Slow Food Redlands is a community of people who grow, buy, and prepare organic, seasonal and local whole foods and celebrate the joy of eating with their families and friends. Join us today!
Slow Food Redlands’ Mission
“Our mission is to educate people, especially children about food and empower them to eat healthy.”
Slow Food Redlands is the local chapter of Slow Food USA. Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. We inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.
Slow Food Vision: Food is a common language and a universal right. Slow Food USA envisions a world in which all people can eat food that is good for them, good for the people who grow it and good for the planet.
Slow Food Redlands’ Foundation
Slow Food Redlands was founded in December of 2009 by our President, Dr. Stephanie Georgieff and other members of the board: Dr. Dale and Natalia Andelkovic and Lara Carlos. Our first meeting was held on Terra Madre Day, December 10, 2009 in which we participated in Slow Food International’s 1st Global Eat-In.
Slow Food Redlands’ First Year
During our first year we hosted many themed potlucks including Holiday Traditions, Comfort Food, Celebration of Spring, and a Tomato Festival & Tasting; established a community garden at the University of Redlands where the children grew their own pumpkins from seed; hosted a Farm to Table fundraising four course supper at The Farm Artisan Restaurant; sponsored the foundation of a Slow Food Club at the University of Redlands; held a Kraut & Mustard Making Class; had an Italian, Indian and Indonesian themed potluck before seeing Eat, Pray, Love as a group; participated in Slow Food USA’s Healthy School Lunch Eat-In; established facebook and twitter accounts; visited the Hollywood Farmers’ Market; and became an official chapter a few days before our first birthday on December 10, 2010 celebrating with tamales, a pinata, and a Holiday Cookie Exchange.
Our Second Year
Redlands is a warm community in a warm climate, and Slow Food Redlands has enjoyed both! Since our inception we have had extraordinary support from all sectors of our community that other chapters across the nation admire. After all the mundane work of establishing our status with Slow Food USA, writing bylaws, getting bank accounts, insurance policies and EIN numbers, the fun work began.
Our first year was one of discovery and learning. We said yes to all creative ideas coming our way, so we could see what worked and what did not. But our vision is big. Slow Food International has one goal; to change the existing food system. We have had 60 years of industrial agriculture that has resulted in the degradation of our natural resources, epidemic diabetes and obesity, while a good portion of our global community starves. What makes Slow Food different than other food related organizations is the emphasis on the simple pleasure of food. When the individual wakes up to the taste of good, clean and fair food, there is no turning back.
Slow Food Redlands in our Second Year will expand our presence, but will hold fast to the core value that it is the right of everyone to have access to delicious, healthy food. It is not enough to simply feed the body; the soul must be fed as well. We eat within a broad community of farmers, food producers, chefs and grocers. Slow Food Redlands enjoys good relationships with all those who in our community provide us with the suppers we enjoy. We are the focus leader for food through the Redlands Sustainability Network, and are collaborating on how to create a sustainable food system here in Redlands. We live close to the land here in the San Bernardino Valley. Citrus is everywhere! We hope to encourage our fellow citizens through educational efforts, gardening and shared meals, a reconnection of our community with the land and those who produce our food. We have had a great start, and we hope, with your support, to continue to grow and refine our presence in Redlands.
2012 & Beyond
The consistent theme from our membership in 2011 was a desire for cooking skills classes and gardening. This has birthed the Slow Food Saturdays project where we have a food education class available at the Grove Farmers Market. We are also starting to support existing school gardens with volunteers as well as with logistical and financial assistance.
Slow Food Redlands has many exciting events and programs planned for 2012. We will have monthly Book Discussion Group meetings as well as monthly Sustainability Food Focus Group meetings. We are involved in two school garden outreach programs at the Grove School and the Cope Middle School.
Slow Food Redlands has a booth at the weekly Farmers’ Market at the Grove on Saturdays. Once a month we host a special guest for a food Demo & Tasting. Quarterly, we serve farmers’ market shoppers a delicious Slow Food Breakfast.
In May of this year we launched our monthly e-newsletter, the Red Earth Chronicles. To be added to our e-newsletter mailing list, contact us!