Mission
To promote a sustainable farmer/consumer community and celebration of healthy foods.
Ozark Slow Food is a chapter (or convivium) of Slow Food USA. Slow Food is an international movement that started in Italy in 1989 when a fast food restaurant was planned for a historic square in Rome.
As we have focused on convenience in our food for fast-paced living, we have lost many of our agricultural and food traditions. Protecting diversity in our foods, including heirloom vegetables and livestock breeds, is important as our food supply becomes more globalized and standardized.
Slow Food philosophy increases our awareness and responsibility for our food, while enjoying the pleasures of the table and community. Eating local food in season reduces transportation and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. We respect our farmers and chefs that grow and prepare local foods, preserving food traditions and the flavors of regional cooking.
- Celebrate good, clean, and fair food
- Our food should be fresh, high quality and taste good
- It should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal well-being or human health
- Producers should receive a fair compensation for their work
Slow in the Ozarks
Want to take it slow in the Ozarks? Here are ideas for the art of living slow:
- Be informed about where your food comes from
- Ask for locally grown foods in restaurants and your grocery store
- Buy fresh food from one of the 12 farmers markets in the four counties of Northwest Arkansas
- Pick-your-own fruits http://www.naturallyarkansas.org/
- Start a community garden and educate youth about food choices
- Help get local foods in your children's school cafeteria http://www.farmtoschool.org/
- Subscribe to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for weekly produce with Dripping Springs Garden, Ugly Bunny 870-545-3229, and Wynn Family wynn@pgtc.com
- Join growing sustainability efforts in our area (see http://sustainability.uark.edu/, http://www.socialsustenance.org/).
Upcoming Events
TBA
Recipe of the Month
Farmers Market Medley
The Base:
2 lg potatoes thinly sliced
1 lg onion thinly sliced
2 med zucchini chopped or other favorite summer
4 ripe tomatoes, chopped
2 carrots thinly sliced tarragon, basil, thyme or other favorite herbs, to taste (can be fresh or dried)
salt and pepper to taste
3/4-1 cup of dry white
The Topping:
1 cup bread crumbs 2-3 tablespoons butter 1 cup cheddar or other cheese
Instruction:
Use a rectangular glass baking dish and spread a very thin coat of olive oil on bottom or sides to avoid sticking. Use potatoes to line bottom of baking dish. Layer other vegetables in order, topping EACH layer with herbs, salt, pepper. Pour wine over all, cover with lid or foil. Bake 1 hour at 375
degrees. While the medley is cooking, make the topping: Melt butter in skillet and stir in bread crumbs until butter is absorbed. Remove from oven, sprinkle cheese, then top with bread crumbs and bake uncovered 15 minutes more or until crumbs are just browned and cheese is warmed.
Recent Events
- Local food tasting at Ella's Restaurant at Carnall Hall
- In-season squash and shiitake mushroom dishes prepared by Greenhouse Grill on the terrace at Fayetteville Public Library
- Free-range heritage turkey tasting at Basil's Restaurant
Join Us
- Join Ozark Slow Food when you join our parent organization Slow Food USA. (See http://www.slowfoodusa.org/ and go to Join Us or call 877-SlowFood.)
- Join the OzarkSlowFood listserver at http://groups.yahoo.com/. Learn about upcoming gastronomic events to which the public is invited.
Volunteer
Join the OzarkSlowFood_Planning listserver at http://groups.yahoo.com/ to help plan local activities/outreach
Join a committee
- Events, Heather Friedrich, (479) 283-5357
- Education, David Mervis, (479) 601-2900
- Communication, Anne Fanatico, (479) 575-1385
Contact Us
David Mervis, (479) 601-2900
