Whole Systems Kitchen

An exploration of what it takes to grow, prepare, and benefit from food

What is it? Monthly Sessions, led by Jenny Goff and Bethany-Lynn Rodriguez, Nutritional Therapists/Farmers

At the Organic Farm School, we pursue regenerative farming methods, and we work hard to train a new generation of food gardeners and farmers. Yet, we believe it’s not enough to train new food growers; we collectively need to become more aware eaters. This awareness includes our attention to what the soil needs in order to provide our fruits and vegetables, the role of livestock in soil and human health, how climate impacts what we can reasonably grow, what the seasons dictate, what our bodies crave in any given moment and phase of our lives, and how to consistently fill our plates.

We are so fortunate to have two amazing nutritional therapists in our community who are also attached to farms/farmers and are motivated to share all they know and continue to learn — and we are excited to bring them into the fold of all the OFS offers! Eating is at once elemental, fundamental, and unfortunately confusing. Low carb? Keto? Vegan? Pescatarian? Low fat? Low cal? Local? Regional? Seasonal? Raw?

That’s why we’re now offering OFS Whole Systems Kitchen Sessions where we’ll explore a variety of topics of what, how and why we eat what we eat! 

We’re not promising a single way forward. We’re encouraging curiosity and the pursuit of awareness and whole system health.

When is it? Join us the Third Thursday of every month, from 4-6pm, at the Organic Farm School (Feed & Seed Kitchen, Wood-Fired Oven, or outdoor BBQ, depending on session).

What can I expect? Sessions will cover meats, eggs, vegetables, herbs, and more…what it takes to grow them, how long it takes to grow them, how climate change might impact them, how they are harvested, the challenges of processing, tips for storing/preserving them, their nutritional profile and how to prepare them for maximum health benefits and flavor.

How can I participate? Sign up for one or all twelve sessions. $90/per individual session or $900 for the full series (consider it a Culinary CSA that you’re supporting! We can break it into three (3) payments if you like). (Additional 20% discount for Friends of the Farm members, and if you are in a place of abundance, you can contribute to a scholarship fund to make the series available to those who might otherwise not be able to participate). Both options will be on our events calendar. If you would like to pay in three (3) payments, please contact Judy or Patricia.

How the sessions will be structured?

4-4:30 - Introduction to 1-2 elements of nutritional therapy, information about the farming side of things, and demonstrate how to prepare the items for cooking/eating

4:30-5:00 - participants experience the taste, smell, and texture of the featured foods, making notes and comparing a diversity of preparations

5-5:30 - more eating, discussion, Q&A

5:30-6 - thoughts about what to prepare for the Community Potluck*, and looking forward to what’s coming up next month

You’ll take home handouts with nutritional and lifestyle tips, nutritional tidbits about the foods we focus on, and recipes featuring local, seasonal ingredients.

 *We host a monthly Community Potluck from March - September and would love to focus on seasonal eating…so if participants would like to explore additional recipes incorporating the foodstuffs we work within a session and then bring it to the potluck (and talk about what you've learned), we would absolutely be thrilled!

 Instructors:

Jenny Goff is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) and holistic chef who has cooked on yachts, in restaurants, and catered intimate events and retreats for the past 25 years. She is currently on the chef team at the literary non-profit Hedgebrook. She and her family raise animals and grow a variety of vegetables, fruit, and nuts on their six-acre regenerative farmstead on Whidbey Island. She recently launched her children’s picture book, THANKFUL HARVEST, about raising and harvesting turkeys and the interconnectedness of all life. www.jennygoff.com

Bethany-Lynn Rodriguez acquired her nutritional therapy certification in 2023 on the heels of finishing her bachelor's in Health Psychology. She became interested in a deeper form of nutritional work years earlier when she applied the nutritional therapy concepts and techniques to her own life, enabling her to work through many personal obstacles. Her work aims to provide actionable steps toward a new way of thinking about the problems or symptoms we experience in our lives. Bethany is currently diving into regenerative farming and will be, alongside her partner Kevin, farming a small portion of Sweetwater farm in Clinton, WA. While always seeking new hobbies, right now you can catch her weightlifting, cooking, exploring the art and science of drawing, reading, and trying to catch up with family.