Local Food Recipe #21

Apple Cider Chili

Courtesy of Bradley Jones

1 lb. Fischer Farms Ground Beef (from Pogue's Run Grocer)
1 lb. Fischer Farms Ground Pork (from Pogue's Run Grocer)
5 - 14.5 oz. cans of Crushed Tomatoes
2 cups Grabow Apple Cider from IWFM
1 Jalapeno pepper
1 large yellow Onion
1 large Red Pepper


4 teaspoons Beef Bouillon
1 cup vegetable stock
2 tablespoons Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Ginger Powder
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Paprika powder
2 Bay leaves
1 squirt ketchup
2 teaspoons Sriracha Chili Sauce
1 teaspoon Brown Sugar


Cooking Instructions:
Over medium-high heat, in large stock pot, brown pork and beef together.
Add diced fruit and vegetable ingredients and continue to brown for two minutes or until onions translucent.
Drain fat from pan.
Add all other ingredients (include crushed tomato juice from cans) and simmer for three hours.
Salt to taste
Enjoy!

Local Food Recipe #20

Fried Cornbread










courtesy of Dani Cunningham

3 cups Cornmeal (Fields of Agape)
2 T baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt

4 beaten eggs
2 T honey
2 cups milk

Heat 1/3 cup canola oil in cast iron skillet while preheating oven to 425 degrees F. Mix dry ingredients and make a well in the center. Mix eggs, honey, and milk with a wisk-pour over dry ingredients. Pour into hot skillet and bake 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Tomato Plant growing in Broad Ripple

There is a tomato plant growing through the cracks in the sidewalk on the Broad Ripple strip. Have you seen it?! It is growing nestled in next to the Ossip Optometry shop and across from the bus stop at Broad Ripple Ave. and Carrollton Ave.



I was walking down the sidewalk this morning heading towards the café for a meeting and somehow, out of nowhere, this green, leafy beauty caught my eye. I stared at it for a while, trying to figure out if really was a tomato plant and pondering how it might have found it is way to this foreign territory. Although, I had to grin as I thought…perhaps this is not so foreign after all.
At the bus stop, stood a young man with a bike waiting for the bus, and a hesitated only slightly before spontaneously asking him, “Do you know what a tomato plant looks like?” He responded slowly, “Yes, I think so. Why?” And I responded, “I think there is one growing through the cracks in the concrete over there.”

He takes a look and steps back. “I think it IS a tomato actually, hmm.” I ask him. “I’m trying to figure out how such a thing happens, any ideas?” He responds, “Well I wouldn’t eat a tomato off that plant.” And I ask why and he says, “I’m picturing some drunken kid puking up some pizza on the side of the sidewalk over there (we were kiddy-corner to ZA Pizzeria) and a tomato seed in the sauce somehow ended up in the soil deep beneath the soil.” I think I might be embellishing his response, just a tid, but I have to admit…I never would have thought of something so fantastically simple and crass.

So that is my highlight of the day, week…month…year?! I knew there was a reason I brought my camera with me today.

REMINDER: NP! Neighbor Power! is this Saturday!

Join the Food Coalition this year at Neighbor Power!, a gathering to inspire communities. The event will be a place to talk about how neighbors can make the city a better place to live, work, and play, and is free and open to everyone! Presenters from all over the Indianapolis food system will be sharing their stories about their projects within the food movement and the difference they’ve made in their neighborhoods. Gardens, farms, community development, youth engagement, and many other topics will be explored, and we want you to join the discussion!

May 21, 2011
8:30am (registration) - 3pm
University of Indianapolis
Schwitzer Student Center
1400 E Hanna Ave

REGISTRATION STILL OPEN! www.neighborpowerindy.org

Continental breakfast and lunch provided

Food Coalition organized Workshops:
9:45 - 11am Session I Workshop: It Starts with a Seed - Ginny Roberts, Linda Proffitt, and Matthew Jose - How growing food in an urban landscape can transform a neighborhood’s economy, health, and community.

