March 14, 2010 by Debra.

The York Community Garden will become part of the Town Farm, now being planned for the town of York:

New trails, gardens envisioned for York town farm — HDC hopes residents may apply for plots this spring

YORK — An ad-hoc committee of the Historic District Commission envisions gardens and trails at the Town Farm.

Before another summer growing season, the committee plans to present to the Board of Selectmen a process by which residents can apply for a plot of garden at the farm on Long Sands Road. There is currently no formal process, said Commission Chairman Bob Cutts.

“We’re just trying to get things organized and come up with a plan to proceed,” said Cutts prior to a Feb. 18 meeting on the project. “Right now, it sits there, not real attractive.”

The 2.5-acre parcel includes the York Community Garden, located just off Long Sands Road. There are several garden plots, a small dirt parking lot and an overgrowth of sumac trees. The committee plans to clean up the site by getting rid of sumac overgrowth, planting fruit trees, and erecting fencing.

An L-shaped strip of land owned by Central Maine Power runs through the property. It could act as a trail connecting Long Sands Road to Ridge Road, should CMP give permission for its use, said Cutts. The committee is in the process of asking CMP whether the public may use the land.

Committee members were pleasantly surprised to learn, after a January site walk, the Town Farm has more land than they had thought. A map of the land shows a square half-acre parcel next to the CMP land off Ridge Road. Committee member Russell Osgood, who works with a local 4-H Club, has expressed an interest in using this piece of farmable land for club members and as an education piece for the schools, in particular the Coastal Ridge Elementary School, said Cutts.

To read full article >

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March 13, 2010 by Debra.

The U.S. Justice Department has announced that they will be investigating anticompetitive practices in agriculture, specifically the seed industry, which Monsanto dominates:

Rapid Rise in Seed Prices Draws U.S. Scrutiny 

 

During the depths of the economic crisis last year, the prices for many goods held steady or even dropped. But on American farms, the picture was far different, as farmers watched the price they paid for seeds skyrocket. Corn seed prices rose 32 percent; soybean seeds were up 24 percent.

 

Such price increases for seeds — the most important purchase a farmer makes each year — are part of an unprecedented climb that began more than a decade ago, stemming from the advent of genetically engineered crops and the rapid concentration in the seed industry that accompanied it.

 

The price increases have not only irritated many farmers, they have caught the attention of the Obama administration. The Justice Department began an antitrust investigation of the seed industry last year, with an apparent focus on Monsanto, which controls much of the market for the expensive bioengineered traits that make crops resistant to insect pests and herbicides.

 

The investigation is just one facet of a push by the Obama administration to take a closer look at competition — or the lack thereof — in agriculture, from the dairy industry to livestock to commodity crops, like corn and soybeans.

 

To read article > 

Also: 

Justice Dept. Tells Farmers It Will Press Agriculture on Antitrust

ANKENY, Iowa — The attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., traveled to the heart of Midwestern farm country on Friday to declare that the Obama administration was serious about rooting out anticompetitive practices in agriculture.

 

“Is today’s agricultural industry suffering from a lack of free and fair competition in the marketplace? That’s the central question,” Mr. Holder said.

 

He spoke at an unusual public meeting called to discuss the concerns of some farmers and ranchers that a few large companies had come to dominate many agricultural markets, controlling the seed that farmers plant and the milk they sell and the livestock ranchers raise.

 

Mr. Holder and the agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack, who co-hosted the event, said their agencies would work together on antitrust enforcement.

 

To read article >

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March 13, 2010 by Debra.

An August workshop may be far in the future, however, since this one promises to fill up fast, it seemed worth posting about now:

Posted in author: Debra, learning | Print | No Comments »

March 12, 2010 by Debra.

With sugaring season upon us, it seems the perfect time to get out the cast iron skillet and fry up some flapjacks. Serve them up with some sauteed apples, warm maple syrup and a side of smoky bacon as a way of celebrating!

