Learn from local food system experts at Foodie Fridays!
Foodie Fridays, organized by Montgomery Parks Community Garden Program, is a monthly speaker series from June – September that highlights food-related topics in Montgomery County.
Events are held on the fourth Friday of the month, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Attendees can check-in and enjoy refreshments from 6:30-7:00pm. Speakers begin promptly at 7:00pm and a Q&A follows the presentations.
2025 Events
This year, presentations will focus on different parts of the food system – from composting and farming to community kitchens and food recovery programs – and how they relate to residents of Montgomery County. Join us to understand more about the systems that feed us while engaging with speakers and community members over dinner and drinks.
June 27 – Farming: Inputs & Production
Where does your food really come from? Let’s start from the beginning with soil, seeds, and stories. Hear from a local farmer about her journey into farming and the values and work that go into growing food.
Marcey Guramatunhu is the co-owner of Chirandu Farm, a thriving small vegetable farm proudly owned and operated by two sisters of African heritage in the heart of Dickerson, Maryland dedicated to providing the DMV area with fresh and unique organic vegetables. With a focus on sustainable and regenerative farming practices, they grow a diverse selection of crops including traditional favorites as well as unique African specialty ethnic foods like okra, beets, pumpkin leaves, spinach, maize, and horned melon. Marcey and her sister take pride in celebrating their heritage while providing wholesome, delicious produce to the local Maryland community and beyond.
July 25 – Connecting: Distribution & Food Recovery
Across the County, organizations are working to connect fresh produce and food to people who need it. Learn how Community Food Rescue, Farm to Food Bank, and other programs help to address food insecurity and reduce food waste.
Annarose Kennedy – Food Resources Specialist, Community Food Rescue
August 22 – Cooking: Processing & Retail
Learn how the Takoma Park Silver Spring Community Kitchen is helping local small-scale food entrepreneurs overcome barriers and build successful businesses. Speakers will include the Community Kitchen Program Manager as well as a TPSS Community Kitchen user.
Ivie Baker IV is the Program Manager for Crossroads Community Food Network’s Community Kitchen. Ivie brings a wealth of entrepreneurship experience to his role at Crossroads, which he gained by establishing a food startup while pursuing his MBA at Howard University. Having worn multiple hats in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors since then, Ivie’s focus now is to share business insights and creative problem-solving skills with Crossroads’ food entrepreneurs. He has a passion for seeing growth from all angles and utilizing technology and intellectual property to scale up. Away from the kitchen, you may find Ivie planting in his garden or practicing handstands to find the perfect balance.
September 26 – Composting: Waste Recovery & Inputs
Did you know that 30-40% of food in the United States ends up in the landfill? While there are many ways to reduce waste as food makes its way through the supply chain, some food waste is inevitable. Learn how Compost Crew is turning this waste into an important resource for farmers.
Speaker information coming soon!
Past Events
The first Foodie Friday events were held in 2018. Since then, over 20 local food system experts have shared their journey, experience, and passion with attendees.
- June 2024 – Feed the Soul: Food & Mental Health – Dr. Nicole Salman, a neuropsychologist from Snapdragon Wellness, made the connection between food, nutrition, and mental health. She taught attendees how neurological differences may impact eating patterns and how food works with our bodies to impact things like mood, cognitive functioning, and more.
- July 2024 – Smell the Flowers: Pollinators & Agriculture – During this hands-on lecture, Michael Roswell explored the crucial role of pollinators in agriculture and local food systems. Attendees learned about plant-pollinator interactions, pollination biology and ecology, and regional species conservation.
- August 2024 – Taste the Land: Forest Agriculture & Foraging – Forest gardener, herbalist, naturalist, and educator, Bodhi Vasilopoulos, explored the relationships and connections between humans and the world around us during this presentation. Attendees learned about the environmental benefits of forest agriculture as well as varieties of fruits, nuts, and other edible plants that can be found in Montgomery County.
- September 2024 – Hear the Past: Historical Foodways in Montgomery County – Historian, author, and explorer of the American past, Anthony Cohen, talked about the history of farming in Montgomery County with a focus on the Museum Garden at Button Farm Living History Center and the heirloom varieties being grown there. To bring this history to life Button Farm recreates sensory experiences of the past, integrating the tastes, touch, smell, sights and sounds of the 1850s into the daily operations of the farm.
- October 2024 – See the Future: Young Farmers in the DMV – Two younger-than-average farmers, Falani Spivey and Meredith Epstein, shared their journeys into agriculture. Falani gave a presentation about being a returning generational farmer, including how a trip to Guinea-Bissau connected her to her ancestors and influenced her interest in farming. Falani also shared how she incorporates storytelling and filmmaking into her farm, Byrd’s Nest Box. Meredith discussed her role at the University of Maryland’s Institute of Applied Agriculture and how the program is supporting beginning farmers, as well as her experience running a no-kill chicken farm and sanctuary (Lemon House Farm) out of her own backyard.
- June 2023 – Cultivating Traditions – Food is deeply rooted in history and place – past events and traditions have shaped what we eat and where we can find it. Two local growers (Tanya Doka-Spandhla and Nia Nyamweya) discussed how and why history, ancestral and traditional knowledge, and culturally important foods influence their farming practices.
- July 2023 – The Bee’s Knees – This event featured Phil Frank, a member of the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association. The talk focused on honey bees’ role in food production, the kinds of foods we’d miss out on without honey bees, and exactly what it is morphologically and behaviorally that makes bee pollination irreplaceable.
- August 2023 – The People’s Medicine – Attendees explored the intersection between traditional and holistic wellness practices, land stewardship, and home herbalism with speaker Rhiannon Smith, founder of Takoma Park-based herbal apothecary Kiyoshi Botanicals.
- September 2023 – Saving Seeds & Stories – Every seed tells a story. With every seed planted, the genetic story of the plant is passed onto the next generation, just as the stories, memories, and feelings associated with specific foods are passed down among our families. Niraj Ray, founder of Cultivate the City, shared how to save seeds as well as the value of saving seeds from culturally important crops.
- October 2023 – Food is Freedom – In the US, food and farming have a long history of being tied to freedom – and enslavement. For the final Foodie Fridays of 2023, speakers discussed the power rooted in food and farming. Susan Cook shared the story of her fourth great aunt, Alethia Tanner, and how growing food was her pathway from enslavement to freedom. Gardener and edible activist Vanessa Pierre discussed her advocacy work and how gardening continues to empower communities.