Two great events – Monday December 7th and Tuesday, the 8th, in Picton.
When I saw the documentary Food Inc., I immediately wanted to suggest that it be shown by Cinefest. Of course, the smart folks who run our great alt movie circuit in Picton had already thought of that, so it’s on the screen at the Regent this Monday, December 7th at 7:30pm. Here’s a bit of the review that I clipped from the e-blast sent by Cinefest’s Peter Blendell…
“The voice in the opening belongs to the ethical epicurean and locavore champion Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food and The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Mr. Pollan, who periodically appears on screen seated at a homey-looking table, is a great strength of Food, Inc., as is one of its co-producers, Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation. These two embodiments of conscience, together with Mr. Kenner, chart how and why the villains not only outnumber the heroes in contemporary food production, but also how and why they outbluff, outmuscle and outspend their opponents by billions of subsidized dollars.”
On Tuesday, Dec. 8th, A Taste of Peace, a presentation by author Michael Riordon is being held at the Picton branch of the public library. 
In autumn 2008 and 2009, Michael visited with olive farmers in the Jenin region of the West Bank. He went there in two capacities, as a volunteer with Zatoun in Canada, and as a writer, working on a new book about peace-activists in Israel and Palestine.
Zatoun is a Canadian grass-roots initiative to bring fair trade olive oil from family farms in Palestine to Canada and the United States. (Zatoun means olive in Arabic.)
At 6:30 pm on Tuesday, Michael will speak about these journeys, and the challenges of getting this wonderful food from the silver-leafed trees to us.
There will be opportunity to taste the extra virgin olive oil, and za’atar, a traditional condiment made of Mediterranean sumach, wild mountain thyme and sesame. These two products will be available for purchase, along with olive oil soap made by a women’s cooperative in the West Bank.
Hope to see you at both of these events, Christine