9:45 - 11am Session I Workshop: Serving Indianapolis - World Café (break-out discussion groups) provides you the opportunity to discuss the Food Coalition’s presence and influence in the Indianapolis community.

11:15 - 12:30 Session II: An Appetite for Progress - Michael Kaufmann (Wishard), Tyler Henderson (Slow Food Garden), Joel O'Neil (38th & Meridian Farmers Market), Starla Officer (Near West Community Gardens), Chris Harrell (Brownfield Redevelopment)
Learn how food projects have impacted the work of community supporters.

11:15 - 12:30 Session II: Food for Thought and Action - Hear the struggles and triumphs of two neighborhood food-coops in the making. (Organized by members of the Indy Food Cooperative's Pogue's Run Grocer and the Pleasant Run Grocer in Fountain Square)

If you have any questions, feel free to email April at april@indyfoodfarmfamily.org
or call April on her cell 317.417.8449

Food Coaltion gathering April 26th

Save the Date:

The next gathering of the Central Indiana Food Coalition will be
Date: Tuesday, April 26th
Time: 6pm (intro - for newcomers) 6:30 -7:30 meeting
Location: Earth House basement

Agenda:
Advocacy Report: (New and Improved) Food Charter approval
Organization Report: Membership structure and application approval
Information/Visibility Report: New Logo and communication plan

You will find an document attached to this email that states the new name and current mission statement and vision statements of the coalition. Please review and send any comments you have before the 26^th. The Advocacy, Organization, and Information committee had the opportunity to sculpt these statements from the information gathered at the January 29^th meeting.

Volunteers needed for Earth Day! HELP!
The Earth Day Celebration at White River State Park is an important day for the Coalition and we would like to make our presence known to the community the year! Please contact me if you are willing and able! We are currently seeking volunteers during these 4 shifts:

Set-up 10:30am – 12pm

12 - 1:30pm

1:30 – 3pm

3 – 4:30pm Take-down

Sign up via facebook: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=20943&uid=338097624239

Or by emailing me at dependablefood@gmail.com

Search for Sponsors to fund printing of Local Food Guide 2010-2011

Currently the Coalition is seeking funding for the printing of the 2010-11 version of the Central Indiana Local Food Guide. Unfortunately this is all last minute because the funding we were hoping for to cover most of the cost of this year's printing has fallen through and we are now on the search for 16 advertisers.

If you know any business/organization that might be interested please pass on this flier and last year's version of the guide. Please let us know, if you know someone who may be interested. The cost will be $250 to be a sponsor and for this they will receive a ¼ page advertisement in the guide. Email dependablefood@gmail.com or call 317.417.8449 for more information.

Agenda Details:
At this Gathering we have much to discuss and approve thanks to our hard-working committees. By George, I do believe we've got it! =)

Since February, the Advocacy committee has been sculpting and editing the Food Charter created by a past committee of the Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition. The Advocacy committee has started by sending the charter to key people in our community in order to gain feedback about how we can make the guide more understandable for the general public and help us communicate our wants to the Indianapolis City government. Please call me, if you have any questions or have any input for us before the meeting. My cell is 317.417.8449.

To download the current version of the Food Charter, follow this link:
http://www.indyfoodsecurity.org/Documents/Indy%20Food%20Charter.pdf

We will also be approving a membership structure for the coalition that has been created by the Organization committee. This will include different membership categories and an application form.

The Information/Visibility committee has started thinking about new logo designs and also the re-organization of the website. The information committee will report on what deliverables they have created at the April meeting. Due to the fact that Earth Day is April 23rd, we may need to approve a new logo before the next meeting. Please watch carefully for any emails needing your participation before April 26th.

And as always Thanks for your AWESOME work!!
April

--
April Hammerand
Indianapolis Food, Farm, and Family Coalition
www.indyfoodfarmfamily.org


317-417-8449
april@indyfoodfarmfamily.org
Working to make Indianapolis a more food secure city through education, awareness, public programs, and connecting consumers to farmers.

