Oh, the Places You'll Grow!

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Aug 06, 2009 at 08:00:00 AM PDT

San Diego Roots held an AMAZING event this past Saturday. We called our celebratory blending of art, music, and food "Growing Places." The afternoon, which was a fundraiser for an educational farm that doesn't exist yet but may soon, began at 3pm with urban homesteading workshops. Participants learned to make sauerkraut, cheese, wheat flour, hot sauce, and ginger ale. At 5:30, we convened together for a discussion with community leaders about food policy and challenges and successes in our food system. At 7pm, local bands began playing and local, sustainable food was served. (The food was made by YUM! Super Foods Co and all of the food and cooking was donated.) Throughout the night, attendees bid on food-themed art in a silent auction.

So, without further adieu, please enjoy the pictures from Growing Places...

Julia and Em, the lovely ladies responsible for the amazing event!

Jess, who worked her tush off to coordinate all of the food

Decorations & Setting Up

Kids Artwork
During the event, children made artwork with paper plates and strawberry pint baskets - and some of them even donated their art to the Silent Auction :)

Urban Homesteading

Marc taught how to make ginger ale

Anita stepped in to save the day by teaching the hot sauce workshop

I wish I got a better pic of Paul teaching the kimchi & sauerkraut workshop. This was the only one of him I could find, and I didn't want his contribution to the event to go unrecognized.

Joann teaches cheese making...

...And so does Mariah

The Community Discussion
Sixteen community leaders with areas of expertise as varied as hunger, water, peak oil, gardening, school programs, and more came together to have a public discussion.

Music!

... And, the Food