It's been a great growing year for No. Nev - stock up now!

The weather and food gods have been good to Nevada this year so farmers have a bumper crop this year. Gather some friends or family and take a short trip to Fallon to pick some up. I have 20 bucks and a few hours so I'll be making my wonderful husband enough salsa to last him until Summer 2010. Happy man!

From my inbox to you:

Slow Food Reno takes the next step

Last night we had the fourth Slow Food Reno meeting, graciously hosted by Nothing to It. It was another great evening filled with outstanding food, good conversation, and so much energy I almost didn’t know what to do with myself. Read on for details.

We heard from all the farmers present and learned a little more about them and their operations. Here’s a not necessarily thorough summary. There was so much going on I couldn’t write fast enough to get it all down.

What does the Thanksgiving Butterball have to do with ravaged communities and environments?

Okay, I just have to say it because turkey has been on my mind the last couple of days.

I try to present everything I've learned over the last few years in a positive light simply because it's healthier to be for something (local food, restaurants, and farmers) than against something (misguided government policy, corporate greed, and public apathy). But it's my blog and today I choose to be pissed off about this.

Mother Earth recently wrote a blurb about a Rolling Stones report on Smithfield Farms, one of the biggest, nastiest, greediest corporations on the planet. And….they own Butterball. So if extolling the virtues of local farmers, tasty meats, and community doesn’t get people off their duffs and making the effort to contact a local turkey farmer, perhaps the gruesome reality of Smithfield World will.

Argh!

Yes...it's time to think about Thanksgiving 2009 in Northern Nevada

 If you want a locally raised turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner now's the time to order your turkey. I'm waiting to hear back from other growers to confirm they're taking orders but one farmer is taking orders right now.

Rise and Shine Farms is getting geared up for the season so contact them and get your order in now.

Plan a Visit to Custom Gardens Organic Farm..... in the near future!

From my inbox to you:

Don’t wait until annual Farm Food and Harvest event this fall …… See what is growing soon, and often!

We don’t want anyone to miss out on seeing the Mediterranean Garden Demonstration plot, as it is bursting at the seams with big healthy crops of Beans, Lettuces, Melons, Squash, Cucumbers, Peppers (including the Internet famous Aleppo Pepper, among several other pepper-types, Pimento, Paprika, Hot and Sweet varieties).

Western Nevada College - learn about the harvest

Lavender Ridge

Western Nevada College continues its program to develop small farm agriculture in Nevada with three summer harvest workshops. The first workshop will be held during lavender harvest season. Read on for more about three opportunities to learn about farm management and harvest practices. Even if you don't have a farm, these courses offer invaluable information for anyone interested in growing food. These classes are open to everyone.

Mills Ranch raises grass-fed beef - here's a chance to eat BBQ and vist the ranch!

From my mailbox to you:

July 25 is Farm Day at Mills Ranch in Fallon! Join them for an afternoon of food, friends, and fun. There will be farm tours, cooking demonstrations and favorite recipes for grass-fed beef, presentations and discussions, and barbecued beef from Mills Ranch.

The festivities begin at 3 pm and last until 7. Please RSVP to 867-3431 by July 17th! Mills Ranch is a 3-generation family farm located at 5707 Candee Lane in Fallon. More info at www.millsranch.org.

Is Sustainable Attainable? by Gary Romano

If you don't know it already let me tell you right off -- being a small farmer in the 21st century is tough. The government stacks the deck in favor of big agriculture and development, and relentless processed food marketing constantly draws our attention away from tasty, healthy food and towards convenient, artificially cheap food. You gotta wonder why they stay on the farm.

Here's a little insight from one of our best local farmers. Check out this video produced by Gary Romano at Sierra Valley Farms.

Northern Nevada has a Slow Food chapter!

It's official! Northern Nevada now has its own Slow Food convivium called Slow Food Reno. Go here to see what the group has been up to. Or even better, go to Slow Food USA to see what other, longer established groups have been doing in their own communities.

Slow Food is about eating good, fresh food, preferably locally grown food (depending on your perspective...and hey, I am a local food advocate am I not!), visiting, and connecting with our friends, families, neighbors, and potential new friends. Slow Food is also about food justice, food security, artesian food, endangered food, cooking, imbibing, growing…anything that has to do with food outside the fast food system. There’s room all perspectives, interest levels, and skills. Go to Slow Food Reno or Slow Food USA to find out more.

By the way, when thinking about or interacting with Slow Food it helps to remember that the key word here is “slow”. I’ve been involved with Slow Food activities for a couple of years now and must always remind myself that the international organization does not work well with hard and fast deadlines and timeframes. For example, even though SFR has been official for a few weeks, the group is not yet included on the Slow Food USA convivium list. Relax…have something to eat and a glass of wine with your favorite other while you wait.

Woo hoo!

Wanna food shop one step closer to home? Custom Gardens is holding an on-farm market

This time of year is ambrosia for people who like to eat close to home. Each year the number of northern Nevada farmers markets increases, as does the number of potential urban and rural farmers taking a shot a growing human food (called "specialty crops" in the agriculture industry) in Nevada. Granted, many of the farmers at the markets hail from California. These farmers grow where the growing season is longer and the temperatures are friendlier. I really appreciate what they do, but still, my heart is with Nevada farmers for food-security and economic reasons, and because I love them as individuals. Nevada farmers are working hard to expand the growing season and available varieties. On-farm markets are just one more way to buy the food they grow.

If there's anything more fun than shopping at the farmers markets it's shopping right on the farm. If you haven't had a chance to do this yet I highly recommend it. Take the family and friends and make it a day.