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Welcome to Chico Food Network
Sunday, September 05 2010 @ 11:20 AM MST

eight weeks of hard human labor

Sunday, May 13 2007 @ 07:00 AM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 549

As the world passes peak oil production we will again be "subject to the net-energy principle: it takes energy to get energy from the environment, and costs have to be subtracted from gross yields." Richard Heinberg, in his 2006 E. F. Schumacher Society lecture, says "we've been living on virtually free energy for the past two hundred years." He invites us to "imagine pushing our car twenty or thirty miles," the distance that car could travel on one gallon of gasoline. "That," he says, "[is] the energy equivalent of roughly six to eight weeks of hard human labor." What the abundant energy of fossil fuels has facilitated is the mechanization of every imaginable process, including farming.

With peak oil--according to some analysts--in sight, the industrial agricultural model is looking increasingly unsustainable. As Heinberg states, ours is a "food system profoundly vulnerable at every level, to fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices. Both are inevitable."

"Is it possible," he asks, "that a solution lies…in deliberately de-industrializing production but doing so intelligently, using information we have gained from the science of ecology as well as from traditional and indigenous farming methods?" He believes that it is possible, and in fact, imperative that we apply such an approach.

With the Special Period in Cuba as reference, Heinberg estimates that to maintain national food production up to fifty million farmers will need to join the three to four million current farmers. However a return to the land would require more than just willing farmers. Heinberg believes that these farmers must be aided by affordable access to land, university training in small-scale ecological farming methods, direct financial aid through start up phase, and long-term low-cost loans.

"It is not a simple or easy strategy, and it will require a coordinated and sustained national effort. But in addition to averting famine this strategy may also permit us to solve a host of other seemingly unrelated social and environmental problems." Heinberg tells us that "if we do this well, it could mean the revitalization not only of democracy but of the family and of authentic, place-based culture."

In his lecture Richard Heinberg has vividly outlined the reasons for returning to an agricultural system designed specifically to supply food to its own region. As an expert on the future of oil and natural gas he is well positioned to tell us that we must begin making changes. The production of food is of central concern not only because it is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, but also because continued production is vital to our survival.

Heinberg would have us "accept the current challenge--the next great energy transition--as an opportunity to re-imagine human culture from the ground up, using our intelligence and our passion for the welfare of coming generations and for the integrity of nature's web as our primary guides."

Heinberg's 2006 lecture "Fifty Million Farmers" edited by Hildegarde Hannum, is now available in pamphlet form from the E. F. Schumacher Society. Cost is five dollars each. Pay with BerkShares (http://www.berkshares.org), cash, check, or credit card.

Link to entire article: <http://vtcommons.org/node/608>;

May Magic: Music, Magic, Art, Gardening, Cooking Demonstrations & Great Food

Tuesday, April 17 2007 @ 05:14 PM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 532

This year's May Magic, the 5th Annual, is shaping up to be a rare, new, and exciting event. Thanks in large part to the combined talents of the Dorothy F. Johnson Center staff, Opt 4 Fit Kids, and the Chico Food Network's Chef and President leading a free cooking demonstration featuring the "Three Sisters", corn, beans, and squash. Click on the images on the left to enlarge and get the full details. Then see you Saturday May 12th for a wonderful afternoon with Music, Magic, Art, Gardening and Cooking Demonstrations. See you there!

[image4_left]

Richie's Chico

Wednesday, January 31 2007 @ 11:09 AM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 552

Richie's Chico cooking classes and catering company is the sister company of Grow Cuisine, where kids cook with the vegetables they grow. They promote local organic - natural - sustainable farming and food products (and LaRocca Vineyards all organic wines) and the principles of sustainability.

This new company, Richie's Chico, launched by Local Chef - Richard Hirshen, is starting as an at-your-home resource for private classes and catered events for adults and children alike. In February '07, the Richie's Chico web site will be up and running.

Linked to the Grow Cuisine web site, the Richie's Chico site will be a resource for local organic farmers, Farmers' Markets and worldwide web organizations that also promote sustainability. These organizations include Kidsgardening (Richard is a National Advisory Board Member...Kidsgardening is a division of the National Gardening Association) and the Chico Food Network 501c3 non-profit organization (Richard board president) bringing sustainability to the local community through California State University Chico's organic crops and natural beef programs, and through other local programs led by conscious caring friends of the earth, literally and figuratively.

Food Unfit for Kids

Monday, October 30 2006 @ 04:04 PM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 650

By Briana Kenney
In 2001, an overweight third grader, with slipping grades and low self-esteem, prompted Cindy Wolff to open O.P.T for Fit Kids. With nowhere to refer the 9 year-old, Wolff got grants and hired dieticians to help local children learn about healthy lifestyles.

O.P.T (Overweight Prevention and Treatment) for Fit Kids is a program that provides nutrition education for community groups and nutrition education services to families.

Wolff is one of the keynote speakers at 9 a.m. Nov. 2 at Chico State’s 4th Annual Sustainability Conference that will be held in the Chico State Bell Memorial Union. “This issue is huge. One out of three kids will develop type two diabetes. Rates have doubled in the last ten years,” Wolff said.

