Slow Food in Saskatoon: Activities

Yesterday’s post, What is Slow Food?, explored the meaning and objectives of Slow Food. But how do we actually translate that into action?

There were 13 convivia represented at the 2012 Slow Food Canada national meeting, and they shared their activities over the past year. Here are just a few of the ideas:

Slow Food Calgary served over 4,000 slow food meals at the Calgary Folk Festival and has published a Snail Trail publication and mobile app identifying local producers of good, clean, fair food.

Slow Food Columbia Valley holds an annual palooza to celebrate a particular vegetable (potato soup competition, pumpkin bowls) as well as a Sustainable Speaker series.

Slow Food Southern Alberta published The Faces of Food, with stories and photographs of local farmers and their farms.

Slow Food Toronto is matching every garden that they adopt in Africa with a garden in Toronto. They held a canning workshop with new Canadians, First Nations people, and children to preserve soup for the winter. They held a food fair at the Green Living trade show.

Slow Food Nova Scotia hosts Slow Motion, a food film festival. Last year’s festival showcased 29 films from 13 countries.

Slow Food Vancouver Island held mushroom foraging events and the Sooke Slow Foods Cycle (under Events on their website).

Slow Food Montreal held a wine tasting with organic and biodynamic wines. They collaborate on a Green Restaurant Guide and are planning an active campaign against land grabbing.

Farm Folk City Folk (a partner of Slow Food Vancouver) organized Meet Your Maker, a speed dating event hooking up farmers and producers.

Slow Food Perth County hosts a Slow Food Market.

The Slow Food Calgary Youth Movement and Slow Food Kids in Thunder Bay ensure that young people are well represented.

Saskatoon: Getting Started 
As a brand-new group, Slow Food Saskatoon can’t do everything. Perhaps one of the best ways for us to operate will be by collaborating with others:

Invite vendors at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market to help us plan a tasting event comparing the flavour of different kinds of carrots or potatoes.

Collaborate with the Saskatoon Public Library or Word on the Street on a storytelling event with local farmers and producers talking about the joys and challenges of what they do.

Plan a heritage preservation event with International Women of Saskatoon. IWS members can teach us how to make kimchi or tortillas, and we can show them how to can vegetables or make pickles. Transition Saskatoon might also be interested in partnering with us on this event.

Work with the SEN Environmental Film Festival to sponsor a half day of films about food.

Partner with CHEP Good Food Inc. to support 1000 Gardens in Africa and Saskatoon’s community gardens.

Work with the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate to prepare a list of local CSA (community supported agriculture) and/or hold a CSA Fair.

Collaborate with l’Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise on an event showcasing Saskatchewan’s francophone farming communities and traditions.

What would you like to do? Contact me at penny@axonsoft.com if you are interested in participating in Slow Food Saskatoon.

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