Livin' in the Blurbs: Good Causes, but Mostly Fun

Friends of Family Farmers (FoFF) is like my friend, a writer, producer and composer of music who's also been a financial analyst, acupuncturist, erstwhile yogi and is currently dean of a major national music conservatory. I'm sure he must have had an astronaut period in there someplace, but so far he's kept that mum. FoFF, in its many guises, works to support small family farms in Oregon committed to sustainable practices. It's done this by establishing a network of support for existing farms as well as a program to recruit young farmers, connecting them with mentors and avenues for marketing their products. FoFF has also been active in proposing and supporting legislation that affects farmers, advocating on issues and inviting the public to get involved. Consumers are another focus, exemplified by their popular monthly Infarmation (and Beer) gatherings and the Pro-Pasture Fridays campaign that I wrote about for the Oregonian.

All of this worthy activity deserves celebrating, and they're throwing a Farm to FoFF dinner and fundraiser to do just that on August 25th at Dancing Roots Farm. Tickets are $115 per person, which includes a one-year membership in Friends of Family Farmers, dinner prepared by Chef David Anderson of The Original Dinerant, as well as cocktails, mead, beer and wine, with a silent auction and live jazz entertainment.

Details: Farm to FoFF fundraiser and celebration for Friends of Family Farmers. Sun., Aug. 25, starting at 4 pm; $115 includes dinner, drinks and membership. At Dancing Roots Farm, 29820 E Woodard Rd., Troutdale. 503-759-3276.

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Area Whole Foods markets are dedicating the entire month of August to celebrating local producers, bringing them into stores for events they're calling "Meet the Makers from Around Here Taste Fair." The "Makers" include Country Natural Beef, Nancy's Yogurt, Pacific NW Kale Chips, Grandma Chongas Salsa and Heidi Ho Veganics, creators of a vegan cheese that actually melts, and many others. It's all to promote Whole Foods' program called "Eat as Promised," an effort by Whole Foods local forager Denise Breyley (right) to find and fill the shelves at local stores with what she says is "an eye toward bringing the products from local farms to shoppers via Whole Foods Market." It also includes the Local Producer Loan Program, which is committed to providing up to $10 million in small, low-interest loans. Seems like an effort worth supporting.

Details: Meet the Makers from Around Here Taste Fair. Portland area Whole Foods Markets throughout the month of August. Check your neighborhood store website for dates and featured vendors.

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And now for something completely different:

As a native Oregonian, while I consider myself fairly well-traveled, having been to bits of Asia, North America, Central America and Europe, I have no idea what it's like to move lock, stock and Corgis to a completely different country. Filmmaker Robin Willis, who dug up his roots here in Portland and transplanted them in the rich cultural soil of Barcelona, Spain, has been gathering American expats in his new home to tell their stories of what it’s like being over there when you’re from here, and vice versa. On Thursday, Aug. 29, Willis will return to his hometown to reel in a new net full of fish-out-of-water stories called XPatStories with a focus on expats from other countries sharing what life is like for them here in Portlandia. Singer-songwriter Richard Moore will open the show with a few of his very close-to-home songs about living in Portland. See your town described through the eyes of strangers? Count me in!

Details: XPat Stories: Tales From Beyond the Comfort Zone. Thurs., Aug. 29, 9 pm; $8, tickets available online or at the door. Mississippi Pizza’s Atlantis Lounge, 3552 N Mississippi Ave.