Slow Food Las Vegas

by Ellen Ross

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Photo by Mark Sedenquist
The author tends her first crops

I confess to a new habit.

Every morning around 6 a.m., I venture out into my new raised-bed vegetable garden to see how the little plants are doing. They are growing and it gives me such joy to see the basil, mint, rosemary and leafy green vegetables sprouting.

Now, I am definitely a neophyte vegetable gardener, but the “Slow Food” movement, which recently arrived in Las Vegas, has inspired me to cultivate and watch the garden grow and produce. My plants have their own raised bed, an internal Netafim watering system complete with timer, and a periodic sprayer. The bed is located on the east side of the house and enjoys the afternoon shade.

Photo by Megan Edwards
Locally grown produce at
Las Vegas’s own Gilcrease Orchard

Slow Food was founded in Italy by Carlo Petrini in the late 1980s, in protest against the fast-food giant McDonald’s, which had opened a branch near the Spanish Steps in Rome. Today it is an international, member-supported organization focused on creating and enjoying food that is “good, clean, and fair” — meaning it should taste good, be produced in a healthy and eco-friendly way, and bring a fair wage to the small farmers who grow it.

Slow Food wants people to care about what they eat. Accordingly, its mission is to defend biodiversity in the food supply, encourage “taste education,” and support local producers of excellent foods. It also encourages folks to slow down, to adopt a more harmonious rhythm of life that will allow them to better appreciate food and company at their table. Squaring off against the triple threat of agribusiness, industrialized food and the drive-thru window, Slow Food stakes its claim with fresh vegetables grown locally — or in your very own garden.

Photo by Mark Sedenquist
Yes, you can grow your own food
in the desert: a grape arbor in a
Las Vegas garden

It is a noble mission – connecting small growers and their seedlings all over the planet. Some say it is impractical; others say it’s too difficult. But with gas prices and unemployment rising fast, the shift to the slow life makes more sense than ever. Growing your own food can be rewarding and easy, and there’s no need for rushing to the store or filling up the tank. But ultimately, Slow Food is really about taste, freshness, culinary traditions and the pleasures of producing your own food. It’s about taking time to slow down and enjoy a food-centered life with family and friends. Who can argue with that?

So start revitalizing yourself with Mother Nature. Slow down. Shop at a farmers’ market. Plant a few varieties of vegetables or herbs in your own garden. Invite friends over for a leisurely lunch or dinner centered on fresh vegetables, local cheeses, authentic regional recipes and maybe a good wine. One “slow” dish a day helps everyone slow down and appreciate what we have.

Photo by Mark Sedenquist
Pears ready to harvest
in a Las Vegas backyard orchard

Interested? Then check out the convivium, our newly formed Las Vegas Slow Food chapter, which holds biweekly meetings at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office (8050 S. Maryland Parkway; call (702) 222-3130 for more information). It’s a “convivial” group, and a busy one. Last month, for example, the chapter sponsored a dinner to showcase natural, Nevada-grown, grass-fed beef. One of the founding members is promoting fruit from the university’s experimental orchard, and some small growers in our valley are starting to supply local Las Vegas restaurants.

Me, I will be checking my plants daily. I expect to harvest my first vegetables later this month.

How does your garden grow?

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