Esther Oertel, local chef and food columnist, gave a demonstration at the Friday Night Farmers' Market in Clearlake, Calif., on Friday, July 2, 2010. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE – The Friday Night Farmers' Market at Redbud Park in Clearlake was vibrant and bustling with locals and tourists alike last week.

The Lake County Community Co-op hosted local chef Esther Oertel.

Oertel, a chef at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley, demonstrated a variety of recipe options from the co-op's weekly CSA box.

She also expanded the audience's knowledge of spices and seasonal mixing.

The farmers' selection at the market is increasing each week as the Lake County growing season moves into full swing and more producers are rounding out the variety of food available at the market, including RB's Honey and Shamrock Goat Cheese.

Local band Blind Spot, featuring Tom Nixon, moved the crowd to their feet with old time rock and roll.

Families danced and dined eating freshly prepared meals of tacos, kabobs, homemade Belgian waffles, sweet potato pie and seasonal fruit, including peaches, strawberries and blackberries.

The market, located on the shore of Clear Lake, is in its third season and market manager Hileri Shand is focused on growing the market by adding special touches like Oertel, who will return Aug. 6 to shop at the market and demonstrate on the spot recipes.

This week's music is provided by Michael Barrish, a self-proclaimed cowboy that woos the crowd with his guitar and lyrics.

The farmers' market is part of the Lake County Community Co-op's vision for a more sustainable local food system. They collaborate with the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and the City of Clearlake.

The market runs 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. through August and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in September.

For more information on the market, go to www.lakeco-op.org, or call Shand, at 707-483-0785.

Visitors to the Friday Night Farmers' Market in Clearlake, Calif., on Friday, July 2, 2010, had the opportunity to purchase fresh, locally produced vegetables and fruits. Courtesy photo.

This is a response to Susan Jen’s June 27 commentary about the growing epidemic of obesity in this country and what part Lake County is taking in fighting this epidemic.

In addition to the sources Ms. Jen mentioned to help this national problem, I wanted to also mention the Lake County Community Co-op (LCCC).

LCCC seeks to help support our local farmers and producers of fresh, local and sustainable food here in Lake County by connecting them in different ways to the community.

By helping the community know who these farmers are and where this food is produced, the LCCC hopes that more people can have an opportunity to eat fresher and more organic produce that’s rich in nutrition and important fiber that Ms. Jen talks about in her commentary.

The volunteer-run LCCC has a wonderful weekly CSA box available by purchase to its members which always holds an array of quality organic fruits and vegetables grown locally and regionally.

We’ve established the popular Friday Night Farmer’s Market, held in Clearlake during the months of June through September at Redbud Park (not Redbud Library as the commentary stated). Currently, the hours are from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. but will change in September to 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition, the LCCC holds monthly educational gatherings open to both its paid members and general public where we gather for local farm tours and have other food-related topics discussed during the off growing season.

And check out JoAnn Saccato’s recent letter here on Lake County News (Saccato: Grateful for excitement about senior center garden) about the exciting, LCCC-involved community garden momentum that’s growing in Clearlake at the Senior Citizens Center.

The co-op is yet another important entity in Lake County that is helping the community seek ways to eat healthier and thus be healthier by eating locally grown produce that ultimately should help steer folks away from other types of food that fuels the obesity epidemic.

Please find out more by going to http://lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

Lori Patotzka is a Clearlake resident and Lake County Community Co-op volunteer.

LAKE COUNTY – No farms, no food! Eat fresh, buy local. Know your farmer. Food miles … We have all heard the slogans, but what it really boils down to is taking responsibility for our actions in everything we do.

When we eat in season and are aware of where our food comes from and what process it has gone through to become our meal, we become conscious eaters. There is freedom in knowledge and power in choice.

For your convenience and freedom of choice, there are now farmers' markets open five days a week, from Tuesday through Saturday, around Lake County.

Lake County Farmers' Finest sponsors the new Wednesday evening market at Library Park from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the longstanding Saturday morning market at Steele Wines from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The other fine markets can be found on Tuesday evening in Hidden Valley, Thursday evening in Middletown and Friday evening at Redbud Park in Clearlake.

Please support your farmers who get up early, work in all kinds of weather, pick at peak ripeness and drive out to present fresh local products for you at these markets with a smile on their faces.

It is a lot of work and this kind of passion and dedication deserves to be rewarded. Please keep farming a viable occupation and join us at any or all of these markets as often as you can.

Supermarket food may be a little cheaper, but much of those savings are supported by poor wages and geared to be loss leaders to get you into the store.

Independence means freedom of choice and the right to control your own life to the extent that it does not affect others' right to the same. We have a right to know where our food comes from and the right to demand to know its contents. At a certified farmers' market you will always have access to the person who grows what you eat.

Cornelia Sieber-Davis works with Lake County Farmers' Finest.

