Living the Local Life

Holy Cow Giveaway Winner

2010-01-02T19:18:00.000-05:00

The winner of the book, Holy Cows And Hog Heaven, is Naomi of Naomi Figueroa Photography. Naomi and I spent a semester at Eastern University together, so it'll be fun to pass this awesome book onto a friend! I used random.org, and it chose #3 as the winner. Congrats, Naomi, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!

If you're in the local area, Peter Allen of Newfields Own Produce just may be at the upcoming Newmarket Winter Farmers' Market on January 16th selling a few amazing books at cost! I'll keep you updated on any info I hear!

Oh and Happy New Year!

Holy Cows and Hog Heaven Giveaway

2009-12-22T16:58:00.005-05:00

**Giveaway is now closed**

I decided I wanted to gift one of my readers a copy of Joel Salatin's book Holy Cows And Hog Heaven. I couldn't pass on the great prices Peter Allen was offering at the past few Newmarket Farmers' Markets! And this is a book everyone needs to read!

Holy Cows and Hog Heaven is written by an honest-to-goodness-dirt-under-the-fingernails, optimistic clean good farmer. His goal is to:
Empower food buyers to pursue positive alternatives to the industrialized food system.
Bring clean food farmers and their patrons into a teamwork relationship.
Marry the best of western technology with the soul of eastern ethics.
Educate food buyers about productions.
Create a food system that enhances nature’s ecology for future generations.

The Giveaway

One copy of Holy Cows And Hog Heaven: The Food Buyer's Guide To Farm Friendly Food by Joel Salatin.

Note: Please be sure to leave an email address in your comment if it's not public on your blogger profile.

Main Entry

Just leave me a nice message! I don't ask much! Oh and have a Merry Christmas!

Extra Entries

Follow me (@livinglocalnh) on twitter AND tweet the following message (Leave the direct link to your tweet) One tweet per day till the giveaway ends, so go ahead tweet away!:
Win a Joel Salatin book from @livinglocalnh http://tinyurl.com/y8e5jrx (Ends 1/1) Please RT!! (1 entry)
Follow me on blogger. (1 entry)
Subscribe to my blog by email OR RSS feeds. (1 entry)
Add my button to your blog and leave me the link (1 entry)

Be sure to leave additional comments for each extra entry you earn! And leave me links for Twitter and if you post my blog badge on your site!

Contest ends January 1, 2010. I will choose a winner using random.org and contact the winner by email. You will have three days to respond by email with your contact information.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money. I was not paid or compensated in any way for this giveaway.

New Years Eve Business

2009-12-31T09:46:00.000-05:00

Here's the last blog business of the year!!

Just over one week left to pre-register for the Fourfold Path to Healing Conference in Nashua, NH at the end of January.

The next Fourfold Healing Conference is coming up in early 2010, just a few short weeks away...another incredible weekend of dynamic discussions, presentations and lectures featuring Sally Fallon, Jaimen McMillan and Thomas Cowan, the authors of The Fourfold Path to Healing.

We invite you to join us as we work together to explore the laws of Nutrition, Therapeutics, Movement and Meditation in the art of medicine.

Pre-Registration (by 1/8/10): $295/$345 at the door
Student/Seniors: $175/$225 at the door
Seating is limited, so register early!

Next, today is the last day to buy into High Mowing Organic Seeds CSS, Community Support Seeds program.

How the CSS program works:

We invite you to purchase your “Seed Credits” at a 10% discount through December 31, 2009. For example, if you purchase $100 worth of seed credits, you will pay only $90. You can purchase seed credits in any denomination. Call us to place a phone order if your desired seed credit amount is not listed below. These seed credits can then be redeemed anytime during 2010. You will receive your Community Supported Seed certificate and redemption instructions by email in early January. Thanks for your support!

And the last bit of business...today is the LAST DAY to enter my awesome giveaway! The response has been small, so you have a better chance of winning! I'm giving away Joel Salatin's fantastic book, Holy Cows And Hog Heaven. You don't want to miss this opportunity! Enter now!

