FOOD FOR THOUGHT Series of new programs on food at the Library

Thanks to the generous Friends of Beebe Library, Beebe Library will present a series of four food-related programs beginning on Feb. 2 with Executive Director of Waltham Fields Community Farm Claire Kozower discussing the concept of community supported agriculture.

On March 2, Amy McCoy, author of “The Poor Girl Gourmet,” will talk about buying and eating locally produced foods on a budget.

On March 30, Tammy Donroe, author of the blog “Food on the Food,” will discuss eating locally with kids.

The series wraps up on April 5 with Valerie Conyngham, owner of Vienne Chocolat, discussing the chocolate growing process and creating chocolate confections using local ingredients.

All programs are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Beebe Library Lecture Hall at 345 Main Street. The series is sponsored by the Friends of Beebe Library.

The series begins on February 2 at 6:30 p.m. with a talk by Claire Kozower, Executive Director of Waltham Fields Community Farm. Claire will give a brief overview of farming and the local/seasonal movement in New England and then explain the fairly recent phenomenon of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in which farmers sell harvest shares (vegetables, flowers, meat, etc.) directly to people in the local community. Information will be available on how to join WFC’s program and about other farms in the area that offer similar programs.

You’ve probably heard people talking about local and seasonal food, discussing what was in their CSA box this week, visiting the farmer’s market, and maybe ranting about sustainability. And what exactly, you might have asked yourself, is a “locavore” – is it dangerous? Or maybe you’ve read enough to know a little – something like Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” or one of Michael Pollan’s books – and thought, “That’s all very nice in theory, but I could never make it work for me.”
The series continues with two speakers who will tackle the practical sides of buying, cooking, and eating local and seasonal food. On March 2 at 6:30 p.m. Amy McCoy, author of the recently published “Poor Girl Gourmet” cookbook, talks about buying and eating local on a budget. Signed copies of her book will be on sale.
On March 30 at 6:30 p.m., the library presents “Fresh! Eating Locally with Kids,” withTammy Donroe, mom, locavore, and author of the blog “Food on the Food.” Tammy will talk about the pleasures and challenges of eating locally with kids, sharing strategies for working local foods into a busy lifestyle as well as her favorite cookbooks and recipes.

The icing on the cake – chocolate in this case – is “From Tree to Truffle: The Making of Chocolate,” a talk on April 5 at 6:30 p.m. by local chocolatier, Valerie Conyngham, owner of Vianne Chocolat. Valerie will take a look at the chocolate growing process and how she turns the “Fruit of the Gods” into the delicate chocolate confections we all adore. In addition, Valerie will discuss how she incorporates sustainability into her business and what it takes to source her ingredients locally. And the best part? She’ll have chocolates on hand to sample and buy.

All programs will take place in the Lecture Hall at Beebe Library, 345 Main Street, Wakefield MA.

One last note. If you feel the need to read up on the subject a little before we begin, there will be a display of books and other informational material near the circulation desk at the library starting this week.