Local residents interested in learning more about contemporary food culture—including such topics as farm to table, organic vs. local vs. biodynamic, culinary diversity, food politics and more—are invited to sign up for a new hands-on, non-credit Edible Education course open to the public at Stony Brook Southampton.
Taught in eight classes with two supplemental gardening intensives by Edible East End founding editor Brian Halweil, the new course begins on October 25 and runs through December 20. Registration deadline is Monday, October 22.
Designed around the concept of building food skills, knowledge and community, the new Edible Education course will demonstrate why agriculture and food are the single biggest way that humans touch the planet. With the East End identified more and more as a unique hotspot of the new American food culture, the course will examine school lunch reform, food safety, animal welfare, GMOs and CRISPR, farm bill reform, Long Island wines and more.
“The course is for teachers, health care providers, food entrepreneurs, parents or any one interested in making food a bigger part of their career and life,” said Halweil. “When we understand food and drink more, we can enjoy it more. Students will gain the ability to evaluate and understand contemporary food issues as they relate to local and global challenges. Course materials will draw on current events, popular media and published research in food and drink, and will also be guided by the students’ interests.”
Each class will include a 30-min. food skill lesson, including cooking, gardening and food preservation skills. Students will go to South Fork Kitchens and the campus staff garden for this part. The two gardening intensives will be held on campus as well.
Brian Halweil is the founding editor of Edible East End, as well as Edible magazines throughout New York City, Long Island and Memphis. He is also an advisor to food and agriculture investment funds including TPG Rise and Almanac. He lives with his family in Sag Harbor, where he keeps a home garden and a laying flock of heritage poultry.
The course will meet from October 25 to December 20 on Thursdays, 5:20 to 8:10 p.m., in Chancellors Hall room 237, with the two gardening intensives offered from 9 a.m. to noon on two Saturdays, November 10 and November 17.
Cost for the course is $985. For more information or to register, visit www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/southampton/mfa/edible/ or email SouthamptonArts@stonybrook.edu.
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