Last night I participated in a dinner at the University Heights Center which was part of an all day event featuring workshops on growing, cooking and preserving local foods.
The turnout was low, presumably because the marketing and outreach should have started much earlier, but the energy was wonderful, the food was lovely, and the weather was spectacular.
Perhaps the most exciting thing for me about this dinner was the fact that the chefs actually got paid for the work we did. I've contributed to other dinners from time to time where the cooks donated their time and the farmers donated their produce, and the proceeds from the event went to support the organization that facilitated it. A farmer friend of mine described the arrangement as "the solution feeding the problem." This time we were trying out a different model. Not only did we get paid, but we were able to support local farmers by using some of that income to buy ingredients.
Of course we didn't earn much because the turnout was so low, but I do think this idea could grow into something more sustainable, so to speak.
And perhaps the best thing about the event...no speeches!
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