This Saturday, July 24, 2010 is …

NATIVE & HONEYBEE DAY

At Audubon Greenwich

Enjoy an afternoon at Audubon Greenwich this Saturday when the local beekeepers harvest honey and the Audubon screens two ground-breaking films that investigate answers to what is causing the colony collapse disorder (CCD) in honeybee colonies. Below are all the details about the day’s  events. Note: RSVPs for the films are required b/c the space is limited!

Honey Harvesting: With the Backyard Beekeepers Association

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Visitors are invited to stop by to see how the honey is taken out of the hive and bottled. Help “spin” the honey from the wax combs. Honey may also be available for purchase (while supplies last). All ages. No charge. No RSVP required. Downhill in the red barn. Sponsored and staffed by the Backyard Beekeepers Association.

Film Screenings: ‘Vanishing of the Bees’ & ‘Nicotine Bees’

4:00-7:00 pm

A double-feature of films dedicated to the native bees and honeybees we all depend on.

In 2005-2006, something happened and a sharp, catastrophic collapse of bee colonies in dozens of countries occurred simultaneously. This was unlike anything seen before, even by the oldest beekeepers in the U.S., Canada and Europe. And contrary to popular belief, the jury is not out on what happened. It seems that bees are now being bombarded by pesticides made of synthetic nicotine that is bonded with cyanide. This new material hit the market in 1995 and in 2005, when the patents expired, many companies around the globe released their versions of the same chemicals. Ever since, bees and other insects have been paying the price for this new class of poison. And since these systemic pesticides spread throughout the whole plant (pollen, nectar, leaf, etc.), there is no escape for honey bees or the hundreds of other native bee species that plant depend on for pollination. So, … Come learn what the world’s top beekeepers and scientists have discovered since CCD started and then you can decide for yourself what the causes of honeybee die-offs are.

Space is limited. Advance tickets required. RSVP to Jeff at 203-869-5272 x239. Just $15/person includes admission to both films and refreshments that will include ‘mead’ wine (made from honey) and bee-inspired snacks between movies.  PLUS - DVD copies of ‘Nicotine Bees’ will be available for purchase for just $15.

Vanishing of the Bees is a 2009 documentary film by Hive Mentality Films & Hipfuel Films, directed by George Langworthy and Maryam Henein. The film is touted as the most important film since An Inconvenient Truth and takes a piercing investigative look at the economic, political and spiritual implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honeybee. The feature-length documentary narrated by Oscar nominated actress Ellen Page examines the current agricultural landscape and celebrates the ancient and sacred connection between man and honeybee.  The story centers around the sudden disappearance of honeybees from beehives around the world, caused by the poorly understood phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD. Although the film does not draw any firm scientific conclusions as to the precise cause or causes of CCD, it does suggest a link between the Neonicotinoid group of pesticides and CCD. NOTE: THIS WILL BE THE FIRST PUBLIC SCREENING OF THIS FILM IN THE U.S.A. PRESS CONTACT FOR THIS FILM: Maryam Henein at 323-640-9710.

Nicotine Bees is a 2010 documentary film by Kevin Hansen. The goal of the film is to get to the truth about why the honeybees of the world are in big trouble, and why our food supply is in trouble with them.  The answers are clear - and have been for several years. They filmed on 3 continents to find out the real reasons why bees are in catastrophic decline - and why many people don’t want the real story to be told. The answers have been right in front of us: the worldwide, simultaneous die-off’s of honeybees - with a strange set of behaviors seen everywhere. With the continuing bee collapse, one third of our food supply is at risk - yet despite the clear-cut scientific data, especially from Europe, in news reports this is issue is still called “mysterious.” The answers are clear-cut from evidence from Europe and the US, from observations of similar effects from Europe to Canada to India, and in dozens of states across the US. The film systematically rules out the other possible causes of this massive die-off to find the one underlying explanation that really works: all over the world, at the same time, with the same bizarre behaviors: bees simply leave their precious honey and young bees behind. They don’t come home and Nicotine Bees is ready to show what has happened. PRESS CONTACT FOR THIS FILM: Kevin Hansen: 505-818-7217.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FILMS AND THE ISSUES SURROUNDING NICOTINE-BASED PESTICIDES, VISIT:

