Amazing Pesto and Really Good Bread

Every month, the North Quabbin Time Bank, Montague Farm Zendo, and Zen Peacemakers Zen House work together to host a delicious event at Bethany Lutheran Church in Orange in which you can take part!

The event is open to anyone, and as Karen Werner, a founding member of NQTB puts it, "These are really good meals!" (Click here to learn more about Karen and what else she does with the Time Bank!)

What's for Dinner?

The suppers are well attended; usually 60 to 75 people show up to eat and chat. This is not a potluck; the food is provided by volunteers. Some popular dishes from past dinners include lamb tajine, meatloaf, roasted locally grown potatoes and sweet potatoes, and apple cider from local apples.

“And the salmon," Karen interjects. "It was like a wedding, the food was so good! We have really amazing pesto and good bread," she adds.


Just the Facts, Ma'am

The next two suppers are Thursday, November 19 and Thursday, December 17. Bethany Lutheran Church is located at 62 Cheney Street, in Orange. The doors open at 4:00 for a community hangout before the meal. Those interested can participate in a meditation before the meal. The meal starts promptly at 5:30.

Earn Time Dollars as a Server, Cook, or Entertainer!

Four Time Bank members already participate as servers at the meals. Time Bank members can earn time dollars as servers, or by preparing a dish, or by providing entertainment for the meal. Musicians, jugglers, servers, cooks, etc., please email Karen Werner at kwerner@montaguema.net. Karen coordinates the event and will be happy to hook you up! OR go to the Zen Peacemaker's House easy-to-use interactive Wiki-page to sign up for various tasks (donating, preparing food, serving, etc.).

What's Karen's final word on the monthly Zen House/Bethany Lutheran suppers?

“It's a chance to feed each other with food and good community.”



NEWS FLASH: Read about October's dinner below!

Well-Loved Meatloaf & Inconceivable Cupcakes

The meal on Thursday, Oct. 22 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Orange included a visit from Orange Town Manager Rick Kwiatkowski, who helped serve up an "amazing meatloaf," according to Time Bank member and monthly meal manager, Karen Werner. Most of the meal featured locally grown foods! (Check out the gorgemous local sweet potatoes above donated by Sarah and Woody Bliss!)

Shout-outs of thanks to Amy Mays for "that well-loved meatloaf," John Genyo Sprague for roasted root veggies with rosemary, Steve Garabedian for garlic-infused kale and purple cabbage, Sensei Eve Myonen Marko for bottles of juice, Suzanne Webber and Karen Kisui Werner for homemade applesauce, and to Kuya Minogue for fab potato au gratin, Cliff Fornier for an "inconceivable amount" of donated cupcakes, pies, and cookies, and to the Leverett Food Coop for four loaves of yummy bread.

But it's not just the food that makes a community meal. Servers, eaters, and cleaner-uppers Deb Pond, Kuya Minogue, Karen Werner, and Geoff BoGai Taylor from the Zen House/ Montague Farm Zendo communities and Brian Nugent from the TimeBank also made it happen. (As did a mysterious appearance of pineapple upside down cake, to celebrate the birthday of David Chapman.)

We hope to see YOU at the next meal! Come for the good food and community! For more info or to sign up to help, see the monthly meal Wiki site.