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![]() Eat the View Join your friends and colleagues on October 3, 2008 for a festive evening to benefit CISA. Eat the View will feature a bountiful feast of local food, an entertaining live auction, and a celebration of CISA's 15 years of working to support local agriculture. To preview auction items or to order tickets, please visit our website. CISA at FarmAid Concert CISA and WRSI 93.9 "The River," are working together to draw attention to a winning combination of family farms and great music - Farm Aid, to be held on September 20 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. During the course of four on-air promotions, tickets to the concert will be given away along with a basket filled with a smorgasbord of items from Local Hero farms and businesses. Local Hero members that contributed to the baskets include: Shattuck's Sugar House, Hardwick Winery, Hedgie's Hot Stuff, Sentinel Farm, Butternut's Restaurant, Diemand Farm Store, Hickory Dell Farm, Greenfield Farmers' Cooperative Exchange, Atkin's Farms Country Market. The baskets also contained gift certificates from Go NOMAD Café and items from CISA's own pantry. There's still time to win tickets: go to Barstow's Longview Farm on Saturday, September 13 (10:00am - noon) or Bueno y Sano in Northampton on Friday, September 19 (4:00 -6:00pm). You must be present at the time of the drawing to win. And speaking of Farm Aid, CISA staff and board members will be at the concert, talking up the benefits of supporting local family farms and the impact these valuable small businesses have on the local economy. Concert-goers will be encouraged to think about how a buy local message might work in their neighborhood and can design their very own Local Hero-style advertisement. The best artwork (as determined by CISA staff) will be displayed online at a future date. |
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![]() Raw Milk Dairy Day
Eight Massachusetts dairies that sell raw milk will open up their farms for tours and other activities on Saturday, September 13th. Raw milk is unpasteurized and unprocessed milk. In Massachusetts, raw milk is only available to consumers on site at farms that meet high sanitary standards and are regularly inspected. Curious about why a growing number of people prefer raw milk? Now is your chance to find out all about it and meet the farmers that are meeting this need. Here are the events available at four Local Hero farms that offer raw milk:
10 Years of the Festival that Stinks! Mark your calendars for a 'scent-sational' tenth anniversary celebration of The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival. Fill your weekend with a wide variety of family-friendly activities from chef demos to workshops to massages. There really is something for everyone. Between events attendees can peruse over eighty art and agriculture booths featuring hand made and locally grown items. Not to mention the live performances ranging from jazz and juggling to belly dancing, bluegrass, storytelling and soul. And the one event you just can't miss is the annual raw garlic eating contest. If you can't stomach the forty-five cloves it might take to win, you can opt to enjoy one of the garlic growing workshops held each hour and take some home to plant. The Garlic & Arts Festival is organized, in part, by Local Hero member Seeds of Solidarity and a volunteer committee. The festival runs from 10:00am-5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21st, rain or shine. Admission is $5 per day for adults or $8 for a weekend pass. Kids twelve and under get in free. For more information, including directions and a schedule of events, visit the festival's website. |
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![]() Packing Local Lunches 101
Packing your child's lunch every day can be a challenge. Below are some tips for cutting down on costs, time, and energy you put into your child's brown bagged lunch-and adding some locally grown goods!
