Farm Workshops for Chefs and Good Cooks
Learn how the most flavorful and beautiful vegetables and herbs are grown and harvested. Workshops include tastings prepared by Blake Van Roekel at the Chef Studio with a menu speaking to the ingredients of the farm.
The workshops will be held at Gales Meadow Farm in western Washington County, a 45-minute drive from Portland.
Workshop One: The Seed
10:00 am – 1:00 pm, April 23, 2012
- How the bountiful diversity of plant food developed (and how it is threatened)
- How heirloom varieties are rediscovered and preserved and how they become adapted to our soil, climate, and growing conditions
- How new varieties are bred – either for the demands of the industrial food system or for culinary qualities, wholesomeness, and delight
- How vegetable plants get the best start in life
Workshop Two: The Soil
10:00 am – 1:00 pm, June 18
- How plants are nourished by the living soil food web
- How soil is protected and improved
- How cultivation practices influence flavor, aromatic qualities, texture, and nutrition
- How plants can be protected from insects, slugs, predators, disease, and weeds without poisonous chemicals
Workshop Three: The Harvest
10:00 am – 1:00 pm, September 10
- How vegetables and herbs can be harvested at exactly the right time, and how some vegetables have different but desirable qualities at different stages of life
- How the nature of each vegetable determines the method of harvest and its treatment immediately after harvest
- Why hand-harvested vegetables are the best
- How the handling of vegetables between harvest and delivery determines the quality of the vegetable on the plate.
- Why the walk-in may be the worst place to store your vegetables.
Each workshop will consist of a presentation by farmers Anne Berblinger and Adam Baratta, a farm walk with questions and grazing encouraged, and tasting of Gales Meadow Farm fresh vegetables prepared Blake Van Roekel. A reading list for further study will be provided at each workshop.
Pricing and Registration
Each workshop stands on its own, but we encourage participants to attend all three. The price is $125.00 for each workshop with a discount of 10% for those who sign up for three paid in advance.*.
Workshops will be held if at least 8 participants sign up and will be limited to 15 participants.
Send a check to:
Gales Meadow Farm
P.O. Box 1080
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
Directions to Gales Meadow Farm
The address is 8740 NW Gales Creek Road. Gales Creek Road and Oregon Hwy 8 are one and the same.
From Portland: Take the Sunset Hwy to Hwy 6, left exit on Hwy 6 (as if you were going to Tillamook), go about 9-10 miles to the intersection with Hwy 8. This is the best marked intersection in Oregon. Sharp left on Hwy 8; go about 2 1/2 miles. On the right you will see the Gales Creek Tavern, Church, and Fire Station. Cross the bridge. We are the third driveway on the left after the bridge (very close to the bridge.). It’s a long driveway leading to a dark red house, which is partially obscured by Doug Firs. The street number 8740 is on a green sign by the driveway.
From Forest Grove: We are about 5 miles from the Forest Grove city limits. The highway is very winding, but straightens out somewhat as you get close. The Gales Creek Sign is right next to our driveway. If you cross the bridage and see the church, store, fire station, etc, you have gone too far.
The phone at the farm is 503-359-3551.
The workshops will begin promptly at 10:00. There will be a field walk regardless of weather, Please dress appropriately for the weather, including appropriate footware: boots or waterproof shoes if it’s been raining; sandals are ok if it’s been dry. Your shoes will get dirty. Bring a hat and sunscreen if it’s nice. If you want to stick around after the workshop and do some work, bring gloves.
*Refund with a deduction of $10 up to one week before the workshop; no refunds thereafter.
Questions?
To sign up or ask questions about the workshops, email Anne Berblinger, or Blake van Roekel.