It would seem that spring is already upon us. I know I should be concerned about the implications of a spring that started in late February. However, I must admit that evening walks, open windows, and afternoons lounging in the sun, have been nothing short of exquisite. I can’t help but look forward to the garden mornings spent with Grow Local Colorado, group volunteer days at Fleischer Family Farm, and all the FED Workshops that will take us outside during the warmer months.
Although the rising temperatures may have me looking forward to the spring and summer months, there are still many exciting events and updates as we close out this last winter month. March featured our most successful 2025 event so far, the Seed to Plate team is finalizing the spring curriculum, and seeds are being gathered in preparation for students to venture into the gardens. Furthermore, we’ve launched tickets for our Panel Discussion on Food Sovereignty and filled our calendar with a few save the dates for 2025.
Our sold out Colorado Wine Tasting on March 8th was a huge success. You can see photos from the event below! As we wrapped up this important spotlight on the local beverage industry, we’ve also been preparing our next, highly-anticipated panel discussion. Our team is grateful to partner with Denver Food Rescue and Patagonia Denver to host a vital conversation on Food Sovereignty through our FED Workshop Program. The panel will feature community members such as Jade Sato and Fatuma Ednmund as we explore the importance of culturally meaningful food in charitable food systems. As the event approaches, we will share more information about our panelists! Join us on May 7th at 6 PM to learn from our community.
Photos taken by Shane Farnsworth of Yum Town
Seed to Plate is quickly approaching the spring term. Thus, our Youth Education staff has been finalizing curriculum, placing bulk orders at Nude Foods, planning a dough workshop for instructors, and procuring seeds from DUG. They’re busy bees, working to deliver the best of the pollen to our students. We’re lucky to have such an incredible team at the helm of this program. Don’t forget to sign-up to volunteer in a Seed to Plate classroom and support this programming. A new term always brings fresh volunteer opportunities and a renewed need for sign-ups. In celebration of Earth Day, the Youth Education team is cooking up some fun acivities with seeds. We'll share more about this in April!
Pictured below is a side by side comparison of the foods we bring into classrooms, versus the food that usually exists in schools. We share this to illustrate the impact of our weekly cooking classes. School food programs have historically been underfunded, and with growing threat to federal funding, school access to fresh, local foods is needed more than ever. Our instructors not only bring vital cooking and gardening skills to students, they also bring fresh, high quality and as local as possible food. Often, this is the only fresh food our students have regular access to. Want to support our efforts beyond volunteering? We have a sponsorship package for the Seed to Plate program coming in April. Email us at youth@slowfooddenver.org to be one of the first to receive this new sponsorship opportunity.
VERSUS
This month, we welcomed Emily Steels into the role of Development Coordinator. In addition to her former responsibilities, she will be assisting our Programs & Outreach Manager in growing our online presence and supporting our community through media. Emily has become a vital part of the Slow Food Denver team as she wears many hats and assists many elements of Slow Food Denver programming.
If you’re anything like me, you may be considering which plants will adorn your garden this growing season, what farmers market you will frequent, and what CSA you may wish to join. We’ve got recommendations for all of these! Slow Food USA has launched their 2025 Plant a Seed Campaign, featuring some truly meaningful seeds. Check them out here! We’ve heard from more than a couple vendors that the City Park Farmers Market is WHERE IT’S AT in Denver. They support vendors, ensure that all produce is local, and create a variety of business and learning opportunities through the market. Check them out starting May 3rd. Lastly, we know of a couple CSA options we’d recommend, including but not limited to Switch Gears Farms, Minoru Farm, and Sprout City Farms. Please let us know of other CSAs we should share with the Slow Food Denver community.
As the world continues to feel a bit chaotic and challenging to navigate, perhaps the warm weather is gifted to us as a respite from our troubles. Perhaps it is mother nature granting us the opportunity to wander back into shared spaces to gather and grow. Slow Food Denver hopes you’ll take this chance to connect through activities such as volunteering with our Seed to Plate program, joining a community garden, or helping out local efforts to reduce food insecurity. Let's use this early season change as inspiration for hope and an opportunity to connect with one another and nature as much as possible.
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