Slow Food Dinner at Varri Green Farm

Where does food come from? Many people have become so comfortable accepting the fact that food comes from the grocery store. We go to work, make money, then spend the money to buy the food. There is so much more to that! For the last 2 season I have been a volunteer at Varri Green Farm. I started working on organic farms about 5 years ago, when I decided to move to Jamaica, live simply and grow food. That was long ago, but my desire to consume food that is close to the earth with as little intervention from man as possible never dissipated.  At Varri Green, no chemicals are used. In fact, after the seeds have been sown (aside from a few transplants sometimes), nothing is done at all to the food, it just grows. It grows, it produces food, it then goes to seed, seed is collected, and used next season. It is natures perfect creation allowed to take place perfectly. This last Sunday Varri Green hosted the Treasure and Gold Coast chapter of Slow Foods for a dinner at the farm. Of course, Ocean and I were there to help out, be present, show some love, and eat some good slow food.

Slow food was the creative solution of a man named Carlo Petrini to the fast food giant McDonald's encroachment into Rome. The story told over dinner was that Mr. Petrini set up shop across from McDonald's offering free pasta and food dishes that were homemade and local to the area. Offered a choice people frequented this dining option and McDonald's was forced to retreat, or so the story goes. However it happened, this movement is now 25 years old and international. To find out more about Slow Food and see what is going on in your area check out the website here: http://slowfood.com/

The Slow Food dinner was a great event, and for this particular chapter the money earned is going towards creating school gardens which our very own farmer Sal Varri helps to establish. The food was prepared by a number of individuals whom all have a place for slow good food in their hearts and bellies. All food prepared was from local, non-gmo, and organic sources when possible. The food was so good I forgot to get pictures of it, but to list a few of the items served- raw pasta made from kelp with a tomato sauce and almond ricotta "cheese", fajitas made of local free range beef (for the carnivores) with a black bean olive brown rice addition, guacamole, macadamia nut hummus, roasted beets and carrots, quinoa, kohlrabi, carrot, radish coleslaw in a citrus vinaigrette, raw chunky dunky cookies, sugar free, gluten free, vegan carrot cake...and more.

During dinner Slow food gave awards to people in the community who are doing great things. Now is when I wish I had taken notes! Being a mommy seems to have shortened my short term memory! These people are doing wonderful things but I've forgotten their names, let their deeds be the example. One woman was a teacher who for years now has been the organizer of her school's garden, giving children who may never have seen a fresh carrot before a chance to get out and meet real food, all the while integrating math and science into gardening sessions. Another award went out to Sal Varri, who has been hosting these dinners for about 8 years. Sal has also helped to install community and school gardens and never strays from his no chemical philosophy. Let me emphasize, this means ABSOLUTELY NO CHEMICALS.  I must stress the beauty of this, as even organic farmers CAN use fertilizers and pesticides, as long as they are classified under USDA standards for organic.

The day was full of fun with people coming together bringing good energy and being grateful for the abundance around them. We ate delicious food and  breathed in the fresh air (which was also filled with good music from Lee and Helia, aka The Together Ensemble). Some people may have even seen for the first time what food looks like fresh from the earth while on the garden tour. The Slow Food dinner was a fun event with a great message and worthy cause, I encourage you to take a look at the website and perhaps put some thought into the idea behind the cause when you take your next bite, and remember- you are what you eat, literally!

Peace everyone.

P.S Pics soon!