Hello there Outdoor Afros! Kelly here from the Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project!

This past Saturday I was a guest of Outdoor Afro and Soul Food Farm at their annual benefit for Slow Food Solano, and the Farmer Veteran Coalition in Vacaville, CA. I have to tell you, I had a GREAT time! It was a day of firsts for me, the first time I’ve ridden my ’86 Honda Shadow for an hour straight, the first time I’ve ridden over a bridge, and the first time I’ve ever watched beef butchered. And I learned all new vocabulary, like:
char•cu•te•rie
Definition of CHARCUTERIE : a delicatessen specializing in dressed meats and meat dishes; also : the products sold in such a shop…
Which I discovered meant people and places that make bacon, sausage and other cured meats. YUM!
Click to check out all my photos!

I also learned how professionally trained butchers “break down” beef. It was fascinating watching my favorite cuts of meat being sliced away from a whole cow. You don’t get more real than that! I even walked away with a packet of grass-fed beef stew meat I won in the raffle! Agricola Grassfed Beef donated the cow and from the lunch we had- from pastrami sandwiches to beef tacos (my personal favorite) to the most delicious ribs I’ve ever tasted. How beef is raised and butchered makes a huge difference in taste!

Seriously, beef, beer and butchers with chain link belts on… I was in Kelly-Heaven!
The owner of Soul Food Farm, Alexis, was so welcoming to all of her guests! She spoke to everyone about the importance of supporting both the slow food movement, school gardens, and returning veterans. She and her volunteers have our thanks for everything they do!
Thank you Rue of Outdoor Afro and Soul Food Farm for inviting Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project to this “first in a lifetime” opportunity!
Best,
Kelly D. Carlisle
Founder/ Executive Director
Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project
Ph: 510.972.3276