Greetings! The East End Food Co-op hosts 3-5 community events each month as part of our commitment to the cooperative principles of /Education /and /Concern for Community/. These events are free and open to the public. We work with local community organizations, small businesses, and community leaders to offer lectures, classes, workshops, discussions, and film screenings that deal with food, health, sustainability, and/or community building in some capacity. We have a lot of great events lined up and would love for you to join us! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like additional information (ekelly@eastendfood.coop). Thanks for your consideration, Erin _Wednesday, February 25th, 6:30 PM _*Getting to Know Our Food Policy Council** */Dawn Plummer and Dora Walmsley, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council// /Gemini Theater The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council (PFPC) was founded in 2009 and works to build membership among organizations and individuals—including our Co-op—dedicated to fostering a just and sustainable food system in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This past year, PFPC brought on its first staff: Director Dawn Plummer and Outreach Coordinator Dora Walmsley. Join us to learn about the work of food policy councils around the country and get up to speed on what PFPC has done—and will do—to better our region’s food system. This event is FREE; just call 412-242-3598 to reserve your spot! _Wednesday, March 4th, 6:30 PM _*Reduce, Reuse, Upcycle!** */Jenna Gallant, Assemble// /Gemini Children’s Theater Assemble unites artists, technologists, and makers with Pittsburghers of all demographics by providing a platform for experiential learning, opening creative processes, and building confidence through making. Assemble hosts classes, interactive gallery shows, and learning parties at their Penn Avenue space and elsewhere throughout Pittsburgh. Our Co-op is excited to host Assemble for an upcycling workshop where attendees will create one-of-a-kind pieces out of old, used, or discarded items. Let’s create new life for forgotten objects and keep them out of the landfill! This event is FREE; just call 412-242-3598 to reserve your spot! __ _Wednesday, March 11th, 6:30 PM _*Women’s (Cheese) Day** */Caldwell Linker, East End Food Co-op// /Gemini Children’s Theater March 8th is International Women’s Day! People around the world will celebrate the social, economic, and political feats women have achieved over the past century. Our Co-op plans to extend the observance of this deserved day of recognition well into the week by exploring the contributions of female fromagères (cheese makers) to our store’s cheese selection. Caldwell Linker, our Co-op’s cheese buyer and resident cheese expert, will guide us through an exploration of cheeses developed, produced, or sold by women. This event is FREE; just call 412-242-3598 to reserve your spot! _Wednesday, March 18th, 6:30 PM _*Every Drop Counts** */StormWorks team members// /Gemini Children’s Theater Pittsburgh has struggled to address storm water management for years. StormWorks, a division of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, specializes in rain water mitigation strategies and wants to share their expertise with us. We will learn about the role rain gardens play in controlling runoff and will discuss examples of plants common to rain gardens in our region. The StormWorks team will also show examples of rain barrels and will help homeowners identify the best methods of water management for their property. This event is FREE; just call 412-242-3598 to reserve your spot! _Wednesday, March 25th, 6:30 PM _*Cold Weather Vegetables and Herbs** */Bob Madden, Garden Dreams Urban Farm and Nursery// /Carnegie Library of Homewood Spring is officially here! It’s time to get out and garden. Bob Madden of Garden Dreams will arm you with all of the information you’ll need to start your garden with confidence—no prior experience required! It may be chilly out, but these colder spring months are a great time to grow hardy vegetable and herb varieties. This workshop will introduce methods of season extension to help you time your planting efforts to yield the largest and healthiest possible yield. This event is FREE; just call 412-242-3598 -- Erin Kelly Outreach and Education Coordinator East End Food Co-op (412)242-3598 ext. 323 ekelly@eastendfood.coop