The NEW Vision Statement

We envision a community in which:

• We are conscious consumers of nutritious food.
• We understand the role of food in building the community, strengthening the economy, and valuing the environment.
• We have access to a diverse range of healthy, affordable food.
• We have the opportunity, means, and skills to grow and prepare healthy foods.
• Consumers, producers, planners, and policy makers align and support each other to fulfill this vision.

What is in a Name?

Creating a name for an organization is a powerful act.

In the comment field below, please share the name you might choose for the organization. Serious names, silly names, striking names, all are welcome. And you do not need to have been to the meetings to suggest one to the group.

Here are a couple questions to ask yourself as you think of names?

-What is it that makes this group unique?
-What focus do we want to bring to the attention of the public?
-Who do we want to be our future members? And will they identify with this name?

During the meeting on January 29th, we created a new mission and vision for the Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition. Although we spoke of creating a new name, we tabled that discussion in hopes that after our brainstorming we would have a better idea about who we are and thus would have a better idea about how we could identify ourselves. Well I beg the question...What should we call ourselves?

On February 22nd, we will hang all of these different ideas up and make a decision about which name we identify with most.

STUCK..? Think about our newly formed mission statement:

"Our mission is to enhance the health of our community by improving the food system and increasing access to resources and nutritious food."

Gathering Feb 22, 2011

Save the date!
The next gathering of the "Food Coalition" has been scheduled for:

Tuesday, February 22nd
6:30 - 7:30 pm
KIB Keep Indianapolis Beautiful -Large Conference Room
1029 Fletcher Ave. Indianapolis, Indiana 46203

First of all, I would like to thank those of you who were able to attend the January 29th gathering. We had over 30 attendees at last count and with much concerted effort were able to form a mission statement and vision statement for the group. We must also thank our facilitator Carmen DeRusha, an employee of the Purdue extension, for her excellent work that day along with the rest of the volunteer facilitators and planners! Due to all of your hard work and resolve (it was intense!) the day was a success.

We decided on January 29th that we needed a meeting at the end of February to continue discussing "where do we go from here". We had a long day Saturday; after going through the strategic planning exercises we needed some time for our decisions as a group to "sink in" and also so time to figure our individually where or how we fit in to the group.

Meeting notes, will be sent out shortly. Basically three big decisions were made that day.

The group decided to adopt the current Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition (IFFFC) as the organizational structure of the group. Instead of creating an additional new organization the plan was to develop a mission and vision that was more inclusive than what was originally conceived in the IFFFC. The purpose for this action was to make sure everyone's perspectives and values were recognized and accepted, so that everyone working in the Indy food system is able to understand each other and work well together. During the strategic planning process we created a revitalized mission, vision, and group values for a membership-based coalition with April as the first paid staff.

Our newly formed mission statement is:

"Our mission is to enhance the health of our community by advocating for improving the food system and increasing access to resources and nutritious food."

At the end of the meeting, we created sub-groups "working groups or action teams" based upon our strategic directions. We will be working on defining and sculpting these at the February meeting. They are listed below:

Information Group: Share information among participating organizations and the general public.
Advocacy Group: Influence public policy in issues related to our mission.
Education Group: Educate the public about growing and eating healthy food.
Collaboration Group: Strengthen relationships among participating organizations to improve the impact in the community.
Support Group: Support growers and producers by providing access to resources that enhance their capacity.
Organization Group: Create a new structure for the group by analyzing the process by which we want to make decisions and understand how all of the moving pieces work together so that in the end the organization can have the greatest impact possible in the the community.

We will discuss more about these different sub-groups at the February Meeting. If you would like to join one, simply send me an email.

As always please feel free to pass on this invitation to anyone who may be interested in attending.
If you do, please Cc my email, so that I can keep track of the email addresses or send me any names/emails of people who should be invited. I'm slowly compiling of list of new people to invite to the meeting and will be writing personal letters of invitation explaining what we are doing.

