Welcome
Greetings at the close of the Spring Semester! We have seeds started and the garden beds for summer vegetables cultivated. We have our canning jars washed and ready for the season's first stone fruit. We are so ready for finals to be over so we can be let out to pasture, to eat berries and watch fireflies and sleep out on the porch. But we do have just a few more events to bring to you before the end of the semester.
SAFE/SOGA Garden Party
Saturday, May 9 SAFE will be holding a garden party in conjunction with the Student Organic Gardening Association from 2-6pm. The garden is located at the south-east corner of Virginia and Walnut Sts. SOGA will be having a plant sale with tomatoes, kale, broccoli, and herbs to raise funds to care for the garden. SAFE will be raffling various delicious home made goods, as well as leading demonstration in buttermaking, pickling, fermenting, and more. We'll have live music and snacks as well. If you're interested in urban or community gardening, there will be many folks present who can give you some great ideas for how you can get involved. Please come out to help support these amazing student groups, eat some yummy food, and have a good time! Bring friends, food, and musical instruments if you like!
Cob Oven Building Workshop
In collaboration with the Student Organic Gardening Association (SOGA) and the Permaculture Army cooperative, we are offering a few spots at a cob oven building day this Sunday from 10-5, and possibly some time on Monday if needed. Cob ovens are similar to wood-fired brick ovens, and are used in much the same way - to bake pizzas, bread, roast veggies/meats, and even make yogurt.
You'll be learning the basic components for sound oven design, how to mix cob, how to insulate/maintain the oven, and everyone present will have plenty of chances for hands-on oven building! Space is limited so please reply soon. The workday is free for students, and a $10-30 donation is requested of everyone else. Proceeds will go to helping members of SOGA build an oven for their garden this fall - they are looking to expand their services to the wider community and feel that an oven will be a perfect hub to gather around and learn.
Marisha Farnsworth, who teaches several natural building classes at Merritt College and is a co-founder of the Natural Builders company, will be directing the oven-building this weekend. She is a wonderful person and a great resource!
Please email Anya to RSVP (kamena@berkeley.edu).
And stick around this summer for a secret dinner, foraging and canning workshops, and making plans for the fall semester.
The Food and Farming Film Festival is returning in one form or another as we prepare for a big launch of the 4-F in the fall.
Join us in becoming involved with SAFE.
Also check out the latest from our friend and founder and her film project, The Greenhorns.
