Small Farms Are More Productive and Profitable

• A 1,000 acre U.S. corporate farm growing genetically engineered crops nets an average of $39 an acre.

• In contrast, a four-acre family farm nets, on average, $1,400 per acre.

• Small organic farms are proving to be even more profitable. With oil prices on the rise, growing food without petroleum-based pesticides/fertilizers, and delivering that food to local markets will quickly prove to be the most affordable food available.

For the complete NY Times article click here

FREE Cheese & Wine Tasting May 16th, 4PM at the SSU University Club (attached to the Commons)

FREE Cheese and Wine tasting plus a lecture on the process of making cheese with professional cheese maker, Jonathan White of Cowgirl Creamery! Following the lecture on the cheese making process there will be a tasting of three Sonoma County cheeses. Sara Gacek, the president of the student wine appreciation club, Wine Sense, will accompany the tasting offering several Sonoma County wines to pair with the cheeses. This is a collaboration with dining services who will be preparing light appetizers and acoutrements featuring local, in season produce. All are invited. Only those who are 21+ can participate in the wine tasting. There is no charge.

General Meeting May 14 6:30PM on campus

COFFEE BREAK GENERAL MEETING (open to everyone!)
Take a break with us and join us for the last general meeting of the semester.
Campus location: TBD

Event: Bread Making Workshop May 25th, Time: TBD

Hands on workshop with Bill Hawn using his traditional wood-fired, bread baking oven. We will be making bread to take home and pizzas for lunch! Space is limited so please let us know asap is you are interested in participating. Location details will be offered when you register for the event.

ALERT: No Farm Bill Extension! Calls Needed Today

4/15/08 This week Members of Congress will decide between continuing to work on a new farm bill or simply to extend the current bill for another 1-2 years. If the current bill is extended, we will lose significant policy gains and funding increases for conservation, beginning farmer and ranchers, organic production and research, nutrition assistance, renewable energy, and local food systems. Tell your Elected Officials to do their jobs and pass a new farm bill with important sustainable agriculture gains intact!

Potluck Meeting

April 23rd at 6:30 at Environmental Technology Center Bldg (ETC)
Thank-you for helping to make our first potluck meeting on campus a success. In attendance was our beloved Bill Hawn (President of Slow Food Sonoma County) in addition to a visit from the Northern California Regional Governor, Larry Martin (of Slow Food Russian River). Larry shared words of praise and encouragement for bringing the vision of slow food to our campus. We will remain in contact with him for support and event/volunteer opportunities in the future. Thanks Larry! Click here if you are interested in viewing our constitution. In the future you will be able to find our constitution and meeting minutes on this blog, in the link section to the right.

Larry reminded us that Slow Food is not just a club for food enthusiasts. An emphasis of our gathering is on the breaking of bread with our community; but we do so to develop a platform for change. This change can be political, educational, celebratory and profound.

"We envision a future food system that is based on the principles of high quality and taste, environmental sustainability, and social justice...a food system that is good clean and fair." (Slow Food USA)

LA Times Article - Treading Lighter With Low Carbon Diets

Students at the University of Redlands cafeteria have low-carbon options at mealtime. A poster invites students: "You've changed your light bulbs, now change your lunch."

Carlo Petrini - Founder Slow Food International

Lecture (12 minutes) April 03,2008, A Night at The Opera - Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food International shares his views about food, politics, and American culture on the road to a sustainable food nation. Explores the meaning of gastronomy, the current impact of food production upon the environment, and the pressing need for fundamental change. From Fast Food Nation to Slow Food Nation sponsored by Kaiser Permanente's Center For Health Research.

Dr. Vandana Shiva - V.P., Slow Food India

Interview (2.52 minutes)

Carlo Petrini - Founder Slow Food International

(9 minutes) Slow Food Picnic - Russian River

Slow Food Nation: An Evening With Carlo Petrini

lecture (2 minutes) August 2, 2007

Food Service and Sales Policy at SSU

Slow Food Sonoma County Annual Meeting

April 12, 2008 Healdsburg, CA
Our newly elected leaders were invited to attend the Sonoma County Convivium Annual Meeting on Saturday and the afternoon proved to exhibit all of the warm and sunny flavors you might expect from Healdsburg in the Spring. A generous midmeeting snack of locally produced cheeses, breads, and wine was provided. It was great to get a chance to observe their meeting process. We chatted with SoCo members about event ideas for SSU and some of the obstacles we are facing. We also got a chance to check out their Ark of Taste display.