Hope you have a great weekend =)

February Local Food Potluck

Local Food Potluck

Thursday, February 24th at 6-8 pm
New Day Meadery
1102 E. Prospect St. (Shelby and Prospect in Fountain Square)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Come celebrate Indy's healthy farms, families, and locally-grown foods at our monthly

Local Food Challenge Potluck
The Indianapolis Food, Farm, and Family Coalition, Slow Food Indy, and the Weston A. Price Foundation invite you to come taste the delicious mead at the New Day Meadery in Fountain Square and share a delicious meal together of locally-sourced food. More about the New Day Meadery below.


On a personal note, this February Local Food Potluck marks April's first year as program manager of the IFFFC and her move to Indianapolis. April's first day on the job was the 22nd of February 2010; a week before Food Con. April's first look into the strong Indianapolis Arts and Food Movement.

"I would like to thank you all for making my first year working in the community a success. Everyday is a new adventure and every challenge is a new chance to grow. After living here a year, I continue to love Indy, love the Food Movement, and love every moment in this inspirational, creative, passionate community. Thank you for making what I do possible!" -April
We "challenge" you to bring something local! Simply bring a potluck/pitch-in dish to share made with locally grown/produced food.

Dining ware will be limited. Please bring your own plate and utensils for yourself and your family, if possible. We will have a few to spare.
Think Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover.

RSVP on Facebook: Admission is Free and Everyone is Welcome =).
February Local Food Potluck at the Meadery
Remember a copy of the Recipe:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bring a copy of your recipe for the dish you brought to share with everyone.
Or send you recipe by email: april@indyfoodfarmfamily.org

The Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition will post these recipes on the blog [http://indyfoodsecurity.blogspot.com] so that we can have many more locally-grown, delicious meals even after the potluck is over!

More about New Day Meadery:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Day Meadery is a true family owned and operated entrepreneurial endeavor. The husband and wife team of Brett Canaday and Tia Agnew work tirelessly as the proprietors of New Day Meadery. Brett, your Merry Meadmaker, takes great care in crafting our meads while Tia orchestrates all marketing and operational matters. They, along with a dedicated group of family and friends, form the main labor force when it comes to crafting New Day Meadery fine honey wine.

Brett and Tia started making mead in 2001 when they moved to Brett's family farm and started keeping bees. Their mead making began as an enjoyable pastime, a way to combine their love of bee keeping, gardening and good food during their off-time. While pursuing their careers outside of mead making, they strove to identify a business they could pursue that would allow them to remain in Indiana and tap into both their professional talents and passion for local food.

Read more about New Day Meadery on the website:
www.newdaymeadery.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition Working to make Indianapolis a more food secure city through education, awareness, public programs, and connecting farmers to consumers. www.IndyFoodFarmFamily.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April Hammerand
Program Manager
email: april@indyfoodfarmfamily.org
phone: 317-417-8449

We are on Facebook: www.facebook.com/indyfoodfarmfamily
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/IndyFoodFarmFam
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Local Food Potluck Recipe # 19

Corn zucchini and red bell pepper quesadillas

courtesy of Mona Li and Food Network

1 T olive oil

1/2 chopped onion

1 zucchini sliced

1/2 red pepper diced

2 t cumin

1 t cayenne

pinch salt

1 1/2 cup corn

pack of tortillas

monterey jack cheese

Preheat oven to 400 F degrees

Heat olive oil and onion in skillet.

Saute zucchini and red pepper and stir in cumin and cayenne.

When finished sauteing add in corn.

Place quesadilla and cheese on cookie sheet.
Then add vegetables and another quesadilla.

Put in oven for 5 to 7 min until cheese is melted.

Cut into quarters and enjoy?

Local Food Potluck Recipe # 18

Frittatas













courtesy of Katherine Ogawa

1 head broccoli
2 red peppers
3-4 shallots
2 T butter
2 T olive oil
Pinch of salt, pepper, basil, parsley, and marjoram

6 eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
1 lemon
8 oz shredded monterey jack cheese

Heat up 1 T of butter and 1 T of olive oil in a skillet.
Once skillet is heated saute the broccoli, red pepper, and shallots.
Season the vegetables with the salt, pepper, basil, parsley, and marjoram.
While the vegetables are sauteing mix the eggs with the sour cream and the rind of the lemon into a bowl.
When the vegetables are done add them to the egg mixture and put 1 T of butter and 1 T of olive oil on medium heat in a skillet.
Cook mixture in skillet for approx 5 min or until it starts to come away from the sides of skillet.
Then add shredded monterey jack cheese and cook on high for approx 5 more min.
Wait 5 min to serve. Enjoy!

