May 2025 Newsletter

As the school year winds down and gardens across the city burst into bloom, we’re entering a season of both reflection and renewal at Slow Food Denver. This month’s updates include the wrapping-up of our Seed to Plate programming for the season, the launch of our summer volunteer mornings, exciting announcements for our annual Farm Dinner, our May foraging series, and the celebration of two new Snail of Approval awardees. We’re also welcoming a staff transition and building new collaborations with fellow Colorado chapters — there’s a lot to share!

Spring is in full bloom here in Denver, and as the school year begins to wind down, so does our beloved Seed to Plate program. It’s been a joy to spend the season cooking and gardening alongside so many curious young minds, and we’re already looking forward to getting back into school gardens this fall. Thank you to all of our volunteers and educators who make this program thrive!

As summer approaches, we’re shifting gears and looking ahead to new opportunities for connection. Beginning next month, we’ll be offering volunteer mornings most Mondays at the Civic Center gardens in partnership with Grow Local Colorado. Please sign up as there is a limited number of volunteers for each date. This will be our main recurring offering through the summer, but we’re also creating custom volunteer days with local farms for any groups of ten or more. If you’re part of a school, company, or organization that’s interested in spending a morning in the dirt, we’d love to hear from you!

We're also thrilled to announce that tickets for our most cherished annual gathering, the Slow Food Farm Dinner, will go on sale this month! Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 7th. This year’s dinner will be hosted at the beautiful Chatfield Farms and will feature a meal by the esteemed Chef Caroline Glover, James Beard Award winner and owner of Annette and Traveling Mercies. Tickets go on sale this month, and they will go fast — keep an eye out!

Meanwhile, our FED Workshop Foraging Series is in full swing. The first session took place on May 15th, and the second is coming up on May 29th. These events have been a beautiful way to explore our local landscapes and ancestral foodways — grab your tickets soon if you’d like to join us!

We’re also thrilled to welcome two new recipients into our Snail of Approval community: SAME Café and Moon Raccoon Baking Co. SAME Café continues to lead by example with its pay-what-you-can model and commitment to nourishing every member of our community with dignity. Moon Raccoon brings artistry, intention, and an unwavering dedication to local ingredients in everything they bake. We're proud to honor both of these outstanding businesses.

Looking ahead, we’ll be partnering with our friends at other Colorado Slow Food chapters for a series of digital gatherings, including film screenings and watch parties for the newest season of Chef’s Table. Stay tuned via Slow Food Boulder’s website for event details and how to join the fun.

Lastly, a bittersweet note: this will be my final month as Programs & Outreach Manager with Slow Food Denver. It has been a great honor to work with this vibrant and generous team and community. While I’ll deeply miss this work, I’m excited to pass the baton to Emily Steels, who will be stepping into a full-time role as Programs & Outreach Coordinator. Emily brings incredible dedication and vision to this role — I know the community is in excellent hands. Additionally, we are hiring a Communiactions & Media Intern. This part time position will assist the team in executing digital marketing and outreach plans.

Wishing you all a joyful start to the growing season and a summer full of nourishment and connection.