[Lapg] Oct 2 Sat /SOL FOOD FEST flyer / this weekend!!!! Plaza De Vera Cruz Santa Barbara

[Wesley Roe and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

SOL food comes to Santa Barbara
http://www.thedailysound.com/100110SANTA-BARBARA-SOL

By AMY BENNER -- OCT. 1, 2010
Santa Barbara is fighting back against processed 
cheese and microwave mystery loaf with the first 
annual Sol Food Festival, a one-day, Santa 
Barbara County-crafted event aimed at calling 
attention to sustainable, organic, and local food 
systems.

The festival takes place on Saturday at Plaza De 
Vera Cruz - just across Cota St. from the 
Saturday Farmers Market - and can teach you 
everything you ever wanted to know about local 
produce and the people who support it.

"We want to develop a more sustainable and just 
food system in Santa Barbara County," said David 
Fortson, event co-planner and owner of 
eco-lifestyle company LoaTree. "This festival is 
intentionally right next to the farmer's market, 
so people buying their food can cross the street 
and learn about where their food comes from, how 
to eat it, and its impact."

The Sol Food Festival was co-founded by Alison 
Hensley and Heather Hartley, and has been in the 
works for over a year.

"Basically, Alison had the great idea that we 
needed to have a fun, educational festival to 
educate people about sustainable, local 
businesses, and to inspire them to participate 
more," said Hartley. "I was kind of thinking 
about the same thing, and so we started planning. 
It's really exciting to see it come to fruition."

The festival features three different platforms, 
each of which offers a cornucopia of 
demonstrations and lectures about pretty much 
every aspect of food from seed to dinner table 
and beyond.

The main stage, also known as "the cooking 
stage," is the newest addition to the Sol Food 
Festival, which grew out of several exhibits 
tested at Santa Barbara's Earth Day celebration. 
The cooking stage presents nearly eight hours of 
cooking demonstrations, such as making 
cinnamon-basil ice cream a la S'Cool Food, which 
is an organization that provides food and 
nutritional education and workshops for schools 
looking to give their cafeteria a makeover.

Food Network Iron Chef, executive chef at Bon 
Appétit magazine, and local gal Cat Cora will 
demonstrate a three-course meal and announce the 
winners of the Santa Barbara Independent's Foodie 
Awards. After that, she and Erik Talkin, 
executive director of the Foodbank of Santa 
Barbara County, will judge a competition between 
Chef Pink of Square One, Chef Budi of the Ballard 
Inn, and Chef Erik Stenberg of Fairview Gardens; 
local chefs who must make a dish using farmer's 
market ingredients.

"We have an education side and we have a culinary 
side," said Fortson. "Anyone can find something 
valuable, and take it home with them."
The two other stages provide a clear what's what 
and who's who of local horticulture, agriculture 
and activism, plus all the FYI and DIY a person 
can stand.

Experts will discuss, among other things, city 
composting and community agriculture programs, 
food justice issues that pertain to Santa Barbara 
County, and the importance of co-ops. Doug 
Hagensen's talk about the Santa Barbara County 
Foodbank's Backyard Bounty program - stage three 
at 12:25 p.m. - shouldn't be missed.
The Foodbank, David Fortson said, was 
instrumental in making the Sol Food Festival a 
reality.
"We're really proud to be a partner with the 
Foodbank," said Fortson. "Their work, especially 
in this economy, is essential. They're making 
sure we've got well-fed people here, and we're 
happy to support them."
Other workshops include how to make your own 
compost and biodynamic gardens, information about 
raising turkeys with special guest Pilgrim the 
Turkey, and earthworms and beekeeping.
"We in Santa Barbara have access to arguably the 
best food available, and we can grow it year 
round," said Fortson. "It's incredible how much 
other food we import, and how much of our food 
gets sent away."
Fortson said they hoped to see several thousand people attend.
Hartley, too, is very optimistic.
"It's going to be a really fun, delicious event," she said.
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