The Windham Localvores will hold its 2nd Annual Harvest Localvore Challenge from Friday, September 21 to Saturday, September 29.
Participants in the Challenge pledge to eat only locally-produced food during this period, with local being defined as within a 100 mile radius of one's home, plus the state of Vermont. However, the Challenge also allows a "wild card" for a food item produced outside these boundaries that you just can't live without (coffee, anyone?), as well as a "Marco Polo" exception for salt, leavenings, and small quantities of spice.
To register for the Challenge, either sign up at the localvore table outside the Brattleboro Food Co-op, or at the Saturday Farmers' Market, write to info@postoilsolutions.org., or call Tim Stevenson, 802 869 2141. Please provide your e-mail address when doing so. This will allow you to be on the localvore listserve where you will not only be informed of events taking place during the Challenge, but will also receive notices throughout the year related to local food.
When you register for the Challenge, you can also reserve a Starter Kit containing locally and organically produced, but hard-to-find items like sunflower oil, dried beans, spelt and whole wheat bread flours and corn meal. A $20 deposit is required (which is the approximate cost of the kit). Kit reservations can also be made by contacting Paula Melton, pjmeltonhoughton@yahoo.com or 802 258 9082.
The Challenge week will kick-off with a Local Harvest Celebration at Fair Winds Farm, Upper Dummerston Road, Brattleboro on September 21. This will include a local dinner with meats and vegetables from Fair Winds and Picadilly Farms, prepared by Riverview Cafe chef/owner, Tristan Toleno. There will also be horsedrawn hayrides, a bonfire and music, featuring Dan MacArthur. Tickets are $16 adults, $8 kids (under 3 free), with $2 off for registered localvores. Call 254-7128 or 254-9067 for reservations.
During the week, there will be a number of community pot luck suppers hosted by area localvores. Registrants will receive notices about these through the localvore listserve. For many who participated in last year's Challenge, these potlucks were the highlight of the event, featuring as they did great social occasions, as well as the most awesome food!
But when you need a break from preparing your own meals, a number of area restaurants and cafes will be featuring local items on their menus. Those participating include: 39 Main, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Cafeteria, Capers Restaurant, The Common Ground, The Common Loaf, Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market food vendors, Riverview Cafe, and the Twilight Tea Lounge.
During the week, the Brattleboro Food Co-op and members of the Windham Localvores will conduct local food preparation demonstrations at the Co-op. For further info, call Carol at the Co-op, 802 254-3267, ext. 122.
A new feature of this year's Localvore Challenge is the Children's Challenge. Local teachers, students, and schools will be conducting activities throughout the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union that include: students and families pledging to increase the number of local foods they eat; school lunch, breakfasts and snacks featuring locally-produced foods; field trips to local farms; cooking lessons; and participation in the Localvore Challenge Logo and Funky Localvore Creature contests. For more info, contact Julianne Eagan, Guilford Central School Health Action Comittee parent member, 802 257 5810.
By the way, it's not just the kids who can enter the Localvore Challenge Logo and Funky Localvore Creature contests. Anyone can bring their hand-drawn or computer-generated logo images, on an 11 x 17 sheet of white paper, and/or their Creature creation to the September 29 Potluck Finale. Winners will receive great prizes!
The Challenge will conclude September 29 with a 1:00 PM community pot luck luncheon at the Kiwanis Shelter in Memorial Park, Brattleboro. In addition to the great food, and the voting (and prizes!) for your favorite Funky Locavore Creature and Localvore Challenge Logo, there will also be a raffle for all participants who bike or walk to the Potluck Finale, and music by local musicians. Contact Tim Stevenson, 802 869 2141, for further information.
The Windham Localvores is a project initiated by Post Oil Solutions, run by a steering committee made up representatives from the Brattleboro Food Co-op, Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market, Parent Express, Post Oil Solutions Winter Farmers' Market, Putney Food Co-op and local educators. The Challenge has also been made possible by a generous grant from Brattleboro Savings & Loan.