MEET THE HOME GROWERS CIRCLE   Craig and Gary Neighborhood: Winnetka What's Growing Now: Heirloom Italian greens   Warren and Lovejoy Neighborhood: Highland Park What's Growing Now: Guava, Key Limes, Nectarines, Corn   Ethel and Bill Neighborhood: Los Feliz What's Growing Now: Tomatoes, Fennel   Robert Neighborhood: Silver Lake What's Growing Now: Lettuce   Lewis and Tara Neighborhood: Santa Monica What's Growing Now: Avocado, various stone fruits, Bay Leaf, Black Sapote, Figs VOTE ON THE HOME GROWERS CIRCLE Forage created and supports this group of urban microfarmers as way to forge a locally minded food supply partnership between small business and community in Los Angeles. This Home Growers Circle offers tools and resources so that home growers can share their stories, learn more about cultivating edibles, and afford the fees associated with becoming certified to provide home-grown produce to restaurants and markets. Home growers from all over Los Angeles County have applied for the five spots currently open in the Home Growers Circle. Your vote will help determine who is selected to join! Click here to review the results of the vote! The voting period has concluded and we're counting votes now. Saturday, June 5, 2010 The return of foraging Forage is pleased to announce the return of its foraging program. Effective immediately, the restaurant resumes its Harvest Call and reinstates the practice of accepting home-grown produce. The revised version of our foraging program looks and feels almost identical to the one we started with: You bring in your home-grown produce. We taste it. If we like it, we accept it. When we make something with it, you get the dish named after you, some dining credit, and any bragging rights that come with being a collaborator in our small slice of Los Angeles' good food revolution. There's one thing about this new foraging program which is brand new: Food regulators require all food served in restaurants meet state sourcing criteria. We've spent the past two months unraveling the conflicting stories of what exactly this means. We've spent time with farmers, growers, chefs, regulators, lawyers, and health advocates to figure out what food source approval actually entails. Now that we learned what we've learned, we're enthusiastic to share that knowledge with you and even help you meet that criteria. The backstory In April, county health inspectors visited the restaurant and advised us to stop accepting produce from people who grow food in their backyards. These home growers, the inspectors asserted, are not considered approved sources according to state and county regulations. Home growers, however, are far from destined to be shut out of the restaurant supply chain. As it turns out, the same state certification process that is available to farmers who grow food for a living is also available to home growers. With certification, a home-grower is considered an approved source and is authorized to provide produce to a restaurant or sell produce at a farmers' market. For the produce that Forage is particularly interested in -- seasonal fruits, vegetables, and nuts provided in fresh or whole form -- the county agricultural commissioner oversees certification. A circle of home growers The certification process is straight-forward but confusing, especially if you're a home grower who is not used to dealing with health and agricultural codes. We recognize the inherent challenges in navigating the bureaucracy, so we've teamed up with a few of our most loyal home growers to demystify the certification process. Five have agreed to explore the certification process with us. They will use our website to blog about their experiences with the county. They will share their stories on why they grow food. They will offer the home grower's perspective on the place of super-local produce in the food chain of greater Los Angeles. Together, we're committed to sharing the details -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- so that our experiences can be put to meaningful use by everyone. It is our hope that this circle of home growers can spark a rich community dialogue that will benefit anyone who values the idea of developing a better relationship with food. To us, that relationship is all about knowing what you eat, enjoying what you eat, and caring about the way what you eat has been grown and prepared. The love and attention we put into making our dishes at Forage is fully realized when the ingredients we use come from producers who actively share our values. That's why we look to the local growing community of small farmers, family farmers, and home growers. We seek them out as food sourcing partners because it's our experience that we all share the same vision of what good food means. Join us in building the future of home growing together When we first opened this restaurant at the start of the year, we asked you to help make our foraging concept a reality. The response was a huge outpouring of home-grown produce from the quiet but pervasive culture of Los Angeles' urban microfarmers. We're now asking you once again to join us. We're looking for people who have a passion for growing food. We're looking for people who think it's important to have ways to participate in the foodshed as more than just consumers. A private donor who believes in what Forage represents has graciously provided the funding to pay for