Update on "Pass The Bread"

Pass the Bread

Report on inaugural event, June 26, 2009

First, to the future: It looks like October 24 will be a great day for our next Pass the Bread!We’ve received a lot of enthusiastic support for an October event, but to make it happen, Lynn and Lynne need your help! We need a few people for a small committee to plan the event, and help us find hosts for the event. Let us hear from you soon, so we can move forward with plans for the October Pass the Bread.

Please visit the website for continuing updates and to give your input: passthebreadcelebratecommunity.wordpress.com/
You can contact us at: passthebreadcelebratecommunity@gmail.com

And now, the report:
Pass the Bread, June 26
We had about 30 host homes, and around 300 people participated around Routt County. What a terrific start to this event! We received great feedback, with a lot of guests mentioning that they’d like to be hosts the next time around.

Different kinds of dinners
Hosts were creative, and came up with lots of different ways to do their dinners:
• A few dinners were co-hosted by two friends
• One of the co-hosted dinners was held as a patio party, and only singles were invited
• Another co-hosted event was a brown-bag lunch in the park
• One host home focused on age, and invited people representing every decade (in age) from the 20s through the 70s.
• The potluck structure seemed to work well for most people. One nice thing about a potluck is that everyone is participating in the meal at a more in-depth level.

Other suggestions we received:
• We learned some new ideas for how to include people you don’t know on your invitation list. One great idea that still works with the theme is to have the host invite a group of people he or she knows, but that don’t know each other.
• Another theme that we like is the block party. Knowing and understanding our neighbors can be the foundation to greater understanding across the greater community.
• Make it a day-long event so that hosts can choose between breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
• A few people noted that there was some confusion in the general community about what Pass the Bread actually is and how it works. We need to do a better job of helping people understand.

People’s response to Pass the Bread
In general, it appears that people’s response to Pass the Bread can be summed up with one or both of the following statements:
• Pass the Bread is about building community by people getting together
• Pass the Bread is about building community by enabling connections to work on community projects
And there was a nearly universal comment that what we have in Routt County is unique and special. Quite a few people who have lived in other communities commented that there’s a stronger sense of community and connectedness here than anyplace else they’ve lived.
　
Thoughts about future dinners
There were a lot of good suggestions, some that we plan to incorporate the next time around. Here are some ideas:
• There was a lot of energy and animation created by meeting and conversing with a diversity of people outside a person’s usual social network. We intend to find ways to expand the range of people involved, so that the diversity is even greater (age, race, religion, political, geographic, etc.)
• One difficulty seems to be in having younger people involved in the event. How to reach them so they know it’s happening; how to encourage their attendance; how to have the participation of young parents? One suggestion we had was to have a group such as Girl Scouts or 4h have a fundraiser by offering babysitting for this event.
• Some people felt strongly that there should be a definite topic-driven conversation around each table. Others felt that the dinners should be followed up with community service on a project. Others just enjoyed meeting new people and having a good conversation.

We have set up a page called "After Dinner" on our web site (passthebreadcelebratecommunity.wordpress.com/) that gives people the opportunity to exchange information about community projects. We’ve listed a few that people reported from their dinner conversations, so be sure to add your own interests!
• The co-chairs had intended to do this event twice a year, but there was enough feedback suggesting quarterly events that we decided to make something happen in October.
• Several people would like to see this idea go national!

Fire Fly Mountain Produce introduces Routt Countys first CSA!

Firefly Mountain Produce CSA
*****(Sorry, this CSA has currently been filled.)********

About the CSA ...
These shares are available once a week and costs $14.

Right now, these greens are available:

baby arugula
baby mizuna (a great braising or stir-fry green)
baby spring turnips (crisp, pure white, and delicious!)
rainbow chard
tender kale
cilantro
basil
teenage lettuce heads

In a week or two, I will have my full salad mix (mesclun) available, which will include lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, Asian greens, and some various other beautiful greens and flowers.

In the next couple of weeks, these will be available:

mesclun mix
arugula
spring turnips with greens
baby bok choy
baby beets with greens
baby carrots
green onions
radishes
new blue potatoes and russets
various Asian greens for braising

I am open to ideas and being flexible, but an example of a weekly
share would be:

1 small head of lettuce (or equivalent substitute)
1/2 lb of mixed salad greens
1 bunch of arugula
1 bunch of radishes
1 bunch of something else:
(bok choy or turnips or chard or kale or beets, etc.)

Subscribers can keep in touch with me by email and phone, and we can substitute items as well as add any extras that might be available. This share could be picked up once a week and would cost $14. Pickup location to be determined.

Contact info:
Christina
Firefly Mountain Produce
40431 Anchor Way
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
970.846.9662
fireflymtn@msn.com

Local CSA available!

Morgaine's 8 Gardens will be a High Altitude All Year Round greenhouse.

Emphasizing winter growing, the idea is to provide enough vegatables and berries to approximateley 10 families in a CSA style. Practicing "french" intensive raised bed gardening with a full cycle of soil nourishment. Worms, rain catching, and composting are included in accordance with organic growing practices.
Though, we have no intention of being Certified Organic (in attempt to keep prices low) any one would be welcome to see how we are growing.
We will rotate 150+ different varieties of heirloom vegatables ranging from lettuces to cauliflowers as well as corns.

We will be looking for some help in a cinder block party that we are trying to organize for the weekend of August 8th. Barbeque and Fat Tire will be served to all those who can help.

Expected to Start Fall 2010 in full service. During Fall/Winter 2009 garden anaylsis; food would be based on availability and volunteer's get first preference and then an interest list (email name and phone number to morgaine8@hotmail.com)
Tina Husman Suriano
Morgaine's 8 Gardens
Kremmling, Co.
970-724-9062
970-819-8594 (cell)
970-879-3081 (fax)
morgaine8@hotmail.com

Historic Routt County! update

Here Is What Historic Routt County! Has Been Up To ...

Restoration of the Diamond Window Cabin started on July 20.
Follow daily progress on our Diamond Window Cabin Web Site.

You'll Find:
Photo Gallery showing all stages of construction - see it for yourself!
Volunteer Information Center - Help Rebuild History! Look here for the latest schedules and needs. Volunteers always are welcome!
Sponsors & Contributors - Thank You!
Information on How to Contribute
General Project Information and News Articles
And More!

We are thrilled with the community support we are receiving. If you would like to participate in the restoration, please call Towny at 846-4553 or email him at hrc@historicrouttcounty.org.

Check the Diamond Window Cabin Web Site often for the latest pictures and news!

Summer Herb Walks!

Earth Centered Studies Presents
Summer Herb Walks
With Herbalist Jessica Kinnaman Striker

Come learn the basics of holistic healing where nature is the classroom.
Learn to identify & use many edible and medicinal plants

that grow in the Yampa Valley.
These walks will introduce

wild crafting, botanical pharmacology, plant lore, therapeutics & more.

Herb walks are $15 & last about 2 hours on various trails in Routt County
Space is limited & registration is required
Call 819-6782 to sign up

Fri. July 17th 3pm

Thur. July 23rd 5pm

Wed. July 29th 4pm

Tues. August 4th 9am

Mon. August 10th 2pm
Wed. August 26th 4pm