Because we had all been at the same monastary outside of Turin, and because we were
on the bus going to and from Terra Madre everyday, CA farmers Rick and Kristie Knoll got on so famously with the
New Orleans crew that they decided to begin their 2 week winter vacation
here in New Orleans.

Rick is such an inspirational, out of the box wizard that by sharing with
him the devastation and the challenges we face in New Orleans he was able to
suggest many fascinating solutions to some of our troubles.

During the time that he and Kristie shared with us we visited with the New
Orleans delegates, travelling down into Plaquemine Parish through the few
still existing citrus groves, all the way to Empire to see the extent of
damage to the Tvrdeic’s oystering community.

They spent time with [TM delegate] Kay Brandhurst at the Saturday market (and we ate LOTS
of the Brandhurst’s delicious shrimp!)

Of course we made the usual trips through the Lakeview area where the 17th
Street Canal break occurred and travelled throughout the 9th Ward into St.
Bernard Parish where the Brandhurst’s formerly had their home and business....

Because we had all been at the same monastary outside of Turin, and because we were
on the bus going to and from Terra Madre everyday, CA farmers Rick and Kristie Knoll got on so famously with the
New Orleans crew that they decided to begin their 2 week winter vacation
here in New Orleans.

Rick is such an inspirational, out of the box wizard that by sharing with
him the devastation and the challenges we face in New Orleans he was able to
suggest many fascinating solutions to some of our troubles.

During the time that he and Kristie shared with us we visited with the New
Orleans delegates, travelling down into Plaquemine Parish through the few
still existing citrus groves, all the way to Empire to see the extent of
damage to the Tvrdeic’s oystering community.

They spent time with [TM delegate] Kay Brandhurst at the Saturday market (and we ate LOTS
of the Brandhurst’s delicious shrimp!)

Of course we made the usual trips through the Lakeview area where the 17th
Street Canal break occurred and travelled throughout the 9th Ward into St.
Bernard Parish where the Brandhurst’s formerly had their home and business.

New Year’s Eve is Kristie Knoll’s birthday and we celebrated by taking a
trip in Slow Food member and friend, John Egerton’s mobile home to the
Northshore, where we visited Heather Robertson’s already producing
strawberry fields, Jim Core’s heirloom produce filled fields and finished
with a visit to Nick Usner, the newest, youngest and most progressive of the
Crescent City Farmer’s Market.

Nick’s dad was an organic, goat farmer who unfortunately is deceased - but
as hoped, Rick and Nick were such a wonderful, potential fit that when Nick
asked Rick’s advice about agricultural schools in the West, Rick invited him
to come and spend a season working on Knoll’s Farm.

The pastor of Mary Queen of Vietnam, Fr. Vien Nyguen met with Kristie and
Rick to discuss the opportunities that the potential pending purchase of 95
acres will bring - from farming products suited for this area and not being
grown in the Anglo farming community as well as the possibilities of also
incorporating elements of recycling (a huge potential business that has been
greatly lacking since the storm) as well as composting.

The Knolls visit culminated in an event “Turning a New Leaf - Beyond
Organics with Bio-dynamic farmer, Rick Knoll”, hosted by Slow Food New
Orleans at Savvy Gourmet on Tuesday, January 2nd. Covered very well by New
Orleans radio, TV and print journalism, the well attended event featured
fresh produce from the Knoll’s farm and served as a fund raiser for the
Edible School Yard New Orleans. Rick’s presentation was complete with
enticing images of life on the farm and shared the idea of bio-dynamics with
a group who included local farmers, educators, chefs, Terra Madre Relief
Fund delegates and Slow Food members as well as the general public. It was a
wonderful and enlightening evening in which Slow Food New Orleans enlisted
many new members.

Next October, the Knolls are planning an event on their Brentwood farm with
Poppy Tooker, New Orleans Slow Food leader which will be called “Slow Food
New Orleans Thanks Slow Food California.” Featuring Louisiana products as
well as “Tairwa Produce” from Knoll Farms, we hope this farm dinner will
thank the many Slow Food Californians who came to the aid of Slow Food New
Orleans after Katrina as well as provide much conviviality for all.

-written by Poppy Tooker, Slow Food New Orleans leader, US Ark-Presidia Committee Chair,
Culinary Activist, Chef, Food Teacher, and Writer