KELSEYVILLE – California’s 1st District Congressional Representative Mike Thompson, has been scheduled to replace A.G. Kawamura as the keynote speaker at the Lake County Farm Bureau’s 87th annual meeting and dinner, to be held July 8.

Congressman Thompson volunteered to speak after the Farm Bureau office was notified of a scheduling conflict for the California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary.

The LCFB annual meeting will be held at the Cole Creek Equestrian Center, 4965 Steelhead Drive, in Kelseyville.

There will be a wine social starting at 5:30 p.m. sponsored by the Lake County Winery Association.

A chicken and tri-tip barbecue dinner will be served by the Kelseyville FFA at 6:30 p.m. with a short business meeting to follow.

During the meeting there will be an introduction of the 2010-11 Board of Directors, a presentation for the 2010-11 Agriculture Education Scholarship recipients, and the annual Ag Appreciation Award.

Tickets are $25 per person and are available to purchase by contacting the Lake County Farm Bureau Office, 707-263-0911. Non-Farm Bureau Members are welcome to attend.

Lake County Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 600 members countywide and as part of a state and nationwide network of more than 6.2 million Farm Bureau members.

WOODLAND – Debra Chase is leaving her position as executive director of Tuleyome on July 15.

Tuleyome was founded in 2002 as a volunteer advocacy-oriented nonprofit organization that is focused on protecting both the wild and agricultural heritages of the Putah-Cache bioregion, including all or parts of Yolo, Lake, Napa, Colusa and Solano counties.

“This was a difficult decision for me, because I truly love Tuleyome,” Chase said. “However, I'll be pursuing long-time passions that were further developed during my tenure at Tuleyome, including promoting the local food-shed, preserving and supporting local farms and helping people develop personal carbon-reduction goals by encouraging participation among individuals, businesses and local environmental groups.”

Chase will work in partnership with Silvina’s Basket, a local restaurant in Woodland that has been a strong supporter of Tuleyome and other community service groups, including the Woodland Farmers Market, the Woodland Opera House, The Parent Project and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

She will be working closely with restaurant owner Silvina Salcedo, developing the restaurant as one of Woodland’s first planet-friendly eateries and educating the public about local food and farms.

Tuleyome has been a strong supporter of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, of which Salcedo is the current president.

“Debra will help us to be a more mindful restaurant, ‘greening up’ the restaurant’s dining room and catering menus by serving food that reflects the cultural and agricultural bounties of Yolo County,” Salcedo said. “Debra will also offer her own personal-chef services designed to help folks build a planet-friendly pantry and transition to a more healthful local diet. Stop in often to see the changes she will be making, which include a breakfast service, as they come to fruition.”

Chase has served as Tuleyome’s executive director since late 2005, building the capacity of the local nonprofit conservation-advocacy organization.

She said she hopes to remain involved as a volunteer, continuing to write Tuleyome Tales and as a part time contractor supporting the group’s work with the “One Farm at a Time” collaboration, building community gardens in Woodland and preserving the rare and endangered native plants at Mavis Henson Field.

“Tuleyome has a strong and knowledgeable working Board of Directors and the programs and projects each Board member tackled was both a challenge and a joy to work on,” Chase said. “The Wild and Scenic Film Festival and the youth program were always a lot of fun, but some of the best days were when we were able to purchase the Ireland Ranch and the Cold Canyon Headwaters for the public to enjoy.”

Tuleyome is dedicated to achieving its mission statement, Protecting the Wild Heritage and the Agricultural Heritage of the Northern Inner Coast Range and the Western Sacramento Valley for Existing and Future Generations.

“We are proud of our record and what we have accomplished for current and future generations in terms of preserving, protecting, restoring, and enjoying the natural amenities of the region,” stated Board President Andrew Fulks. “Debra has been instrumental in helping us achieve our goals. We are pleased that she will be remaining in our local community. We are also energized by our agenda for the future.”

Tuleyome’s engagement in the region will continue to grow, building on current focuses such as the proposed designation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region a National Conservation Area, helping underserved youth enjoy the outdoors and the Yolo Hiker program.

For more information about Tuleyome visit www.tuleyome.org or call 530-350-2599.

ORLAND – Celebrate the freedom of rescued farm animals who call Farm Sanctuary home by visiting the Orland shelter this July 4.

Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, invites the public to attend its annual Fourth of July Pignic, for a compassionate celebration of our nation’s birthday.

This festive, full-day event offers free guided tours of the sanctuary, the opportunity to interact with farm animals rescued from cases of cruelty, neglect and abuse, free samplings of delicious veggie food and animal-themed arts and crafts for kids.

Tours begin every hour on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The pignic is a free, all-ages event open to the public. No registration is necessary.

For further information, please call 607-583-2225, Extension 221, or visit www.farmsanctuary.org.

Farm Sanctuary, is located at 19080 Newville Road, Orland, Calif.