For those who want to celebrate the Winter Solstice on Monday without staying up all night listening to The Beatles' “Here Comes the Sun,” for those who want to learn to make their own jam so they have more to contribute at upcoming Forage Oakland events, or for those who are simply curious about good, locally grown food and want to have a good time on a Monday afternoon, Mandela Foods Cooperative has just the ticket! Events are 12-1 and 5-6 PM on Monday, Dec. 21st (see attached flyer).

Soulful Solstice is being held on Monday, December 21, at Mandela Foods Cooperative. It is a celebration of the celestial event and change of seasons, featuring prizes, arts and crafts for kids and adults, and beginning at noon, an opportunity to meet farmers Paul and Ruth Buxman of Sweet Home Ranch. “How to Jam” sessions on making homemade jams—one at noon and one at 5:00 p.m.—are the centerpiece of the celebration. Paul leads the noon session personally. As an added bonus, participants in the jam sessions are eligible to enter a holiday turkey raffle.

Sweet Home Ranch, for those not familiar with the Mandela Foods Cooperative partner, is a certified California Clean farm. They use no toxic materials, soils are enriched organically, and the farm itself is family owned and occupied. It is also a source of famously sublime jam and biscuits.

Mandela Foods Cooperative is located at 1430 7^th Street, across from the West Oakland BART station. Incidentally, a program is in the works where customers can place orders with Mandela Foods and get take-out service from the parking lot of that very BART station. Stop by on Monday for more details, or visit the Mandela Foods website.