A Local Folkus » Event

Florida Small Farms Conference July 31 -Aug 1

John — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:33:29 +0000

Kam and I just registered for the Florida Small Farms Alternative Enterprise Conference. Five years ago “farming” would have been the last thing on our minds. However, with the economic downturn we were grateful that the lost art-form of backyard gardening was among our bag of tricks.

During our introductory years of gardening it was so exciting to transition from transplanting Home Depot seedlings into containers to actually cultivating the soil on our own property and planting our own seeds. Watching them sprout and grow was an amazing adventure.

While neither of us would consider our urban gardening adventures an excuse to call ourselves a “small farm”, we do nonetheless feel like the knowledge transfer we’ve had from Tia and Terry at the Econ Farm and the gardening wisdom we’ve garnered form the UF extension office has made us more aware and appreciative of the small scale farms and farmers in Central Florida.

The thought of being able to brush shoulders with our fellow green thumbs and to learn some new gardening techniques at the Small Farms conference made this event a must for us. We hope to see some of hte other small scale urban growers at the conference and look forward to sharing our experience on our blog for those of you who can’t attend.

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Slow Money National Gathering 2010 Slide Show

John — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:03:59 +0000

I’m working on a proper write-up of the Slow Money Gathering but there is just so much to say. Until I can wrap my head around it here are my pictures from my 3 day visit to Shelburne Farms and the Hadwick, VT farm tours.

Audio of our interview with Slow Money founder Woody Tasch.

John — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:19:04 +0000

The audio of yesterday’s interview with Woody Tasch is now online and you can listen below.

As always joining Julie and Jeremy in the WPRK studio is always a pleasure but yesterday’s interview was particularly incredible. Slow Money is such a great “catch-all” for me. About 85% of my posts have to do with food and in particular our local food system and the consumers and producers that make it all happen.

I can think of no greater investment of my time and finances then to support our local food producers. There are so many local consumers who have never tasted a real vine ripe tomato or who settle for produce the ripened on a cross country truck rather than down the street. Slow Money is the perfect combination of ethos and praxis and our interview with Woody should have a little bit of something for everyone.

Hope you enjoy!

Slow Money National Gathering

John — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:53:47 +0000

If you read any of the “green” leaning blogs in Central Florida chances are good you’ve heard about the book and movement Slow Money. Well this summer from June 9th – 11th I’ll be up at the Slow Money’s National Gathering in Vermont to brush shoulders with and learn from some of our nation’s most progressive thinkers.

“Slow money is a new way of connecting investors to local food systems. A new way of connecting money, culture and the soil. A new kind of social investing and philanthropy for the 21st century.”

There are so many things already happening in Central Florida that are a model of the Slow Money ethos and how it stimulates local economies, food systems and entrepreneurship. We are doing a great job investing our social and economic capital in sustainable and thoughtful ventures that provide quality products and services to our local community.

Speaking of which, Dandelion Communitea Cafe and Homegrown Co-op both ranked in the top 10 in the recent Slow Money Business contest. Kudos to Julie and Emily for these recognitions as well as giving so much more of yourselves and your businesses than profit alone would dictate.

It is my hope that other Central Floridians will make the trek to the national gathering so that we can draw strength and encouragement from like minded Americans and bring back new insights for our burgeoning Slow Money movement.

Please let me know if you’re going and likewise for those of you who can’t I will be sure to blog all about it. Please click on the image above or on this link to get more information about the Gathering.

350 Garden Challenge

John — Sun, 16 May 2010 01:33:40 +0000

Today I visited the Winter Park Community Garden behind First Pres Winter Park. I shot some video and took some still of this incredible community garden. I’ll be posting more about the visit and the awesome young lady who is the garden curator soon.

But wanted to share this video with you before the weekend was over. I caught wind of this thank Emily Ruff at the Homegrown Co-op. She posted about Transition Orlando and their upcoming gathering. While there I learned about the 350 Garden Challenge and ended up spending some time in my garden pruning, watering, transplanting and picking a spot to plant my kiwi’s tomorrow. I hope you find this video as inspiring as I did.

Faces of Haiti, Through the Eyes of Children: A Unique Photo Exhibit, March 20-22, Casa Feliz

John — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:22:32 +0000

We have a really exciting photography exhibit coming up this month. One that is particularly near and dear to my heart. The photos in this unique exhibition were taken in 2009 by ten young middle-school children from St. Isidore that we work with in Haiti.

