Slow Food Western Mass

Dom chaired the meeting

In attendance (or at least those who signed in): Waleed Al-shanna, Simeon Joffe, Jonathan Schwartz, Erika Tilley, Peter Stanton, Lynda Fisher, Carla Blades, Valerie Maynard, Sarah Dibben

Catchment area for our convivium includes western MA (including the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley) southern VT, northwestern CT, and eastern NY

Project Sprout (PS) update by Lynda Fisher

• Attended meeting 2/25/08
• SFWM added to their resource list
• Use us for backup for grants that require non-profit status
• Want us for fund raising support
• Catchall for when they solicit donations
• Water catchment & fencing are main focus right now
• planting first trial garden this spring
• giving first crop to shelters (People’s Pantry)
• “Farm to Table” dinner event to promote and educate public about program
• ideas from SFWM for Project Sprout should be directed to Lynda Fisher (lyndafisher2002@yahoo.com) so as not to overwhelm the Project Sprout team
• Establish workforce that can assist PS – this should be set up sooner rather than later so it is in place when needed.

Slow Food Initiatives & how SFWM might participate

• Ark of Taste
  • identifying traditional foods that are in need of preserving and celebrating
  • having traditional northeast dinner

• RAFT (Renewing Americas Food Traditions)
  • plants and animals eg: boston marrow squash, pippin apples
  • Farms growing food identified by RAFT and supported by a convivium so that we can have those foods available for a RAFT event
  • MITP grew about 10 RAFT items last year and they were spectacular!

• Slow Food Nation (SFN)
  • Giant Food fest with representation from all over the country
  • farmer’s markets
  • films
  • artisinal food producers
  • we would be welcome to do something as a convivium for SFN (to be discussed further at next meeting)

Meeting Discussion

• Potluck to be held the 13th of every month
• Rather than scheduling standing meeting, we will schedule the next meeting at the present meeting
• Next meeting is Mon March 17th @ 1 PM

Events committee, what kinds of events – Slow Food is often thought of as events – we need events committee. Think of what events we want to have.

SFWM survey draft presented to those in attendance

• find out what people interested in SF are involved in
• Several people pointed out that the shorter the better
• if it’s too short, maybe won’t get the much useful information
• maybe want to make several shorter surveys
• give some information with the survey so people will be interested and get something and then be willing to answer the questions
• asked people at the meeting to take the survey and give feedback – box will be set up at the Nutrition Center to collect them

Fund raising

• Bookloft affilate: SFWM is now a Bookloft affiliate which means that SFWM gets a small percentage (5.5% to start) on any book ordered through the Bookloft’s website IF and ONLY IF you do the following:
  • Go to slowfoodwesternmass.wordpress.com (this website)
  • click on any of the links to books you are interested in or general link to the Bookloft
  • order any books or other merchandise during THAT website visit
• We are looking into setting up other appropriate affiliate relationships
• Combining efforts with other groups (like Project Sprout) – Pig Roast at Route 7 Grill – can make people aware of SF that otherwise might not hear about SF
• Can request RAFT trunk that displays some of what is part of RAFT – can have at events to educate people

Idea: SFWM help host large Farmer’s Market – good to have RAFT trunk at that event

Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFFMA) – we have opportunity to participate in a big way – temporary committee formed (Valerie, Peter, Carla, Jeremy, Jonathan) which will meet 3/4 at 1 PM at The Nutrition Center