Feeding Frenzy - Locals Hungry for Food, Inc.

Slow Food Charleston and Lowcountry Local Firsts' alignment with Charleston's Terrace Theater was a huge, sold-out success, proving that the time is right for the food advocacy. Over 125 people were actually turned away from the sold-out event, which took place the evening of August 3rd. After the showing of documentary film on how food is created and distributed in this country, the entire audience stayed put to listen to the panel discussion hosted by Slow Food Charlest and Lowcountry Local First.

Bucolic Paradise

It couldn't have been a more perfect setting. Thackeray Farms on scenic Wadmalaw Island set the lush stage for Slow Food Charleston's first ever Farm-to-Plate picnic. Even moody Mother Nature cooperated with ebbing temperatures, a light breeze and thunder-free skies.

Approximately 60 people (both members and non-members) gathered to sup and sip from their picnic baskets, learn more about the farm (co-farmed by local farmers Rita Bachmann and Shawn Thackeray), and engage in supporting the cause through a live auction and pie sale yesterday afternoon.

Rita and Shawn led an extensive tour of the grounds, which include an expansive field of flowers and produce bordered by a skyline of leafy green trees and assorted outbuildings. The group gathered under a large shed where small spring onions were drying in preparation for fall storage while a stack of mushroom logs stood prepped and ready to eventually sprout fall's harvest.

The mood was light as local event planner and auctioneer extraordinaire Mitchell Crosby took to the microphone to begin the auction of five pies - blueberry with ginger snap crust and a beauty of a cherry pie (that eventually fetched $55!) among them - for the Slow Food Charleston "cause." Competition was fierce enough that a trio of dogs began their loud barking bids for a piece of the proverbial pie! Local businesses from McCrady's restaurant to Charleston Cooks! cooking school generously donated gift certificates to be included in the auction.

The final numbers on total dollars earned are not yet in, but what is certain is that all proceeds will go to the Sanders-Clyde Elementary School/Yo Art Project/Children's Garden Project in downtown Charleston.

Garden Update

The kids at Sanders-Clyde have reaped the rewards of the garden they planted in the spring and prepared meals with the summer harvest. The garden has been prepped for the fruits of the fall semester.

Yo, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Forty-three lucky second-grade students at Sanders-Clyde Elementary School in Charleston are planting and digging their way to finding the answer to this very question.

The 10-week-long course involves the students in all phases of gardening as part of a multi-tiered program that also incorporates the school's math and science courses. As they watch their garden of herbs, peas, flowers and more grow, the students are journaling the process through digital photography and garden diaries written on reporter notebooks, even as they don their very own press corps tags.

The harvested food will eventually be converted into nutritious meals with the helpful guidance of nutritionists and chefs. A collaborative effort between the Charleston Area Children's Garden Project, Yo Art Project, and Slow Food Charleston, this little garden that could is sure to reap delicious and nutritious results that will be permanently documented in a booklet recording the students' gardening experiences, photos, and written observations.

Keep your eye on this blog for upcoming Slow Food Charleston events that will help to further nurture this important project.