www.nicotinebees.com & www.vanishingbees.com

FOR SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES ABOUT THE EFFECT OF NICOTINE-BASED PESTICIDES, VISIT:

http://pierreterre.com/page/critical-evidence

Audubon Greenwich

613 Riversville Road
Greenwich, CT 06831
Phone 203-869-5272
Fax 203-869-4437

The Fairfield Green Food Guide is proud to co-sponsor this special event with Audubon Greenwich, Edible Advocates Alliance and the Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm. Thank you to Fairfield Bread Company for donating their artisan baguette, The Flaxette, to the wine and cheese reception and CT Farm Fresh Express for helping provide the local cheeses.

NEW! Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen, CT, owned and operated by the Motel family, has generously donated their award-winning sustainable wines to the event and will be on hand to tell us more about them during the wine and cheese reception. Sunset Meadow Vineyards has been recognized as a 2010 Editors’ Choice in Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England. This designation is awarded by Yankee’s editors and contributors, who name select restaurants, lodgings, and attractions in New England to the exclusive list.

Wednesday, July 14
6:00 pm: Local Wine & Cheese Reception with Exhibitors
7:00 pm: Film Screening (83 min.)  & Panel Discussion

Made from the same elements as stars, plants, and human beings, dirt is very much alive. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, DIRT! The Movie introduces viewers to soil’s fascinating history and explores Earth’s most under-appreciated and valuable source of fertility. This insightful film tells the glorious story of the material beneath our feet - from its miraculous beginning to its tragic degradation. More than a film, it’s a call to action. To learn more about this amazing film, visit our Special Events page or visit: www.dirtthemovie.org.

RSVPs required and space is very limited. To secure your seats now, buy tickets online for $12/person or RSVP and pay $15.00 at the door, space permitting. To buy online, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/114370. To RSVP, call Jeff at 203-869-5272 x239 to check door ticket availability.

Panel Discussion:

• Moderator: Analiese Paik - founder and editor of the Fairfield Green Food Guide website.
• Emily Brooks - founder of the Edibles Advocate Alliance/Shared Harvest CT and advocate for increasing awareness about the role of local & sustainable agriculture in human health.
• Jeff Cordulack - Environmental Council of Stamford (ECOS) President and Audubon’s Greenwich’s Events & Communications Manager.
• Annie Farrell - farm manager at Millstone Farm in Wilton, organic farm consultant, and a pioneer in the sustainable agriculture movement.
• Mike Nadeau - owner of Plantscapes Organics, LLC and one of the original developers of NOFA’s Organic Land Care standards.

Exhibitors:

• Edibles Advocates Alliance/Shared Harvest CT - a consultant for grass-roots, agricultural, and socially innovative organizations. (http://www.ediblesadvocatealliance.org/)
• Fairfield Green Food Guide - a free website dedicated to helping consumers source local and sustainably grown food and connecting with the green food community. (www.FairfieldGreenFoodGuide.com)
• Fairfield Organic Teaching Farm - A proposed working farm and organic educational center on town-owned land in Fairfield,CT.(http://www.fairfieldorganicteachingfarm.org/)
• Flaxette Bread Company - a local artisan bread company.
• Millstone Farm - an organic farm in Wilton owned by Betsy and Jesse Fink and run by Annie Farrell. (http://millstonefarm.org)
• Mike’s Organic Delivery - a farm-to-door, organic & local food delivery company servicing Greenwich and other nearby towns. (www.mikesorganicdelivery.com)
• Mow Green US - a lawn care company using ‘reel mowers’ to provide quiet, clean and green mowing at no additional cost. (www.mowgreen.us)
• Peter’s Garden - a supplier of ‘licorice root’ mulch for gardens.
• Plantscapes Organics Inc. - a NOFA accredited organic land care professional helping residents and businesses to green their properties. (www.plantscapeorganics.com)
• Red Bee Honey - a Wilton-based artisanal honey and honey-based skin care product producer practicing organic hive management. (www.redbee.com)
• Southfield Sustainable Community Platform - a year-round indoor/outdoor farmers’ market and eateries featuring locally grown, organic and epicurean gourmet foods in Stamford.