Happy 2010 to all my fantastic readers that keep me blogging! Thanks for an incredible year! I'm looking forward to living locally with you in the new year.

National One-Minute Raw Milk Survey (NORMS)

2009-12-29T19:12:00.001-05:00

This will be just a quick post to encourage you to head over to the Journal of Natural Food and Healing and take the National One-Minute Raw Milk Survey (NORMS). This survey is for raw milk drinkers and non-raw milk drinkers alike!

The survey started December 1st and preliminary results have been released.

The Journal of Natural Food and Healing is sponsoring an informal Raw Milk Survey. So far, 1030 responses were received (from Dec 1 to Dec 20) of which 85% were raw milk drinkers. Here is a summary of the findings so far.

Health Benefits (of 877 raw milk drinkers)
74% have much health benefit
24% some
2% none

What all responders said about pasteurized milk:

62% believe it has long-term health effects
15% say it makes them very sick
40% say it tastes terrible
30% say it upsets their stomach
16% say it gives them diarrhea
And 53% say they will not spend their money to support the Milk Monopoly hurting dairy farmers

They will pay more for raw milk than for pasteurized
35% will pay double
26% will pay triple
16% will pay 50% more
5% will pay 25% more

90% of the raw milk drinkers will disobey the law to obtain it

There were 250 dairy farmers (or speaking for dairy farmers) responding:
If raw milk sales is or will be illegal:
53% will use herdshare programs where groups own a share of the herd
24% will disobey the law
11% will probably disobey the law
Only 3% will stop providing raw milk and obey the law
7% have to think about what they would do

Pretty amazing stuff. Just this week I heard a testimonial from my mom. She bought raw milk and cream from Brookford Farm for our Christmas festivities. She told me later in the week she noticed she didn't have "tummy rumbles" after drinking the raw milk vs. when she drank commercial milk! Score for raw milk! Why Drink Raw Milk

The survey is still on going. If you have not done so, please take the one-minute survey.

Here's where you can purchase raw milk on the Seacoast.

Thirteen Colonies Farm, Milton
Brookford Farm, Rollinsford

Top 5 of 2009!

2009-12-28T21:51:00.000-05:00

Everyone is doing it, so I will too! I was going to pull my top five posts, but since alot are timely events, I chose the top five most visited recipes on my blog this year...without further adieu...

1. Crustless Swiss Chard Quiche. I cooked this many times this year! And whenever I find chard at the market, I buy some so I can cook this. It makes a decent breakfast as well. Try alternating shredded cheese with goat's milk cheese (feta) scattered on top.

2. Maple Nut Granola. Another favorite in this house! Sweet, nutty and filling!

3. Blueberry Yogurt Muffins. Anything containing blueberries is a hit here. These are no exception!

4. Sweet Russian Cabbage Stew. This is a great winter stew. Very hearty. Maybe with a side of Cheesy Beer Bread.

5. Homemade Strawberry Jam. Jam in the bread machine, can't get anymore straightforward than that! Bookmark this recipe for June!

Sweet Russian Cabbage Stew

2008-10-31T07:17:00.008-04:00

Cabbage has been available through the Rock Op Local Co-Op the past few orders. I figured that it's a local in season vegetable and I should try to find something to cook it in! I found this recipe on AllRecipes.com and it seemed like something I could enjoy. Note that my ground beef came from the co-op as well.

Overall we did enjoy it. Dear husband says that next time I should slice the cabbage pieces smaller, it was like eating big long noodles! Also, look through the stew reviews on AllRecipes. Some people added less sugar and more vinegar. That might be worth trying. I hope you enjoy this recipe too or at least find some use for cabbage!

Sweet Russian Cabbage Stew

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds ground lean beef
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
4 cubes beef bouillon
2 medium carrots, shredded
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 quarts water, divided
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 head cabbage, cored and cut into wedges

Directions:
1. Crumble the ground beef into a large pot. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef bouillon cubes, carrots, onion, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Pour in 1 quart of water, and bring to a boil. Stir to break up the beef while heating. Once the soup comes to a boil, cover and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat.
2. Pour in another quart of water, and return to a slow boil. Add garlic and cabbage. Simmer for 25 minutes, until cabbage is tender. Ladle into soup bowls to serve.