the certification fees for ten home growers. With five already selected, that means Forage is able to support five more certifications. We invite anyone with a passion for growing to submit an application to join this circle of home growers. Tell us why you're passionate about growing food. Tell us about your vision of a restaurant culture that is more open to the contributions from home growers. This month we'll hold an open call for submissions. Next month we'll let the general public vote on the submissions. The public's top ten will be forwarded to Forage's selection team, led by our chef owner Jason Kim, and the second group of five will be added to the Home Growers Circle by August 1. We believe this is a win-win-win-win for everyone involved. Home growers win because their local contributions to the foodshed can be recognized. Food regulators win because they can continue fulfilling their obligations to the public. Forage wins because it can continue accepting home-grown produce. You win because you have one more way to support a community that has an active, rich relationship with its food. A wonderful movement is afoot in Los Angeles that makes home growing a more vital part of what it means to live well. Just last month, the city responded positively to urban farming advocates by amending the municipal ordinances that govern the way home grown produce can enter the commercial sphere. The city ordinances are now more understandable and this clears the way for urban farmers to bring their produce to market. It's time to create the same kind of clarity on the county level to ensure the home-grown produce that makes it to markets and restaurants can stay there. Please support the Home Growers Circle. Please support the people who grow food in your community. Please support all restaurants and markets that make room on their menus and shelves for super-local food. Very truly yours in the name of good food, The Forage Team HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT FORAGING Community partners are stepping forward to help make it easy for you to support foraging. Check it out: The Garden We know how much everyone in this city loves the movies. Have you seen this one? The Garden is an Academy Award nominated documentary that tells the story of urban farmers who struggle against land developers to keep their community farm in South Central Los Angeles alive. This film offers a revealing look at the challenges of urban farming in a megacity once known for its agricultural output. The director of the film, Scott Hamilton Kennedy, is a Silver Lake resident and he has offered to not only sell DVDs of the film at a 10% discount, but also grant 10% of proceeds to support the certification fees of future participants of the Home Growers Circle. Buy a DVD and help us build support for an eleventh urban microfarmer. Maybe we'll have to ask one of the microfarmers to raise some corn so that we can make some home-grown movie popcorn. Click here to order a DVD and support the Home Growers Council. Remember to use promotional code FORAGE. HOW YOUR FORAGING BENEFITS THE CITY Here's a list of the different organizations that benefit from your participation in our Harvest Call. When you forage your home-grown food, one way or another, people in this city will be not as hungry. St. Francis Center Provides cooked meals and groceries to working families, near-homeless, and homeless in the downtown Garment District. Actively receives donations of fresh produce, canned goods, and packaged foods. Runs regular pickup routes throughout the city. Will provide documentation of your tax-deductible food donation. Recipient of home-grown blood oranges, collard greens, red chard, Swiss chard, loquats, lemons, fennel, parsley, rosemary, and bay leaves L.A. Food Bank Collects fresh produce, canned foods, packaged foods, and baked goods. Runs free regular pickup throughout the city Monday through Saturday and can add your location to its schedule. Will provide documentation of your tax-deductible food donation. Recipient of home-grown loquats and lavender MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS TOPIC Forage puts foraging on hold due to yet another arcane city regulation Pat, Eating L.A., Sunday, April 11, 2010. Forage Forced to Stop Foraging Hadley Tomicki, Grub Street Los Angeles, Monday, April 12, 2010. Into the Woods: Chefs Embrace Foraging Season ZagatBuzz, April 28, 2010 Forage launches Home Growers Program Pat, Eating L.A., Saturday, June 5, 2010. Silver Lake's Forage Announces Return of Foraging Lindsay William-Ross, LAist, Saturday, June 5, 2010. How to Forage Again at Forage Hadley Tomicki, Grub Street Los Angeles, Monday, June 7, 2010. COMMUNITY DIALOGUE Virginia Nevada, Monday, May 31, 2010 at 10:04PM This is going on nationwide. Due to recent outbreaks of salmonella in food. Primarily it has comes from "Organics". Most people do not understand that this type fertilizer is primarily animal manure. Organic matter - matter that has come from a once-living organism, is capable of decay or the product of decay, or is composed of organic compound. Chicken or cow manure. It can be deadly, please learn the risks. The way to do it, if you wish to continue, is become certified farmers. Even back yard groweres can become certified weather they grow conventionly or organicly. Yes it costs a few dollars but is worth it. It only takes a