Local Gracious Recap and other updates...

The 2nd annual Local Gracious dinner was on Thursday September 27th in all the dining halls. We had several guests that joined the Garden Society as we ate together in Abbey-Buck: Beth Hooker, Sandra Postel, Ruby Maddox, and Ally Neher.

Unfortunately and fortunately everyone was so occupied with eating the delicious pumpkin soup, mashed potatoes, baked glazed acorn squash, and all the other local foods that we weren't able to get photos of the gastronomical experience.

However at all the dining halls, feedback posters were waiting for students to express their thoughts about their local food eating experience. Many students expressed through words and phrases while several drew images. There were many thanks to Dining Services for putting so much preparation and efforts in making the Local Gracious Dinner possible. Some of the comments that students left included:

"Unbelievable...absolutely delectable. I am forever gracious for this stupendous dinner. Thank you."

"This was the best gracious dinner I've experience in my 3 years @ Moho! Thanks!"

"Fresh home-grown food feeds the body GOOD!"

"OH My GOD sooooo good!!"

"I wish it was like this everyday!"

"The pie was amazing! And the fresh broccoli! I wish everything would taste this good all the time! Great job, everyone involved!"

"Yummy!"

"Yay for Dinning Services! Thank you!"


General Garden Society Updates:
1) At our meeting yesterday afternoon, we discussed briefly about our budget and possible ways to fund for the long-term and also what we should do with the money we currently have.

2) We will be having a garden "work day" TBD next weekend Oct 13th or the 14th to prepare the garden for the winter.

3) There was much discussion about the Real Food Summit at Yale University that is going to occur the first weekend of November (Nov. 3rd & 4th).
For more info visit: REAL FOOD SUMMIT

4) We need to raise $300 for the Real Food Summit so we are planning to use our extra pumpkins and acorn squash to make pies as a fund raiser!! If you would like to order one, please contact mhcgarden@gmail.com by Friday Oct 12th because we will be baking the pies next weekend and delivery them on Monday Oct 15th.

5) Keep an eye and an ear out for upcoming field trips to farms and cooking parties as well as potlucks!!!

If you get the chance to explore the Pioneer Valley, visit some of the farms around the area! There's an amazing farming community here in Western Mass. Pioneer Valley Farm Directory

In addition, Guenther has recommended these places to visit:
People's Pint - restaurant in Greenfield
Food For Thought - bookstore in Amherst
Hungry Ghost - bakery in Northhampton
Cafe Evolution - in Florence

If you get the chance to ride your bike, go for some ice cream! Some local, delicious ice cream places where they homemade their treats:

McCray's Farm
55 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA

Cooks Farm/Falyvors
125 Maple St.
Hadley, MA