Take a break from that Green IT For Dummies book and learn about organic farming in person and in style. Sustenance on the Farm, started by Margaret Noon, president of Slow Food Northern NJ, is hosting some delectable fundraising feasts throughout the summer months to both educate and tantalize their guests. The mission of Sustenance is to host events that will spread an awareness of earth stewardship and “Redefine a Garden State of Mind” while supporting local farms that practice sustainable techniques.
In the midst of a farm or an orchard, you sit with 100 under a giant white tent eating the freshest gourmet food cultivated from this very site. There is an educational tour of the property lead by one of the farmers, and throughout the dinner you will hear from the owner, chef, winemaker and other culinary artists involved in the sustainable components of your meal. At least 10% of the profits are donated to local efforts in sustainability, notably children’s educational programs, making each bite of food even that much more satisfying. Sustenance’s two inaugural dinners in 2009 alone raised $3000 for Slow Food Northern NJ School Garden Programs, and five new garden grants have been allotted for this fall.
The next upcoming dinner will be held this Sunday, July 18th at Plaid Piper Farm in Branchville, NJ, and tickets must be purchased by tomorrow, Friday July 16, by 9pm. The following feast will be hosted by Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morristown, NJ on August 22nd. The $155 ticket includes a multi-course gourmet meal, an eye-opening culinary experience, good company, and even some live music.
Biodynamic or organic wines also accompany each course, so only guests over 21 years of age may attend. In addition to the summer dinners, Sustenance also hosts cooking classes in any home in NY or NJ (additional charges for further travel), and help plan private events with the smallest carbon footprint. To learn more about the dinners and to purchase tickets, visit sustenanceevents.com.
How to get there: Check out offManhattan.com’s guide to renting Hybrids in NYC for the dinner at Plaid Piper Farm in Branchville, NJ this Sunday. For the meal at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm on August 22 in Morristown, go to Penn Station and take New Jersey Transit to the Morristown station, tickets are $13. From there, choose between taking a seven-minute taxi or a less than 20 minute bike ride to the farm. Bon Appetit!
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram