2019 TECHNO-TAMALDAS AT ECAP:

The first series of Techno-Tamaladas was held at ECAP Food Bank, 3610 San Pablo Avenue in Emeryville over the summer of 2019, from 11AM - 4PM on Saturday, July 27; Saturday, August 24; and Saturday, Sept 21. These Techno-Tamaladas focused on MesoAmerican tamales from Mexico; on Hot Tamales of African American communities of the Mississippi Delta; and on plantain tamales from the Andes in Colombia.

Each of these tamaladas lasted over five hours. At times we mainly served tamales, at others I explained the process of nixtamalization, the spread of maize through the Americas, or taught people how to make and cook tamales. The event morphed multiple times and the experience depended at what time one was there. Many participants discussed the different ways the technology sector has eviscerated the commons and created the need for more food banks, the despair they feel about their own economic precarity, fears of uncontrollable climate change and ecological collapse, water conservation, plastic use reduction, transit alternatives, and other politicized approaches to technology. We created no waste through this event, as the tamale husks, gloves for preparing and serving, and plates were all compostable. When we cleaned up, all of what would have been garbage went into a compost bin.

We made and gave away over 1500 tamales. Many thanks to the numerous volunteers and participants for their help and engagement.