Spectacular Farm-to-Table Dinner for a Great Cause on August 4

The 13^th annual ¡Cultiva! Harvest Dinner will be held Saturday August 4, 2012, 4:30 pm, hosted in the grandeur of Growing Gardens’ beautiful grounds at 1630 Hawthorn Ave. in North Boulder. Growing Gardens believes that gardening feeds the body, mind and spirit of people who participate and this event will celebrate another successful year of the organization’s ¡Cultiva! Youth Project, which encourages youth to create positive change within themselves and their communities. All net proceeds from the event will benefit the ¡Cultiva! Youth Project.

At the dinner, like-minded culinary entrepreneurs will collaborate on the annual feast, which embraces both the significance of community and sustainable food practices. A tour of the gardens and a beautiful array of appetizers, cocktails, wine & local beer will be available beginning at 4:30 pm which is included in the ticket price. The following line up of all-star chefs will prepare gourmet food for the cocktail hour and 5-course sit-down dinner, highlighting organic vegetables and herbs from the Cultiva garden, accompanied by locally raised meats, cheeses, and grains. Each course will be paired with organic wine & local beer.

Our All-Star Chef Line-up:

Chris Blackwood- West End Tavern

Alex Krill - SALT the Bistro

Antonio Laudisio- Laudisio Italian Restaurant

Melissa Newell & Tim Payne- Terroir Restaurant

Shamane Simons- Shamane's Bake Shoppe

Diane Starnick- Culinary Hearts Catering

Mike Trimmer- Brasserie Ten Ten

Attendees will experience stunning views of the Flatirons from the serenity of an 11-acre garden, while also enjoying diverse entertainment including live music, a silent and live auction and a video documentary of the ¡Cultiva! Youth Project in action. Tickets are $100 per person ($125 after July 27) and can be purchased through Growing Gardens by calling Megan at 303-443-9952 or on the web at http://www.growinggardens.org/cultiva-harvest-dinner.

About             Growing Gardens and ¡Cultiva!

Growing Gardens is a Boulder-based non-profit whose mission is to enrich the lives of our community through sustainable urban agriculture. Growing Gardens envisions people experiencing a direct and deep connection with plants, the land and each other. Through its many gardening-based programs, Growing Gardens strives to extend the knowledge circle outward: to other gardeners, to people who want to be gardeners and to people who want to work alongside the organization to build community by working the soil.

Cultiva! is a youth operated organic market garden. Each summer, participants (ages 12-18) plant and nurture a 2-acre garden, harvest the produce weekly to sell at the new Growing Gardens Community Support Agriculture (CSA) program, and donate a portion of what is harvested to those in need in the local community. This program builds leadership, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills. The Cultiva! youth also teach and guide younger children, learn about cooking, nutrition, and beekeeping and volunteer in the community. Through this project, youth learn to care for and protect the environment, how to operate a small business, and have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities which create positive change for the community, the environment, and youth themselves. To learn more, visit: www.growinggardens.org.