Terry Walters

Happy Mother’s Day!

Terry Walters — Mon, 13 May 2013 01:46:20 +0000

I wrote the essay below on Mother’s Day, 2006. Actually, it’s more accurate to say that this essay came through me more than from me. I woke up in the middle of the night full of thoughts that had to be put down. I grabbed a few scraps of paper from my bedside table, snuck into the bathroom and by the light of the kids’ nightlight, transcribed the stream-of-conciousness that’s below. The next morning, I pieced together my scrawl, and was picked up by my mother for our annual Mother’s Day journey to our favorite nursery. As mom drove, I read. When I finished reading, Mom was speechless…tears flowing. This essay has been the introduction to my first book, almost unchanged, since that day.

My mom has not only shared, but inspired my clean food journey. Thank you, Mom, and wishing you and all moms a wonderful Mother’s Day. May you receive as much love as you give…this and every day.

Eat clean live well!

Get your seedlings here!

Terry Walters — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:54:45 +0000

My farmer doubles as my gardener! It’s true. Despite my good intentions to turn my garden, nourish it with fresh compost, and plant an early spring crop of lettuce, spinach and more, it’s rare that it actually happens. This year is no exception, except I’ve been partially saved by the late-planted spinach and kale I put in the ground last October that is miraculously thriving this spring. Nevertheless, in just a short time, my farmer will save the day once again. Yes, I’ll be loading up with organic seedlings at this year’s Urban Oaks Organic Farm Seedling Sale – the biggest organic seedling sale in Connecticut…if not further! You definitely don’t want to miss it!

While I was thinking about the sorry shape of my garden last week, I stopped by the farm to see how things were shaping up. These pictures tell the story better than I ever could.

If you find yourself in the same boat as I, or if you’re just now thinking how great and easy it would be to grow your own organic produce this summer, this seedling sale is for you!

ORGANIC SEEDLING SALE!

Friday, May 17 | noon – 6:00pm

Saturday, May 18 | 9:00am – 2:00pm

Sale will run for 4 consecutive weeks during regular farm stand hours
Fridays 2:00 – 6:00pm | Saturdays 10:00am – 1:00pm.

225 Oak Street, New Britain, CT 06051

There’s always lots going on at the farm, from seasonal festivals and CSAs (both summer and winter!) to their year-round farm stand featuring organic produce, baked goods, cheeses, meats and products from Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York! Chances are good you’ll see me there, so be sure to say hi!

Until then, eat clean live well!

The right to eat clean!

Terry Walters — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:14:18 +0000

When 64% of the students attending a school qualify for assistance in the form of one to two meals a day, food accessibility and security is a hot topic. This is exactly why I was brought in to work with Connecticut River Academy (CTRA) on their recent Food Accessibility and Security program. While originally intended to simply educate students about the value of a local food system, together we turned it into the foundation for this community to develop and implement their own sustainable food system.

Students watched the documentary “Foodstamped,” participated in Foodshare’s “Hunger 101” program, and took part in a food sustainability fair where they engaged with local farmers, nutritionists, food access agencies and distributors from all over the state. Next they took part in discussions that were facilitated so that students, faculty and administrators could talk all on the same level, share ideas, frustrations and vision for their future.

You can’t make healthy choices if you don’t know what the options are, and you can’t create change if you don’t have a voice. This was the focus of my session which supported the goal of the entire program…to create a sustainable food system for their micro-community. To lock in this intention, the entire community came together to plant their very first seeds.

The event was capped off by a celebration of food featuring dishes provided by some of our area’s favorite chefs and vendors. The entire CTRA community literally tasted how delicious and nourishing it will be to grow clean food that will nourish their community.

Watermelon and mozzerela salad with balsamic vinegar and mint.

And as this program proved many times over, food has the powerful ability to divide us, but its power to bring us together is even greater.

Special thanks to those who nourished us with delicious clean food as part of our celebration of food:

Executive Chef Anthony Camilleri, Rizzuoto’s, West Hartford

Erich Kronschnabel, Flatbread, Canton

Pam Dunn, Boxed Goodes

Urban Oaks Organic Farm, New Britain, CT

Waverly Markets, ShopRite, Manchester and East Hartford, CT

Freshpoint, CT

CTRA Students led by faculty member and chef, Tom Kilgus

Here’s to planting the seeds that allow us to eat clean and live well…at CTRA, in every school and in every community!

