Connections and Events

It's so funny how things just connect sometimes. Yesterday we went to Food Not Bombs, and only two days before, I had checked out a book by Sandor Ellix Katz at the library called The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, in which I found a good ten pages on the history, mission, and practices of FNB. The book also used the image of one of the Beehive Design Collective's banners as the frontispiece for the book and the repeated motif throughout it. Members of the Beehive Collective came to Villanova last fall to present their work and talk with us, due to the organizing efforts of Just Food's predecessor-club, SALA, and its leader, our friend Madeline Dorger.

Puppeteer Banner by the Beehive Design Collective.

Then, Emily alerted me yesterday that the new issue of Grid magazine is out, and it happens to feature LAVA, the space where we cooked for FNB. It also covers Farm to Philly, another blog about food local to us; the PASA conference; and the basics of homebrewing beer -- so many things we have been talking about and working on in Just Food! It's great to feel connected and up on what's happening. And as a sidenote, Grid will be attending the Fair Fair that Emily is organizing next week.

And that brings me to a few event announcements:

• Emily and I are going to meet with Mike McGuckin and Chef Werner of Dining Services on Wednesday morning to get a better handle on the logistics of food recovery possibilities. Though it seems like we haven't made too much progress, we hope to have some information and feasible next steps compiled and ready to be enacted by the end of the semester.
• CPJE student group leaders are meeting Wednesday night to discuss what each group is doing and get ready for the Fair Fair and Judy Wicks's visit, which are both next Wednesday, March 18th!
• Also on Wednesday night, the Center for Peace and Justice's Spring Film Series continues with The Old Man and the Storm, a documentary about the Gettridge Family of New Orleans and their experience during Hurricane Katrina. For 18 months, they endured the devastation, political turmoil and a painstakingly slow bureaucratic process in an attempt to rebuild their homes and their lives. The screening will be from 7:00PM to 8:30PM and everyone is welcome!
• Just Food is planning to visit Mill Creek Urban Farm again on Saturday, March 21st, for some work hours, possibly with a big group of UPenn students. We are also planning to help the Radnor Conservancy and the other affiliated groups starting up Skunk Hollow Community Farm the following Saturday, March 28th. Please let me know if you are interested in joining for either!
• According to the Slow Food Philadelphia email newsletter: This coming Friday, March 13, at 7:30 pm, the Crum Creek Sustainable Community will show Deborah Koons Garcia’s excellent film The Future of Food at the Swarthmore Brorough Hall. The film examines issues like genetically modified foods, the globalization of the market place, and the consequences of industrialized food production. All are welcome.
• On Wednesday, April 8th, Temple University's Fox School of Business will host its 4th Annual Social Entrepreneurship Conference themed "Can Local, Healthy Food Transform Our Community?" The event will be from 8:00AM to 1:00PM in Room 200 of Temple University's Student Activity Center on Main Campus (1755 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia). Free admission for students, $20 for professionals, breakfast and snacks served!Registration and Event Details.