Daily Loaf

March 20 isn’t just the first day of spring, it also marks Meatout Day – the world’s largest and oldest annual grassroots diet education campaign aimed at educating people about the benefits of cutting out meat from their diets and enjoying more plant-based foods.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Meatout Day, the movement now has spread across our nation and to over two dozen other countries. Supporters hold festivals, public dinners, feed-ins, cooking demos, food samplings, and educate the public in honor of this day (and of our furry and feathered friends).
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In New York City you might find Williamsburg hipsters moving out to the suburbs for their own plots of land, transforming trucker hats and work boots from ironic to just plain practical. In San Francisco, neo-hippies and former tech workers buy a plot outside of town to get closer to the land, the ultimate expression of the locavore movement. Here on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the move from suburb to rural can be more a quest for jobs than a philosophical expression.

But farming, it turns out, is more than just tossing seeds into ground and waiting for food. The learning curve is steep and the cost of entry is high. What’s a young farm entrepreneur to do?

Enter the Florida West Coast Resource, Conservation & Development Council. Last year, this non-profit opened Geraldson Farm, a Manatee County-funded Community Supported Agriculture project. With one project under its belt, the RC&D is looking to get back to the basics by encouraging other local farming wannabes to get into the act. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you been to the grocery store and seen the prices on produce these days? No wonder people don’t want to buy fresh food that’s actually good for them, when they can save a buck by buying processed, pre-packaged food that is full of chemicals and fake ingredients. It’s also dejecting to think how far food travels before it reaches our tables — going from farm to processing and packing plants, then shipped off hundreds of miles away to grocery stores.
I am making a personal effort to buy more locally grown food. It saves me money and it keeps the local farmers in business. Last weekend, I ventured out to Plant City to check out some of the local farmers’ markets and found Parkesdale Farms Market. Parkesdale Farm has been in operation by the Parke family since 1956, growing an array of vegetables, fruits, and various plants and flowers over hundreds of acres. They are now the largest strawberry, citrus, and produce market in Florida. Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday, Feb. 19: St. Petersburg Wine and Food Festival
Stroll through downtown St. Pete and experience fine wines and spirits, food samplings and jazz music. $75 VIP, $50 general. 5:30-9:30 p.m. (727-347-6133)

Thursday, Feb. 19: Vino 100 St. Pete
Hosted by Vino 100, Massage Envy and Let’s Eat, “Ladies Night Out” is designed to pamper guests with wine, massages and delicious cuisine. Free. 5-8 p.m., 5056 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-522-8466)

Friday, Feb. 20: Bern’s Fine Wine & Spirits
Come to Bern’s for Crush Hour, featuring seven different Japanese sakes paired with small, Japanese-inspired side dishes. $25. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 1002 S. Howard Ave., Tampa (813-250-9463)

More upcoming events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

Thursday, Feb. 12-Friday, Feb. 13: PRP Wines International
Take advantage of this Valentine’s Warehouse Sale — PRP is opening its warehouse to the public for the first of only four times this year. Stock up on their all-natural, no added sulfite wines in time for Valentine’s Day. Free. 5-9 p.m., 5910 Breckenridge Pkwy Suite F, Tampa (813-621-1911 ext 2017)

Thursday, Feb. 12-Saturday, Feb. 14: Avenue Cellars
Spend Valentine’s Day weekend at the Pre-Valentine’s Love Fest Wine Tasting. The event will feature several wines Thursday and Friday in preparation for Saturday, when Avenue Cellars invites you to share a romantic bottle of wine with your date. Free. 6:30-8 p.m., 9662 Linebaugh Ave, Tampa (813-920-9991)

Friday, Feb. 13: South Florida Museum
Celebrate food and drink from around the world at the third annual Vinology 3-Epicure Tour. Enjoy fine wines and accompanying tasting menus, food, beer, cooking demonstrations and wine seminars. $75 (includes all food, wine, beer, seminars and a souvenir glass). 6-11 p.m., 201 10th St. W., Bradenton (941-746-4131 ext. 11)

Friday, Feb. 13: Vintage Wine Cellars
Sample 10 specialty red blends from around the world, along with bread and cheeses. $10. 7-9 p.m., 3629 Henderson Blvd, Tampa (813-879-2931)

Friday, Feb. 13: Uncorked
Uncorked will uncork a selection of luscious red wines for this Valentine’s weekend tastin, including Petite Sirah, Zin and Syrah. $10. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 2706 4th St. N., St. Petersburg (727-892-9463)

More upcoming events after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

TBO has a story about an organic hydroponic farm that’s close enough to encourage frequent visits. Urban Oasis (5416 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, 813-293-3276) is on Linebaugh, right in the path of many folks regular commutes.

I’ve visited many hydroponic farms, but most are a good drive away from central Tampa, making it difficult to justify for weekly produce. No matter what you think about the concept of hydro farming, it’s almost uniquely suited for urban environments since a farmer can get a much greater density of growth out of a limited amount of space. Read the rest of this entry »

TheWhoFarm is a grassroots initiative started to get Obama’s hands dirty by encouraging the new administration to plant an organic garden on the White House grounds. It’s a great idea that’s found a lot of traction among the usual crew of progressive food policy advocates, like Michael Pollan. The founders have been promoting the plan by driving a converted bus complete with rooftop organic garden across country, visiting farmers’ markets and the like along the way. You can sign the petition here.

Eat The View is a similar initiative. I suggest signing both. No matter how you feel about “organic” farming, anyone who wants a president more in touch with the food production system has to be supportive of a White House farm.