Connecticut Humanities Dinner at Auerfarm | Bloomfield, Connecticut

Andrew — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:10:58 +0000

Sustainability Never Tasted So Good: A Sustainable Dinner and Program at Auerfarm

Pull up a seat at the table to discuss how we can create a more sustainable food system in our communities. Terry will be among the featured guests, who will guide meaningful conversation around how we can introduce sustainable practices into our own homes and activities.

Featured speakers also include:
Martha Page | Executive Director of Hartford Food Systems
Carl Salsedo | Extension Educator in Horticulture with the University of Connecticut’s Cooperative Extension System and host of CPTV’S Gardening with Nature series.

Thursday, May 23, 2013 | 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Auerfarm | 158 Auerfarm Road | Bloomfield, CT

Tickets: $25 in advance tickets at the CT Humanities website or $30 at the door.

For more information, please call Amanda Roy at 860-685-7599.

‘Cooking the Books’ Series at Wellesley Books | Wellesley, MA

Andrew — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:53:46 +0000

Celebrate Spring with Terry and lots of locally grown produce! The evening includes discussion and Q+A, CLEAN cooking demo, tastings and book signing!

Thursday, May 16, 2013 | 6:30 pm
Wellesley Books | 82 Central Street | Wellesley, Massachusetts

Visit the Wellesley Books site here for more information, including registering (tickets are $10) and purchasing CLEAN FOOD. Please note that in order to have a book signed at this event, attendees must have purchased a copy of CLEAN FOOD from Wellesley Books. Please be prepared to show proof of purchase.

Food Accessibility and Sustainability | Connecticut River Academy | East Hartford, CT

Andrew — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:20:36 +0000

Terry will be a featured speaker at this private event featuring a program created specifically for the Connecticut River Academy. The program is designed to inspire and empower the school to create a sustainable food system for their micro-community.

CLEAN FOOD Cooking Class | The Upstairs Kitchen | Chester, CT

Andrew — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:06:01 +0000

After a great evening in March, Terry takes her cooking class on the road again to the Upstairs Kitchen in Chester! Come participate in a CLEAN evening of cooking, camaraderie and conversation, highlighted by sharing a meal of everything we’ve prepared! Check back for more details, including the planned menu.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013 | 6:00 – 9:00 pm

$85.00/person

The Upstairs Kitchen | 3 Main Street | Chester, CT

Terry talks CLEAN on LouieBFree Radio!

Andrew — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:50 +0000

Monday, May 6, 2013 | 10:00 am

Terry talks eating clean, what’s in season, and what’s coming in the new book!

Follow the conversation from wherever you are on vindy.com.

Terry’s Kitchen CLEAN Food Cooking Class | Avon, CT

Andrew — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:43:21 +0000

Each class will include 5 seasonal and organic recipes, tons of information about the health benefits of the different foods and techniques used, and lots of connection and nourishment.

Thursday, May 30, 2013 | 11:00 am – 1:30 pm

Fee is $75 per person, per class.

Payment in advance is required and there are no refunds. If you are unable to make it to class and your seat can be filled from the wait-list, I will gladly refund your money. If I can not fill your seat, you can send a substitute to take your place.

For more information and to register, email info@terrywalters.net.

Menu to be determined based on availability of organic local produce.

‘Tis the Season

Terry Walters — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:44:47 +0000

They’re here and have brought with them all of the promise of what can and hopefully will be. I’m not talking about President Obama’s visit to Connecticut just the other day. I’m talking about my seeds. My glorious kales, collards, cucumbers, squash, herbs, peas, beans and so much more… and with exotic names that excite me long before the plants even bear fruit… Ronde De Nice, Bianca Di Maggio and Poona Kheera! If I can actually get them planted, it has the potential to be a delicious growing season!

Truth be told, I’m already behind. My flats should be full of seeds already planted and my garden clean and covered in compost ready to be turned. And while neither is the case, I remain optimistic. As a matter of fact, just this morning I walked out the back door to discover that the kale and spinach I planted late last fall (that amounted to nothing then) had returned! I was delighted to see tender green chives breaking through the soil, lemon thyme turning back from brown to yellow, and green but tender baby spinach that I thought was long gone. It made my day (and will also make my dinner)!

And so, on this first warm and sunny spring day, I find myself breaking out the pitch-fork, giving the compost pile a little love, and preparing myself and my garden for a nourishing season ahead. Goodbye to the cold snowy days of winter, and hello to the season of renewal and birth. May we each plant something this spring that will nourish us throughout the year.

Whether you have a garden, window boxes or neither, please share your hope and promise for the season ahead.

Eat clean live well!