Local Waves of Grain
Western Massachusetts farmers produce an astonishingly wide range of crops, which makes it possible for local eaters to fill their plates with local fruits, veggies, cheeses, meat, and much more. As consumers start to think more and more about the impact of their food choices on the local economy and the environment, demand has grown for an even wider range of local products, especially wheat. The recent interest in local wheat has sparked several local projects and raised a host of interesting questions about environmental and economic sustainability for local farms. Cliff Hatch of Upinngil Farm has been growing grains in Gill for years, starting with barley for his livestock. He also used grains as cover crops and as mulch for his berries. Several years ago, he was approached by Bread Euphoria, a bakery in Haydenville, about growing wheat for their bread, and as a result he started growing wheat for human consumption. For Cliff, the deciding factor was how well the grains fit into the farming system that he has developed over the years. The downsides of growing wheat, which include the low value per acre planted, are balanced for him by the very low labor costs and the fact that the crop worked well in his rotation. This year, Cliff is growing about 15 acres of grains, including spelt and rye. He's also experimenting with a white wheat and expanding into growing other dry goods, such as flint corn and dry beans. Most of his wheat is sold directly to customers at his farmstand in Gill, and is available as whole wheatberries or ground into whole wheat bread or pastry flour. Bread Euphoria continues to sell bread made purely from Upinngil's whole wheat flour. Look for the "Granary Loaf" made weekly at the bakery. At Crabapple Farm, Tevis and Rachel Robertson- Goldberg have been growing wheat for two years, but are offering it for sale for the first time this year. Says Tevis, "We have an interest in growing good food for our neighbors, and grain is something that very few people grow around here." Crabapple Farm is part of Northeast Organic Wheat, a NESARE (Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education)- funded project devoted to restoring heritage varieties of wheat through crop trials and education throughout the Northeast. For Tevis, it's clear that small farmers in the Northeast still have huge competitive disadvantages when it comes to wheat, due to the extremely high land values, the still relatively cheap cost of shipping, and the lack of harvesting, processing, and storage infrastructure. However, he believes that wheat has potential as a financially viable crop because of the growth of support for local agriculture and the importance of wheat in many people's diets. Therefore, the experimentation at Crabapple Farm is focused on learning about the logistics of growing wheat in our region, but also on testing the market for local wheat. Their wheatberries are for sale at their stand at the Greenfield Farmers Market and at their farmstand in Chesterfield. Local bakers are also actively pursuing local wheat. The local wheat project that has probably gotten the most attention and community support is The Little Red Hen project being spearheaded by Jonathan Stevens and Cheryl Maffei of Hungry Ghost Bakery in Northampton. In the spring of 2007, Jonathan and Cheryl convened a group of farmers, eaters, and bakers to discuss possibilities for increasing wheat production and availability in the Valley. In the spring of 2008, they launched the Little Red Hen Project, through which local residents were invited to pick up seeds and plant a 10'x10' trial plot in their garden or yard. Nearly 100 people participated, and they trialed three different varieties of wheat. Jonathan and Cheryl are planning to send samples of the local wheat to a lab in Quebec to test gluten level and other characteristics that are vital for bread-baking. They will mill some of the wheat and make it available for sampling at the bakery's fifth annual "Wonder-Not!" Bread Festival on Sunday, September 21st. Trials of winter wheat varieties will be planted this fall, and funding has been secured for a small mill. If you'd like to participate in the winter wheat trials, you can pick up seeds at the Bread Festival. For more information, visit the bakery or call (413) 582-9009. Ben and Adrie Lester, who own Wheatberry Bakery and Cafe in Amherst, are working with Arnie Voehringer at White Oak Farm in Belchertown, which is part of the New England Small Farms Institute, to launch Pioneer Valley Heritage Grains, a project devoted to re-establishing local grain production. After a year of planning, fundraising, trials, and research, they are launching a local wheat and bean CSA for 2009. The vision for the CSA is that shareholders will receive 150 lbs of mixed, whole grains, beans and oilseeds like flax in one bulk delivery. Ben says, "We went into this project interested, as bakers, in the possibility of bread flour we could use at the bakery. The CSA model is a way to build community support and involvement, and also to give us a chance to learn about suitable varieties for the region and as an intermediate step for dealing with challenges like processing and storage." The hope is that someday the infrastructure, market, and growers will be in place to make local grains widely available, but for now Ben says, "We're just really committed to local agriculture and sustainability and making food more interesting." For information on Pioneer Valley Heritage Grains and the wheat and bean CSA, visit their website. |
