Getting the Dirt

 It is fitting that the guys met on a movie that addressed the issue of global environment.

The guys have both been involved both land and sea.

And while Jake hits the garden Austin was talking trash - well about composting. Hmmm wonder where he was composting.

Both have done their part in helping protect and preserve and pass it on to the future.

Getting to the root of it

Jake was the co-honorary chair for the Edible Schoolyards event, but was here there?  Or were his roots somewhere else.

Jake's been a long time supporter of the charity and one of it's ambassadors. 

There is more chatter about Jake in Vancouver and working with Harrrison Ford.  (Tweet , Tweet)

With Jake still sporting the wild and woolie look in the most recent pictures out, could this work with Ford be part of Everest?  And it would seem that work would be a reason he would have missed the event.

So where do you think Jake was laying down roots last night?

Rooting for it

After another week of filming in Italy Jake and crew are taken a weekend break from filming. And from many mentions it looks like he's bucking those Italian espressos and cappuccinos by grabbing his in the Covent Garden section of London. (Now tea, that would be understandable)

But Jake will be going a bit further for dinner next month.

Jake will travel back to New York for a multi-course meal prepared by a number of New York City’s best chef for Edible Schoolyard NYC’s second annual spring benefit on Monday, April 7.  Jake is the honorary Co-Chair of  "Putting Down Roots” and on that theme The Root's Questlove, who won't be on the preschool ornaments like on The Tonight Show, will be on the turntables.

The evening’s proceeds will benefit Edible Schoolyard NYC and has Culinary Chair and Momofuku founder David Chang assembling a cast of the city’s hottest chefs to each design and prepare an intimate, open-kitchen, four-course dinner for an individual table.

Take a look at the incredible lineup of participating chefs below:

Einat Admony, Balaboosta
Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern
Joaquin Baca, The Brooklyn Star
Jonathan Benno, Lincoln Ristorante
Fredrik Berselius, Aska
April Bloomfield, The Spotted Pig
Danny Bowien, Mission Chinese Food
Marco Canora, Hearth
Frank Castronovo & Frank Falcinelli, Prime Meats
David Chang, Momofuku
Tom Colicchio, Craft
Joel Harrington, Red Rooster Harlem
Brooks Headley & Mark Ladner, Del Posto
Joel Hough, il Buco
Gavin Kaysen, Café Boulud
Anita Lo, Annisa
Ignacio Mattos, Estela
Joe Ogrodnek & Walker Stern, Battersby
Kevin and Alex Pemoulie, Thirty Acres
Alexandra Raij, Txikito
Ruth Rogers, The River Café
, London
Justin Smillie, il Buco Alimentari e Vineria
Alex Stupak, Empellón
Rich Torrisi, Torrisi Italian Specialties
Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar

It looks like he might be having some culinary company from both London and Italy that night too.

Jake at the Fall Benefit for NYC Schools in 2011

Jake helping kicking off the NY program in October 2010

How does your garden grow?

Jake was out last evening doing his ambassadorship at Edible Schoolyard NYC held its Inaugural Spring Benefit, “A Garden Grows in Harlem” at the Essex Street Market to celebrate Manhattan’s first actual “Edible Schoolyard” at Harlem PS7 which is slated to open later this year.

ESY works with "public schools to build gardens and in-classroom-kitchens where students can engage in hands-on learning."   Jake has been working with ESY since 2010 when he was named an ambassador and that same year helped break ground for the first NYC garden at a school in Brooklyn.

Approximately 360 guests which included Jenna Lyons and Courtney Crangi, Mickalene Thomas, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Martha Stewart enjoyed multi-course meals designed and prepared by 20 of the city’s premier chefs.

Some of the best names in food that created last night's menu included David Chang, the chef and founder of Momofuku and the organization’s culinary chair, Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern, Joel Harrington of Red Rooster Harlem and Einat Admony of Balaboosta.

