Because this seemed like a good thing for anyone and everyone….
You Are Invited to Something Extraordinary
June 20 – July 4, 2026 at Tri-Area Community Center, Chimacum, WA
Fifteen Days of Free Community Dining, Inspiration, and Connection
Imagine a place where anyone can gather around the table, share nourishing food, meet new friends, and explore solutions for personal, community, and planetary wellbeing.
From June 20 through July 4, the communities of Chimacum will host the inaugural launch of Together Around Food—fifteen consecutive days of free communal dining, featuring three gourmet plant-based meals every day, educational presentations, community conversations, and opportunities for meaningful connection.
Come Hungry. Leave Inspired.
At the heart of the event is internationally respected gourmet plant-based chef and nutrition educator Marlene Watson-Tara, who will be preparing extraordinary meals with heart, passion, and purpose alongside volunteers and chefs from the global Loving Hut community.
Each day will include:
- Three free gourmet plant-based meals
- Inspiring community presentations
- Short educational talks on food, health, and sustainability
- Speed-networking sessions to help neighbors connect
- Opportunities to learn from local and international experts
- A welcoming environment open to everyone
The decision to launch Together Around Food in Jefferson County grew out of relationships formed through the Global Ecological Restoration Conference (GERC), which brought together environmental organizers, ecological restoration practitioners, and food-system innovators from around the world.
Longtime community organizer Rick Lukens helped cultivate the local partnerships that made the project possible. Two local organizations—United Earth Networks and PT Veg—along with many local volunteers, are leading the effort on the ground.
They are joined by an international coalition including:
- Climate Healers a global non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the Planetary PolyCrisis through systems-based solutions, compassionate living, and the transition to plant-based food systems
- Loving Hut, the international vegan restaurant network, whose volunteer chefs and kitchen teams will prepare and serve meals throughout the launch with the blessing of Supreme Master Ching Hai
- The Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute, providing medical and nutritional guidance
- The Human Ecology Project, led by gourmet vegan nutrition specialists Bill Tara and Marlene Watson-Tara
- The Plant Based Treaty, the international campaign advocating for food systems that operate within planetary boundaries
Fifteen Days, Three Meals, One Declaration
The launch unfolds in three phases.
Phase I (June 9–19): Community Outreach
Prior to the official launch, organizers will engage residents, local businesses, nonprofits, and civic leaders in conversations about the vision behind Together Around Food.
Phase II (June 20–July 4): Fifteen Days of Free Dining
For fifteen consecutive days, anyone can enjoy free, ultra-nutritious gourmet meals while participating in presentations, discussions, and community-building activities.
Participants will also have the option to receive basic biometric screenings before and after the fifteen-day experience, with results reviewed alongside healthcare professionals from the Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute. The goal is to allow participants to experience and measure the impact of nourishing food choices on their own health.
READ MORE.
And there is some interesting stuff to keep reading about…
+++ 