GET NOURISHED AT THE PFI WOMEN’S WINTER GATHERING
February 16 and 17, 2002, noon-to-noon

Iowa 4-H Center and Iowa Arboretum, just down the road from each other in Boone County

Why you should attend

This annual event is a chance for women interested in sustainable agriculture to gather in a relaxed setting and exchange ideas, opinions, solace, and this year, recipes. Really!

Each year some regular features and additional topics marinating since last year's gathering shape the focus of the program. This year is no exception. Hence, our Saturday evening program:

LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE: MAKING THE COMMITMENT a look at our personal buying and eating habits with Linda Nash, PFI member and CSA farmer from Northeast Iowa.

Our regular features will include a book sharing session - bring a favorite cookbook to recommend - and our own circle of stories in response to the question "What nourishes you?" As we talk and listen we'll brew up several batches of soup to enjoy and hopefully take home samples too.

New this year will be a special "listening session" for the women on the PFI board and its Executive Director, Robert Karp, They're invited to tune in our voices and opinions about the course of the organization. This will take place Sunday morning.

Speaking of food

To keep costs in check, each woman is asked to bring an item for our potluck supper on Saturday night. PFI and Full Circle Farm will provide a light lunch on Saturday. Sunday morning we will have breakfast at the 4-H Center dining hall.

Who can attend? Sponsored by Practical Farmers of Iowa, participation is open to all women – you do not have to be a PFI member to attend.

The more the merrier (the lower the cost), so grab a friend!

Costs? $$

This event is designed neither to make money nor to drain the PFI coffers. Your fees cover the facilities, the soup kitchen, the evening program and a breakfast. If ten women participate the cost will be $40 per person. The cost decreases slightly for each person over ten. Based on attendance history, we predict that the actual cost will be closer to $30 per person but we won't know that for a while.

Therefore, you can preregister with a check for $2O payable to Practical Farmers of Iowa and get it to Nan Bonfils by Saturday February 9, 2002. If we have ten people confirmed with a check by February 9, we will run the program at no more than $40 per person and keep enrolling new registrants. Everyone will pay the balance due at the event. If we do not have a minimum of 10 people the event will be cancelled and all pre-registration checks returned. You will be notified of cancellation on February 11th.

Don't be shy!

Besides being cost effective, more people really do make for more fun, better stories, broader perspectives and generally stir up the pot. So feel free to bring a friend.

Come early!

Complimentary Friday night homestays can be arranged with other PFI women in central Iowa. This allows some participants to arrive Friday evening, run errands on Saturday morning, and still get to the event by noon on Saturday.

Volunteers still needed.

Nan is looking for help. If you like to cook soup, have a favorite recipe, are willing to collect the ingredients (you'll be reimbursed) and direct others in the cooking, contact Nan. She also needs one person to run the book sharing session, and one to organize the potluck. Additionally, she needs one person to run the registration table and someone to keep her straight on the money. Thanks!

PRE- REGISTRATION FORM

$20 by check payable to Practical Framers of Iowa, mailed to address below.
Balance due at event, not to exceed $40 per person.

Name

Address

Phone

Email

Are you a PFI member?  (Circle one) YES     NOT YET

Have you attended a previous PFI women's winter gathering?   NO     YES

When?  '01     '00     '99     '98     '97     '96