Time to celebrate 11 years of small to mid-size farming in Middle TN with this year's gathering on February 5, Monday, from 9:00-12:30, Green Door Gourmet Farm. This marks the first year that TN Local Food will be the host. TN Local Food is a 501c3 with a governing board and broad financial support whose goal is to Support, Educate, and Connect a sustainable Mid-TN food system - matching the function the Mid-TN Growers has served.
Sylvia Ganier of Green Door Gourmet Farm has offered graciously to again host this year's meeting and lunch. The date is Monday, February 5, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., at her farm, 7011 River Road Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 (one mile off Charlotte Pike), Phone: (615) 942-8079, info@greendoorgourmet.com.) The meeting will be in the AG conference center adjacent to the store. We ask a nominal $5 for lunch to pay for the food and others who contribute to this group. Yes we will have vegetarian and gluten free options available.
Notes: We also ask that you RSVP so we can schedule accordingly. This will be a sustainable-focused meeting so please bring a refillable beverage container to reduce single-use items. Sylvia has 100% compostable items to use.
This is the latest agenda (tentative and ever-developing) for the mid-winter gathering of TN Local Food Summit/Middle Tennessee farmers and 'friends of farmers’. Please send your topics for inclusion.
8:45 a.m.
Arrive for coffee or tea that is provided, but bring your own beverage container.
9:00 a.m.
Welcome by Sylvia Ganier
Approval of agenda
TN Local Food introduction (Natalie Ashker and Brenda Butka)
Food Coop update in Middle Tennessee
Nashville Farmers Market changes for 2024 - Brenda Butka
All Farmer Markets and CSAs for 2024 (all)
Cumberland River Compact (Caroline McDonald Hutchins)
Agrihood updates (John Patrick)
Communication among us (Facebook, Wordpress, others...) - categories, interest groups, informational centers, event calendar board, others...)
Farm to School (F2S) opportunities
Tennessee Department of Agriculture updates from Extension Agents, Marketing, and Center for Profitable Agriculture
Community Building Gleaning – Jeannie Hunter
Rural Energy for America Program grants and loans
Food Hubs in Mid TN (Alan Powell)
12:00 Lunch & Networking
Another great offering that will be graciously provided to us by Sylvia and her staff is a seasonal lunch with vegetarian and gluten-free options (with a blueberry something for dessert). People can break out into affinty lunch groups for discussion, for instance: what collaborative efforts can we initiate, what kind of organized future and actions are next. Attendees are then welcome to mingle and chat with others afterward.
Please RSVP to John Patrick, so Sylvia can plan accordingly. And pass this message on to people who may be interested.