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Sarasota News Leader April 5, 2013 SLOWING DOWN THE MONEY Although the idea of redirecting investments has been touted for years in communities in the United States, it has begun to pick up steam in the past four years or so as part of what some view as a national movement. Reflecting this, Eat Local Week organizers invited Colorado entrepreneur and author Woody Tasch to present the program's keynote speech on March 22 and explain to attendees how they can expand local food economy investments in Sarasota. Page 66 to work, looking for small food businesses to invest in." Slow Money, he added, already has a group of investors in Sarasota that is in its nascent stages; he hopes to see progress quickly. Growing momentum in the local food movement in Sarasota, Tasch said, would have many benefits for consumers aside from local economic stimulation. "You'll have more healthy food," he pointed out, along with "more farmers, more fertility in the soil, more water in the aquifer, less carbon in the atmoOne of the most high-profile advocates of this sphere and, long-term, just greater health for movement in the United States, Tasch is the most of the people as individuals and for the founder and chairman of the national nonprof- community as a whole." it organization Slow Money, which describes itself on its website, www.slowmoney.org, as REINFORCING THE CYCLE a network of "experienced investors, leading Tasch went on to explain that, although infood entrepreneurs, social investment piovesting is an essential element in localizing neers, organic farmers and just plain old regan area's food economy, raising awareness of ular folks who are worried about where their investments are going or who want to chip in the efforts of local farmers, businesses and investors through programs such as Eat Losmall donations." cal Week is extremely important to the moveIn a follow-up phone interview with the News ment's foundation. Leader on March 28, Tasch explained some of the core concepts behind the Slow Money "They get people to start thinking about where organization, which are laid out in detail in their food comes from," he said; "start thinkhis 2008 book, Inquiries into the Nature of ing about where the restaurants we eat at get Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms and their food; start thinking about how much local food is in the supermarket." Fertility Mattered. Going beyond how they spend their dollars, Tasch said, community members must be proactive about nurturing the local food economy. "If you have the gumption and the wherewithal," he said, "just roll your sleeves up and start collaborating with your friends and neighbors to put your investment dollars Those who missed Eat Local Week this year but are interested in local farmers' markets, local food discussions, investment club meetings and more events that take place yearround can visit www.transitionsarasota.org for a comprehensive guide to eating locally in Sarasota. %