Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Neringa lies on the Baltic Sea and is part of the Curonian Spit which is shared between Lithuania and Russia. It's natural beauty, unique ecology, and historical villages has earned this Baltic jewel a UNESCO world heritage site. To the west of Neringa lies the Baltic Sea and to its east is the fresh water Curonian Lagoon. Delicacies harvested from these waters are favorites for the many visitors who come year round. Pictured is one of my dinners: a smoked skumbre (mackerel), a popular Lithuanian pilsner Volfas Engelman, beet and pea salad, along with an arugula salad and homemade bread. YUMMY!!!The catch-of-the-day was harvested from a hole in the icy Curonian Lagoon and delivered to the fish shops where they are smoked or sold fresh. Within the bucket is stinta (smelt) or commonly called cucumber fish because its smell is similar to freshly cut cucumbers. Pictured is it fresh, smoked, and fried. Its taste is very mild and melts in your mouth.

SPONSOR KIM FOX TUCSON’S AMBASSADOR OF LOCAL FOOD AS SHE BIKES ACROSS EUROPE FOR LOCAL AGRICULTURE

WHO is Kim Fox?Kim Fox is Tucson's micro-urban farmer and food activist, dedicated to community education and local food production. As founder of Pachamama's Garden, she designs urban sites for food production and distribution. Her community education programs focus on local food production, soil science, food security and health. In 2009 over 215 students and visitors attended education programs and tours of Pachamama’s Garden. Kim’s urban farm also demonstrates conversion of food waste and manures into living soils via composting and vermiculture systems.Kim is an observer of and participant in local and international foodways. She has traveled to 25 countries, working on small farms and urban gardens, visiting farmers' markets, participating in food culture and customs, and observing local food production and distribution methods.

HOW is Kim Fox an Ambassador of Local Food?Beginning in June 2010, Kim will take a sabbatical from her farming and education work in Tucson to travel by bicycle across Europe from Paris, France, to Vilnius,Lithuania. She will engage with people who manage urban and rural farms, gardens, farmers' markets, food banks, seed banks, and public and private agencies in order to exchange perspectives and information on methods of urban sustainable agriculture production and distribution. She will be exposed to numerous local food prints, the relationships people have culturally and regionally to their food. In particular, Kim will study and report on seed saving, climate change consequences, GMO issues,sustainable farming and urban gardening techniques, plus recipes straight from thekitchen. Her community in Tucson and beyond can learn with her and support her during her trek.You can contact Kim at theoriginalhoe@live.comMy wOrm regards!