Enjoy!

Here's to a Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T20:38:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas, friends!

Wishing you and yours a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Solar Energy Open House

2009-12-22T00:04:00.002-05:00

This just came through my inbox courtesy of Sue at Life Looms Large. And what better day to post this then the day after the shortest day of the year!

Saturday January 9 – 3:00 PM
Solar Open House, 101 Mill Pond Rd. Portsmouth, NH

A newly constructed passive solar home in Portsmouth will host an open house in the New Year. The homeowner has plentiful south facing windows and a 3.4 kilowatt Sun Power photovoltaic (PV) array mounted on a 40-degree pitched roof. The energy demands are very low, with the solar electric array generating most of Heather Parker’s electricity during the course of the year; totaling about 380 kilowatt hours each month.

This system is grid-tied with no moving parts and smart inverter technology that allows the import of electricity to the electric panel on overcast days or when electric load is high. In clear sunlit conditions the array will export energy out to the electric grid, and credit is banked under the state’s net metering program. In addition the project benefits from a 30% federal tax credit, and $6,000 in state rebates, significantly reducing project costs.

Using solar power at home not only produces clean energy reliably, it reduces the strain on the electrical grid during times of peak demand. The Parker PV system is an integral piece of a house designed for low-energy usage and sustainability of material. Annual CO2 reduction from the system is estimated at 6,890 lbs. New Hampshire homes currently emit the second highest level of CO2 per capita in New England, second only to Maine.

The solar open house is a chance for people to view the solar design used in this home and mingle with the homeowner as well as a ReVision Energy http://www.revisionenergy.com/ representative to talk about the practicality of solar at home. The event is free and all are welcome. Please meet at 101 Mill Pond Way in Portsmouth at 3:00 pm January 9th if interested. Send questions to Will Kessler at 603-486-7170 or will@revisionenergy.com.

Just Be...

2009-12-20T01:14:00.002-05:00

As I've mentioned before I committed to do almost 100% of my Christmas shopping through local NH vendors, farmers, and craftsmen.

I wasn't holding out much hope for local-ness while visiting the Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester, but I was pleasantly surprised! I spotted a kiosk feature these great "Just Be" t-shirts, sweaters and kids apparel and was happy to find out that this was a NH based business. (Make sure you get to the bottom of this post for the sweet deal I have for you!)

Michelle Pratt-Lienhart started Just Be Products LLC after a t-shirt making project at a local art college where she was teaching. Here's her take on Just Be:

Just Be is a state of mind, a way of life, and a philosophy. It is a line of apparel and accessories not meant to inspire…but to Just Be. Just Be gear allows people to show the world how they like to Just Be.

Now I have been camping for my entire life (in tents, the only way to camp!) and was ecstatic when I saw the line of "Just Be A Camper" t-shirts and sweatshirts. I knew it'd make a perfect Christmas gift for my dad.

I also picked up a Just Be A Hiker t-shirt for my brother-in-law who has been hiking the NH/ME mountains all year long.

There is also a line of Just Be products in organic cotton. Check out this Just Be Green t-shirt (love the frog!):

There's also a great selection for the kiddos:

So here's the deal for you...right now at the kiosk (in the "D" section) at the Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester you can get $5 off any 2 tees and the sweatshirts are 20% off! You can also order online and receive 20% off your order with this special code: 20%OFF . I hope you'll join me in patronizing the local NH business and help keep your money in the local economy. Just be!

JUST BE

You can also find Just Be on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The review here within is my own honest opinion of the product. I was not paid to write this review and received no compensation for writing it.

Magnificiet Markets

2009-12-19T23:58:00.002-05:00

Today was yet another glorious, albeit cold, day for two fabulous winter farmers' markets.

