Here’s what’s new (and newsworthy) in our local food-and-drink community.

 

With a mission to foster connection and resilience through neighborhood gardens, Soulful Seeds has been providing healthy food to vulnerable populations in the Reno-Tahoe area since 2017. What began as a community garden at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno evolved into a nonprofit organization in 2018. Today, Soulful Seeds’ leaders oversee multiple USDA Certified People’s Gardens across the community.

 

On an unpretentious street in North Reno, you’ll find a modest house abuzz with activity inside and out. It’s a place where locals gather for Sunday potluck dinners, groups of chatty schoolchildren get their hands dirty in the garden, and residents living in one of Reno’s food deserts can pick up fresh produce. Founded in 2021 by a group of volunteers — including Lily Baran, a vivacious bundle of energy and voice for relieving food insecurity — the Hampton House Garden Project focuses on educational programs, food recovery, and distribution.

 

Most families are aware that qualifying students attending schools in the Washoe County School District receive two meals per school day, breakfast and lunch, on campus free of charge. But many of these children who live in low-income households still don’t have access to nutritious dinners when they’re not in school. The challenge is to ensure children are getting enough food outside of school hours.

 

For native Nevadan and artist Kyle Karrasch, creative inspiration emerged from his Boy Scouts background and living the organization’s ethos of “leave no trace.” Everywhere he went in his youth, no matter how remote, he saw evidence of human activity in the form of garbage.

Whether you’re in the mood to learn something new or just be entertained, there are plenty of events from which to choose.

Learn how to apply defensible space principles and proven steps to improve personal safety and home survival during wildfire at University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Master Gardeners: Gardening in a Fire Adapted Community Class on April 2. Savor bold, earthy wines from volcanic soils paired with delicious dishes at Calafuria’s Volcanic Wines Dinner on April 2. Catch Alton Brown Live: Last Bite at the Pioneer Center on April 2 for culinary hacks, witty food songs, and a one-of-a-kind variety show. Experience the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Fox Cultural Hall in Kings Beach on April 4 and 5, where powerful films ignite conversation and inspire activism. Exchange seeds, share knowledge and diversify your garden with locally adapted plants at Wilbur D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s Seed Swap on April 5. Don’t miss one of the world’s largest gatherings celebrating the best of whiskey and outdoor sports at Team Whiskey Bonanza at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center on April 5. Learn how to care for the perennial plants in your garden at Carson City Greenhouse’s Spring Cleaning in the Perennial Garden Class on April 7.