Maple Griddle Cakes

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon maple syrup

2 eggs

1½ cups milk (plus ½ cup to thin batter)

2 tablespoons butter, melted (optional)

Butter or cooking oil for frying

1. Mix the dry ingredients together.

2. In separate bowl, beat the eggs into 1½ cups of milk, then stir in melted butter (if using). Gently stir this mixture into dry ingredients, mixing only enough to moisten flour; batter will be lumpy. Add more milk to thin batter, if desired.

3. Heat skillet or griddle over medium-low heat; skillet is ready when a few drops of water skids across surface before evaporating. Add a little butter; when butter foam subsides, ladle batter onto the skillet.

4. Flip pancake when bubbles appear in center of pancakes and bottoms are browned, 2 to 4 minutes. Cook until second side is browned, a few more minutes. Adjust heat as necessary to keep pancakes from burning.

5. Serve immediately or hold on an ovenproof plate in a 200°F oven for up to 15 minutes. Serve with warm maple syrup. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Notes:

- Buttermilk or yogurt may be substituted for the milk. If using either, reduce the baking powder to 1-1/2 teaspoons, and add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.

- Do not add too much butter or oil to skillet, just enough to film the bottom.

- Batter can be prepared the night before and may be preferable, especially if using whole grain flours.

- Adapted from How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman.

Posted in Market Notes, author: Debra, recipes | Print | No Comments »

March 12, 2010 by Debra.

A barn-sized thank-you to all who came out for CSA+CSF Day at the Winter Farmers’ Market in Rollinsford! After a couple of dark, frigid nights without electricity, it was cheering to spend the day with good company in a warm place, and enjoy a hot meal.

Many farms still have CSA openings available but they are filling up fast. Secure a spot with the CSA of your choice by signing up soon. If you still have some questions or missed CSA+CSF Day, come this Saturday to the Winter Farmers’ Market at Exeter — a number of those offering shares will be there.

A list of those who participated in CSA+CSF Day (with brief descriptions of each) and information on “Choosing a CSA” may be found on the Winter Farmers’ Market website.

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March 12, 2010 by Heather.

The year 2010 marks the 15th annual New Hampshire Maple Weekend. March 27th and 28th are sure to be exciting days for those who choose to visit any of the 65 sugarhouses across the state that will be welcoming visitors. Events include learning how maple syrup is made, learning the history of maple syrup, tasting free samples, pancake breakfasts, horse-drawn rides, sap collecting, petting zoos, musical entertainment, and much more. And it all will be enjoyed while sweet maple steam rises from evaporators and New Hampshire maple producers work in sugarhouses to boil sap down to syrup, a craft that has been refined over hundreds of years in New England. Visit the New Hampshire Maple Producers website for more information on the weekend.

One sugarhouse that will be welcoming guests during New Hampshire Maple Weekend is Sugarmomma’s Maple Farm, 213 Ridge Road, Northwood, also a vendor at the Winter Farmers’ Markets. Sugarmomma’s will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., rain or shine, on March 27th and 28th.  There will be hayrides, a pancake breakfast, pony rides, and much more. See Sugarmomma’s website for more details.   
 

Posted in author: Heather, learning, farms, events | Print | 1 Comment »

March 12, 2010 by Heather.

Yesterday, the Hippo ran a story about Manchester restaurants striving to bring more local food into their kitchens. But this was no small article simply naming a few locations and the beginning of their adventure. This was more of an in-depth study on how New Hampshire is coming home, so as to speak, and how the momentum for local food is growing. Writer Heidi Masek got input from many restaurant owners, farmers, and local food leaders.

Chef Jeffrey Paige said it’s amazing that right now in New Hampshire you can find venison, buffalo, beef, pork and chicken raised locally, and probably eight or 10 different kinds of cheeses.

But although everyone is excited about local food, there remain many challenges to fully stocked restaurants. Masek says:

These [farms] are usually family businesses, though, and producers are working so hard on products that a lot of them don’t have time to market or distribute. “That’s the hard part of this whole process. The average chef works 60 hours per week,” Paige said. They need sourcing simplified.

And that’s one of the things a group of 50 to 75 people–farmers, producers, distributors, chefs, and others–met to work on in January at Cotton Restaurant in Manchester. It was a New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection meeting and they were starting to figure out ways to get more local products into Manchester restaurants. 

