The mission of Bread & Roses is to transform the ways we acquire, cook, and relate to the food we eat. We have three primary strategies to meet our mission: to teach skills in organic gardening and healthy cooking, to share nourishing meals and conversations about food justice with our neighbors, and to support the local food economy by making our kitchen available to food entrepreneurs. Last year we renovated our kitchen with commercial equipment and now we are pleased to offer a community kitchen to our neighborhoods and the greater Charlottesville area. This year we will continue to grow our partnerships with other local organizations to offer cooking and preserving classes, particularly reaching out to community members who struggle with access to fresh food. We already provide a Sunday morning community breakfast featuring produce from our gardens and this season we will also be hosting community dinners and pop-up restaurants with local chefs. By September 2015 we plan to be renting our kitchen space to local caterers, food truckers, and artisan food makers. We envision our kitchen as a happy hive of good food and fellowship, and welcome volunteers who are interested in cooking, teaching, or sharing a meal! We have also installed raised vegetable beds and ornamental gardens around our church building. These gardens serve as a demonstration tool to show people how to raise their own fresh produce and grow their own beauty, even in limited urban space. The vegetables will provide tasty ingredients for our community meals and classes, with surplus being donated to food pantries. Join us for a Saturday Garden Gathering to share skills and get your hands dirty, or contact us to bring a group to visit the garden for a tour or program. Thoughtful examination of the ethical grounding of our food choices is the final important component of Bread & Roses. We educate and advocate for just distribution of food resources to all community members by hosting forums and film screens. We have already formed programming partnerships with local organizations dedicated to sustainable food systems and food justice, and hope to grow more relationships in the coming season as we w**d, water, and tend our gardens back into abundance once again.
