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For more than a decade,听听听has been empowering small-scale food producers. Slow Food International was founded nearly three decades ago by Carlo Petrini in response to the proposed opening of a McDonald鈥檚 in one of Rome鈥檚 most historic spots. Since 1989, it has grown into an international organization with a wide range of objectives, including preserving food cultures and traditions, increasing people鈥檚 interest in the food they eat and where it comes from, and working towards a world with good, clean, and fair food for all.

Each year on December 10th, the Slow Food international community 鈥� which is made up of people in more than 160 countries 鈥� celebrates听: an opportunity for promoting local food, sustainable production, and conscientious consumption. Terra Made Day also highlights the importance of biodiversity and aims to connect consumers and producers.

Food Tank is highlighting a list of activities to celebrate on Terra Madre Day and every day.

1. Learn a traditional cooking method.听Make a loaf of bread by hand by following the听. Be inspired by Edie Mukiibi, the Vice President of Slow Food International,听听in Uganda. Preparing your morning coffee over the stove might remind you that there are听.听Michael Pollan, in his book, writes听that 鈥渃ooking is all about connection鈥�between us and other species, other times, other cultures.鈥澨齅ake this your motto for Terra Madre Day.
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2. Cook with an endangered food.听Check out听. The list includes the听听from Brazil, the听听from Wisconsin, and the听from Russia鈥檚 Vladimirskiy region. If the one you have in mind isn't listed,听听for saving on the Ark of Taste, Slow Food International鈥檚 online catalog of foods at risk of extinction.
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3. Seek out and purchase local foods at farmers markets and supermarkets.听Not only will buying local get you the freshest food, but, according to Dan Houston of the economic analytics firm听, it听. Use the听, a growing list of sustainable restaurants, markets, stores, and farms, to help you support local food production.
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4. Buy extra of your favorite in-season foods to preserve.听Try canning, drying, or other methods. The听听offers seasonal ideas, like听听and听, as well as听, pickling, freezing, and drying.
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5. Celebrate with a community meal.听Invite friends, family, neighbors, co-workers. Give your meal a theme, or challenge your guests to prepare or purchase their contribution using the ideas from this list.
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6. Educate yourself.听Watch a documentary on food production or agriculture, such as听or听,听or schedule a visit to a local farm. For ideas, reference this听听on building a better food system, which are all available on Netflix.
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7. Host a food tasting and feature foods that are in-season and locally grown.听Skip the imported vegetables and instead include a variety of local winter squash. Use this opportunity to learn about what is in season in your area. If you鈥檙e looking for resources, refer to university and state Departments of Agriculture guides to seasonal crops. See听.
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8. Cook something with your grandma.听Preparing a meal with someone who traditionally cooks is a unique and invaluable learning experience and helps to maintain and spread the legacy of that dish, food, or culture. According to the, individuals value 鈥溙齮he cumulative knowledge and experience鈥� and are important elements in man鈥檚 relationship to food.听
   The Barilla Center鈥檚 article,听,听suggests that retaining ritual and tradition in our food is important for maintaining, or returning to, a 鈥渉ealthy, positive approach to food and eating.鈥�
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9. Plant something edible.听Your Terra Madre Day plant will be both local and sustainable, and may teach you something more personal about food production.
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10. Make a donation to an organization that supports sustainable agriculture.听Consider a contribution to grassroots organizations like听, which spreads successful practices for healthy food and farming in rural communities, and听, working towards the creation of positive, interest-oriented environments for food and agriculture in Uganda and Africa through school and community gardening. For more ideas, refer to the list of听. 听鈥�

According to Slow Food International Vice President Edie Mukiibi, 鈥溙齱hat is on your plate. It鈥檚 a process.鈥� Remembering that process is what Terra Madre Day is about.

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