Purdue Extension Workshop Series in February and March

2011 Growing For Market- Next Steps for Market Vendors Series- The Purdue School for Direct Marketers is a 3 part webinar series to be offered at 21 sites across Indiana. This series will focus on how to be a more efficient and profitable marketer of farm products sold directly to the consumer. Wednesday Evenings- February 2, 9, and 16, 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Central

2011 Growing Green- Sustainable Vegetable Culture for Pleasure and Profit - The Purdue School for Sustainable Vegetable Production is a 5 part webinar series to be offered at 23 hosted sites across Indiana to focus how to increase yields and profits from the culture of vegetables in a manner that is respectful of the environment and resources used. February 8, 15, 22 and March 1, and 8, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Central. PARP credits available for session 4.

Local Food Potluck Recipe # 17

Sauteed Squash









courtesy of Patch

1 large yellow squash
1 red onion
1/8 cup butter
pink, green, black, and white pepper
sea salt

Cut up squash and onion.
Heat butter in skillet at medium to high heat.
Add vegetables and season with pepper and salt.
Cook until squash is soft.
Serve warm. Enjoy!

Local Food Potluck Recipe # 16

Chicken Larder Stew









courtesy of Ed and Theresa

turkey frame
chicken frame
2 cup apple cider
2 cup water

2 potatoes cubed
2 onions diced
3 large carrots
1 lb asparagus
1 lb green beans
1 cup diced celery
4 cups vegetable stock
1 cup dehydrated tomato diced
salt and pepper to taste

Place frames, cider, and water in a slow cooker and cook on low overnight.
Remove as many bones as possible.
Add the rest of the ingredients and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours. Enjoy!

Local Food Potluck Recipe # 15

Borscht

courtesy of Joe Werle

8 cups beef broth (can use gluten free broth)

1 lbs. cut of meaty bone-in beef shank

1 large onion, peeled and quartered

4 large beets, peeled and quartered

4 large carrots, peeled and chopped

1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

2 cups thinly sliced cabbage

1/2 chopped fresh dill

3 T red wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Bring large pot of broth, beef shank and onion to a boil, then let simmer until meat is tender (approx 1 1/2 hrs)

After tender trim fat and bone from meat

Chop remaining meat and chill

Let broth cool for approx 4 hrs and skim fat off the top

Add beets, carrots, and potato to broth and bring to a boil

Let broth simmer for approx 30 min or until vegetables are tender

Stir in cold meat and the rest of ingredients and cook for approx 15 min. Enjoy!

Optional: top with sour cream and dill

Local Food Potluck Recipe # 14

Zucchini Quiche

provided by unknown chef

4 cups thinly sliced zucchini

1 thinly sliced large onion

3 T butter

2 eggs

1/3 cup milk

2 t parsley

1/2 t each of salt, garlic powder, dried basil, oregano, pepper

2 cups shredded mozzarella

2 t mustard

1 pie shell

Saute zucchini and onion in butter until tender and drain

In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt and spices
Stir in cheese and zucchini mixture
Put pie shell in pie dish and spread mustard over shell

Add egg mixture

Bake at 400 degrees F for 35 to 40 min. Enjoy!

Local Food Potluck Recipe # 13

Baked Squash and Apples

courtesy of: Kaitlin Haskins

2 lbs. butternut squash
2-3 baking apples cut in 1/2 inch strips. (red skins look nicer)

1/3 cup of brown sugar
3 T butter or vegan marjarine
1 T flour
1 t salt
1/3 cup walnuts or pecans

cover the bottom of large baking dish with squash and apple strips and set aside
mix the last 5 ingredients in small bowl then sprinkle on top of squash and apples
cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 40 to 45 min, until soft. Enjoy!