Friends of Autistic People (FAP) and the Audubon Greenwich are co-hosting author, philanthropist and children’s health advocate Deirdre Imus at 7 p.m. on May 3, 2010 at the Audubon Greenwich Center at 613 Riversville Road , Greenwich, CT 06831. This special event will be in support of the Friends of Autistic People (FAP). FAP is a parents support group dedicated to raising awareness of services and supported living arrangements needed for the entire spectrum of adults with autism through developing and implementing educational programs.

Deirdre will share her experiences about the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. She will explain the importance of building this ranch and her core philosophy of how we should be taking care of our children. She will also discuss the importance of a green lifestyle, trends in childhood autism, obesity, and asthma, and how the lives of those with chronic illnesses can be improved by avoiding toxins in our environment and making healthier, greener everyday choices. We owe it to ourselves - and our children - to start setting the example.

The event will be preceded by a with a wine and hors d’oeuvres party accompanied by guitar/voice by Greenwich High Students Dylan Armstrong and Kyle McCaulley. It will be followed by the showing of a DVD of FAP’s ORGANIC Farm project for adult children with autism. The event is co-sponsored by People’s Bank, Plum Pure Food, WGCH and the Little Pie Company.

Ms. Imus supports FAP’s plans to establish a residential farm in Southwestern Connecticut where adult children with autism will live lives of purpose and dignity after many state services end for them when they reach 21. A green environment will be a basic philosophy at the FAP Farm Village Academy. Deirdre Imus is the founder and President of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology(r) (www.dienviro.com<http://www.dienviro.com/>), part of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in New Jersey, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation, and co-founder and co-director of The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, also a 501 (c) (3) not for profit.

Reception: 7:00 pm & Program: 8:00 pm. General admission tickets are available for $35; Donors of $100 minimum per person will have the opportunity to meet Deirdre at a private meet. They are encouraged to bring their books for signing prior to the talk.

Limited Seating. RSVP required to Brita Darany (203)661-8510 or fap.autismct@gmail.com.

*****

Deirdre Imus Bio

Deirdre Imus is the Founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology(r) at Hackensack University Medical Center and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. Deirdre is the author of the newest book in the best-selling Green This! series, The Essential Green You! Easy Ways to Detox Your Diet, Your Body, and Your Life<http://www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=19066>, and the second book, Growing Up Green, Baby and Child Care<http://www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=18809>. This New York Times bestseller is a practical family guide to raising children in an ever increasing toxic world. Her 2007 New York Times bestseller, Green This! Volume 1: Greening Your Cleaning<http://www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=18415>, offers a wealth of insights and expertise for protecting families from harmful chemicals. She is also author of The Imus Ranch: Cooking for Kids and Cowboys<http://www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=17870>, a national bestseller, and a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post<http://www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=18722>.

Numerous organizations have recognized Ms. Imus’ impact. She recently was honored with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northeast Organic Farming Association and named as one of Glamour Magazine’s Eco Heroes for 2009. In May 2008, the USO of Metropolitan New York honored her as “Woman of the Year.” In 2007, she was named “Person of the Year” by Spectrum, a magazine for the families of children with autism. In May 2007, Deirdre Imus was named a “Champion for Autism” by The Autism Education Foundation of the Morris-Union Jointure Commission in New Jersey and was awarded the Rachel Carson Award from the National Audubon Society for her contributions to conservation. Ms. Imus also played a leadership role in the passage of the historic $945 million Combating Autism Act of 2006. In addition, Ms. Imus received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Pace University.

In 2006, she was honored with the prestigious Lizette H. Sarnoff Award for Volunteer Service<http://www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=18131> by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. In 2005, she was honored with the Excellence in Cancer Awareness Award<http://www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=18026> by the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation.

