There will be plenty of posts about all the upcoming activities for Local Food Month, but to kick things off in terms of a master schedule, there's a wonderful post up at Diana Dyer, MS, RD. Diana Dyer has two wonderful blogs: the Diana Dyer, MS, RD blog which covers nutrition issues, especially in the context of wellness and cancer, and her 365 Days of Kale blog, which talks about all things kale. I'd heartily recommend both blogs, but especially go here to find out about all the wonderful food events taking place this month. For your immediate attention from Slow Food Huron Valley:

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3rd - LOCAL FOOD ACTION HERO AWARDS AND SCREENING OF CHRIS BEDFORD'S NEW FILM: "COMING HOME"

6:00 - 9:00pm, Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty Tickets $5, available at the Michigan Theater box office

Kicking off this September's Local Food Month, Slow Food Huron Valley is thrilled to announce their first ever Local Food Action Hero Award. They'll be unveiling this year's winner on Thursday night.

Please come to celebrate the recipient, eat great food, learn more about what's happening in our vibrant community, and share in working toward good food for all.

For this event at the beautiful Michigan Theater, we are excited to host Chris Bedford's new film called "Coming Home: E.F. Schumacher and the Reinvention of the Local Economy." After the film, the audience will have an opportunity to talk with the filmmaker himself and take part in a discussion about the many wonderful re-localization and capacity building efforts in our own area.

Please join Slow Food Huron Valley afterwards too for a happy hour and after-party at the new Grange Kitchen and Bar at 118 W. Liberty Street!

This event is made possible with the generous support of Whole Foods Cranbrook - Slow Food Huron Valley was a recipient of their spring Community Support Day!

Tickets are still available for this event - come down tonight for a very inspirational evening!

A second event is coming up on September 7th:

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7th Let's ask our representatives for healthy food in schools! Come to our "TIME FOR LUNCH" Potluck Picnic

12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Mitchell Elementary School Grounds, 3550 Pittsview Dr. in Ann Arbor, MI

Please bring a dish to pass, write a letter and enter our raffle

Slow Food Huron Valley is organizing an "Eat-in" in Ann Arbor, and we invite you to join us for this fun, family potluck and advocacy event. The goal of the event is to raise awareness about the potential for change in the Child Nutrition Act’s reauthorization, and show our policymakers that there is support for more nutritious school lunches among parents and community members. We will have activities for kids, music, door prizes and information about the bill and how parents (and kids, too!) can contact their representatives in Congress. The more people come out, the stronger our voice!

The Child Nutrition Act, which mandates the National School Lunch Program, is up for revision and reauthorization this year. As you may know, food service directors are limited in their options for sourcing local, fresh, whole foods by the required bidding process and low budget meal plan - they have about $1 to spend on food for each lunch. Children are eating nutritionally inadequate meals as a result. Parents are growing concerned, Farm-to-School programs are gaining in popularity, and the time has come to make a change.

Our partners include: Mitchell Elementary School, Ann Arbor Public Schools and AAPS Food Service, Project Grow and GO! Gardening, Agrarian Adventure, Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, Students Advocating Nutrition, and more!

Contact: Deirdra Stockmann, Slow Food Huron Valley - deirdras@gmail.com

For more information on the national event and the Child Nutrition Act, visit the Time for Lunch website.