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May's not-to-be-missed green events
May 13, 2010 3:39pm CST
By Sarah Askari
 It's shaping up to be a cold, damp May in the Twin Cities, but the wetter, the greener, right? Here are a list of events to keep you busy until the sun comes out again.
Bookclubs
Eating, Reading, and Living Well is a joint project between the Mississippi Market and the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. This month they host events by two authors. One is a more traditional discussion of Alexandra Zissu's The Conscious Kitchen, held on Monday, May 24, at 7 pm, at the Highland Park Branch Library. The other, in support of author Zoe Francois, will be held at the 1500 W. 7th St., St. Paul, location of the Mississippi Market, on Monday May 17, at 7 pm. Participants will take a ramble through the market with the co-author of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day and Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day to check out ingredients and then learn firsthand how to throw together nutritious, convenient homemade artisan bread.
The Simple Good & Tasty Bookclub meets at the 622 Selby Avenue location of the Mississippi Market, and on Thursday May 27 from 7 to 9 pm, they will be discussing Joan Dye Gussow's This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader.
Fundraisers
The Land Stewardship Project is having a fundraiser on Saturday May 15, from 4--6 pm. Held in true DIY fashion in their office backyard, the donate-what-you-can fundraiser will feature appetizers by the Modern Cafe, Brasa Rotisserie, Bryant Lake Bowl, Cafe Barbette, the Red Stag Supper Club, Birchwood Cafe, and the Bedlam Theatre. The organization supports the sustainable and ethical food system movement, and there will be talks be a local organic farmer and an urban mushroom grower to compete with the sound of happy munching.
??The Perennial Plate is throwing a party to help with the cash flow for their ongoing episodic documentary about sustainable eating. Chef and host Daniel Klein will be throwing down at his own house the night of Friday May 21, where there will be beer, food, and music from 7 o'clock until the bands are done rocking.
Lectures That Serve Beer
With all this talk about local foods, why aren't there more available for the consumer? At this month's Cafe Scientific , Applied Economics Professor Robert King will explore how local foods travel from farm to table--or don't--and share his case study findings regarding supply chains. Held at Bryant-Lake Bowl (http://www.bryantlakebowl.com/calendar/list), on Tuesday May 18 at 7 pm. Call 612-825-8949 to snag a seat--$5 - $12.
The Forum of Women in the Environmental Field is gathering at the Summit Brewery for its May Local Foods event on Wednesday May 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Hear advice from Cooks of Crocus Hill's Mary Scheu on how to rearrange your diet to make room for regional, sustainable food. Become convinced as you are served a light dinner of local goodies, and wash down the argument you've just eaten with beer from Summit. $18 in advance or $20 at the door.
Happy Hour
This month, Simple Good & Tasty brings its happy hour magic to the only metro restaurant with super hero delivery drivers: Galactic Pizza. On Thursday May 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, you can network and imbibe with your fellow eco-friendly foodies. There will also be some free appetizers, and if you know you're going in advance, give the generous folks at SGT a non-required rsvp (info@simplegoodandtasty.com) so they can make sure there's enough app action for everyone.
For the Kids
On Saturday May 22, give props to the substance that makes up more than half our bodies--water! Lake Phalen's annual WaterFest kicks off with a parade at 10 am, and continues until 2 pm, with raptors, canoe rides, fishing lessons, DNR games, and snacks. Let your babe bring his inner farmer out to play at the Three Rivers Park District's Saturday Mornings on the Farm ($4).
On May 15, May 22, and May 29, from 9 am to noon, venture to Minnetrista to check out the Gale Woods Farm Barn where you can help with chores, meet the animals, and learn about agriculture.
Workshops
Walk away from all the delicious food at the Seward Co-Op when you're led by naturalist Martha Zemur and you'll find a world of edible plants right here within the city limits. The class ($15) will teach you how to find, prepare, and preserve wild foods. Thursday May 20, 6:30 to 8:30pm.
Conserve water this summer by turning your garden into a rain garden--Metro Blooms will show you how. Hint: it involves using plants that survived in Minnesota without human care for millennia! The organization is on a rain garden education blitz, and if you can't attend the Audubon Park workshop on Saturday May 22 from 12 to 2 pm (cost: $10) check their website for another time & location.
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