January Local Food Potluck

Local Food Potluck
Wednesday, January 19th at 7 pm

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church/Earth Charter Indiana
3535 Kessler Blvd North Drive, Indianapolis

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

Come celebrate Indy's healthy farms, families, and locally-grown foods at our eighth monthly Local Food Challenge Potluck The Indianapolis Food, Farm, and Family Coalition and Earth Charter Indiana invite you to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church which is also home to Earth Charter Indiana. Come share a meal together and view a clip from the movie Renewal with a small group discussion after. We will show the clip around 7:45 pm. John Gibson, Executive Director of Earth Charter Indiana, is co-founder of the Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition. The coalition has become a project of the organization. In the spring of 2008, Earth Charter Indiana started the Local Food Challenge and sought state residents to commit to eating 50% of their food from local sources during the summer months of June, July, and August. In the end, we had over 100 individuals sign the online pledge and inspired the first Local Food Potluck in 2010. Hope to see you all for the first local food potluck of the New Year!

Admission is Free: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Simply bring a potluck/pitch-in dish to share made with locally grown/produced food. Dining ware will be limited. Please bring your own plate and utensils for yourself and your family, if possible. Think Reduce, Reuse, Recycle =) RSVP on Facebook: January Local Food Potluck

Remember to bring along the recipe: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bring a copy of your recipe for the dish you brought. The Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition will post these recipes on the blog [http://indyfoodsecurity.blogspot.com]

More about Earth Charter Indiana:

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

Catalyzing mainstream enthusiasm for sustainability in Indiana.

Earth Charter Indiana is promoting the transition to a more sustainable and equitable society right here in the Hoosier State. Earth Charter Indiana has fraternal relationships with Earth Charter U.S. and Earth Charter International.

The international Earth Charter document serves as our framework, providing a concise declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a sustainable and peaceful society, built upon 4 core values:
1. Respect and care for the community of life
2. Ecological Integrity
3. Social and Economic Justice
4. Democracy, Nonviolence and Peace

Take a look at the Earth Charter:
www.earthcharterus.org/the-

charter/the-earth-charter

Read more about Earth Charter Indiana on the website:
www.earthcharterindiana.org/

December Local Food Potluck

Local Food Potluck
Wednesday, December 8th at 7 pm

The Indiana Humanities Council
1500 North Delaware Street, in Indianapolis

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

Come celebrate Indy's healthy farms, families, and locally-grown foods at our seventh monthly Local Food Challenge Potluck The Indianapolis Food, Farm, and Family Coalition invites you to come share a meal at the Indiana Humanities Council. We recognize the Indiana Humanities Council for superbly raising awareness of Indiana's Food Culture. Food for Thought, a project of the Indiana Humanities Council is an examination and celebration of the ways food helps to define Indiana's culture, considering food in the context of history, law, politics, science, the arts, religion, ethnicity and our place in the world. Through this program, Hoosiers will share and sample the cultures reflected at the state's table and address the local and global issues of hunger, nutrition, food production, obesity, food security and safety.

Dinner starts at 7 pm

Admission is Free: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Simply bring a potluck/pitch-in dish to share made with locally grown/produced food. Dining ware will be limited. Please bring your own plate and utensils for yourself and your family, if possible. Think Reduce, Reuse, Recycle =) RSVP on Facebook: December Local Food Potluck

Remember to bring along the recipe: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bring a copy of your recipe for the dish you brought. The Indianapolis Food, Farm and Family Coalition will post these recipes on the blog [http://indyfoodsecurity.blogspot.com] Like last month, the Earth House Collective may pick one recipe from the Local Food Potluck to serve at the Earth House Cafe for the Month to come!! Please bring your recipe cards to participate.

More about Indiana Humanities Council:

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

The Council encourages Hoosiers to think, read ­and talk. How? By creating its own programs, such as Community Conversations, Evenings at the House and Novel Conversations; by providing grants for humanities programs throughout the state; and by providing a space-physically and digitally-for people to connect and converse.

Mission Statement: The Indiana Humanities Council connects people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage people to think, read and talk.

