Talking About Food... and Eating It, Too!

I used to think January was a dead month: many people take a few weeks to recover from the holidays (excessive eating and exposure to family members will do that), and for those of us living in more wintry climates, any interest in going outside is easily replaced by the desire to keep warm under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate.

Then I met Food Forward, and my naive worldview went out the window... and immediately froze in mid-air and shattered on contact with the sidewalk. Later someone slipped on it and fell. You get the idea. If you only attend two events this month (okay three, because you should also come to the free screening of The Economics of Happiness), these are the ones for you:

The Local Politics of Food

This panel discussion will feature three exciting speakers: Toronto City Councillor and urban agriculture advocate Joe Mihevc, King Township Councillor and farmer Avia Eek, and David Suzuki Foundation Science Director and conservation expert Faisal Moola. If you attend, you will be in good company indeed! The discussion, moderated by Women's Post publisher and former mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson, will cover some of the issues and solutions that municipalities are working on in relation to the food system and how residents can take action and bring about community change.

Come out and ask these experts your burning food system questions on Wednesday, January 26th, between 7:00 and 8:30 pm in the South Dining Room at Hart House (7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto). You can RSVP here. 

Foodie Drinks

What happens when you invite a bunch of politically-minded foodies to a hip bar, introduce them to groups doing good work to support the good food movement, offer them Local Food Plus certified food, then let them mingle, socialize, and network? You get Foodie Drinks, where those who care about expanding access to healthy food and supporting farmers and animal welfare come together to make positive change in the community. This month's event will feature Arlene Hazzan Green and Marc Green, founders of The Backyard Urban Farm Company, and Laura Reinsborough, founder of Not Far From The Tree, who will speak about the good work they are doing to support the local food system.

Don't be shy, come out and make new friends who share your foodie values on Monday, January 31st, between 7:00 and 10:00 pm in the Melody Bar at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St W). You can RSVP here.

Both The Local Politics of Food and Foodie Drinks are open to everyone and free to attend, however a $10 donation is encouraged to cover the costs of organizing event like these and pushing good food policy forward at City Hall.

Photo credit.