Of course every week is "eat local week" in our book, but Eat Local Week, our winter fundraiser event, is an invitation to Central Texans to explore and celebrate the abundance of local food and to raise money for Urban Roots, a youth development program that uses sustainable agriculture to effect lasting change for youth 14-18 years old, and to nourish East Austin residents who have limited access to healthy foods. Young people will cultivate a local 2 - 5 acre, diversified organic farm, selling a portion of their harvest in the Austin area and donating a portion to local hunger relief programs. Through this process young people can connect to the land and learn the benefits of growing, eating, selling and donating organic food, as well as leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills, and the importance of giving back to their community. This will serve as a model for similar programs statewide.
Edible Austin Eat Local Week will kick off on December 6 with the City of Austin’s proclamation and with support from other Central Texas communities and the Greater Austin Restaurant Association. Check back frequently to see a growing list of participating restaurants, featuring locally-sourced entree and drink specials for the week, a portion of the sale from which will go to our beneficiary, Urban Roots. Participating markets will collect donations in other ways.
You are invited to dine out, shop, throw a dinner or cocktail party, or simply make a home-cooked meal using local foods and beverages.