Monday, November 30, 2009

December 2009 Calendar of Food, Cooking, Farming, and Eating Events in Ithaca and Tompkins County

December 2009 Calendar of Food, Cooking, Farming, and Eating Events in Ithaca and Tompkins County

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Backyard Revival: American Heritage Poultry exhibit throughout December from- 8:00AM to 5:00PM at Mann Library, Cornell University. The past decade has brought a resurgence of interest in small-scale poultry-keeping. Drawing from rare historical works in the Rice Poultry Collection at Mann Library, this late Fall exhibit showcases a variety of heirloom poultry breeds once common on American farms and currently making somewhat of a comeback in both rural and sometimes surprisingly urban landscapes of the modern U.S.

Drill Baby Drill? Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale on December 1, 2009 - 7:00PM to 9:00PM at Cornell University's Goldwin Smith hall, Room 132, presentation by Walter Hang, Toxics Targeting (http://toxicstargeting.com) and Lisa Wright and Ryan Clover, Shaleshock Citizens Action Alliance (http://shaleshock.org) Many concerned citizens are asking: Does it make sense to contaminate essential resources such as water and soil in order to extract one resource - natural gas? Are we to drill first and ask questions later? Walter Hang will address these issues. Via multimedia presentation he will discuss the history of gas drilling in New York State and summarize findings on the state of gas drilling pollution and environmental protection.

Lecture on Grapevine Powdery Mildew and Sunlight December 1, 2009 - 3:30PM to 4:45PM. This presentation takes place at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY at Barton Lab, A134 and the speaker will be Craig Austin, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology.
Movie Screening: Food, Inc. on Tuesday, December 1 at 7pm at Ithaca College Williams Hall Room 323. Ithaca College Nutrition Club Presents Food, Inc. The IC Nutrition Club invites you to a free screening of the new documentary, Food, Inc. Food, Inc. is a film about the current food industry and its impact on the American diet and American soil land. Food, Inc. shows what most Americans don't know about what they eat and how it is produced. Please come enjoy a night of food education with the IC Nutrition Club! This event is free and open to the public.


Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Sustainable Food Systems as a Social Movement, a lecture by Cornelia Butler Flora, Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Science and Sociology at Iowa State University on December 2, 2009 - 2:00PM to 3:00PM at Cornell University Rice Hall room 300. Dr. Flora’s research and teaching during the past decade have focused on community organization for sustainable development, with an emphasis on local food systems in Iowa. There she is part of an evaluation team for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Food and Fitness Initiative, a participatory research program with the Hopi/Tewa on native foods, and a research-outreach team with immigrant farmers as contributors to sustainable local food systems. In Latin America her efforts have focused on the importance of community natural resource management in adapting to climate change.

Triphammer Wines & Spirits presents the third annual "An Evening to Remember", a holiday gala to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer's Association of Central New York. "An Evening to Remember" will be held Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at The Clarion Hotel from 6:00-9:00 PM, including wine and food tastings and silent auction.


Thursday, December 3, 2009

Moosewood Food Tasting & Book Signing on December 3, 2009 - 12:00PM to 2:00PM at the Cornell Campus store to celebrate the publication of the new Moosewood cookbook, The Moosewood Restaurant Cooking for Health. More than just a collection of recipes, this new book celebrates local and environmentally sustainable food choices and principles of mindful eating. Also available will be Moosewood's many other best selling cookbooks at 20% off regular price. Ithaca’s Moosewood Restaurant is internationally famous as a vegetarian pioneer, and this new book combines their traditional approach to eclectic, ethnic cuisine with a deliberate attention to ingredient selection, cooking techniques, and the latest scientific research.

Sustainability Speaker Series: "Brand, Reputation, and Responsible Business - Leveraging Best Practices to Communicate Sustainability" from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Ithaca College’s Park Center for Business Room 111. Michelle Bernhart, president of True Blue Communications, helps organizations achieve strategic objectives, reduce risk, enhance their brand, and strengthen their performance through comprehensive sustainability improvement programs.

Food & Fashion Extravaganza on December 3, 2009 - 6:00PM to 9:00PM in NYC at The Bromley 225 West 83rd St, NYC. Come support Cornell Cooperative Extension partner school Food & Finance High School and enjoy the fashion Gabrielle Carlson designs. There will be a silent auction and the event will be catered by the culinary arts students. All proceeds benefit F&F High School.


Friday, December 4, 2009

Surrounded by Reality: 101 Things You Didn't Know about Ithaca (But Are About to Find Out) on December 4, 2009 - 12:00PM to 2:00PM at the Cornell campus store. Famed Ithaca Restaurateur and author Michael Turback returns with this delightful new book of Ithaca history and trivia. In this entertaining and captivating compendium, Michael Turback amuses and edifies us with surprising facts about this quirky Upstate New York locale. It’s brimming with amazing true stories, corrected myths, and peculiar particulars about the people and events that shape Ithaca culture. Browse through this winningly irreverent little book to satisfy your curiosity. It’s guaranteed to reveal things you never knew about Ithaca.

