• Where

• Viracocha, 998 Valencia @ 21st

• When

• Aug. 31, 6:30 p.m.

• Cost

• $10, suggested donation

Kitchen Table Talks is a conversation group organized by Civil Eats and 18 Reasons that meets once a month to discuss various aspects of the food production system in the US. Each meeting highlights the work of a specific non-profit organization that is working on a facet of the sustainable food system.

On August 31st, the group will meet at Viracocha to discuss heirlooms. Terry Harrison, founder of Trees of Antiquity, a Sonoma based apple nursery will be on hand, as will Bryce Austin of Austin Heritage Ranch, an unsual orchard of prune, fig, and apricot trees that is growing at an elevation of 1,000 feet. Also present will be Loulou’s Garden jam-maker Casey Havre.

Heirloom seeds and rootstocks will be the featured stars of the night’s lively talk on the provenance of veritals, the threat to genetic diversity brought upon by Industrialization and even the very meaning of heirloom. For those that are interesting in doing a little research on the matter….and perhaps diving into the world of heirlooms, then the Ark of Taste is a fantastic resource to plough over – it is a catalogue of food in danger of extinction, compiled by the Slow Food Movement.

The event is open to the public and sustainable food and refreshments will be served beginning at 6:30 p.m. The discussion starts at 7.