Deirdre serves on the boards of several children’s health organizations, including the National Autism Association<http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/>, Safe Minds<http://www.safeminds.org/>, Generation Rescue<http://www.genrationrescue.org/>, SKIP of New York<http://www.skipofny.org/>, and East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc., Boriken Neighborhood Health Center<http://www.boriken.org/>.

For more information, visit www.dienviro.com<http://www.dienviro.com/> and www.imusranchfoods.com<http://www.imusranchfoods.com/>.

###

Jeff Cordulack

Events and Communications Manager

Audubon Connecticut/Audubon Greenwich

613 Riversville Road

Greenwich, CT 06831

203-869-5272 x239

203-613-8813 (cell)

jcordulack@audubon.org<mailto:jcordulack@audubon.org>

http://greenwich.audubon.org

http://audubonct.org

***

Audubon Connecticut, the state organization of the National Audubon Society with more than 9,000 members statewide, works to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats using education, science and conservation, and legislative advocacy for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. Through our network of nature centers, wildlife sanctuaries, and local, volunteer Chapters, we seek to connect people with nature and inspire the next generation of conservationists.

Audubon Greenwich’s Events In Celebration of  “Earth Week” & The “Audubon At Home” Initiative Offer Something for Everyone

Sat.    4/17:  Healthier Foods, Healthier Families: With Chef & Health Counselor Rachel Khanna

Tues.   4/20:  Green Homes & Building Series Part 3: Water Harvesting & Rain Gardens in Landscape Design

Fri.            4/23: Tapped: The Movie: Screening, bottle exchange, and reception with the Director & Producer of the film. Please join me at this event! Replacing plastic water bottles with a reusable stainless steel thermos is one of my Green Food Tips for Earth Day. Don’t have a thermos yet? Bring your (last) plastic bottle and exchange it for a thermos, courtesy of the producer, while supplies last.

Sun.    4/25: Composting 202: Going Beyond The Outdoor Pile: With Wendy Bounds from the Wall Street Journal. If you don’t like messing with worms and compost piles, but still want to compost your food waste, this event is for you!

Event Details:

This Saturday, April 17

Healthier Foods, Healthier Families

With Chef Rachel Khanna

2:00-3:30 pm

Discover what it means to eat local, organic, seasonal and learn how to choose healthier foods. Did you know that roughly 70% of antibiotics in the U.S. are given to animals?  Or that there are now more overweight people in the world than starving people? Join Chef and Health Counselor Rachel Khanna as she explores some of the myths surrounding our food supply and discusses easy food ideas for everyone to enjoy. All ages. Suggested donation: $10. Free for youth.  RSVPs appreciated but not required. RSVP to jcordulack@audubon.org<mailto:jcordulack@audubon.org> or call 203-869-5272 x239.

Rachel Khanna is a Certified Health Counselor and a passionate advocate of organic and local food and a healthy lifestyle. She decided to become a health counselor to fulfill her passion of working with children and parents to improve their health and family life.  With a Master’s Degree from Columbia University, she subsequently completed a diploma in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, and received her training as a Health Counselor at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City and is currently completing certification in Food Therapy at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City.  Rachel owned and operated Tiffin Organic Dinner Delivery Service in Greenwich, CT.  Currently, she teaches cooking classes and holds workshops on eating for optimal health.  She also offers individual health and nutrition coaching to parents and families.  Rachel is the mother of four daughters and has lived in Greenwich since 2000.

Tuesday, April 20

WATER: Reducing Use & Harvesting Water for Landscaping Elements Part 3 of the Green Homes & Building Series 7:00-9:00 pm It may seem that the Northeast is water-rich, but this region often experiences drought and water shortages. Before your ‘well runs dry’ visit Audubon Greenwich and learn easy ways to reduce water use in homes and landscaping methods that collect and use the rain for use on-site. Topics will include rain garden design, practical rain harvesting methods for this region, and will feature a newly patented device for toilets that eliminates water waste, saving approx. 30% on each tank refill. The presenters for that event will include Peter Alexander and Keith Beaver. $10 suggested donation for adults. Youth and teens attend at no cost. Please RSVP to jcordulack@audubon.org or call 203-869-5272 x239 to save your seat. Please note: Advance questions for the presenters can be sent to the RSVP email address.