few minutes and they will “verify” that that person is the producer. The whole country is becoming sticker friendly so you can trace where it comes from. Many people do not understand. They think they want only organic until they find a worm or smaller imperfect produce. They think that using miracle grow is organic. Look into and learn the truth. What if you happenend to serve a poisoned mushroom wild foraged? Who will you call? Health district poison control. I love unique foods but am I willing to die for it? Will you bet your life on it? Best to you, A Nevada Farmer rick santa barbara, Monday, May 10, 2010 at 9:15AM we had a terrific dinner on Saturday before the Fang Island concert at the echoplex. you guys are great. Can't wait to go back. edward Sunday, May 09, 2010 at 2:45PM Your forage program was such a great part of what you served at your restaurant. Have you asked your customers if they would care if you just continued with it and took the B rating? (you said "if we don't comply with the county, we jeopardize our Food Facility Rating, which is currently an A"). Most people I know don't care at all if a place has a B rating. Maybe take a poll! Larry Orlando, FL, Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 10:30PM Read about Forage in Zagat's enewsletter...this type of regulation strikes me as "very California"...well-intentioned, but.... Good luck fighting this and getting back to your excellent concept! Christina Rancho Cucamonga, Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 2:05PM I hope something changes soon. My co-worker has way way way too much citrus in his backyard and he's been giving as much away as he can... but he still has a gazillion grapefruits, lemons and kumquats left. :-/ Warren Highland Park, Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 2:01PM In response to Jim's post, here are instructions on how to become a Los Angeles County Certified Producer from the Agricultural Commissioner's website. It is unclear if this would satisfy Public Health's requirements of requiring food to be purchased from an approved source. The following seems geared toward sales at Farmer's Markets and doesn't address sales to restaurants: "Anyone growing fruits or vegetables in Los Angeles County qualifies to become a Certified Producer and participate in a Certified Farmers' Market. Becoming a Certified Producer is easy. Contact our office at 562-940-7803 to set up an appointment for inspection. An inspector will inspect your growing grounds to verify the agricultural products which are being grown. The inspector will need to know the commodity and variety being grown, quantity being grown, harvest and season, and the estimated production yield. In addition, you will be asked which counties you wish to sell in and how many embossed copies you need. The cost to become a Certified Producer is $63. Following the inspection, an embossed certificate will be mailed to your residence. This certificate must be prominently displayed at all times when selling at a Certified Farmers' Market." Warren Highland Park, Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 1:27PM Thanks Elissa for mentioning the Food & Flowers Freedom Act! This is definitely a step in the right direction. However, it appears that the issue with County Public Health has roots in the State Health and Safety Code. This might mean that a change in State Law will be required in order to allow Forage to serve food prepared from home-grown produce. This can be done but it will take a while and will require buy in from the local as well as state-level lawmakers. Who's up for a letter writing campaign?? Jim Ojai, Monday, April 19, 2010 at 9:23PM the county's position is really unfortunate, and I admire the restraint in your response. The rule about purchasing from certified growers is intended to protect all consumers from people who go to the produce market, buy seconds, and resell it as their own production; it stems from the inception of Farmers Markets in the late 70's. My wife and I are "certified growers" up in Ventura County, and it isn't that difficult to get certified. You make a list of what you grow, you make an appointment with a Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, you show up with your site listing, pay some money, the inspector comes to inspect your site -- this is to make sure you aren't just purchasing from the wholesale market and reselling -- and then you're good to go. It's easy for us because growing is what we do for a living; I can see that it would be a major hassle for backyard gardeners with full-time jobs, but in principle it isn't insuperable. I think what you're doing is great and if there's political activity to be done I would do my best to participate. Simone Venice, Monday, April 19, 2010 at 6:10PM I read about your restaurant today and was very excited. Now I see your foraging concept has been shut down by the bureaucrats. so sad. But you've started something, it shows that people are inspired and willing to grow and share good food. (btw I don't understand why it's illegal for you to use foraged food in your restaurant but not in a soup kitchen.) How about making the restaurant some sort of club that you have to sign a form and pay a small fee to enter. That's what the raw market Rawesome does, for other but similar reasons. best of good food to you! please keep me informed simone Marc Studio City, Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 11:06AM There's a very obvious thing that everyone seems to be missing here. The restaurant isn't being allowed by the city to serve paying customers with foraged produce that the customers brought in, but we're more than allowed to give it to the homeless and let them possibly get sick. Who is the government protecting? The people? I think not. You protect the people when you protect all people. This is based on business practices and protecting the produce suppliers. It's too bad and just another example of our city's ridiculous rules. Elissa Eagle Rock, Friday, April 16, 2010 at 2:31PM You should check out the Flowers & Food Freedom Act. I heard earlier today that is just passed-- this would make it legal for food grown on residential properties to be sold. This could be really good news you Forage! Tony Los Feliz, Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 8:50AM This is very distressing. Surely if the customers understand what is being offered, and choose to make their choices after being fully informed, that should be their decision. Would the situation be any different if you had 'grown the food yourselves' on plots of land around the city? Could you 'rent' the land from the owners? I hope that you will be able to resolve this. I fully support your program, and recognize the benefit of freshly grown food (I grew up in the country with a full acre of kitchen garden). Nothing compares to fresh vegetables! This of course is yet another example of the government telling us how to run our lives. I have every confidence that you'll be able to rally the support of the community who share your ideals. Ethel Los Feliz, Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 7:55PM This is so upsetting. Today is the fourth time we brought produce (fennel, parsley, rosemary, bayleaf, today) and blood oranges ( total of about 60 lbs to date)) to Forage only to find out about the Health Department issue. Forage is an absolutely wonderful opportunity for us to share our bounty which in many cases just goes bad if we cannot give it away. I understand the problem but there must be a way to encourage people like us to produce our own fruit and veggies. We have been growing fruits and vegetables for our family and friends since we moved to our Los Feliz home in 1976. This is the first time we have had Forage available to us. And to be able to come back to eat at Forage and know that items on the menu, prepared by a master chef, Jason and his staff, were the result of home grown foods brought in by my friends and neighbors was so exciting. I have no objections to the foods we brought today going to food pantries but it is not the same thing. Maybe we need a local "food exchange" that will allow us to "trade" our produce for meals. I hope that somehow, Jason and Eugene will be able to come up with a plan. After all, in the next few months we will have tomatoes, avocados and green peppers coming ripe. And we still have more blood oranges on the tree! See you soon. monica Echo Park, Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 5:47PM i'm so sorry to hear this. your concept was really exciting. Bronwyn Glendale, Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 4:00PM How frustrating for those of us who want to find restaurants serving good quality, locally-grown food. There must be a way to amend local ordinances so that a restaurant founded on Forage's principles can provide that. What's worse is that those who wrote those same ordinances would have us believe that factory-produced, genetically-modified, pesticide-laden food that is picked when green, ripened in shipping containers, and trucked in from hundreds of miles away is somehow safer for us to eat than what a backyard farmer grows in Echo Park. Keep fighting the good fight, Forage. Marcela Los Feliz, Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 10:12AM Just wanted to say I have been going to Forage 3X a week since you opened and I can testify to how much you guys have changed this neighborhood's routine, in the best possible way. I can't really speak for other people, but I see so much passion in what you do, more than that, I can taste it, and it's such a difference to have this place in my life now... I don't wanna blab too much, but whatever I can do to help you out, please shoot me an email... I'm a major agoraphobic, but I will even get all political if you need help sticking it to the man, or complying with regulations, whatever, as long as you don't stop feeding me... Much love Marcela If you submitted your comment early Sunday morning and you still don't see it here, it's because we need to verify you want your comments to be published. Shoot us an email if this sounds like you! SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS We encourage you to share your thoughts and comments. Please note, your submission will be added to the public dialog on this page if you indicate your permission to share. If you do want to share, your comment won't appear automatically. It will be reviewed first to ensure it isn't off-topic spam. If you want to submit a private comment only to Forage, uncheck the permission box. Your email information is private with us and we won't share it with anyone. Thank you for your interest in participating in this dialogue. 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