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Slow Food Lake Tahoe | Raising Chickens and Cooking Outside the Box

Staff report
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TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. — Reconnect with your food source and eat from your backyard. Join Slow Food Lake Tahoe for a hands-on workshop to learn how to raise chickens in the Tahoe Truckee region on Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.-noon in Olympic Heights.

“We are getting more conscious about how we can live more efficiently,” said Slow Food’s Polly Triplat, who will lead the workshop. “And having food in the back yard is most efficient.”

Triplat has taught the class for three years, which is becoming more popular as people are interested in participating in having their own food source and getting involved in raising chickens. They are a source of fresh eggs, meat and produce excellent fertilizer and material for your compost and soil health. Raising chickens is a fun and satisfying way to get closer to your food source.



The workshop will cover basic coop design, feeding and handling, cold hardy breeds, include a discussion about town codes, and what it takes to keep your birds safe from predators.

When considering if your digs are appropriate for raising chickens, you will gain a deeper sense of awareness about your neighborhood and environment.



“There are reasons why certain places aren’t good for raising chickens,” said Triplat. “It’s like putting the trash out and attracting bears. We know as a community you wouldn’t want to have chickens in Ward Canyon, where there is a lot of bear activity, or a neighborhood with dogs, or a corridor where coyotes run.”

See first hand the flock at Truckee River Sanctuary, where there might be a new batch of chicks.

There will be plenty of time for questions and handling the hens.

Cost is $15 and $10 for Slow Food members. Contact Polly Triplat to register and for directions at 530-412-0774.

Cooking Outside the Box

A Slow Food event will teach you amazing recipes for seasonal vegetables, many of which are found in a weekly CSA box (Community Support Agriculture). Enjoy a diversity of tastes and wine pairings as Dragonfly’s chef and owner Billy McCullough creates dishes using fresh, organic produce from Natural Trading Company in Newcastle, Calif. Cooking Outside the Box is a benefit for Slow Food Lake Tahoe, which supports good, clean, fair food. Cost is $35 for Slow Food members, $40 for non-members, Wednesday, June 5, 6-8 p.m. at Dragonfly Restaurant, 10118 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. For reservations call Dragonfly directly at 530-587-0557 and for event details visit http://www.slowfoodlaketahoe.org.

Slow Food Lake Tahoe’s mission is to reconnect people to the enjoyment of local, seasonal and sustainable food while educating the community about their vital role as participants in the food system.

Backyard Poultry

For a peek at the Sierra Sun’s sister publication, Backyard Poultry, click here.


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