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Welcome to Chico Food Network
Wednesday, November 19 2008 @ 04:15 PM MST

What We're All About

Friday, October 31 2008 @ 04:24 PM MST
Contributed by: Jeremy
Views: 21

The Chico Food Network is a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization and is registered as a charitable organization with the State of California.

MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the Chico Food Network is to foster a local food system that contributes to the long-term viability of farms in our region, provides Chico-area residents with fresh, healthy food choices, provides education regarding local food systems, and creates an awareness and interdependence between Chico consumers, food businesses, and local farmers.

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Chico Food Network meetings are held quarterly. Decisions are made by consensus. Officers include a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. All officers are board members; including the officers there are nine total board members. Our board consists of university professors, K-12 educators, chefs, farmers, and interested citizens. With the exception of GRUB activities (see below), all Chico Food Network programs are conducted on a volunteer basis. Any member of the community is welcome to participate in planning and implementing Chico Food Network activities.

BRIEF HISTORY
Established in 2001 as the Chico Food Systems Project, the organization originally brought together local farmers, restaurant owners, and health education professionals in an effort to strengthen the bonds between individuals involved in the local food system. Early activities included the hosting of "Real Food Dinners" that celebrated the connection between local farmers and restaurants and highlight local food products. With the establishment of a Slow Food chapter in Chico (which filled this niche), the focus of the Chico Food Network shifted to cosponsoring nutrition education seminars and supporting the efforts of other food-related organizations and projects in Chico. This occurred via a web presence (www.chicofoodnetwork.org) and email lists. The Chico Food Network is presently focusing it efforts on supporting school and community gardens, and has begun an active grant-writing campaign for the benefit of these endeavors.

PRESENT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

Gardeners' Swap Meet Program
This program allows members of the public to share and trade excess produce (fruits and veggies) from their property with other growers every Wednesday evening during the summer. A community-building event, no money changes hands as Chico citizens are invited to celebrate with each other the joy of growing one's own food.

Coordination of Volunteers in School Gardens
In partnership with the Associated Students of CSU, Chico, the Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE) program allows students to gain course credit for 30 hours of volunteering in local education programs. The Chico Food Network is serving to help connect CAVE volunteers to specific gardening projects (teaching, constructing garden beds, etc.) at six different school sites.

Free Seeds for Education
In 2008 partnerships with three local nurseries led to the donation of over 500 vegetable and flower seed packets to the Chico Food Network. These have and continue to be given to local schools for use in school gardens, presently over 15 schools have been able to take advantage of this opportunity.

Restaurant Partnerships
The Chico Food Network has been contacting local restaurants to solicit support for school gardens. Red Tavern Grill and Bistro has donated roughly $500 to support the school garden at Chico Junior High School, three other restaurants have expressed interest in purchasing produce from school gardens for use in their menu items, thus giving the students experience in commerce as well as gardening. (Money earned would support continued gardening efforts at the school site).

Grant Writing
The Chico Food Network continues to solicit for grant funds on behalf of school and community garden projects.

GRUB--Growing Resourcefully, Uniting Bellies
The Chico Food Network voted to act as the fiscal sponsor for GRUB in February, 2008. GRUB was established in 2007 and has taken a multifaceted approach to supporting local, sustainable food systems. Their projects include:

A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that distributes 40 shares (produce boxes) of locally grown fruits and vegetables to local residences each week. 4 of these shares are donated to low-income seniors. All produce is grown using organic methods on three sites all within 1 mile of the city limits.
Restaurant Compost program, in which seven participating Chico restaurants have their food waste diverted via bicycles with trailers to the compost bins at GRUB's garden sites.
Garden education programs at the Boys and Girls Club and a local preschool school, with plans to expand to other local preschools.
Fruit Tree Registry, identifying the location of local "streetside" fruit and nut trees accessible to the public.

GRUB's efforts have been making both local and national headlines:

Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/29/AR2008082903447.html

Chico Enterprise - Record
http://www.agobservatory.org/headlines.cfm?refID=103581

Edible Shasta - Butte Magazine:
(Click on "Mutiny With the Bounty") http://www.edibleshastabutte.com/pages/articles/year2008/win2008/win2008.htm

FUTURE CHICO FOOD NETWORK PROJECTS
--Continuation of existing activities
--Continue to help local schools establish or expand school garden programs
--Establishment of one or more self-sustaining Community Gardens for the City of Chico
--Expand participation of Gardeners' Swap Meet program through publicity/advertising
--GRUB: Expansion of CSA program to 60 shares
--GRUB: Expansion of preschool garden education program to 10 sites
--GRUB: Gain additional funding support for the restaurant compost program