Peter Alexander is a Landscape Architect and Planner with 30 years of practical experience. He has degrees in Biology and History from the University of Denver and degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from the Rhode School of Design. He also holds a Wetland Delineation Certification from Rutgers University and is currently involved with post-graduate work at the Harvard Graduate School of Design that focuses on ‘experiencing architecture’. His expertise includes fine landscape design for residences, sporting venues, and coastal planning projects that protect natural resources from runoff polluted by golf courses and development projects. Peter’s presentation will focus on how landowners and designers can capture runoff for groundwater recharge and use on-site in water features and rain gardens. He will describe the principles of rain garden location, design approaches and specify the plants that are well suited to such gardens.

Keith Beaver is a partner and Sr. Associate with Didona Associates - Landscape Architects, LLC in Danbury, Connecticut and has been with the firm for 15 years.  Keith has been a Landscape Architect for 20+ years and a LEED AP for 1 1/2 years.  Keith has incorporated sustainable design techniques into projects for many years and has extensive knowledge of public sector projects including state and federal multi-family and elderly housing projects, streetscape design, and public school site planning,  At Didona Associates, his responsibilities include team leadership for sustainable design and development, land use analysis, preparing construction documents, and presenting to local land use commissions. Keith’s presentation will describe a project recently finished in Ridgefield that was awarded a LEED Platinum certification. The project’s many sustainable aspects included native plants and rain gardens in the landscaping, two 1,000 gallon cisterns for water harvesting, pervious pavers, and a fountain fed by roof runoff.

Friday, April 23

“Tapped: The Movie”

A film about bottled water with the film’s Director & Producer on-site 7:00 pm: Reception with Bottle Exchange 8:00 pm: Movie Screening Audubon Greenwich is pleased to host the final event for the “Get Off The Bottle Tour” with Stephanie Soechtig and her team’s award-winning film. From the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car, this unflinching documentary about the bottled water business is a timely behind-the-scenes look into the un-regulated and little known world of the water industry. From pumping the water, to plastic production, to the ocean in which so many of these bottles end up, this film trails the path of the bottled water industry and communities where the water is drawn.

Join us for a wine & cheese reception and a ‘bottle exchange’ at 7:00 pm, followed by the movie at 8:00 pm. For the bottle exchange, bring an empty plastic water bottle (… hopefully your last) and get a brand-new steel water bottle from the film’s producers (while supplies last). As a special bonus, Stephanie Soechtig (the Director) and Sarah Olson (the Producer) will be on-site to field questions from the audience. All the details & information about the film is posted to our website: http://greenwich.audubon.org/Programs_SpecialEvents.html.

Space is limited. Advance tickets recommend. Tickets are $10/person online (+ a $2 service charge) or $15.00 at the door (if space permits).

To buy tickets online, visit: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/106957. To pay at the door, please RSVP to Jeff Cordulack at 203-869-5272 x239.

Director Stephanie Soechtig’s says:  “Not only are we in a water crisis in which 2/3 of the planet will be without drinkable water in just 11 years, but multinational corporations are literally pillaging communities around the country for this precious resource and bottling into the very bottles, which contribute the plastic soup in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  … Tapped is a story of how one person really can make a difference. Each section of the film tells the story of a David and Goliath battle in which a regular person, like you or me, goes up against a big corporation in order to initiate change in the world, and I want people to walk away from this film knowing that they can make a difference.”