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New Northampton Farmers' Market
Tuesdays, September 2-October 28 Located in the pedestrian area behind Thorne's Marketplace. The market will start September 2nd and run every Tuesday through October from 3:00-7:00pm. Please contact Ben or Oona at (413) 586-7586, and they'll send you more information. Rockridge Farmers' Market in Northampton Mondays, Throughout the Season Rockridge Retirement Community will host Bloody Brook Farm of South Deerfield for a weekly farmer's market. The market will be held at Rockridge from 10:00am until noon on Mondays. The market is open to the public. Pick Your Own Raspberries Weekends, Through September Enjoy the sunshine out in the fields and pick your own raspberries at Nourse Farm in Whately. Pick your own raspberries will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am- 3:00pm throughout September, weather permitting. Raw Milk Dairy Day
Saturday, September 13 Eight Massachusetts dairies that sell raw milk will open up their farms for tours and other activities. Visit your local dairy and learn why raw milk tastes so good and why it's so good for you! Meet your farmers and their cows or goats and get to know where your food comes from. For information about Raw Milk Dairy Day, click here or contact Kate Rossiter, NOFA/Mass Organic Dairy Coordinator at (413) 498-2721. Barstow's Dairy Store & Bakery Grand Opening Saturday, September 13 The farm is inhabited by four generations of Barstows and a lot of Holstein cows -- and a new farmstand featuring a selection of Hadley grown produce, eggs and meat from nearby producers, and fresh baked goods. Come celebrate with the Barstow family! There will be live music, and tickets to the Farm Aid concert in Mansfield, MA, will be given away. 7th Annual Honey Festival Saturday, September 13 Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield will be hosting the 7th Annual Honey Festival from 10:00-4:00pm. The event will feature bee talks and live bee demonstrations. Don't miss the honey cooking demos and honey ice cream from Flayvor's of Cook Farm. The festival is free & open to the public. 3rd Annual Bike Springfield Saturday, September 13th Join Gardening the Community, a youth agriculture program, for their annual bike event in Springfield. The bike tour covers seven miles, visiting beautiful backyard and community gardens along the way. Registration and bike check is at 9:00am at the Mason Square Farmers' Market (11 Wilbraham Rd, Springfield, MA). There is a $25 suggested donation for Gardening the Community. For more information, contact Kristin Brennan at (413) 782-2136. Film Screening: Two Angry Moms
Wednesday, September 17 Please be our guest for dinner and a movie. Two Angry Moms is a documentary about two angry moms who are fed up, frustrated, and want to make some changes in the school lunch program. This movie and others are part of a campaign, Live Well Springfield, to increase physical activity and healthy eating in all people who live, work, and play in Springfield. The event starts at 6:00pm at 284 Main Street, Indian Orchard, Mass. Please RSVP to laura.hurley@bhs.org or mblovesjr@msn.com. Fall Harvest Feast in the Fields
Saturday, September 20 Come celebrate the plenty of fall with a splendid feast in the Red Fire Farm fields. Tickets are limited, so make your reservation now by calling (413) 467-SOIL. For more information, visit the farm's website. North Quabbin 10th Annual Garlic & Arts Festival Saturday & Sunday, September 20 & 21 Mark your calendars for a scent-sational tenth anniversary celebration of The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival. Come find out what brings over 10,000 people to this phenomenal event for the whole family. Festival Admission: $5.00 per day for adults, weekend pass $8.00, kids 12 and under free. Wheelchair accessible parking and restroom facility. Follow your nose to beautiful historic Forster's Farm, 60 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange, MA. Visit the festival's website for directions, pet policy, and the 2008 schedule of vendors, music, performances, chef demos, activities, workshops, and all you need to come have a scent-sational time. "Wonder Not" Bread Festival Sunday, September 21 Join Hungry Ghost Bread for a celebration of local bread and local toppings and the locals