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What's in store for the year ahead

As 2016 came to a close, we here at Sustainable Food Center reflected on the year behind us and the changes that lie ahead. We are looking forward to a year of renewed resolve as we all come together in our work to grow a sustainable and just local food system that benefits us all.

All of our community programs are working hard to bring you the classes and projects you know and love, but we also have some exciting new developments in store for the new year. Read on to learn a little bit more about what's coming up at SFC in 2017!

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Keep On Growing On

Our Grow Local program is going strong in 2017 with a variety of food gardening classes and trainings to help you grow your gardening skills.

  • Our always energizing and inspiring Introduction to Food Gardening Class series run throughout the spring and fall planting seasons, and teach you everything you need to know to get started in food gardening. Perfect for beginners.
  • The Building Strong Garden Teams training on April 25th & 26th is an opportunity for individuals to gain essential skills on how manage a successful community or school garden. Essential for any group gardening endeavor!
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Expanding Access

  • Our Farm Stand Project is expanding! This year, our Food Access team will be opening two additional farm stands in key sites around town. Currently we have farm stands open at Cunningham Elementary, St. Elmo (Sierra Vista, Foundation Communities Residence), Odom Elementary and Dove Springs Recreation Center. The two new sites will be located in high-need neighborhoods in Austin that have motivated leaders interested in improving the health of their communities.
  • In the spring, our Food Access team will also be launching a city-wide Double Dollars marketing campaign. The Double Dollars program offers a dollar for dollar match for farm stands, farmers’ markets and mobile market shoppers purchasing food items with their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits.
  • We are excited to announce that a SFC Spanish language website is coming soon! Our Language Access team will be revamping the SFC website to cater to Spanish speaking audiences. SFC’s Spanish language website will help us further reach the Spanish speaking audiences who are participating in our cooking and gardening classes and shopping at our markets. Stay tuned!
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Cooking With Care

Our The Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre® program has a new year of exciting classes in our Teaching Kitchen. Our always essential fundamentals classes will be on offer throughout the year, as well as a variety of new speciality classes taught in collaboration with amazing guest instructors.

  • Learn how to boost your immune system this winter in our upcoming Healing Power of Spices class on January 21st, taught by Akshaya, from My Ayurvedic Kitchen. She'll open up her spice box and teach you about the healing potential of spices and herbs - like ginger, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, tulsi, and more - and shows you how to use them in Indian-inspired dishes.
  • Please both the meat lovers and vegetarians in your life in our Kebabs, 3-Ways class on February 4th. This class will focus on simple recipes that turn a mix of proteins, vegetables, greens and whole grains into kebabs presented three ways: traditional Indian; American vegetarian; and Indian + Mexican fusion.
  • Join Chefs Steve and Nick Cruz of Counter Café to discover The Art of the Egg. In this class, you will learn how to master short-order styles, crack with confidence, and transcend the basics with advanced techniques that open the doors to prestige dishes.