image here, the fermentation process has stopped and the wine is now waiting to be bottled!

NAP Credits Now Available!

NAP Credits Now Available!

Mother Hubbard's Cupboard (Bloomington, Indiana) is pleased to announce that we have been awarded $9,765 in Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits from the State of Indiana to give away to donors like you. This means that MHC has the opportunity to solicit $19,530 in contributions to support our food assistance program. Last year we sold out of NAP Tax Credits very early and we anticipate the same this year. Act now to take advantage of this great opportunity, and choose what your tax dollars support.

When you donate to MHC under the NAP Program, you can receive a credit against your state tax liability equal to 50% of your gift. This means that if you donate $1,000 you can take a $500 credit on your 2010 Indiana State Tax form.

Eligible donations must be $100 or more and dated July 1, 2010 or later. Forms are available on our website www.mhcfoodpantry.org.

Take advantage of the NAP Credit program and make a generous donation to help MHC provide 1,877 healthy bags of groceries to individuals in need every week. We thank you in advance for your commitment to help relieve hunger and improve nutrition for all people in our community.

4H Small Animal Auction

It may be hot, but the Fair Goes On! If you are seeking small animals, visit with the 4H Youth!

4H Small Animal Auction
Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, Rabbits
July, 31 2010 10AM to 1 PM
Monroe County Fair Grounds Poultry Barn
All birds come from NPIP tested flocks

Officials Dedicate Middle Way House and Food Works Business

-This is a great boon to the citizens of Monroe County! I wasn't able to be there in body, but was present in spirit! I am looking forward to seeing how things settle down and what businesses come through the Incubator Kitchen (see previous note about Incubator Projects). I also send a congratulations to everyone who worked on this project, and a special thanks to Donna Storm for the amazing balancing act she has been performing for years to facilitate the workings of Food Works and this move to the Coke Building!




Officials Dedicate Middle Way House and Food Works Business

By Thomas Conti
Published: Jun 24, 2010
http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/middle-house-dedication/

Early Wednesday night, the old Coca-Cola building in downtown Bloomington officially opened its doors for the dedication of the new Middle Way House and Food Works business.

For five years, the New Wings Community Partnership collected over 6 million dollars – 3 million from private donors alone – to complete the project. In 2005, the Middle Way House purchased the old Coca-Cola building with the hopes of increasing accessibility as well as expanding the opportunities for the women of Middle Way.

In response to holding the dedication of the New Wings Project, Chair of the New Wings Community Partnership Laurie McRobbie said, “It means we did it. I mean we found the support in a lot of different ways. Like every non-profit we look for sources of support everywhere we can find them.”

Donations from local government, businesses, organizations, and community members made it possible for the new Middle Way House to be finished.

“I think the power of the vision for this building, the power of what Middle Way is and what it can continue to be and become really drew supporters to this so it means of all that. It means we’re doing something important for the women who get the services from Middle Way, it also means we’re doing something important for Bloomington,” said McRobbie.

The new Middle Way House also means a new location for Food Works, a full service catering business owned and operated by Middle Way. Donna Storm is the Business and Operations Manager for Food Works for Middle Way House.

“We’re getting together with a lot of people in the community that have a lot of the same interests and we have a lot of the same goals and at the same time we can provide additional jobs to women to help them transition away from situations that have been hurtful to them in the past,” Storm said.

Food Works has benefited from the donations and volunteers in the community as it is a branch of the Middle Way House.

“It’s been pretty exciting, meeting all the people in the community that have a real interest in local food, local businesses, helping the Middle Way House.”

Over the next few weeks Food Works, the New Wings Community Partnership, and the Middle Way House will work together to move slowly into the new building.

IN FOOD News

Hello,

I hope you are embracing the beauty of this season and the increased opportunities to go-local! Take a walk through the Farmers Market, and not only will you be subjected to a visual feast, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy seeing so many people enjoying one another, as much as they are enjoying the produce surrounding them.

At the Great Unleashing back in April, interest groups were formed by people interested in pursuing the transition of our local food system. Click here for connections to Transition Bloomington and other Community Building resources

Local Food News, (#3 in a recent Google Search) of Local Food Bloomington (#1 search for a few years) has recently been updated on the web. Local Food Fairy looks forward to your comments, and appreciates your tax deductible donations in support of the oldest local food resource in Bloomington, Indiana.

In the current update, you will find something about Farmers and their fight against Monsanto, Dairy Labels, the Food Supply Chain, water, organic wines and much more.


As always, there is a lot happening in the area of local food. The Bloomington, Indiana Farmers markets are bustling with diverse beauty and delectable abundance.

For information about
Bloomington, IN Farmers Markets, CSA's (Community Supported Agriculture
Indiana Farmers Markets
Gardening Resources
Community Food Resources

Are you a market gardener, local food shopper, observer of local foods growth in the area? We want to hear from you. Send us pictures, reviews, stories, and other information about going local with food and all things connected to share.

Also, our sister, Indiana Holistic Health Network - http://www.indianaholistichealth.net, recently published a new Healing CRANE Newsletter which you may find of interest. http://www.indianaholistichealth.net/newsletter3-3.htm.

Bloomington, Indiana is a city going-local in many areas! Let us know what you are interested in and share what you know because it may be an inspiration to others.

COMMUNITY ORCHARD IN BLOOMINGTON!

Edy's Ice Cream is giving away a free orchard, and in Bloomington the
necessary space has already been donated, and the fresh fruit from the orchard
would go to a local food bank!

You can help make this happen.

All you need to do is vote electronically: Go to Edy's website at

http://www.communitiestakeroot.com/Plant/Index - click 'list by state',
find Indiana in the list, click on Bloomington, enter your name and
email address and click on "Plant my Vote".

The city that gets the most votes, gets the orchard. Btown is in a
neck-and-neck race with one other place! Please vote for Bloomington
today and every day through the end of August, using the e-mail addresses in your household.


Thanks! and Pass it on...

The Great Unleashing - Bloomington Workshop

The Great Unleashing - Transition Town Bloomington, Indiana -Workshop, April 24th -- 9:30am to 5:30pm Saturday - Building Community Resilience and Self-Reliance for Transition at Bloomington City Hall - Showers Building, a day of celebration, education, and action. This day will be followed by working groups addressing the details of our future. Transition Bloomington is working to unite the people of Bloomington to create a more resilient community, able to deal with the challenges of peak oil, climate change, and economic collapse. We expect that this process will also create a more connected and joyful community. http://transitionbloomingtonind.ning.com/