Allen led efforts to create a vegetable garden in the middle of a Reno street
November 14, 2008By John Trent
Leslie Allen has always been enthusiastic in her support of northern Nevada’s local food lifestyle.
As commercial horticulture program coordinator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE), it’s part of her job … yet her passion for this increasingly important field goes far beyond the norm.
So much so, in fact, that Allen’s love of what she does has found a new description.
She’s a “Locavore” … and proud of it.
Earlier this year, Allen was selected out of 15,000 national applicants to participate in a local eating study, known as “Locavore Nation,” where participants attempt to eat 80 percent of their food from local, organic and sustainable sources. “Locavore Nation” is sponsored by America Public Media’s radio show, “The Splendid Table,” which is broadcast locally on KUNR.
“Being a Locavore in the Truckee Meadows is a lot easier than most people think,” Allen says. “We are lucky enough to live only a short drive from Fallon and Yerington. These regions have a rich agricultural history and provided me all of my produce from May through December.”