Community Corner
Foodies Welcomed to CNC's 'Harvest on the Hooch' Dining Experience
The event, which promotes the farm to table movement, will be presented by Whole Foods Market at the Chattahoochee Nature Center's Unity Garden on Oct. 14.
"We built the garden just over two years ago on a little-used quarter acre area at CNC. Named the ‘Kaiser Permanente Unity Garden’ for our funders - the garden’s mission is to grow healthy, local produce and herbs and donate them, through our partnership with North Fulton Community Charities, to families that are experiencing difficult times and food insecurity," explained Libby Lintel, Community Garden Coordinator at CNC.
Lintel said the year-round garden has now donated over eight and a half tons of fresh produce in over 30 different vegetables and fruits and 20 different types of fresh herbs.
"Much of our success is due to our volunteers who help work in the garden and greenhouse - they range from seniors to youth, as well as philanthropic and corporate groups. Thus far, our volunteers have logged over 5,000 hours in the Unity Garden," she said.
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DeAnn Fordham, Development Director added, "Whole Foods Market is presenting this culinary and garden fundraiser celebrating the harvest, from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14 to celebrate our success and help us raise the needed funds to continue this work! This special “Harvest on the Hooch” party will take place in the garden with live blue grass music by Micah Spence and Chris Ryan of the “Georgia Sidewinders” playing banjo, fiddle and guitar in the great southern tradition. It will be a great way for patrons to experience the vital connection from the garden to the plate and enjoy local cuisine.”
Joe McCaffrey, the chef at Oak Street Café, will be one of several featured chefs preparing food at the event, with produce and herbs selected from the garden.
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"I’m glad to introduce folks to the culinary traditions of the farm to table movement here in Roswell, which reflects my own philosophy. At Oak Street Café, we prefer to use fresh, locally sourced produce," McCaffrey said.
He will be joined by chefs from Muss & Turner’s, SEED, Talk of the Town Catering, Parsley’s Catering, Milton’s and Whole Foods Market. in Roswell, is providing a $50 gift card as a prize and Legendary Events Catering is providing a Chef’s Dinner as a prize as well.
“Harvest on the Hooch will introduce new people to our garden as well as to local restaurants and caterers. We hope to increase awareness of our Unity Garden, raise additional funds, and enjoy a wonderful afternoon in the garden. We will be giving garden tours while providing entertainment and garden games, to round out the afternoon, said Henning von Schmeling, CNC director of operations. "Guests can sample cuisine featuring fresh seasonal produce and get to know more about the local culinary businesses in the area. We appreciate the Whole Foods Market at Merchant’s Walk and Alpharetta who have worked with us to plan the event and have generously agreed to provide a selection of local beers, wines and tapas style tastings for patrons to sample.”
Join CNC for a beautiful fall afternoon dedicated to fresh food, cooking healthy, promoting the farm to table movement and generating community awareness about the connection between good nutrition and health.
Tickets are $30 each for this family friendly event.
E-mail DeAnn Fordham, or order tickets online via the website or call 770-992-2055 x 226.
Following the garden party, guests are encouraged to stay for the opening reception of the Georgia Nature Photographers Association Photography Exhibition for FREE in the Discovery Center from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