11/4 REAL FOOD GALA BENEFIT DINNER MENU

Friday, October 20 2006 @ 02:10 AM MST
Contributed by: rhirshen
Views: 870

Here is the menu for the Chico Food Network Real Food Dinner 11/4 at Grilla Bites. All of the primary ingredients come from local organic farms and from local-natural producers. The few ingredients that are not provided by locals, like chocolate, will be purchased at Chico Natural Foods Cooperative. Real Food is our own title that we feel represents the principles practiced by our brothers and sisters who live the Slow Food way...focusing on locally grown and produced organic-natural (sustainable) artisan foods. "Without a sustainable environment, there can not be a sustainable democracy". -Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Please read more to see the menu for the evening!

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CHICO FOOD NETWORK'S 3RD ANNUAL REAL FOOD DINNER SET FOR SATURDAY 11/4 AT GRILLA BITES IN THE GARDEN VILLA

Saturday, October 14 2006 @ 11:10 PM MST
Contributed by: rhirshen
Views: 2,676

PARTNERING WITH CSU CHICO COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND PLANT SCIENCE CLUB'S 4TH ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ORGANIC FARMING CONFERENCE, THE CHICO FOOD NETWORK BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESENTS OUR 3RD ANNUAL GALA BENEFIT LOCAL-ORGANIC-NATURAL REAL FOOD DINNER AND EVENING. THIS YEAR'S GALA WILL BE HELD AT GRILLA BITES NEW RESTAURANT IN THE GARDEN VILLA ON COHASSET ROAD, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4TH AT 6:00 PM. READ ON FOR CONFERENCE AND DINNER INFO AND LINKS! DINNER TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE IN SEPTEMBER, WILL COST $25 PER PERSON AND WILL BE LIMITED/GO FAST!
*SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! BECAUSE SEATS ARE LIMITED, A SEPARATE, AT-A-LATER-DATE COOKING LESSON/DINNER WILL BE OFFERED THROUGH KINDERKITCHEN/GROW CUISINE FOR CHILDREN! chefrichie@msn.com for details.

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Conference Schedule

Friday, October 13 2006 @ 10:39 AM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 639

Click on image for full size view.

Bidwell Park and Creeks of Chico Cleanup 2006

Thursday, September 07 2006 @ 01:52 PM MST
Contributed by: richardhroth
Views: 722

The Fall Bidwell Park and Creeks of Chico Cleanup 2006 will be held Saturday, September 16th from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Cleanup will focus on heavily impacted areas of Bidwell Park, Lindo Channel, Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek, and Comanche Creek. This annual cleanup clears thousands of pounds of trash from Chico‚s park and creeks.

Please meet at 9 a.m. at the Hooker Oak Recreation Area overflow parking (off Manzanita) for park cleaning or at Foster‚s Old Fashioned Freeze at the corner of 9th Street and Broadway for the creeks cleaning. Please bring sturdy gloves and shoes.

Refreshments will be available to start and end the day. The Chico Food Network and Grilla Bites Restaurant help provide a "healthy lunch" for volunteers for the event. There will also be a chance for all participants to win prizes from local merchants in a drawing that will occur at the picnic (volunteers need not be present to win). For more information please call BEC at 891-6424 or visit its web site at www.becnet.org <http://www.becnet.org/>;;

TUESDAY JULY 11TH FROM 11:30 AM-12:30 PM CARUSO, MORE OPERA AND FOOD on KZFR 90.1FM's Mama Rose's Kitchen Radio Show.

Thursday, May 18 2006 @ 10:03 PM MST
Contributed by: rhirshen
Views: 6,418

Look (listen!) for chef Richard Hirshen on KZFR's Mama Rose's Kitchen Radio Show bantering with host Rosemary Febbo about food and opera...Puccini, Verdi, Spaghetti alla Caruso, Peach Melba and lots more! Tuesday July 11th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Welcome to KZFR 90.1 FM - People Powered Radio!

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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE FROM AUGUST 7-9, 2006 AT THE HYATT REGENCY, SACRAMENTO, CA

Thursday, May 18 2006 @ 09:38 PM MST
Contributed by: rhirshen
Views: 9,707

Integrating Technology, Science and Policy to Address the Environmental Challenges in the Agricultural Setting.

August 7-9, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, CA

Follow this link for all of the essential info:
http://www.dce.ksu.edu/dce/conf/ag&environment/registration.shtml

As consistent with our own mission, the Chico Food Network Board of Directors urges you to attend this important conference.

You are also invited to the CSU Chico College of Agriculture and Plant Science Club's 4th Annual Conference on Sustainability and Organic Farming on the CSU Chico campus November 2-4, 2006.

The Chico Food Network will, in conjunction with this conference be holding our 3rd Annual Gala Benefit Organic Dinner and Soiree at California Park's Lakeside Pavilion on Friday November 3rd.

Look for more info about the conference and dinner on this website and e-mail CFN Board President Richard Hirshen at chefrichie@msn.com.

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Food Network Video Feature
Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children Ann Cooper, author and Berkley School District Food Director - feeds over 4000 kids each school day. This is revolutionary stuff that is saving kids lives. Check it out here.

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