Join Growing Gardens and Farm Spirit Chef Kei Ohdera as they kick off the 2018 Chef In My Garden dinner series. Growing Gardens is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that teaches gardening skills, strengthens communities, and builds organic vegetable gardens in homes, schools and correctional facilities across Oregon. The Growing Garden teams support children, adults, inmates and families with garden-based education, hand-on learning opportunities, garden beds, seeds, mentoring, and employment. They work with people who have limited access to safe and nutritious food, and partner with them to become healthier, more physically active and connected with their neighbors-thereby contributing to stronger, more sustainable and vibrant communities. 17 years ago Growing Gardens launched the Chef in My Garden dinner series as an annual summer fundraiser. Chef in My Garden dinners are the perfect place to enjoy a fantastic multi-course meal, learn about the work at Growing Gardens and support this impactful organization. Chef Kei Ohdera brings a formidable background in fine dining to Farm Spirit. A native of Ichikawa, Japan, he also spent part of his childhood in Mauritania, Africa, where one of his earliest childhood memories was scooping up handfuls of couscous around a communal table.  The youngest of three boys and son of two busy working parents, he was doing much of the cooking in the household by age twelve.  After attending CIA in New York, he worked at Nihonryori RyuGin in Tokyo and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, both named on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Ready for a new challenge, he followed his brother’s move to Portland in 2016, and soon began working at Aviary.  Enticed by a farm-focused approach to fine dining and the spirit of the communal table from his childhood, he teamed up with Farm Spirit owner Aaron Adams later that year. Today, his biggest thrill is fostering the relationships he’s built with local farmers who continue to challenge his creativity with the new and undiscovered varieties of Pacific Northwest produce. Modifications politely declined. If you have a severe food allergy, please contact [email protected]. *Wine pairings and a signature cocktail are included in the ticket price* All dinners are held rain or shine. For more information, please visit the Growing Gardens website: www.growing-gardens.org/