Stirring the Pot
Monroe, WI 53566
“Bring your family and
join us to celebrate Green County’s agricultural and food roots and
discuss what needs to be done to preserve our quality of life for future
generations,” explains Tom Nelson, Rural Life Office Coordinator for
Catholic Charities who initiated this Humanities Council grant.
“Imagine
watching area chefs share their secrets for cooking fresh, tasty
dishes, ask questions and sample their creations, then join in
discussions of how to become a more healthy and hospitable community.
That’s what ‘Stirring the Pot’ is all about."
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Stirring the Pot: Discussion and Dinner in the Dairyland
2010 Summer Series Showcasing Green County's Local Flavors
Stirring the Pot is a summer diner and discussion series focused on bringing the community together around the subject of local food.
The “Stirring the Pot” series of chef demonstrations, local food sampling and discussion initiated last year by Green County UW Extension will continue through the summer of 2010 with the addition of a new partner, the Rural Life Office of Catholic Charities.
This year, events will be held indoors throughout the county to serve a more diverse group of people who eat. The events bring together local area chefs, food growers, culinary instructors, nutrition experts, UW Extension Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservationists and local consumers. Children are welcome with special kids’ activities planned.
The dates and sites for the events are:
Sunday, June 27 – 4:30-7 p.m. - United Methodist Church, 2227 4th Street, Monroe
Sunday, August 22 – 4:30-7 p.m. - St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church, 338 South Harrison Street, Belleville
Sunday, October 17 – 4-7 p.m. - Congregational United Church of Christ, 201 East 23rd Street, Brodhead
The three Stirring the Pot events include food sampling and chef-led demonstrations featuring a public dialogue on the value of supporting local producers, building community by eating together and healthy habits for better lives.
Thanks to grants from the Wisconsin Humanities Council and UW Extension, Catholic Charities and Green County UW Extension will be leading “Stirring the Pot,” an engaging and fun forum for area residents to gather and learn more about local food to create a healthy families and communities.
Heavy appetizers (created with local foods by local chefs) will be provided, so there is no need to bring your own picnic.
The event is free to the public and activities are scheduled for participants of all ages. There is a Stirring the Pot Photo Gallery for sharing event images. You can find featured recipes from each of the three events in the Community Cookbook here on the Spotlight. In addition to Green County UW Extension and Catholic Charities Rural Life Office, sponsors of this event include Wisconsin Humanities Council, Green County Health Department, Blackhawk Technical College, the Monroe Farmer's Market, Green County Clergy Network, and the Green County Healthy Communities Coalition.
For more information, call Cara Carper at Green County UW Extension (608) 328-9441 or email cara.carper@ces.uwex.edu. No reservation required.
 June 27, 2010 --The first of this three-part series kicked off June 27, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. at Monroe United Methodist Church. Attendees listened as local chefs Stef Culberson (Goosechaser Farm) and Kurt Kline (Monroe Farmers' Market) provided cooking demonstrations and shared tips about cooking and food in general.
Stef Culberson and her young son, Seth, shared their techniques and tips for creating local, nutritious and tasty snacks for kids. She provided meal ideas that teach kids about where food comes from and the joys of preparing and eating family meals together. Stef assisted five year old Seth in making "Goose Chaser Farm Easy Griddle Flat Bread with Fresh Mozzarella" and "Seth's Fruit Soup."
To help encourage discussion, national humanities expert Vincent Kavaloski was on hand to share his perspectives on living well. Dr. Kavaloski is a Professor of Philosophy at Edgewood College, Madison and lives in rural Iowa County. His list of ten questions provided "food for thought and further discussion."
Kurt Kline demonstrated "Radish Sandwiches," "Radishes with Chive Butter," "Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Salad," ReaLemon Lemonade" and "Natural Sugar and Honey Limeade." Kline is known for fresh baked samples and recipes highlighting fresh seasonal produce at his Monroe Farmers’ Market booth.
All of the recipes can be found in the Community Cookbook here on the Spotlight.
In addition to learning about food issues, another key ingredient of the Stirring the Pot event was a healthy does of free family friendly fun. While adults had a chance to talk together, kids had an opportunity to learn about growing local food through a hands on activity with Lynn Lokken of Green County Master Gardeners.
Attendees went away from the evening with the challenge of contemplating how their own experiences and memories can help shape new attitudes about local food.
 Image of Radishes by Brenda Carus
August 22 - St. Francis Assisi Catholic Church - Belleville
 Readings and Resources
Thanks for your interest in continuing your exploration of the issues raised at the “Stirring the Pot” community picnic series this summer in Green County. Below please find some essays and resources to get started.
BooksRural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life by Lisa Kivirist & John Ivanko (local authors and innkeepers at Inn Serendipity)
Edible Earth: Savoring the Good Life with Vegetarian Recipes from Inn Serendipity by Lisa Kivirist & John Ivanko (local authors and innkeepers at Inn Serendipity)
Ecopreneuring: Putting Purpose and the Planet Before Profits by Lisa Kivirist & John Ivanko (local authors and innkeepers at Inn Serendipity) A National of Farmers: Defeating the Food Crisis on American Soil by Sharon Astyk & Aaron Newton http://www.sharonastyk.comLunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children by Ann Cooper Nice video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR7iVPv-xRghttp://www.chefann.comGrub: Ideas for an Urban Kitchen by Anna Lappe and Bryan Terry http://www.eatgrub.orgAnimal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver http://www.kingsolver.comHope's Edge by Francis Moose Lappe and Anna Lappe http://www.smallplanet.orgIn Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto and The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan http://www.michaelpollan.comNice video/Bill Moyers interview: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11282008/profile.htmlUncertain Peril: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Seeds by Claire Hope Cummings http://www.clairehopecummings.comStuffed and Starved by Raj Patel http://www.stuffedandstarved.orgEpitaph for a Peach by David Masumoto http://www.masumoto.comSqueezed: What You Don’t Know About Orange Juice by Alissa Hamilton http://yalepress.typepad.com/squeezed/Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser Articles "The Community Table: Celebrate your local bounty with a potluck meal of regional fare,” by Lisa Kivirist (local Green County author & farmer), Hobby Farm Home Magazine http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crafts-and-nature/the-community-table.aspx“A Salute to Self-Sufficiency: Show your patriotism for by re-creating your own victory garden for modern times,” by Lisa Kivirist (local Green County author & farmer), Hobby Farm Home Magazine http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crops-and-gardening/victory-gardens.aspx“Politics of the Plate: The Price of Tomatoes” by Barry Estabrook, Gourmet Magazine http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2009/03/politics-of-the-plate-the-price-of-tomatoes“Is Local Food Better?” by Sarah DeWeerdt, WorldWatch Institute http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6064?emc=el&m=227941&l=4&v=f8b3bca867“Community in 17 sensible steps,” by Wendell Berry, Utne Reader http://www.utne.com/archives/Communityin17sensiblesteps.aspx“Think Before You Eat: Agriculture and the Environment” by Jim Goodman http://www.counterpunch.org/goodman05012009.htmlVideoJim Goodman at the Progressive Magazine's 100th Anniversaryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhZNDs2O27s
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