that make and eat. Featured especially this year will be the fruits of the Little Red Hen Project and other efforts to revive the Pioneer Valley's wheat production. Visitors can jump on the bicycle-powered grain mill, help hand-mix fresh flour into dough, and sample hot flatbread as it comes off the wood-fired hearth. This is a free event and open to all from 11:00am-5:00pm. For more information, email Hungry Ghost Bread or call (413) 582-9009. Harvest Festival Saturday, September 27 Join Nuestras Raíces, at their farm, Tierra de Oportunidades in Holyoke for their annual harvest festival. This celebration of community and local food will include exciting presentations for the whole family. The event will run from noon- 6:00pm. For more information visit the organization's website. North Amherst Harvest Festival
Sunday, September 28 Join Simple Gifts Farm and the North Amherst Community Farm for their Fall Harvest Festival. The celebration will include local food, live music, a pig roast, games for kids and lots of fun! The event will be at Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst, from 12:00- 6:00pm, rain or shine. For more information, visit the farm's website. Mike's Amazing Maze September 1-October 31 Celebrate the fall harvest this year by finding your way through Mike's Amazing Maze at Warner Farm, in Sunderland. This year's corn maze will "be an Odyssey". The maze is open weekends from 11:00am-5:00pm. For more information, visit the farm's website or call (413) 665-8331. "Eat the View"
Friday, October 3 Join us for a festive evening to benefit CISA. Our event will feature a bountiful feast of local food, an entertaining live auction, and a celebration of CISA's 15 years of working to support local agriculture. The event will take place at The Garden House at Look Park in Florence from 6:00-9:00pm. For more information, please contact us at (413) 665-7100. |
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Job Opening: Farm Manager. Established
PYO orchard in the Pioneer Valley with a loyal
customer base seeks farm manager. Experience with
tree fruit and marketing preferred. Position is year-
round and requires experience with tree fruit and
marketing, as well as tractor operation and equipment
maintenance. Salary is commensurate with
experience. Call (413) 665-4689.
Volunteer: The Federation of Mass Farmers
Markets is looking for volunteers to help staff our
booth at The Big
E in West Springfield, MA anytime between Fri,
September 12 and Sunday, September 29. Volunteers
typically donate 6 hours of their time on any given day,
and in exchange receive free parking and all-day
admission to the fair. Mass Farmers Markets sells
locally grown products (including fresh fall
raspberries!) to the crowds in order to raise funds for
our work. If you are interested in volunteering for one
or more days, please contact
Martha at (781) 893-8222.
Wanted: Land. Immigrant & Refugee
Agriculture Initiative, based in Westfield, MA, seeks
land in Western Massachusetts to expand its program
to new participants and assist new farmers in
establishing their own operation. We are searching
for either individual locations (~4-5 acres) where our
farmers could lease or a ~20-acre farm that IMMAG
would oversee and support several farmer
operations. In addition, we have a number of farmers
that are interested in expanding their livestock
operations. Again, we could site individual
pastureland or have a collective space of ~50-100
acres. We are open to discussing what would work
best for all involved. Please contact Shemariah
Blum-Evitts at (413) 562-6015, with questions or to offer
land/support. For more information, please visit our website.
Wanted: Farmer with 3+ years experience seeking land tenure/stewardship opportunity to include organic vegetable production using draft horses along with the possibility to graze livestock. Open and willing to work with your situation, rent or lease. Currently apprenticing at Natural Roots in Conway, MA. Please contact Anthony by e-mail or phone at (413) 369-4269. For Sale: Dairy Goats. Herd reduction.
Oberhasli, Toggenburg, Lamancha and Recorded
Grade dariy goats for sale. Oberhasli: Milkers,
doelings, pet and show quality; bucks - can be
wethered. Toggenburg and Lamancha bucks for sale -
from high production does. All does have been linear
appraised. All milking does have been tested for TB,
Brucellosis. All kids have been family raised and
bottle fed. Contact Terri at
(413) 569-5782.
For Sale: Farm fresh food delivered straight to your door. Delivery is available to the greater Northampton, Amherst, Easthampton, Springfield, and West Springfield areas, beginning the first week of July. For more information about this new service, contact Jessica Harwood at (413) 588-8704. Or, check out their website. |
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This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. |
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