An auction followed the meal with the biggest auction action centered around  a private pig roast for 40,  from chef and owner of The Spotted Pig April Bloomfield.   With the top two bids of $48,000 and $47,000 respectively with both ended up getting a evening of pig picking.  And how much did a pizza dinner with Jake go for?  $14,000.  A little more than you usually would spend for delivery.  You know it's not going to be Domino's but it could be kale.

Jake shared the evening with his mom and shared more about himself with those there.  Jake said that he doesn’t have a favorite food—let alone a least favorite. “Seriously, it’s one of the areas of my life where I hold everything with love and no judgment,” said the actor. “Anything that is fresh from a garden is my favorite food.” His momo said he even liked broccoli as a kid.  “He was very adventurous, and always, from the time he was really little, a spectacular cook,” she said proudly.  Well that would explain the whole kale thing, wouldn't it.

"Jake also let slip that he once worked for Hearth chef Marco Canora in Martha's Vineyard — and mentioned that he had been, in his own words, 'a little brat.'"

 Food blog Grub Street caught up "with Canora to get the full story — and to find out how Canora got his payback."

"He had his mother call into the restaurant to say that he was sick for the day. My buddy and I who ran the place were like, "Oh my God. I can’t believe that Jake’s mother just called to say that he’s home sick and can’t come to work."

So the next morning, we went to the drugstore and bought a baby bottle and a little pacifier, and when he came back to work, we gave him so much shit. We just didn’t let up. Every day for the rest of the summer, we kept on giving him water in a baby bottle. He was just telling me how that kind of resonated with him in terms of work ethic, so I thought it was kind of cute."

Wonder if Austin had his mom call and said he was sick when he was working  on OTH.

But the story of story of the night was what ESY is trying to do.  Jake shared the real value of the organization’s mission.

“It’s about more than just what you eat—it’s about being connected to the earth,” he explained. “Like, what would New York City be without Central Park? I mean, there’s not much edible food in there…but still. That idea exists within the city, and it should exist in every public school.”

A growing thank you

A tree might grow in Brooklyn  but it's a garden grows in Harlem.
Well that is the theme of Edible Schoolyards Spring Event and the highlight of all that growth?  Honoring Jake.

After all the ways Jake has helped promote Edible Schoolyards

He's talked about it
 
Planted for it
 
Shook on it
 
Hosted events

Rapped about it?
 
Slung pizza for it

and even bobbed for it 
 

And been thanked for it
 

Edible Schoolyards NYC is doing something even more.  They are making Jake the man of the hour.

 A reception and dinner on April 15th, falling between Jake  filming Prisoners and Mississippi Grind, culinary star David Chang will be one of the chairs for the event. No doubt there will be plenty of great food and for a great cause.
Will there be Kale?  That's the question.

So Jake grab that white shirt and tan pants, Spring's 'a comin' and the kale's a callin'

Seriously it is nice to see Jake honored again for something he is so invested in and passionate about. 

Garden to Grow

Sometimes it seems like it's all about food for Jake. Shopping, eating, cooking, talking , and growing it.He also knows that food can make impact on the lives of kids, and not just eating good healthy food, but the social and educational benefits of growing and preparing food and he's helping spread that message.

That's why he and chef Alice Waters were recognized as Tastemakers in this month's Bon Appetit.

Jake's "involvement stems from his belief that we all need to overhaul our thinking about food, our health, and the environment in a way that appeals to children. 'When kids get their hands dirty in the garden or experiment in the kitchen, they have fun," he says, "but more important, they learn about how to care for themselves and each other. Those are lessons that no state is testing for, but it's one of the best investments in the future of our country that we can make.' "

And it's not all talk. Alice commented, "he has put his hands in the ground and worked in a garden. His family always gathered around the dinner table and had real food. He benefited from that and tries to live his life like that now."
But the question is who is he gathering around the table to live like that now?


And don't think you can Two Wheel and Garden at the same time?

Think again.