3rd International Advanced Technology, Food and Agriculture Conference on December 4, 2009, all day at the Double Tree Hotel on Jefferson Ave. in Rochester, NY. Producers and processors of specialty crops are invited to join representatives from small to large technology companies (IBM, Deere Corp.) and research centers (Center for Infotonics) at this conference which aims to create a road map for how new technology can lead to better, safer, and more healthful specialty crops. Featured speakers will be Patrick Hooker, New York’s Commissioner of Agriculture, and federal officials from the Department of Agriculture and Homeland Security. The conference is sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture through a grant to Cornell University and Penn State’s Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development. The Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park, and the Infotonics Technology Center are partnering in this effort.


Saturday, December 5, 2009

Ithaca Farmers Market at Steamboat Landing from 10am until 3pm Saturday.

Alternative Gift Fair on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 11:00am - 7:00pm at two adjacent locations: The First Presbyterian Church at 315 North Cayuga Street and The First Baptist Church at 309 North Cayuga Street. The Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair is a fun way to bypass the annual stress of holiday shopping and accumulation of “stuff” while honoring friends and relatives with donations to causes that fit their values. Shoppers can give gifts that have a specific purpose and help support local charities, such as $40 for one week of Meals on Wheels for a frail older adult or disabled person living in Tompkins County, $10 for seeds, plants and building materials to create neighborhood gardens in Ithaca, $20 for one week of nutritious meals (plus seconds) for one guest at Loaves & Fishes, or $10 for two weeks of fresh, healthy, colorful fruit and veggie snacks including bok choy, beets, blueberries, and pears for a child in New York State.

3rd Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Bazaar on Saturday, December 5, 10:00am-3:00 pm at CCE-TC at 615 Willow Ave. Local arts and crafts vendors will offer for sale a wide range of craft items. Check back for specifics! Bake sale and refreshments for sale by the 4-H Cultural Exchange Club. For more information, or to sign up as a vendor, contact Debbie Teeter at 272-2292 or email dlt22@cornell.edu.


Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference on December 8, 2009 - 10:00AM to 3:30PM at Kennedy Hall Auditorium at Cornell University. Topics covered will include: The Agricultural Economy in an Uncertain Financial and Regulatory Environment, Outlook for Dairy Markets and Policy, and Grape, Wine, and Nursery Situation and Outlook, and more. Registration fee is $80.


Thursday, December 10, 2009

World Premier for the movie Frac Attack: Dawn of the Watershed at Cinemopolis on Green Street in Ithaca. What's in your water? When the town of Ithaca, New York gets fracked by natural gas drilling, the water goes sour and the citizens start craving human flesh. Anna and other survivors band together to save their community. Come one, come all, to the World Premiere of the environmental zombie short. Family screening will be at 7pm, followed by a Q&A with Filmmakers at 7:30pm, then an 8:00pm R-Rated screening. $5-10 suggested donation, tickets available at the door. "Frac Attack" is a co-production of Shirari Industries and The Dacha Project, in association with the Shaleshock Citizens Action Alliance. Made on location in Ithaca by over seventy members of the community and winner of a 2009 Sustainable Tompkins Signs of Sustainability Award.



Saturday, December 12, 2009

Ithaca Farmers Market at Steamboat Landing from 10am until 3pm Saturday.

Holiday Community Swap Meet on Saturday, December 12, 4-7pm at the Southside Community Center 305 S. Plain St, Ithaca, NY 14850. Our seventh Community Swap Meet is all about the holidays. What better way to get unique gifts for everyone on your list than to share and barter for crafts, services and other goodies?! This event is hosted and co-sponsored by the Southside Community Center.All are welcome to bring stuff to swap. You can expect to find things like one-of-a-kind fabric collage sweatshirts by Lea Elleseff, photo prints by Frank Muller, hand-knitted hats and cozies by Shira Golding, personalized button-making by Ari Moore, and much more! Suggested items to bring include: food (teas, baked goods, jams, chocolate, etc.), body care (tinctures, soaps, creams), handmade crafts (ceramics, candles, art, etc.), stuff: (electronics, housewares, books, etc.), services (massage, yoga, music lessons, etc.), and bags, boxes and carts to take stuff home in. The swap is organized by Share Tompkins, winner of a 2009 Sustainable Tompkins Sign of Sustainability Award, and the goal is sustainability – participants are advised to please bring stuff that is locally-grown or made from local materials if possible (but anything is welcome!) and be prepared to take back home with you whatever you don't end up bartering or giving away. RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203720536936 You can post haves/wants to the Share Tompkins email list: https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/sharetompkins

Harvest Dinner on the Farm Saturday, December 12 - note: this event has been moved to January 23, 2010.


