COMMUNITY
EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY AT GAIA'S GARDEN!
Gaia's Garden is a restaurant, a music and art venue, and a community center, a place to meet, chat, dream, chill, study, plan and - of course - eat! We've developed events that bring people together, such as dinners-with-authors, comedy , the Activists' Lounge (music and poetry sponsored by the Sonoma County Center for Peace and Justice) and other types of presentations. If you have an idea you'd like to share with us, contact Ari at (707) 292-7492.
FUNDRAISER FOR LABEL GMOs, Sunday, June 23.
A portion of the days' proceeds will be donated to the Label GMOs committee, so please join us and support this important cause. From 5-8 p.m., Roger Bolt will host a songwriters' open mic, with emphasis on earth-friendly songs.
Why should you care? There is good, reliable information to be had from Non-GMO Project. Gaia's Garden cannot claim to be totally GMO-free, but we are moving in that direction as quickly as we can, while keeping prices reasonable and keeping the restaurant sustainable. All soy products are organic (i.e., GMO-free). We no longer use canola oil in the restaurant. Our corn meal and polenta are purchased from Bob's Red Mill, a company which does not plant GMO seed (but which cannot guarantee against driftage), and we use organic corn starch. We do not use high fructose corn syrup or aspertame, and our textured vegetable protein is organic (non-GMO). Our fabulous corn chowder is made with commercial corn, so it probably does contain GMOs, but we cannot afford to offer an organic version on the buffet. The same is true of the corn tortillas which we use in enchiladas and tacos. But:
In July, we will be introducing an a la carte menu in addition to the buffet. This will allow us to offer more items which are GMO-free, and which will be priced accordingly. The buffet will continue as a healthy, reasonably-priced lifeline option, and diners who can and will pay more for completely organic and non-GMO meals will have the opportunity to do so. Community support will determine what we will include, and how much variety there will be, so please help us succeed in this!
WOMEN IN BLACK
You see them every Friday, in the rain, in the heat, on the corner of Mendocino and College Avenues in Santa Rosa, witnessing for peace and justice. You will also see them most Fridays at Gaia's Garden, warming up with soup and bread. If you've wondered about them or just marveled, don't hesitate to stop by the table and say hello.
"This movement began in 1988 in Israel. Jewish women who opposed their own government's violence against Palestinians began standing on Fridays in public squares; some Palestinian women joined them. Later, the movement expanded to other countries. Women in Black was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. In California alone, 25 cities and towns are listed on the group's website. We are joined by men in sympathy - who are committed to peace with justice. The world is in need of a strong witness for peace! We are not an organization, but a movement." Bev Ludwig
FREE GO LOCAL CARDS NOW AVAILABLE AT GAIA'S GARDEN!
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We are members of Go Local, and invite you to become more familiar with this organization dedicated to strengthening our local community and economy. We're participants in their Rewards Card program which will give you 1) a free chai the first time you use the card, 2) a 4% discount on the full buffet and 3) a free meal each time your cumulative full buffet purchases reach $150 (the card keeps track!) Visit the site at sonomacounty.golocal.coop. |
Is your non-profit organization having a silent auction to raise funds? We're a soft touch for gift certificates. Just ask.
We're extremely fortunate to be located in the Santa Rosa JC neighborhood, blessed with a neighborhood association that is very active and truly inspiring. Find out more at www.srjcneighbors.org.
Warner puts the "Garden" in "Gaia's Garden." Rachel Finn-Romero
Have you noticed the lovely vegetable and flower garden in front of the restaurant? It was put in by igrow almost two years ago as part of the "350 Garden Challenge." Ours is one of 600 that were created during one weekend with the help of dedicated volunteers! (In our case, they did it all.) igrow.org.
The garden is being maintained by Warner and his crew and is a magical place. He has also filled in our planter boxes beautifully. If you need some landscaping done, consider Warner - Diggers Integrated Gardens, (707) 887-7969.
