next community vegan potluck: Winter Solstice!

"Nothing will increase the chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." -Albert Einstein

September 20th, 2009

Come share the harvest bounty at Denman Island's fabulous Fall Equinox feast!
As always, food lovers of every persuasion are welcome.

Please bring a 100% plant-based dish that all may share (free of eggs, dairy, honey & gelatin).

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

After dinner, participants are invited to stay for the powerful educational film, EARTHLINGS.

By far the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between nature, animals, and human economic interests, EARTHLINGS leaves viewers with new-found courage
to make a difference through their lifestyle choices, and to work for change.

Divided into several segments, including our relationship with animals as pets, food, clothing, entertainment and in science, EARTHLINGS provides a behind the scenes expose of various animal-based industries. This highly recommended, award-winning film is deeply compelling, but can be emotionally challenging for some viewers. It also contains course language. Not recommended for children.

"This is the single most powerful and informative movie about societies treatment of
animals. A must see film for anyone who cares enough to know". -Woody Harrelson

Dinner gets underway at 6:30 pm in the Back Hall. Visitors can arrive on the 6:00 pm sailing from Buckley Bay and walk the short hike up the ferry hill to the community hall.
Admission is by donation (suggested $3) towards expenses. Please note that all potluck events are also designated scent-free for inclusivity.

Please visit the DI Vegan Potluck Series webite mainpage for details!

June 21st, 2009

Summertime, and the livin' is easy... especially getting together for a fabulous meal that doesn't require anything fancy, because it's all about the sum of it's parts! That's one reason why our community vegan potlucks are enjoyed by food lovers of every persuasion. So don't be shy- come on out and take part in a deliious, 'slow' meal this weekend, on the longest day of the year. Gather with familiar faces and introduce yourself to new ones! Any 100% plant-based salad, etree, dessert, or single item dish that all may share (free of eggs, dairy, honey and gelatin) is a suitable contribution to ou eco-friendly smorgasbords.

Our Solstice supper will be a purely social event with no after-dinner presentation scheduled- just lots of time to enjoy a great meal, share news, and celebrate community. Children welcome! The potluck series is taking place just four times this year -once a season, so don''t miss out!

Admission is by donation towards expenses, and all events are designated 'scent-free,' to futher inclusivity. Call 1209 if you'd like further information. Our next gathering is scheduled for the Fall Equinox, September 20th.

Sunday, March 22nd, 09

SPRING EQUINOX POTLUCK!

Come celebrate the arrival of spring with your neighbours at the next Denman Community Vegan Potluck, scheduled for March 22^nd, 6:30 pm in the BackHall.

As always, food lovers of every persuasion are invited. Any 100% plant-based dish (free of dairy, eggs, honey and gelatin) is a suitable contribution- nothing fancy required! The great diversity of salads, entrees and dessert items that always manage to arrive create a bountiful meal, and often provide creative new recipe ideas.

This particular potluck date dovetails with MeatOut- an international, educational event about the power of our individual food choices that takes place on or around the Equinox each spring and has spread to over 20 countries in the past 25 years. The much-quoted report by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, "Livestock's Long Shadow -- Environmental Issues and Options" (Nov., 2006), has done a lot to raise awareness about the devastating effects of animal agribusiness on the planet and global warming. And what of global hunger? Around 16 pounds of grain and 2,500 gallons of water are required to produce 1 pound of meat (thus feeding one or two people on meat versus approximately 16 people on grain). The Denman potluck series website links to a long list of articles on these topics and others, for anyone interested in exploring the many merits of eating lower on the food chain.

The now quarterly potluck series had long provided a forum for sharing information that furthers community discourse around issues of social justice, environmental awareness, and calls for action. Since the mid '90s when one of our featured guest speakers, Welsh builder Ianto Evans, shared his now old-fashioned slide show on natural building around the world, the renaissance in cob construction he helped spark here in North America has only grown in leaps and bounds. The Lasquiti Island-born women's collective known as the MudGirls, brought their own enthusiasm for self-empowerment through building with earth two years ago to a community vegan potluck presentation, inspiring a whole new generation of Denman Islanders to 'think outside the box.'

After dinner on March 22^nd, local women who have since participated in MudGirls' skill-building workshops will share their experiences, their belief in the "necessary revolution of natural building," and their vision of a more sustainable future for housing here on Denman. In concert with the aims of the Denman Community Land Trust Association (DCLTA), these activists are keen to pose the question, "What if we were able to gift our community with healthy, affordable and earth-friendly homes?" DCLTA is a local, grassroots volunteer circle of Denman Island residents, representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds and experiences who have come together out of a common desire to do something tangible to address the need for affordable housing on Denman Island. Please come on out and support the conversation.