 Slow Food is good, clean and fair food |
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Slow Food Russian River's Local Projects/Events
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Below are a few of our turkey farmers from the 2006 program
David Thode
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Heritage Turkey Project The Heritage Turkey projects mission is to encourage Sonoma County youth and local farmers to raise heritage breeds and to educate them and our communities about the importance of having these breeds available locally. Our Russian River convivium, in collaboration with other Sonoma County service groups, is working with and providing support to local 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) members to reintroduce these varieties to the market. Our convivium underwrote much of the project start-up costs in 2006 and worked with two local families and one local farmer to raise 180 birds.
This event was followed in November with the convivium hand processing and selling 180 heritage turkeys to members and local consumers. The two project-parts raised approximately $12,000, with $5,000 going to 4-H and related projects. On Going efforts... The 4H leaders are Catherine and Chuck Thode. If you are interessted in joining the 4H club please contact them directly at 707.829.0766. We have eight 4H members and three FFA members growing about 200 turkeys this year, One of our 4H participants who participated last year kept a Tom and a Hen for breeding, the hen started laying eggs on February 14th and has layed about 25 eggs. To date (11/15/2007) 17 have hatched and are healthy. If you have any questions or would like to help wtih this project please contact Jim Reichardt via| email or by phone at 707 480-0379. Here are some other helpful links...
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Slow Food Russian River, in partnership with Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary sponsor the Steele Lane Elementary School garden, which not only educates children about the importance of growing and eating fresh vegetables, but provides food and sustenance to many of the neighborhood's families. Steele Lane Elementary Over-view: Steel Lane is a neighborhood public school in Santa Rosa, CA. Steele Lane The garden at Steele Lane was built in 1989. In designing the garden, it was very important to make the garden accessible to all students. Special ramps and raised beds were constructed so that students in wheelchairs and those with limited mobility could access nature on a regular basis. The garden program continues to evolve on a yearly basis. Our current Garden coordinator, Amber Mamakos is very committed to providing quality education to the students at Steele Lane Elementary. She recently earned her degree at New College in Culture, Ecology and Sustainable Community with a concentration in Ecological Agriculture. We are hoping to draw more on Amber’s expertise and training in nutrition education. Cooking activities that celebrate the different cultures of the students at Steele Lane are things that we are hoping to do more of in the garden in the near future. If you would like to help with this project please contact Larry Martin
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Slow Food Mini-Events – This is a partnership! The SFRR leadership team recognizes the strength of being open to ideas, resources, and talents outside the leadership table. Therefore, we have developed a process to broaden SFRR’s network and yours, and most importantly, to share the load. SFRR offers the event approval process as a way for members of Slow Food and the greater community of eaters, movers, and shakers to initiate one's own event and also be supported by the SFRR leadership team. In order for an event to be produced, there must be a SFRR leader willing to oversee the event as a committee liaison. This does not mean that the committee liaison will necessarily plan or coordinate the event – but he/she will help shepherd it along. Keep our Purpose in Mind It is paramount that our events further our purpose as a group. While Slow Food aims to foster the businesses that contribute to sustainability and the greater enjoyment of life, networks and alliances are delectable while shameless self-promotion is regarded as distasteful. SFRR’s Purpose as stated in our ConstitutionThe Russian River Convivium of Slow Food brings people together to enjoy the pleasures of life while promoting and protecting the artisanal producers of food and wine within the greater region of the Russian River watershed. Essential to this purpose is the protection and enhancement of the natural environment, the foundation upon which our artisans practice their craft. How it works:
Mini-Events can be all sorts of things. In the past, we have had pot-lucks hosted at a member's home, small group gatherings getting together to learn how to can, shell beans, you name it!
It is a good way to get together with fellow Slow Food friends or to invite some non-member friends who might be interested in Slow Food but are not sure of who we are. You might want to also take a look at the information below to help inspire you and also understand what we need to help you make your event a success. Good luck! We look forward to growing, eating, drinking, cooking, and collaborating with you! |
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In 2001, Slow Food USA initiated a Project to reintroduce Heritage Turkeys to American consumers. The initial goal of the Project has been to encourage farmers to raise the eight traditional varieties, as most of them remain perilously close to extinction. Results of this effort have been encouraging: in 2001, Slow Food's partner on this project, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC), estimated that fewer than 1,200 breeding turkeys of all eight Heritage varieties remained in the entire country. By 2004, the population of breeding birds had increased to 4,000. 
In October of 2006, we partnered with the Gallo family of Sonoma to host a 