The bottom line of what the New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection does is to sustain New Hampshire farms — provide farmers with a reason not to sell to real estate brokers, Charlie Burke said. However, local foods are also safer, better and fresher.

Of course, there’s a lot more where this came from. The article also takes a look at what groups in all parts of the state and even over into Vermont are doing. It’s worth taking a few minutes to read the whole article on the Hippo’s website.

And remember, you can always find local food near you in Rockingham, Strafford, and York counties with the help of Seacoast Harvest.

Posted in author: Heather, local food in local restaurants, eating locally in the media, farms | Print | No Comments »

March 10, 2010 by Debra.

I’ve been enjoying experimenting with the locally grown and milled flour I bought from Moor Farm at the Winter Farmers’ Market earlier this season. So I was excited to come across information regarding a grain CSA being offered in nearby Massachusetts. Pioneer Valley Heritage Grains is the result of a partnership between Wheatberry Bakery & Cafe and The New England Small Farm Institute. This project was developed to explore the “challenges of producing, processing & marketing an emerging commodity.” The following describes what was being offered in last year’s share:

A full 2009 share ($300) is approximately:

• • 30lbs of wheat (spring and winter wheat)
  • 10lbs of black beans
  • 10lbs of oats
  • 20lbs of corn
  • 5lbs of barley
  • 6lbs of rye
  • 15lbs of spelt
  • 4lbs of emmer

Fine Print

• • A half share ($175) is half of the above quantities
  • Grains are unmilled for keeping quality.
  • Milling is available weekday afternoons at Wheatberry Bakery,
  • or a home sized mill can be used and cost between $50 and $200.

With locally grown beans already available and more locally grown wheat on the horizon, one can’t help but imagine that a grain CSA can’t be too far off from being offered here on the Seacoast!

Posted in author: Debra, sources of local food | Print | 2 Comments »

March 9, 2010 by Heather.

This summer Wentworth Greenhouses will be holding its summer farmers’ markets on Saturdays. Starting June 26th and running through October 30th, the markets will be held outdoors in the parking lot, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the option of bringing them indoors to one of the greenhouses during inclement weather.  The move to Saturday aligns the markets with the busiest weekend shopping day at Wentworth Greenhouses and builds upon the momentum from last year’s summer markets and the tremendously successful winter markets. Market guidelines and application forms will be available at the Wentworth Greenhouses website shortly. Should you have questions about the markets, or the application process, please call Steve at 603.743.0923.

Posted in author: Heather, farmers' markets, events | Print | No Comments »

March 8, 2010 by Heather.

Spring has sprung, and it’s time for the Strafford County Conservation District’s 2010 Annual Conservation Plant Sale! The Strafford County Conservation District (SCCD) holds this sale, its largest fund-raiser, to provide landowners with trees, shrubs, and plants at discounted prices with a few goals in mind. ”The goals of the [SCCD] are to offer plants for sale to land owners for controlling erosion, wind/sound breaks, bird/wildlife food/shelter/nesting sites, evergreens that are ideal for growing your own Christmas trees, fruits for your own use, starting a business, or for making the natural world more enjoyable.” 

Another benefit is that these plants are grown in Farmfield Greenhouses, Lebanon, ME, and Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford, NH. So this sale supports local conservation, local greenhouses, and gives people a more affordable way to plant their own decorative and edible plants. Wondering just what they’re selling? A lot! The main types of items are evergreens; deciduous trees; fruit trees; shrubs; wildflowers, ground covers, vines, and ferns; small fruits and roots; and perennials, herbs, vegetables, annuals, and flower baskets. The SCCD has produced a six-page document of all the options, which is packed full with information about each item, like what type of soil the plant flourishes in or if it’s native to the area. SCCD Plant Sale Info

Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Orders should be placed by March 25, 2010. Fill out the SCCD Plant Sale Order Form and send, along with your payment, to the Strafford County Conservation District, 259 County Farm Road Unit #3, Dover, NH 03820-6015.

Posted in author: Heather, grow your own, farms, events | Print | No Comments »