Sunday, December 13, 2009

IthaCan's Holiday Party at 5pm. Come learn what Ithaca's home food preservation network is all about and enjoy some homemade goodies. For more information about the event and the organization, please see IthaCan's website.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Ithaca Farmers Market at Steamboat Landing from 10am until 3pm Saturday. This is the last outdoor farmers market for the season, and the famous International Rutabaga Curl will take place at noon. Registration for the event begins at 10:45.


Future Events:

January 8, 2010. Online Courses for New Farmers Begin. Are you a new or aspiring farmer who would like some guidance in the development of a farm enterprise, but has been unable to locate or attend any training near you? Are you comfortable enough with a computer to consider learning online? CCE and the NY Beginning Farmer Project have created two basic online courses to help you think through the major factors related to farm start-up. Join experienced CCE educators and 29 of you new farmer peers in a dynamic learning experience that incorporates both self-paced readings and real-time virtual meetings with discussion forums, homework activities, guest presenters, and developing a customized plan for your next steps in farming. The online course duration in 6 weeks. Instructors: Steve Hadcock, CCE-Columbia County and Dan Welch, CCE-Cayuga County. Cost is $100 per course. To register visit:http://www.nybeginningfarmers.org/courses/

January and June 2010. Meat Processing and Food Safety Certificate Program. SUNY Cobleskill will be offering this program in January and June. This intensive hand on training program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills students require entering employment in the meat processing industry. Students will be skilled in sanitation, food safety, slaughter, meat cutting and processing. As part of the students’ preparation for the industry, the program consists of specialized training in the accuracy of cutting, knife handling, portion control, merchandizing and the utilization of all products. The program includes: Safety and Sanitation, Species Harvesting/Slaughtering, Primal Fabrication, Retail Cutting and Wrapping, and Customer Relations. The cost for this program is $2,995 which includes textbook, hard hat, frock, 5 inch boning knife, 12 inch butcher knife and safety cutting glove. For more information about this program contact SUNY Cobleskill at 518-255-5528 or Training@cobleskill.edu.

Ongoing: Farm Welding Training Classes are available on an ongoing basis from Patriot Resources at locations across NYS. For more info, contact Tom Bryant atqawelds.edu54@yahoo.com or 315-863-5143

Organic Farming & Gardening Conference on January 22 - 24, 2010 at The Saratoga Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. Join us for more than 80 workshops, 3 keynote speeches, organic trade show, entertainment and local organic meals. Sponsored by NOFA-NY, the Northeast Organic Farming Association.

January 23, 2010 Harvest Dinner on the Farm at Red Newt Wine Cellars. The event begins at 5pm at Finger Lakes Distilling and then moves to Red Newt Wine Wine Cellars. Chef Debra Whiting and Winemaker Dave Whiting with a menu featuring ingredients from The Piggery, Autumn's Harvest, Early Morning Farm, Remembrance Farm, Stick & Stone Farm, Sweet Land Farm, Three Sisters Farm, West Haven Farm, Cayuga Pure Organics, Lively Run and other local farms who support the Healthy Food for All program. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased online. Proceeds benefit the Healthy Food for All program, which provides low cost CSA memberships to people in need.

On February 4, 2010, at 6pm Autumn's Harvest Farm will host a Pig Butchering 101 course Pig breeds utilized at Autumn’s Harvest Farm and why we utilize them, different parts of the pig and what they can be utilized for. Step by step breakdown and butchering of a whole pig. The cost is $50 per person which is non–refundable (limit 10). Description - In this class we are hoping to help people achieve a better understanding of what butchering a pig involves. This class will assist students in obtaining the basic skills needed to butcher a pig. We will end the class with a sausage taste test from sausages made at Autumn’s Harvest farm.

2010 Master Composter Volunteer Training, 10 weekday evening meetings + volunteer work, mid-February-April 2010, through Cornell cooperative Extension. Application deadline: Friday, January 29. Join this enthusiastic group committed to promoting responsible composting in Tompkins County. Training covers all aspects of composting and includes some collaborative volunteering. After completing the training, Master Composters give back to the community in a variety of outreach activities. Contact Adam Michaelides at 272-2292x124 or acm1@cornell.edu for information or to receive 2010 Training announcements.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for compiling this amazing calendar! As an Ithaca newbie, I'm finding it especially helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're welcome! And glad you found the site. Feel free to let me know if there are any issues in particular that you'd like to see covered on Ithaca's Food Web.

    ReplyDelete