PORT TOWNSEND — Community Read, an invitation to all in Port Townsend to read and discuss the same book, continues this weekend with an art show talk at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Michael Paul Miller, juror for the show, will present “Earth Matters” at the Northwind Arts Center, 2409 Jefferson St.
The book selection for the monthlong Community Read 2014 sponsored by the Port Townsend Library is Turn Here Sweet Corn by Atina Diffley, a Minnesota organic farmer, educator and activist who serves as vice president of the Organic Seed Alliance, which is based in Port Townsend.
The book is a memoir about a small organic farm fighting a corporation that seeks to place a crude-oil pipeline through it.
Something to talk about
Community Read, which began last Saturday with a production of “PT Shorts” that included farmers reading from the book, offers discussions groups, presentations, a class on cooking with organic produce and a PBS documentary based on the book — all free to the public.
The finale will be a discussion of the book led by Diffley at 7 p.m. March 27 in the Port Townsend High School auditorium, 1500 Van Ness St.
That will be followed the next night by a celebration. A potluck and corn dance from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 28 in the Quimper Grange Hall, 1219 Corona St., will feature an impromptu group of musicians, Martin Diffley and the Pheromones, led by Diffley’s husband.
Four discussion groups are scheduled. They are:
■ 5 p.m. Tuesday — Discussion group at Pippa’s Real Tea, 636 Water St.
■ 6 p.m. Thursday — Discussion group at the Pourhouse, 2231 Washington St.
■ Noon March 16 — A showing of the PBS documentary film “Turn Here Sweet Corn,” based on the book, at the Rose Theatre, 235 Taylor St.
■ 5 p.m. March 17 — A class on cooking with organic produce at Sweet Laurette Cafe, 1029 Lawrence St. (Reservations are required and available by calling 360-385-4866.)
■ 7 p.m. March 20 — Discussion group at the Hilltop Tavern, 2510 W. Sims Way.
■ 6:30 p.m. March 24 — A discussion of the book from a writer’s perspective at the Library Learning Center.
■ 3 p.m. March 25 — Discussion group in the dining area of the Food Co-op, 414 Kearney St.
Over the next few weeks, KPTZ-91.9 FM will broadcast short readings from the book as well as excerpts from interviews with Diffley.
The library is giving away 100 copies of the book, which is also for sale; additionally, there are 33 copies in circulation.
After the program ends, all but one of the books will be sold for $1 at the next Friends of the Library book sale.
“We’ll keep one for our collection,” said Cris Wilson, the adult services librarian.
Funding for Community Read comes from a grant from Humanities Washington with additional support from the Friends of the Port Townsend Library, the Port Townsend Food Co-op, Jefferson County Farmers Markets, Sweet Laurette Cafe, Red Dog Farm, KPTZ radio, Port Townsend School District, Key City Public Theatre and Rose Theatre.
For more information, phone 360-385-3181 or visit http://tinyurl.com/PDN-Reading.