[Scpg] Tues. Feb. 19: "Sustainability Salon"

[scpg-admin at arashi.com]

at 
the farmer & the cook
339 West. El Roblar, Meiners Oaks
805-640-9608
FarmerandCook.com

Tues. Feb. 19: "Sustainability Salon", Garden Talk & Dinner
(Plus CSA Orientation)

6pm-7pm - informal garden talk & dinner for those hungry ($10 for dinner):
Here’s an opportunity to ask other folks about how to deal with all 
garden-related questions, from seeds to insects to how to sell your backyard 
bounty. 

6:30pm-7pm - on-going CSA/Harvest Share orientation 
Get the who, what, when & where on our CSA (see below for basic details).

7pm-8pm - Presentation/Discussion: "Ecological Footprint" - Measuring Our 
Lifestyle Impact
An Ecological Footprint Assessment shows the amount of biologically 
productive land area needed to both produce the resources used and absorb the 
waste created by a human being.  Once a footprint for a region has been 
calculated, it can be compared to the biological capacity of region. Tools 
like the Ecological Footprint help us identify and prioritize ways to reduce 
impacts to the planet and to move out of ‘overshooting’ its biological 
capacity. How big is Ojai Valley’s footprint? And how can we reduce it? 
Facilitated by Trudy Ingram, a member of Sustainable Ojai.


CSA/Harvest Share Background Info.
Harvest Share, also known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), is a 
program by which a farmer provides a consumer a weekly share of seasonal 
produce in exchange for an annual financial commitment.  Members get fresh, 
nutritious seasonal produce while supporting the economic viability of a 
farm. The produce is picked and packed by the farmers, then picked up by the 
share members later that day - the closest thing to grown it yourself.
Farmer Steve Sprinkel, co-proprietor of The Farmer and The Cook, and 
apprentice Paul Herzog grow a variety of organic fruits, vegetables and herbs 
on two acres adjacent to Happy Valley School in the Upper Ojai.  They will 
supplement the shares with items from other local, organic growers.. 
The program will offer full and half-share sizes.  Full share would be enough 
for a family of four or a vegetarian couple that cooks at home a lot.  
Approximate (may change a bit) full share cost: $20/week, while half-share 
cost would be $12/week. We'll ask share members to pay for months at a time, 
eg. 6 month, and be able to make "3 easy payments." Pick-up shares at Farmer 
and Cook on Thursdays from 2pm-7pm.  The program will start the first week of 
April.  Alternative pick-up locations:  with 10 or more members, it may be 
possible to deliver shares to centralized locations, eg. East end of  the 
Ojai Valley. 
Harvest Share member participation varies from farm to farm.  Full 
participation at some farms involves shareholders doing all the work. At the 
other end of the spectrum are what have come to be known as "subscription" 
programs in which the farm crew does all the work and provide the sharers 
with a box of produce (from Sharing the Harvest: A Guide to Community 
Supported Agriculture, Elizabeth Henderson).. Well discuss this and other 
issues at the coming meeting.

If you can't attend - if you are interested in CSA membership or more 
information, please leave your contact information on the sign-up list in the 
lobby of the Farmer & Cook or call and leave the message: attention to Steve 
or Paul, 805-640-9608.