State of the Plate–Southwest Chapter Conference on April 13, 2013

Our chapter will be holding a mini version of the larger OEFFA conference at Gorman Heritage Farm on April 13.  Workshops will run throughout the day.  Participants will have access to an Exhibition Hall with vendors and tables featuring information about local farms (some educational) and other information pertaining to eating locally and growing sustainably.  Our featured keynote speaker will be Gary Cox, General Counsel to the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund.   Visit swoeffa.org for more information and registration.   Forms can also be accessed here:

Registration Form and Workshops updated Click here for registration form and workshops

Exhibit Hall & Sponsor Application Click here for Application to be a Vendor or Sponsor or to set up an Information Table

For additional information, please contact Sally at swoeffa@gmail.com

Local Loans for Local Foods Event

A kick off event for the Local Loans for Local Foods (LL4LF) will be held at Peterloon on January 13 at 2 pm to 4 pm.  The purpose of this event is to connect those with capital available to lend to small local food enterprises in need of loans.  This is also a chance to connect those with land to those looking for land for food production, or connecting other resources to those in need.

This organization grew out of the Slow Money idea presented by Woody Tasch at the OEFFA conference last February.

If you are looking to expand your business, get something started, have funds that you would like to keep in the community or have other resources, please consider attending this event.  Also please feel free to join us even if you are just curious about what this is all about.  We will provide a forum to begin connections, sample forms and appetizers, all in the beautiful Peterloon setting.

You can RSVP by visiting slowmoneyohio.org/local groups/southwest or call Bonnie at (513)677-6790

December Meeting and Pot Luck Dinner

Please join us at for our December chapter meeting.  The date is December 9 at 1 pm.  The place is the beautiful Peterloon estate in Indian Hill at 8605 Hopewell Road.  Hopewell Road can be accessed from Montgomery Road, just north of downtown Montgomery.  Bring a dish to share plus tableware.  Our agenda after dinner will be elections, seed order information for those who want to join in on group seed orders, update on the spring mini-conference, and a discussion on event options for next year.  We ask that you let us know if you plan to attend so that we have enough tables and chairs set up.  Email Sally at swoeffa@gmail.com

November Meeting

Our November meeting will be held at Gorman Heritage Farm on November 11.  The time will be 1 pm and should last 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  We will host a speaker, Dr. Kathleen Smythe from Xavier University.  As part of their sustainability initiatives, some of the faculty at Xavier are proposing a number of new degree programs.  One program that is being studied is an agricultural one titled Land, Farming and Community.  This program would earn the participant a B.A. Degree.  Kathleen will present the details of this program and hopes to get feedback from our members.  One important aspect will be the placement of students on farms in the area for practical education experiences.

Also on the agenda will be a discussion on the possibility of hosting a “mini” OEFFA conference in Cincinnati, offering workshops, a keynote speech, etc.

It should be an interesting meeting and all are invited to attend.  It would be helpful to get a count of attendees, so you can email swoeffa@gmail.com or call Sally at 984-0174.  The farm address is 10052 Reading Road.

Future of Food screening in Cincinnati

Our chapter along with Food and Water Watch will be showing the movie on October 18 at 7:30 pm at the Esquire Theater on Ludlow Ave in Clifton.  The film, by Deborah Koons Garcia examines the dangers of unlabeled untested and potentially unsafe genetically engineered (GE) foods and how they have quietly filled the shelves of America’s grocery stores.  We are fortunate that the director/producer will be joining us that evening to answer questions.  All are invited.

This film screening is part of Food and Water Watch and OEFFA’s campaign to mandate GE labeling.  Doors open at 7 pm.  Contact Sally at swoeffa@gmail.com for questions.

Our Food, Our Farmers, Our Future

April 22  How to Protect Our Agricultural Resources by Influencing Policy
Resources include our land, water, farmers and ultimately our FOOD.   This is the last program in our winter/spring series.  MacKenzie Bailey, Policy Program Coordinator from OEFFA and Alison Auciello from Food and Water Watch will update us on what is happening with the farm bill and other issues, and offer concrete ways we can influence federal, state and local policy.   We will meet at the Civic Garden Center of Cincinnati 2:00 pm  The meeting will be followed by the CORV food guide kick off at 3:30 pm.  Questions can be directed to Sally at swoeffa@gmail.com

Our Food, Our Farmers, Our Future

Coming on March 4 as part of this series:

Farmageddon, the Unseen War on American Family Farms

“The film serves to put policymakers and regulators on notice that there is a growing movement of people aware that their freedom to choose the foods they want is in danger, a movement that is taking action with its dollars and its voting power to protect and preserve the dwindling number of family farms that are struggling to survive.”

The location is at Xavier University in Kelley Auditorium in Alter Hall.  The time is 2 pm.

Following the movie, Gary Cox from the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund will be on hand to answer questions.

This is a must-see for small farmers and their customers.

Reservations are required by contacting Sally at swoeffa@gmail.com.

OUR Food, OUR Farmers, OUR Future

Our first event in our film series is on JANUARY 29.  We will be showing THE GREENHORNS at 3 pm at the MainStreet Cinema at the University of Cincinnati.  A question and answer session will follow featuring some local farmers.

“The Greenhorns is a documentary film that explores the lives of America’s young farming community–its spirit, practices, and needs.  As the nation experiences a groundswell of interest in sustainable lifestyles, we see the promising beginnings of an agricultural revival.”

This program will be of interest to all who are interested in the state of our local food supply and especially those who are considering entering the agricultural profession.

All are invited.  Please go to http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50235/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_ page_KEY=6215 to sign up or contact swoeffa@gmail.com for more information.

Also, ahead:  March 4, the film Farmageddon, the Unseen War on American Family Farms

April 22:  How to Protect our Agricultural Resources by Influencing Policy

End of year Pot Luck

Join us for our last meeting of the year at Meshewa Farm (7550 Given Road) on December 11.   We will start eating around 1 pm.  Our agenda will include election of officers and coordination of bulk seed orders, plus updates on topics of interest.  Please bring a dish to share plus tableware.  RSVP is necessary since the meeting space is small.  Email Sally at swoeffa@gmail.com.  Hope to see you there!

Annual Business Meeting

All are invited to attend our annual business meeting on November 13 at Gorman Heritage Farm.  This will be a potluck starting at 1:00 pm.  After eating and socializing, we will focus on the past year and attend to any business.  We intend to follow that with a discussion on “the state of food and farming in Southwest Ohio”.  Before adjourning, we hope to form one or two subcommittees to plan next year’s programming, fund raising, etc.  Your input is important in establishing an agenda for the year.

Bring a dish to share plus tableware.  Please RSVP to Sally by email at swoeffa@gmail.com or phone 513 984-0174.

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