Three Food Events You Should Know About: Thursdays are for olives

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Food for phones: It’s not too late to volunteer to answer phones during KCRW’s August pledge drive. If you do, you’ll get the chance to nosh on food donated by Border Grill Taco Truck, Real Food Daily, Clementine, Tender Greens, La Grande Orange, Barbie’s Q and more. Also, KCRW wants you to know that more than a few ‘romantic matches have been made in the pledge room,’ some resulting in marriage. Never underestimate the power of liberal guilt-driven volunteerism to make the sparks fly. Volunteers are being accepted through Aug. 17. To sign up, go to http://www.kcrw.com/join/drive-signup/volunteer

Fruit-tastic: The nonprofit California Rare Fruit Growers hosts its 2009 Festival of Fruit on Aug. 12-16. This year’s theme is ‘Year of the Olive’ and it features lots of food, fruit and, of course, olives, as well as seminars with Paul Vossen and Michael Phillips and olive, grape, persimmon, apple and pomegranate workshops. Santa Rosa Junior College, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. For times and programs, call (707) 241-5821 or go to www.festivaloffruit.org.

The greenest act on Eearth: Yup, that’s composting, according to Silver Lake Farms owner Tara Kolla. Kolla will be helming a series of urban gardening classes throughout the month of August. Her class on composting covers how to start a compost bin with yard trimmings, kitchen scraps, fallen leaves and more around-the-home materials. Compost also creates nature’s best fertilizer. Silver Lake Farms, 6:30 to 8 p.m. $48. For address and additional information, call (323) 644-3700.

-- Jessica Gelt

Photo credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Updated: A previous draft of this post incorrectly spelled Paul Vossen’s name as Vosson.