Matt Feifarek : Slow Food Work

I’ve been attracted to food activism for nearly 14 years because I believe that food is at the center of everything: ecology, trade, economics, social justice, policy, culture, history, and so on. And, back then, as perhaps now, increasingly sustainable food is one of the only topics where one hears more and more good news. I wanted to be a part of that evolution.

Slow Food was a perfect fit for my values, and within the work of making our food system more “Good, Clean, and Fair” I learned a lot about organizing, managing volunteers, running events, digital marketing, coalition building, running effective meetings, and everything else associated with running a small organization.

Slow Food has brought me most of my friendships and social connections, excuses to travel, much joy and connection, and of course countless delicious meals.

Slow Food Madison

I inherited the leadership chair position for the Madison chapter in 2009 upon my move to Madison. I worked to start several initiatives, to participate in Madison’s stellar community of like-minded organizations, and to nurture volunteers in their growth into becoming leaders.

In 2018, I turned leadership of the Madison chapter over to two dedicated women: it was time for me to move on and focus on other initiatives like FoodWorks Madison, but I will always love and feel indebted to Slow Food the organization and the movement.

Initiative: Food Pantry Community Meal

  • Started in 2012 with the Fritz Food Pantry at Goodman Community Center, this is a project to cook a from scratch meal for clients of the weekly food pantry – of, by and for the community.

  • Weekly on Wednesday nights, now going onto its’ seventh year, averaging 40-60 diners per week (do the math – upwards of 15,000 hot meals!), with 3-5 volunteer cooks per week.

  • We cook from the ingredients in the pantry, with light supplemental donations from volunteers and a local grocery store.

  • We’ve required no budget, no staff, and drew from the passion for cooking and service in our local community to power this peer-to-peer initiative.

SEED Grant classes

Urban Market Forage

Madison Food Camp
2012, 13, 14, 15
Slow Food Swap
2014 2x

Happy Hour

Annual Meetings

Other Notable Projects

  • 2015: Cooking with teens from the Neighborhood Intervention Program @ Madison Bubbler
  • 2015: Featured caterer for Madison Children’s Museum “Adult Swim” night
  • 2014: Goodman Youth Farm
  • 2014: Eastside Community Meal
  • 2013: Zymology Camp
  • 2013, 2014: Madison Sweet Potato Project
  • 2012, 2013: provided “Food Camp” style programming tents for REAP’s “Food for Thought Festival”
  • 2012: Mindful Eating event with Lhundup Chodon from ESFoD
  • 2012: Several Farm Field-trips
  • 2010–2013: Cooked breakfast annually for 350+ at DCFM winter market
  • 2011: 1000 Gardens Benefit Dinner

Awards, Recognitions

  • M-List
  • Goodman/YMCA thing
  • recipient of Edible Heroes grant by award winner Fromagination
  • Edible Heroes award
  • Terra Madre Delegate, 2012

Slow Food NYC

  • Terra Madre Delegate, 2006