PARTNERSHIPS
In the past two years, the Chico Food Network has partnered with the following community organizations in various projects and endeavors:
--Chico Unified School District
--Community Collaborative for Youth (nonprofit)
--Opt For Fit Kits (a nutrition program of the CSU Chico Research Foundation)
--Sierra Cascade Nutrition and Activity Consortium (nutrition programs of the CSU Chico Research Foundation)
--Chico Grange Hall
--Chico Area Recreation District
--Local Restaurants
--Local Farmers
--Slow Food Shasta Cascade
--Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE), a program of the Associated Students of CSU, Chico (nonprofit)
--CSU, Chico "This Way to Sustainability" Conference

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Good Food, Good Business
Preparing for the conference - check out this short video;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySskJR-a0S4&NR>

2008 Gardeners' Swap Meets

Wednesday, July 23 2008 @ 04:19 PM MST
Contributed by: Jeremy
Views: 203

BONUS 5TH WEDNESDAY JULY 30!
6:00 p.m. -- 8:00 p.m. @ the Satori Healing Center, 1180 Palmetto Avenue (backyard). Please do not park in front of the neighbors' houses. Thanks to Luke, Jacia, Devon, and the rest of the Satori residents for welcoming the Swap Meet back at your home.

FREE GARDENER'S SWAP MEETS
Do you have an excess of eggplants and a shortage of tomatoes? A plethora of peaches but a craving for apricots? Fill your ChicoBag (or container of choice) with your extra (but edible) home-grown fruits and/or veggies and SWAP them with another grower for something you like better. The swap meets are a free, weekly, community-building event sponsored by the Chico Food Network. Don' have a garden? No problem--wild blackberries, the fruit from neglected plum trees and the like are welcome as well, but please avoid picking from plants growing close to major roads.

Gardeners' Swap Meets will be held Wednesday evenings in Chico from June 4 to October 8. Biking or walking is recommended. As with last year, please plan on going home with at least as much produce as you arrive with. Unloading seven zucchini and taking a single plum is not nice.

For more information, email Jeremy Miller at jeremy(at)jeremymiller(dot)org

2008 SCHEDULE:

1ST Wednesday (6/4, 7/2, 8/6, 9/3, 10/1)
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. @ The Cause, 727 W. 4th Ave

2ND Wednesday (6/11, 7/9, 8/13, 9/10, 10/8)
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. @ the Chico Community Children's Center, 2224 Elm Street
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. @ the Chico Grange Hall, 2775 Old Nord Ave (near Rodeo Ave)

3RD Wednesday (6/18, 7/16, 8/20, 9/17)
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. @ the Chico Peace and Justice Center, 526 Broadway

4TH Wednesday (6/25, 7/23, 8/27, 9/24)
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. @ W 16th Street and Normal Ave

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Real Food Dinner Fun

Sunday, November 04 2007 @ 07:58 PM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 284

Emily Alma is presented with her "Woman of the Year Award" for her work as founder of Community Collaborative for Youth. Luisa Garza presented her with the award while Richard Roth looks on. Richard Hirshen, CFN Board President had presented CCY with a $500.00 earlier this year.

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Growing Healthy Kids

Thursday, October 18 2007 @ 11:16 AM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 296

The public is invited to a Professional growth nutrition workshop & dinner for parents, child care providers & teachers on Thursday, November 8th from 5:30 to 9:00 PM. Featured Speaker will be Dr. Cindy Wolff, Director of Opt for Fit Kids.

Suggested donation is only $5.00 and includes a special dinner prepared by Nutrition Educator and Chef - Eartha Shanti. Kids (with parent) are welcome and eat freee!

Additional Speaker/Demonstrator are Danielle Baker, Butte Co. Ag Extension - Master Gardener; Debra Abbott, Dardens in the Classroom After-School Teacher, and Earth Shanti, Nutriion Activist, Instructor, and the evening's Chef

Feature Video presentation will be "The Greates Diet on Earth by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, authro of "Disease Proof Your Child".

Location is the Chico Grante Hall, 2775 (Old) Nord Ave..

This is a child friendly event so bring the kids!

Reserve your ticket by November 7th! Call Chico Community Children's Center 891-5363 or come by the office at 2224 Elm Street, Chico. The event is hosted by Chico Community Children's Center in collaboration with the Chico Food Network.

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Real Food Dinner - November 3rd!

Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 03:27 PM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 355

The Chico Food Network is hosting our 4th Annual Real Food Dinner Saturday November 3rd at 5:30 pm at Grilla Bites in the Garden Villa at 196 Cohassett Road in Chico.

Dinner tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased at Grill Bites in the Garden Villa or by contacting

Jillian Buckholz. Email: jbuckholz@csuchico.edu

Slow Food Shasta Cascade Dinner

Wednesday, October 03 2007 @ 09:04 AM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 314

October 14th is the date. $5.00 from the sale of each ticket goes to support the Grange. Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com. Click twice on image to view full size.

Slow Food Shasta Cascade, Chico Sustainability Group and the Chico Grange Hall invite you to enjoy
Harvest the Flavor of Fall!

Come celebrate the end of summer's bounty and the first harvest of fall by tasting an array of delectable local products prepared by Chico's finest chefs and caterers! Food will be available for munching and grazing from 4PM on. Local brew and wine tasting too! Live music by Steve Johnson and Lyn Brown. Come early to mingle through the Sustainable Food Info Salon and learn more about the local programs creating a more sustainable food community.
___________________________________________________________________
When: Sunday, October 14th, 2007 - 4-8PM
Where: Chico Grange Hall, 2775 Nord Ave (old Nord Hwy)
Tickets: $30 general, $25 for members of Slow Food, Grange and Chico Sustainability Group, $10 for ages 12 and under, or kids free if wearing a food inspired costume!
**Tickets available at Lyon Books, Zucchini & Vine and www.brownpapertickets.com***
Details: If possible, please bring your own non-disposable dinnerware to reduce our waste - plates will be available if needed; carpools encouraged.

For questions contact Noelle at (530) 894-5194.
www.slowfoodshastacascade.org

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CCY receives $500.00 donation from Chico Food Network

Friday, September 14 2007 @ 03:22 PM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 303

This year's annual Chico Food Network $500 gift/donation to a community organization goes to the CCY (www.ccychico.org), Chico's Community Collaborative for Youth, a 501c3 non-profit that counsels and creatively supports our community's at-risk youth. The funds will be primarily used for obesity and nutrition education; kitchen improvements; and an already-begun Edible Schoolyard.

In addition to the gift/donation, Emily Alma, the Director of the CCY is being honored as the Chico Food Network's Woman of the Year, for her years of community service through the CCY. Emily is stepping down from her directoship this autumn and we are honored to be recognizing her.

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The Eat Well Guided Tour...coming to Chico

Monday, July 23 2007 @ 05:42 PM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 365

The Eat Well Guided Tour of America

August 2 � September 8, 2007 You are where you eat!
Food & Water Watch and Sustainable Table cordially invite you to
The Eat Well Guided Tour
...coming to Chico for a Movie Night with Pie & Local Dessert Wines! Where: Chico Women's Club, 592 E. 3rd Street When: Sunday, 7�10PM What's Showing: The Meatrix & Eat At Bill's Join Sustainable Table as we visit Chico on our cross-country tour to celebrate local, sustainable food and the small family farmers that help make it happen! Special guests include Diane Hatz, producer of
The Meatrix

http://www.youtube.com/v/HM0lEcg8ynA
and Executive Director of Sustainable Table along with several local farmers...the real food celebrities! Free admission with a suggested donation of $5 to $50. Fundraiser for the local Chico Grange Hall revitalization.

Chico Farm to School Idea Gets A Boost

Wednesday, July 11 2007 @ 09:33 PM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 347

Lauri Niles and Karen Goodwin inspect a possible space for a Farm to School Program distribution center. Lauri approached Maria of the Red Tavern Restaurant about the idea and she is tentatively offering the space as a possible resource for such a project if the front part of the building can be rented out to defray the costs.

Why cellulosic ethanol, biofuels are unsustainable and a threat to America

Tuesday, June 26 2007 @ 08:40 AM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 374

Written by Alice Friedemann
Released April 10, 2007

"The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself." - President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Peak Soil: Why Cellulosic ethanol and other Biofuels are Not Sustainable and are a Threat to America�s National Security

Part 1. The Dirt on Dirt.
Part 2. The Poop on Ethanol: Energy Returned on Energy Invested (EROEI)
Part 3. Biofuel is a Grim Reaper.
Part 4. Biodiesel: Can we eat enough French Fries?
Part 5. If we can�t drink and drive, then burn baby burn. - Energy Crop Combustion
Part 6. The problems with Cellulosic Ethanol could drive you to drink.
Part 7. Where do we go from here?
Appendix
Department of Energy's Biofuel Roadmap Barriers
References

Editor's note: There are many serious problems with biofuels, especially on a massive scale, and it appears from this report that they cannot be surmounted. So let the truth of Alice Friedemann�s meticulous and incisive diligence wash over you and rid you of any confusion or false hopes. The absurdity and destructiveness of large scale biofuels are a chance for people to eventually even reject the internal combustion engine and energy waste in general. One can also hazard from this report that bioplastics, as well, cannot make it in a big way.

The author looks ahead to post-petroleum living with considered conclusions: "Biofuels have yet to be proven viable, and mechanization may not be a great strategy in a world of declining energy." And, "�only a small amount of biomass (is) unspoken for" by today�s essential economic and ecological activities. To top it off, she points out, "Crop production is reduced when residues are removed from the soil. Why would farmers want to sell their residues?" Here�s an Oh- god-she-nailed-it zinger: "As prices of fertilizer inexorably rise due to natural gas depletion, it will be cheaper to return residues to the soil than to buy fertilizer." Looking further along than most of us, Alice has among her conclusions: "It�s time to start increasing horse and oxen numbers, which will leave even less biomass for biorefineries." - JL