I started off at the Newmarket Winter Farmers' Market. The first thing I spotted was two glorious racks of High Mowing Seed packets. I hope you picked up a few packets for Christmas stocking stuffers! Tuckaway Farm of Lee, NH had the seed setup and will be at the next Newmarket Farmers' Market on January 16th selling their vegetables, eggs and High Mowing seed packets. (For more glowing reviews of High Mowing, head over to Amy's blog).

Peter Allen of Newfield's Own Produce still had copies of Nourishing Traditions, Holy Cows And Hog Heaven and Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal for sale at cost. I have all three books and I must say they are all wonderful reads and what a great treat to have a local farmer take on the sale of these books at no profit to themselves. He may be at the next market if he has food items to sell. (He had chicken feet for sale today as well, makes great stock!)

I also spotted Dr. Tomato talking about his greenhouses he sells through his business, Healthy Home Harvest. They also sell mushrooms and supposedly they sold out of their Oyster Mushrooms in less than 30 minutes! You can subscribe to their newsletter and get updates as to when mushrooms are available.

After a nice chat with Jill, Newmarket Farmers' Market coordinator, I scooted over to Rollinsford, NH for the Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers' Market at the Wentworth Greenhouses.

Yet another bustling Saturday farmers market...in the dead of winter, none the less! Who would have thought we'd need a police officer directing traffic for a WINTER farmers' market!? So thanks to all the farmers, artisans, and hard workers who have labored on through the winter to bring us great nourishing foods!

I purchased some Yellow Eye beans from Sherman Farm in East Conway through Amy's generosity to drive up there. So why am I telling you this? Because to make true Maine baked beans, you need to have a hunk of salt pork. And no way was I buying an industrial piece from the supermarket! I was so ecstatic to find that New Roots Farm had just my hunk of salt pork I had been hoping for! So thanks for bring salt pork to the market!

I also picked up some more gifts which included maple hot sauce from Sugarmomma's Maple Farm and a bottle of vino from Jewell Towne Vineyards. (wine photo by Karen Marzloff)

I also had an amazing coffee experience. It turns out I've never really tried fresh roasted coffee before (we're talking like, last night roasted freshness). Red Rover Coffee Roasting treated the market goers to free samples and I was completely floored by the flavor. I'm the type who needs extra cream/extra sugar when I drive though the-coffee-shop-that-shall-remain-nameless, BUT with Red Rover coffee I only need a dab of cream and it was beyond scrumptious. I know it sounds like they're paying me to write this, but believe me, they're not! Try it for yourself!

Overall I was quite the happy market goer, as were many others! I hope to see you at some these upcoming January markets:

January 9th, Seacoast Eat Local's Winter Farmers' Market at Exeter High School
January 16th, Newmarket Winter Farmers' Market at the Stone Church
January 16th, Rye Winter Farmers' Market at the Congregational Church
January 23rd, Seacoast Eat Local's Winter Farmers' Market at Wentworth Greenhouses

Lastly, check out this short video clip from the 12/5 Wentworth Greenhouses Winter Farmers' Market.

Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers' Market, Dec 5, 2009 from Seacoast Eat Local on Vimeo.

(photos by Karen Marzloff)

Healing Childhood Illnesses

2009-12-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned a few times that my 4 year old has ADHD tendencies. We haven't had her formally diagnosed, but just yesterday we took the steps to see a local Naturopath and get her on the healing path.

The recommendation has been made to try putting Lucy back on a gluten-free/casein-free diet for at least 6 weeks. It has also been recommended to take out corn and peanuts as well due to their inflammatory properties. We've done GF/CF for 3 weeks before, but we need to do it longer this time to see if we can get better results as sometimes it takes a length of time for the body to heal itself.

I'm feeling a bit daunted by the task of switching her diet and making adjustments for the family as a whole. I also need to up her dose of fish oil, and getting a 4 year old to down 1 tsp. of cod liver oil is also no easy feat! I also will not be supplementing butter, milk etc with soy based products. It will be a very whole foods GF/CF diet. I just purchased the Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day which has a section on homemade gluten-free breads. Slicing bread was the most difficult item to substitute when we did the diet last time.

