[ok-sus] [okfoodret] Something to think about... Local Foods Week June 14-21

[chiefseneca at hotmail.com]

Karen, 
Please let me know how I can help push the Local Food's Week.
Rep Seneca Scott
9185769111
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Karen Cline <karen.cline at gmail.com>

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:33:31 
To: NOP<NewOkiePioneers at yahoogroups.com>; okfoodret at yahoogroups.com<okfoodret at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [okfoodret] Something to think about... Local Foods Week June 14-21


First, yes - I know that weeks starts on Sunday and ends on a Sunday.   We
did that on purpose.    :D

Those of us working on Buy Fresh Buy Local Green Country came up with this
idea to promote local foods with a targeted week, sort of early in the
growing season, with the intent of getting new people into the thought
process of buying local while there is still a lot of time ahead of them.
The economic impact for our state could be HUGE if we can convert more of
our population into "Oklavores".   Not to mention how this accomplishes so
many other things - like education about where good foods come from, etc.
The economic data for the 7 couties surrounding Tulsa (#s from 2004) showed
that with people just spending 5% of their food dollars locally, it would be
a $110 million boost to the local economy!   I don't have numbers for the
entire state - but you know it would be major.   In this period of economic
uncertainty, there are any number of reasons for us to be tooting the horn
for and about our local family farms!

So far, I know that the BFBL Frontier Country chapter has heard about the
idea and has jumped on board.  I've written to the Governor asking for his
support (unfortunately no response yet).  Others have gotten copies of my
letter and some of our beautiful full color materials into the hands of the
top folks at the Dept of Ag who appear to actually support such an idea.
Things are really looking promising!   But - whether or not this week is
"officially sanctioned" or not - we're doing it.  We're going to be asking
the media to really support us all over the state with "good news" stories
about sustainable agriculture, cooking segments featuring local foods, and
maybe even some live broadcasts from farmers markets, farm tours or other
events.

Some of you are involved in community gardens.  Some of you farm.  Others
have big backyard gardens.  Others are permaculture experts (*waves at
Bob*).   We're wanting a whole bunch of activity that week, both formal and
more informal.   Delivery day for the coop falls in that week.  I wonder how
to incorporate that into this event - there are probably many possible
ways.  So - those of you around the state, put on your thinking caps and
come up with things that you might want to do in your area or on your
farm.   We'd love to have events in every area of the state - and between
these two groups, that should be fairly much a given.

I was told yesterday that Jeff Emerson of naturalfarms will be doing a farm
dinner on the 14th - barbecuing some of his own beef and serving veggies
from their farm.  We know that the Cherry St. farmer's market in Tulsa will
be hosting an "Iron Chef" cooking contest using local foods and they are
trying to bring in some celebrity chefs to judge it.  We've got some farmers
who are talking about tours and one who's mentioned doing a horse-drawn
equipment demonstration (Regina and Claudia, this is why you're copied on
this - we'd love to have several such demos!)   Other farmers markets are
planning grilling events.   The City of Tulsa will be hosting "Greening the
918", a meeting about local foods during this week.  At least two Tulsa-area
restaurants are going to be offering special menus for the event (featuring
local foods of course).  Local goat owners are talking about doind a
cheesemaking class.  The Tulsa county extension office has talked a bit
about holding a canning class - actually another one as they had a huge
response for the one they are doing tomorrow.   We have people contacting
Oklahoma Gardening and Discover Oklahoma to see if they'll be onboard with a
special "Oklavore" episode that week.  I bet this group can come up with at
least 50 more ideas before the sun sets today!

We'll be putting up an online map of events happening around the state so
that regardless of where a person lives, they can (HOPEFULLY) find an
assortment of local events in their area that week.   Any of you who are
willing to do something in your area - be it a garden tour or a dinner or a
class - let me know as I've been tasked with keeping the master list and
building the online map.

I'm VERY excited about Local Foods Week - and I know that with the help of
so many advocates of local food that this will be a huge event with long
lasting positive results for our farmers!  We're already planning that it
should be annual.... but let's blow the doors off this year first!

-- 
Karen in Oklahoma


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