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Good eats, straight from the land, will be served up by talented chefs, back from the a meeting of food minds at Terra Madre in Torino, Italy

Slow Food Calgary has extended an open invitation to dine alfresco on the afternoon of Sunday, July 26 at Blue Mountain Biodynamic Farm — home of second-generation farmer Kris Vester and his family, an easy hour’s drive north of Calgary.

Lunch will be prepared by Calgary chefs who attended Terra Madre, a biannual meeting of food minds in Torino, Italy: Scott Pohorelic and Eric Giesbrecht are cooking up lamb and beef burgers, Liana Robberecht of the Calgary Petroleum Club is in charge of salads, dessert will be supplied by Rebekah Pearse of Nectar desserts (rumour has it fruit cobbler and ice cream are on the menu) and all the fixin’s will come from David Wyse of The Quarry in Canmore.

Blue Mountain is a certified organic farm, but the biodynamic concept predates the organic agriculture movement by some 20 years. The focus is on a sustainable production cycle with consideration given to all forces in nature — including growth and decay (waste generated on the farm is put back to the land) — and the relationship between the soil, plants, animals and people; not only those who live and work on the farm, but those who consume the food it produces.

The picnic is a great opportunity to hang out at a working farm and eat food that actually came from the land under your blanket (prepared by chefs, no less). You’ll also get the chance to check out the straw bale building under construction that will eventually house WWOOFers — WWOOF is an acronym for Willing Workers on Organic Farms, a global community that promotes sustainable lifestyle methods by providing food, hands-on education and housing to those who want to live and work on organic farms.

In order to minimize environmental impact, organizers ask that you pack your own plates, glasses and cutlery along with your hat, sunscreen and picnic blanket.

Price: Members, $40, family of 4, $100; Not-yet-members, $50, family, $120. For more details visit the Slow Food Calgary website at slowfoodcalgary.ca.