Cooking in Community

Cook Together. Taste Seasonal. Enjoy Each Other’s Company

Cooking in Community

Disconnect from the hustle and reconnect with yourself, your food, and your community. No expertise needed! We’ll gather, chop, and create a simple spring-inspired dish together. Then, everyone will taste and enjoy what we’ve made, sharing ideas, flavors, and good conversation.

Please Note this workshop will be held outdoors at an active urban farm so please dress appropriately and no animals allowed. Thank you.

What You’ll Experience:

• Hands-on experience in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment
• Fresh, seasonal ingredients from the spring harvest
• A unique outdoor kitchen experience on an urban farm, surrounded by chickens and bees
• Tasting and sharing a simple dish
• A chance to slow down, connect with yourself, and enjoy others’ company

About the Facilitator

This gathering is facilitated by Vane(ssa) M. Kuhn, founder of Behind the Beet and a certified health coach. Vane’s vision is not to position herself as the expert, but to create an outdoor kitchen experience where people can come together, cook side by side, and connect with each other and their food. Her philosophy of health and wellness centers on connection: connecting with our food, with the earth, and with each other. She believes that when we gather around seasonal ingredients, exchange knowledge, and prepare food together, we nourish more than just our bodies; we nourish community.

About the Location

Cottonwood Urban Farm is located in Panorama City, Los Angeles, dedicated to the intersection of food, community, and education. Founded in 2012 by LA native and educator Elliott Kuhn, the farm provides a resource for locally grown food and sustainability by reconnecting individuals with the process of agriculture. CUF prioritizes social responsibility and works with several non-profits in the Los Angeles area to facilitate the transformative process of taking food from seed to the table. The farm has evolved over the years from a small vegetable garden to market gardening, educational outreach, community composting site, and a food distribution hub during the pandemic. The farm's success is a testament to the transformative power of local food production and the collaborative efforts of the community. https://www.cufarm.org/