None of these uninhibited children had ever held a camera, nor had they ever had their own image captured through the eye of a lens. Yet, with only their natural eye and their pure imagination, they have magically captured the world around them as they know and see it.

The vibrant colors, the joy of childhood, the pain of poverty and the strength of Faith of the people of Haiti are all captured here in the faces of the photographers’ fellow school children, and families. Poor in possessions but rich in spirit, the people portrayed in this moving collection of images will speak to every viewer. Haiti as seen in these photos, through the eyes of its own children, speaks directly to our hearts.

For three days only, see Faces of Haiti, Through the Eyes of Children exclusively at Casa Feliz, 656 Park Avenue North, Winter Park, March 20-22. All photographs displayed are for sale, and all monies received—100% —will be given directly to the schools of St. Isidore Parish, Haiti through the outreach mission support of St Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Winter Park.

For more information hit me up on through the contact form.

John Mayer Concert Review: My Guest Post on The Central Florida Top5

John — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:46:48 +0000

After the last Orlando Tweet-up I started following the excellent locally focused work of Central Florida Top 5. Through their tweets and timely content Kam and I have been able to catch some truly unique events around town. Their editor, Bess, has done a great job keeping the wheels spinning over there pumping out great content. To “share the love” I posted a review of our recent trip down to Tampa for the John Mayer concert. Pop on over to Top 5’s blog page to catch the full story. Cheers.

Wendell Berry is speaking at Stetson Monday Feb 1

John — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:23:20 +0000

What what what ….. Wendell Berry is in Florida?

Yes my friends it is true. Wendell Berry one of my favorite authors is speaking at Stetson University in a free lecture series Monday night the 1st of February. I’m heading up to attend the lecture and I can’t even express how excited I am. Berry’s non-fiction writing has played a pivotal role in developing many of my beliefs. Through his writing I’ve come to appreciate the importance of nurturing of our local community, that the good life is more than consuming and that working with the earth, even in the middle of a modern city, is vitally important to the health and well-being of my family.

The lecture is sponsored by the university’s Values Council. His talk, “Simple Solutions and Package Deals,” is based on the council’s theme for the year, “How Shall We Live?”. Berry will be discussing the impact of economic globalization on the way we live and it’s sure to be lecture chock-full of thought provoking ideas.

According to Berry, the good life includes sustainable agriculture, appropriate technologies, healthy rural communities, connection to place, the pleasures of good food, husbandry, good work, local economics, the miracle of life, fidelity, frugality, reverence, and the interconnectedness of life (via wiki).

Here are the details of the lecture: Stetson University at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, in the Lee Chapel of Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Hope to see you there.

Otronicon – Orlando’s Interactive Media / Video Game / Simulation Mash-up event

John — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:06:23 +0000

FYI – Besides the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games the Rife family is going to try to slip by Otronicon at the Orlando Science Center this weekend. Here is a blurb and a video about the event if your interested in all things interactive and geeky (like we are).

A four day event, Otronicon is a celebration of interactive technology using video games to demonstrate the future of how we live, learn, work and play. The event focuses on a few key areas:

Larger than life video game experiences
State of the art medical and military simulators
Game design workshops taught by industry pros

Whether you’re a video game fan or just wondered what it is you’re kids are doing in front of that computer, there’s something for everyone at Otronicon, Orlando’s biggest interactive technology expo!

Grandma Party Today at Stardust Video, Winter Park, FL

Winter Park Community Garden Workday at DePugh: Volunteers Needed

John — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:30:22 +0000

For those of you who didn’t know, the Winter Park Health Foundation has awarded a grant for several community gardens to be constructed in our city. The first garden was installed behind Winter Park Presbyterian on Lakemont Ave and now a second garden site is being prepared.

Volunteers are needed tomorrow Saturday January 16th from 8-10 am to help clear the area where the Spring garden will be planted behind the DePugh Center in Winter Park.

Anyone can participate and you are encouraged to bring any work tools you may have as well as bringing your own gloves and water. We may be clearing away an old chain link fence as well so please bring any tools specific to that job.

The Center is located at 550 West Morse Blvd, Winter Park.
If you have any questions about the garden or if you would like to donate a monetary contribution or donate material items for the building of the garden, please contact Denise Riccio at 407-246-2212. Any assistance is greatly appreciated! You can also get more info at Our Whole Community’s website.