Read more, visit the website:
www.indianahumanities.org

SustainINDY Press Release

PRESS RELEASES
MAYOR BALLARD ISSUES URBAN GARDEN CHALLENGE

November 19, 2010

GOAL IS TO CREATE 50 URBAN GARDENS IN CENTER TOWNSHIP BY END OF 2011

INDIANAPOLIS – Announcing a goal of 50 urban gardens in Center Township by the end of 2011, Mayor Greg Ballard today at the Felege Hiywot Center garden in Martindale Brightwood issued his Urban Garden Challenge, joined by neighborhood residents, local health experts and urban gardeners.

“Urban gardens strengthen the fabric of our communities. They turn vacant land into a positive and active space, they grow healthy food for people to eat, they teach individuals of all ages new skills, and they help promote community involvement by actively engaging neighbors to work together toward a common purpose,” said Mayor Ballard. “Urban gardens encapsulate the Thanksgiving message of family, community, harvest and renewal. Creating more urban gardens and engaging more individuals and organizations in growing healthy food at the community and neighborhood level is a worthy pursuit for our city.”

Founded in the spring of 2004, the Felege Hiywot Center created its first 20-square-foot garden in the summer of 2006. Now, its urban garden encompasses a half acre.

“A need for healthy food sources and education about health and nutrition in Martindale Brightwood inspires us to make a change,” said Aster Bekele, executive director of the Center. “At the Center’s summer gardening camp and at the in-school and after-school gardening education classes, each youth participant develops gardening skills, an awareness of nature, a commitment to environmental preservation, an ability to make nutritious food choices and expertise in recycling and composting.”

Marion County Health Department Director Dr. Virginia Caine, a longtime advocate for Center Township residents, detailed the health and disease prevention benefits of a nutritious diet including fresh produce.

“The Marion County Health Department is very proud to support this initiative to help improve the health and wellness of the people of Indianapolis,” said Dr. Caine. “We recognize that poor nutrition is one of the greater challenges facing our urban populations, one that contributes to an array of diseases and conditions. Changing that equation starts at the source: reversing the shortage of healthy food options. Much of our focus is on preventive measures, from vaccines to environmental issues and much more. We believe expanding urban gardens in the urban core will help contribute to our ongoing efforts to improve the health of the community.”

The Butler Center for Urban Ecology innovatively explores, stewards and enhances urban ecosystems. Its director, Tim Carter, Ph.D., specializes in landscape ecology with a focus on urban systems.

“Urban gardens and urban farms create opportunities to access local food in neighborhoods that did not previously offer such benefits,” said Dr. Carter. “Urban gardens can restore ecological health to the area. Improving biodiversity, giving access to local food and building a sense of community are all components of successful urban gardens and urban farms.”

Mayor Ballard today also announced the Urban Gardening Mentor Program, an effort that will teach and encourage urban gardening and growing food. This program, a partnership between the Office of Sustainability and Purdue Extension of Marion County, aims to assist individuals and organizations who are new to urban gardening.

“This partnership and the mentoring program are a key part of achieving the goal of having 50 urban gardens in Center Township by the end of next year,” said Mayor Ballard.

Mayor Ballard is committed to making Indianapolis the most sustainable city in the Midwest. Urban gardens play an important role in helping Indianapolis achieve that vision. In 2008, Mayor Ballard created the Office of Sustainability, and in June 2010 at the Indy Urban Farming Forum, Mayor Ballard announced the City’s first urban garden program. The collaborative partnership between the Department of Metropolitan Development, the Indy land Bank and the Office of Sustainability allows community groups and individuals to use Land Bank properties for the purpose of growing healthy produce and creating urban gardens.

For more information about Mayor Ballard’s Urban Garden Challenge, visit www.sustainindy.org or email urbangardens@indy.gov.

Sarah Holsapple
Public Information Officer
Indianapolis Department of Public Works
Email: sarah.holsapple@indy.gov
Office: 327-4669
Cell: 223-1375

http://sustainindy.org/press-events.cfm?news_id=354