This event is co-sponsored by:

Fairfield Green Food Guide (www.FairfieldGreenFoodGuide.com) Natural Awakenings Fairfield County (www.NaturalAwakeningsFFC.com) Connecticut Fund for the Environment & Save The Sound (www.cfenv.org) Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment (www.citizenscampaign.org)

Sunday, April 25

Composting 202: Going Beyond The Outdoor Pile With Wendy Bounds from the Wall Street Journal 2:30-3:30 pm Audubon Greenwich is pleased to host an acclaimed author and journalist from the Wall Street Journal, Gwendolyn Bounds, for discussion on the many ways to create compost without a traditional outdoor compost pile. Since investigating this topic as a journalist, she has experimented with several methods and had great success turning her spoils into soils. During the presentation, she will discuss results of several methods she tested including worm composting, the “Nature Mill” automatic, indoor plug-in model, a bokashi-based method and a ball-shaped composter called the “e-composter”. She welcomes questions from the audience and will bring in examples of these methods so guests can see various methods for themselves. All ages. Suggested donation: $5. RSVPs are appreciated. To sign up, send an email to jcordulack@audubon.org<mailto:jcordulack@audubon.org>.

Gwendolyn (Wendy) Bounds writes and creates video content about home improvement and housing for The Wall Street Journal with a focus on energy efficiency and green building science. Wendy is also a contributor to ABC’s “Good Morning America” and CNBC. Wendy previously wrote about fashion, publishing, manufacturing and was WSJ’s small business editor from 2004 to 2008. Wendy’s non-fiction book, “Little Chapel on the River,” chronicling her experiences behind the bar at an Irish pub in New York’s Hudson River Valley, was published by William Morrow in 2005. She is a native of North Carolina and graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

*****

These events will be held at:

Audubon Greenwich

613 Riversville Road

Greenwich, CT 06831

203-869-5272 x239

http://greenwich.audubon.org

For directions, visit: http://greenwich.audubon.org/AboutUs_Directions.html

To learn more about the “Audubon At Home” Initiative, visit: http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/index.html

To access Audubon Greenwich’s Nature Program Calendar with many other walks, hikes and programs, visit: http://greenwich.audubon.org/Programs_Calendar.html

Sunday, March 28 is “Organic Sunday” at Audubon Greenwich! Register now for a free Organic Land Care Workshop by CT NOFA from 1:45-3:15 pm and view the newly released, award winning ‘A Chemical Reaction’ by safelawns.org founder Paul Tukey. This documentary is about one of the most powerful community initiatives in the history of North America that resulted in a ban on well-known lawn chemicals. RSVP is required for this movie screening and tickets are $7 per person at the door. Space is limited. To RSVP for Organic Sunday, please leave a message at 203-869-5272 x239 or email: jcordulack@audubon.org. The workshop and the screening of “A Chemical Reaction” will both be held at Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT 06831. For more information about Audubon Greenwich or to sign up for event emails on related topics, please visit: http://greenwich.audubon.org.

On a sunny yet crisp winter’s day at Audubon Greenwich last Saturday, over 100 guests gathered to attend a screening of the documentary food film FRESH.  This film is the perfect excuse to invite members of the local-sustainable food movement to serve on the guest panel and share their passions with the public. A complete list of all the panelists and exhibitors appears below, along with a photo gallery from the event.

Thoughtful audience questions during the panel discussion clearly demonstrate an ongoing need for continued dialog on this topic. Please read “How to Eat FRESH this Winter” to learn ways you can join or increase your participation in the local-sustainable food movement.  Please sign up for the e-newsletter and follow me on Facebook and Twitter so we can stay connected.

I’m delighted to have received very positive emails from a number of guests, one of whom posted a fantastic review of the event on his blog. He’s become a fan of the Fairfield Green Food Guide and Audubon Greenwich and is looking forward to more events like FRESH. As a reminder, Jeff Cordulack at Audubon has planned  two more screenings that are worth the trip: ‘A Chemical Reaction’ on Sunday, March 28 from 3:30-5 pm and ‘Tapped’: A Movie About Bottled Water on Friday, April 23 from 7-9 pm.

