Acting Locally Kicks Off With 100 Mile Potluck

Do you have a passion for sustainability?  Want to learn more about practical ways you can live a greener life?  Want to spend time with like-minded individuals who have a passion for the environment? Join Acting Locally!  Acting Locally is a Wakefield area group that creates a forum for lively discussion where health- and environmentally-concerned individuals can share ideas and tips for better living. 

Located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield, the inaugural event will take place at 6pm on Sunday, September 29 with a 100 mile potluck.  All ingredients used in the dish must be sourced within 100 miles of Wakefield, MA. After that first meeting the group will meet on the 3rd Sunday evening of each month starting in October  

Future events will include film and book discussions, guest speakers, gardening and preserving demonstration and instruction, Earth Day extravaganza and more.  Each evening will start with a potluck and BYOB followed by the special topic.  Members are encouraged to support local businesses whenever possible. 

Taking the concept from Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon’s 100 Mile Diet book, the 100 Mile Potluck invites participants to bring a potluck item for 6-10 people with ingredients sourced within 100 miles of Wakefield MA.  The rules are simple. 1. Use ingredients and products that are produced within 100 miles (CSAs, farms, dairies, bakeries, etc.) and/or 2. Support small local businesses that produce their products within 100 miles (Samira’s, When Pigs Fly, etc.).  The event is BYOB, so please support local vineyards and breweries if possible.  Please consider making your dish vegetarian or using animal products that are ethically sourced. 

With local food sources as the special topic for this first meeting, after the meal each person is invited to explain their recipe, the ingredients, and the local businesses and companies they use.  Each will also have the opportunity to discuss why living a local and sustainable life is important to them.  Acting Locally will provide the plates, cups, etc.; you just bring your covered dish! 

Here are some sources and recommendations for finding local companies.    

·       Whole Foods Lynnfield (and most Whole Foods) has many products labeled “local”.  In addition, Whole Foods Lynnfield has a beer and wine section with many of the products from local vineyards and breweries. 

·       Consider buying your produce from a local farm or the farmer’s market. 

·       The Massachusetts Federation of Farmer’s Market lists the days, time and location for farmer’s markets in your area.  Additionally many of them list the companies that are represented there.  http://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/

·       Your garden! 

Please join our Facebook group by searching for Acting Locally and request to join.  For questions or to express interest, email actinglocallywakefield@gmail.com or leave a message for Acting Locally at the Wakefield UU Church by calling 781-245-4632.

“Acting Locally” is an offering of the Social Justice Ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield. Representing our principles and commitments, the three Community Ministries of the Wakefield UU Church are:  a Welcoming Ministry, creating a safe space and honoring the worth and dignity of each person; a Social Justice Ministry that is an expression of our UU principles in the community; and a Music Ministry, touching hearts with the universal language of music. For more information on the Community Outreach of the Wakefield UU Church, go to www.wakefielduu.org.