“Local eating is about more than food. It’s about community, connection, and learning to live within the gifts of the season.” – Robin Mather, The Feast Nearby
What does it mean to truly eat ‘local’? At Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, our Feast of Home series invites you to slow down, savor the seasons, and connect with the farmers, flavors, and food stories that make Barry County thrive. This fall, we are honored to welcome Robin Mather, a nationally recognized food journalist, author, and champion of seasonal, local, and sustainable eating, as our featured speaker. Robin’s talk will follow our first farm-to-table dinner on Wednesday, October 22.
The evening begins with a farm-to-table dinner at 5:30 pm, followed by Robin’s free public talk at 7 pm. Join us for one or both parts of this special evening celebrating food, resilience, and connection.
Robin’s career has taken her from serving as Food Editor at The Detroit News to writing for Cooking Light magazine and the Chicago Tribune. Along the way, she earned recognition as a two-time James Beard Award finalist for her insightful and inspiring food writing. But one of her most powerful stories began in 2009, right here in Michigan.
After an unexpected life change, Robin returned to her rural roots and embarked on a personal challenge: to eat three local, seasonal meals a day on a budget of just $40 a week. That experiment became the foundation of her acclaimed book, The Feast Nearby, a memoir that blends resilience, creativity, and nearly 100 affordable, delicious recipes. Her writing shares more than just food; it tells a story of place, community, and living in harmony with the land.
Rooted deeply in Barry County, Robin’s story resonates with our mission at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute: to inspire appreciation and stewardship of the environment. She reminds us that what we eat reflects not only our health but also our relationship with the land, water, and farmers who sustain us.
Whether she’s recalling her days running a small goat dairy, foraging in the woods, or bartering with neighbors, Robin shows us that cooking and eating well don’t require wealth, just connection, care, and a sense of belonging.
We are thrilled to welcome Robin back to Barry County for the Feast of Home. Her message is both timeless and timely: food is more than sustenance, it’s a reflection of who we are and how we care for one another and the place we call home.
The farm-to-table dinner before Robin’s talk costs $50 per person and features food sourced from Barry County farmers and local businesses. Can’t make the dinner? Join us at 7 pm for the free program and learn more about Robin’s story (registration appreciated). Following Robin’s program will be an open discussion and free dessert.
Event Details:
Location: Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Date: Wednesday, October 22
Farm-to-Table Dinner (5:30 pm) – $50 per person
Public Program with Robin Mather (7:00 pm) – FREE (registration appreciated)
Free dessert and community discussion follow the program
Come for the food, stay for the stories.
Join us on October 22 as we share a delicious locally sourced meal and hear Robin Mather reflect on resilience, rural living, and the joys of seasonal eating. Together, let’s celebrate the flavors, farmers, and food futures of Barry County.
Register today to save your spot at Feast of Home!
See you on the trails,
The Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Team