Remember Russ Kremer? He’s the hog farmer from FRESH who’s also the poster boy for how sick superbugs passed from animals to humans can make us. Well an excellent op-ed piece in Sunday’s NYT by Nicholas Kristof opens our eyes to the disturbing fact that “70 percent of antibiotics are used to feed healthy livestock, with 14 percent more used to treat sick livestock. Only about 16 percent are used to treat humans and their pets, the study found.” Russ was lucky they could save him with a new generation antibiotic, but the article suggests that increasingly, we might not be so lucky. And so, the FRESH story continues.

Panelists:

Moderator: Analiese Paik, Founder of the Fairfield Green Food Guide

Dan Levinson, Co-founder and Chairman of Westport Green Village Initiative (GVI)

Dan is Founder and Chairman of Westport Green Village Initiative(GVI); and Founder/Chairman of Main Street Resources

www.westportgvi.org;  www.mainstreetresources.com

Deb Marsden, Founder, CT Farm Fresh Express

Deb Marsden is the founder of CT Farm Fresh Express, a farm-to-consumer company that sells exclusively CT grown and made food. Deb has been featured in article in the New York Times, the Faith Middleton Show on NPR, and NBC 30 News. www.ctffe.com

Amy Kalafa, co-producer school lunch documentary 2 Angry Moms, and a better school food advocate

Rachel Khanna, an organic chef and Certified Health Counselor

Melina Brown, a chicken expert and founder of the Southern CT/Westchester Backyard Poultry Meetup

Exhibitors:

Analiese Paik, Founder, Fairfield Green Food Guide, LLC

Analiese is a local-sustainable food advocate who helps consumers source local and sustainable food via her web site, blog, live events and regular guest appearances on News Ch. 8’s Good Morning CT Weekend. www.fairfieldgreenfoodguide.com

Deb Marsden, Founder, CT Farm Fresh Express

Deb Marsden is the founder of CT Farm Fresh Express, a farm-to-consumer company that sells exclusively CT grown and made food. Consumers place their custom order online once-a-week home delivery that Friday. Deb has been featured in article in the New York Times, the Faith Middleton Show on NPR, and NBC 30 News. www.ctffe.com

Amy Kalafa, a better school food advocate and co-producer of the school lunch documentary, 2 Angry Moms

Rachel Khanna, an organic chef and Certified Health Counselor

Melina Brown, a chicken expert and founder of the Southern CT/Westchester Backyard Poultry Meetup

Nick Mancini, Master Gardener, Founder Organic Gardening Simplfied

Nick is a Certified Master Gardener from the Cooperative Extension System of the University of Connecticut, and past head Master Gardener of Vegetables, Brambles and Fruit Frees at Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford, CT. He is a lecturer, educator and consultant that specializes in vegetables, brambles and espaliered fruit trees. Nick is a member of CT NOFA. www.organicgardeningsimplified.com

Fairfield Bread Company - a new artisan bakery making the bread served at the event, The Flaxette. Michael Mordecai can be reached via http://fairfieldbread.blogspot.com/

Artscape Organic Care LLC - Owner Mike Pappa is a CT NOFA Certified organic landcare specialist serving Fairfield County.

I’m so grateful for the support and generosity of Audubon Greenwich.  Special thanks go to Deb Marsden of CT Farm Fresh Express for arranging the cheese donations from the followingfarmers listed below and to Fairfield Bread Company for donating their “Flaxette” loaf to the event and Glenville Wines for the organic wines they donated to accompany the cheese tasting.

Connecticut cheeses served during the FRESH reception/exhibition:

Cato Corner Farm, Colchester (all cow’s milk)

Hooligan

Brigid’s Abbey

Aged Dutch Farmstead

Beltane Farm, Lebanon (all goat’s milk)

Feta

Dill chevre

Chive chevre

Sankow’s Beaver Brook Farm, Lyme

Pleasant Cow (cow’s milk)

Sun (cow’s milk)

Pleasant Valley (sheep’s milk)

M&K Dairy, Lebanon (all cow’s milk)

Black Pepper Queso Fresco

Chive Queso Fresco

Meadowstone Farm, Brooklyn (cow’s milk)

Cheddar

All these cheeses are available for online ordering and home delivery from CT Farm Fresh Express. See you at the movies!

