On Dec. 10, the international Slow Food movement celebrates its annual Terra Madre Day, or "Toprak Ana" or "Mother Earth" Day, on the anniversary of its founding in an effort to promote the diversity of food traditions and sustainable production to build a better food future. On or around this day Slow Food communities and convivium and all those who share the philosophy, host events to celebrate local food traditions and sustainable farming.The Slow Food movement, first founded in 1986 by Carlo Petrini, in a campaign to stop the fast food culture, aims to preserve traditional, locally sourced cuisine. In Turkey, the movement is in full force with at least 25 associations referred to as Slow Food "convivial" in towns and cities throughout the country, spanning from Ankara to Antalya, Bodrum to Trakya and Gaziantep to Kars to name just a few. Many will be mobilizing this week to commemorate the community's anniversary and to celebrate local food traditions and natural and fair food, hosting a plethora of educational and tasty events.In Istanbul on Thursday, Dec. 10 and starting at 7:00 p.m., Salt Beyoğlu will be hosting a special talk by the Sarıkeçililer community, known as "Turkey's last nomads," who will be discussing the effects of climate change on the nomadic culture as well as sharing tarhana soup and their traditionally prepared goat cheese and pide.On the Asian side of the city on Saturday, Dec. 12, the Slow Food Balkon Bahçeleri convivia will be joining forces with the Istanbul Permaculture Collective to hold a yeast exchange, in which this integral ingredient used to prepare bread, yogurt, kefir and vinegar, will be shared in this special swap meet of sorts to be held from 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Halka Sanat Projesi located in Kadıköy's Caferağa neighborhood.On Sunday, Dec. 13, the Şile convivia will be meeting to prepare the traditional "Noah's Pudding," or aşure as it is known in Turkish, and to share the knowledge and experience of the women who prepare it at a special gathering starting at 1:00 p.m. at Terminal Square in this seaside Istanbul suburb that has been a prominent player in Turkey's Slow Food movement. Yaveş Gari, a Slow Food-affiliated community based in Bodrum with be holding tasting and educational events throughout this week including a tour of the Bodrum market on Wednesday, Dec. 9, a gala dinner at Esenler Sofrası in Ortakent starting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10. A day devoted to offal or "sakatat" in Turkish, and everything you ever wanted to know about its preparation, will be had at Bodrum Avenue on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a book signing by chef Pelin Dumanlı and a talk by a doctor from Acıbadem Hospital, who will be discussing the safe ways to consume this culinary category.Slow Food Foça, based in a quaint and boutique seaside town in İzmir, will be hosting a late breakfast with a series of speakers to discuss Foça's culinary tradition. The event starts at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday Dec. 13 and will be held at Marsilya Square. Slow Food Ida's two-day getaway on olives and cheeseOne of the most exciting Slow Food events coming up this month will be held by one of Turkey' newest conviviums. Slow Food Ida, based in the oxygen-laden Mount Ida region that spans provinces Çanakkale and Balıkesir, will be hosting a very special two-day culinary event on olives and cheese, which will be held on Dec. 19-20 at a farm in the Hacıaslanlar village of Edremit. An opportunity to learn about these fine culinary delicacies and all the processes they involve, this very special event is being held at an impressive farm owned and run by a group of skilled cheese makers. Gudrun Wagner, an Austrian farmer and fellow expat is the secret behind the delicious Camembert-style cheese made there and she will be one of the many sharing their wisdom to visitors as part of a full schedule of activities spread over two-days and in the nature of the magnificent Kazdağları. The first day will be focused on cheese and will include bread-making and wool spinning workshops as well as dinner and a discussion about grapes. On Sunday, the theme is olives and following an early breakfast, participants will head out to olive groves to learn how to harvest after which preparations of olive oil-based foods will ensue and be served for lunch. Afterwards, there will be a tour of a local olive oil factory. What makes this two-day culinary event particularly unique is the opportunity it allows to stay on the farm itself or to arrange accommodation in a guest house in the neighboring Mehmetalan village, both of which provide insight into a slower way of life. This two-day event costs 100 TL ($35), with a 20 percent discount for Slow Food members, not including accommodation. Check out Slow Food Ida on social media to find out more about this event held in this region famed for its high quality locally sourced products.