This event is sold out as of Feb. 24.

Please subscribe to this blog, sign up for the  e-newsletter or follow me on Twitter of FB to hear about future screenings.

Please join me for a very special  screening of the documentary food film FRESH on Saturday, February 27 from 2:00-4:30 pm at Audubon Greenwich. Immediately following the film, I will moderate a panel discussion with prominent members of the local/sustainable food movement. Please join us afterwards for complimentary organic wine and local cheese in the exhibition area. A special outdoor educational program for children 5 and up is being offered free of charge so the whole family can enjoy an afternoon at the beautiful venue.

ABOUT THE MOVIE: Local, organic and sustainable food movements are gaining ground across our country.  FRESH provides a vivid glimpse into our nation’s broken food system and celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system and working for change. Come out and learn about the policies that are responsible for our current food system and see what we need to change so we can all access food that sustains our health, our farmers, and our planet.

ABOUT THE PANEL: The panelists will include: Amy Kalafa, co-producer of the ‘Two Angry Moms’ movie; Rachel Khanna, an organic chef and Certified Health Counselor; Dan Levinson, Founder and Chairman of Westport Green Village Initiative(GVI); Deb Marsden, founder of CT Farm Fresh Express; and Melina Brown (chicken expert and founder of the Southern CT/Westchester Backyard Poultry Meetup). Analiese Paik, a sustainable foods advocate and founder of the Fairfield Green Food Guide, will moderate the panel discussion.

The panel discussion, exhibitors, and an organic wine and Connecticut cheese reception will follow the movie. Space is very limited and tickets are available in advance only. Buy tickets for $7 online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/91186. (If tickets/space remains, admission will be $15 at the door so please buy in advance.)

Doors open at 2:00 pm / Movie at 2:30 pm. Movie length: 72 min. (Snow date: Feb. 28th).

Co-sponsored by: Fairfield Green Food Guide and Greenwich Audubon

For more information, please visit: www.FRESHthemovie.com or the Audubon website

Event location: Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT 06831 Questions? Call Jeff Cordulack at Audubon Greenwich: 203-869-5272 x239.

FOR PEOPLE WITH KIDS BUT WANT TO ATTEND THE FRESH EVENT, THIS KIDS PROGRAM WILL RUN DURING THE MOVIE:

Saturday, February 27

Be An Animal Tracks and Traces Detective

2:30-3:45 pm

Learn about the different tracks and traces left by our local animals and then join us for a short walk outside to search for animal signs. Ages 5 & up. RSVP required for this program. Sign up by calling the store at 203-869-5272 x221.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRODUCERS OF “FRESH: The Movie”

FRESH is more than a movie, it’s a gateway to action. Our aim is to help grow FRESH food, ideas, and become active participants in an exciting, vibrant, and fast-growing movement.

When I write we, I don’t mean our small team (officially two of us, with lots of amazing helps from our interns and volunteers) but I mean YOU. All of you. FRESH is a grassroots efforts for a grassroots movement. It’s been tremendously exciting to see the movie catch on and spread like wild fire, being used all over the country as a platform to raise awareness and connecting people to the solutions available in their community.

Within a month of our launch, we’ve received over 20,000 visitors and hundreds of screenings have already been organized. We want to reach 1 million folks. Not just because that would totally feel nice to our ego (mine especially!), but because, we believe that FRESH can truly help get us to a tipping point, when sustainable food will no longer be just a niche market.

Please help us reach 1 million people (to start with that is.) Organize a home screening or a community screening. Get in touch with us, let us know what we can do more and better. We’re open!

Ana Joanes & The FRESH Team

About Audubon Connecticut/ Audubon Greenwich

Audubon Connecticut, the state organization of the National Audubon Society with more than 9,000 members statewide, works to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats using education, science and conservation, and legislative advocacy for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. Through our network of nature centers, wildlife sanctuaries, and local, volunteer Chapters, we seek to connect people with nature and inspire the next generation of conservationists.