If you're dealing with any behavioral issues with your children, I encourage you to research for yourself. These are the books that I've used to learn about healing childhood illnesses like ADHD, autism, allergies, and asthma:

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders
Is This Your Child? by Doris Rapp
Why Your Child Is Hyperactive (I've used the Feingold principles of removing food colorings and additives to reduce ADHD symptoms)

These are books that have shaped my nutritional outlook:

If you have any encouraging words, tips on getting a 4 year old to enjoy GF/CF, GF/CF recipes or anything else, I'd love for you to leave comments! Thanks for your support!

If you're looking for a Naturopath, check out the New Hampshire Association of Naturopathic Doctors

Information in this post is meant for educational and informational purposes only, and to motivate you to make your own health care and dietary decisions based upon your own research and in partnership with your health care provider

Free Our Farmers

2009-12-16T16:05:00.002-05:00

This just hit my inbox from Fresh, an indie film by ana Sophia joanes.

The AP just uncovered a series of confidential commercial licensing agreements that give around 200 smaller companies the right to insert Monsanto's genes (resistant to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide) into their corn and soybean plans. These agreements outline the various practices that Monsanto employs to block out competition in the seed industry, compromising any choice that small farmers might have in the decision not to grow GMO plants.

Now, more than ever, we need to make sure the Department of Justice recognizes that we won't stand for this any longer. Please sign the petition and spread the word to your friends and family to do the same.

You can read the AP article here.

Sign the petition at the Fresh website.

Last Minute Locavore Gifts...

2009-12-15T21:27:00.001-05:00

10 days left for shopping! Here are my last minute gift ideas...

Green Alliance Green Cards. 2 for $50 right now which gives the gift recipient access to over 70 discounts on the seacoast. Or choose one Green Card with the book Greening Your Family by local author Lindsey Carmichael for only $40!

If you're heading out for a holiday party, why not bring a nice bottle of local wine? Both Jewell Towne Vineyards and Sweet Baby Vineyards will be attending the upcoming Winter Farmers' Market at Wentworth Greenhouses. Or you can stop by the Flag Hill Winery and Distillery in Lee, NH for wines, locally produced vodka, brandy and other liqueurs.

If alcohol isn't your thing, how about some fair trade and organic tea from White Heron Tea Company. They will also be at the upcoming Winter Farmers' Market in Rollinsford. Or how about some locally roasted coffee from Red Rover Coffee Roasting? You can order online from them and pickup at the market or stop by Fiddlehead Farms in Dover, NH for a selection of their products.

Jenness Farms bath and body products make some superb teacher's gifts. Right now their entire store is 10% off (excluding food/drink items). Stop by their farm in Nottingham for an excellent selection of soaps, lotions, scrubs and more! Or maybe some frozen cookie dough from Be Sweet would make another thoughtful gift!

For the gluten-free on your list, be sure to swing by Buzz's Bakery and Take-Out Cafe located in N. Hampton, NH for sweet treats, meals and more. Or purchase some mixes from Little Bay Baking Co. out of Dover, NH. Their products can be found all over New England.

Do you have a special someone in your life? How about wow'ing them with a summer CSA subscription? Fresh veggies all summer long, what could be more romantic, right? Here are some options already available:

Heron Pond Farm (2010 CSA info to be released soon)
Touching Earth Farm
Pickpocket Farm
New Roots Farm
Two Toad Farm

My favorite gift that is great for everyone is, of course, maple syrup. Sugarmomma's Maple Farm products have yet to fail me...their Grade B is amazing. You can't go wrong with a maple syrup gift!

Seacoast Eat Local will also be hosting a table at the upcoming market (12/19) and will feature Maine grown oils, cheesemaking kits from the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company, Maine smoked sea salt, and books including How to Store Your Garden Produce and The Raw Milk Revolution.

And lastly, if there's no way you can decide what to buy, how about a gift certificate from the Seacoast Grower's Association for the upcoming summer farmers' markets? Gift certificate appliction can be found here.

Support your local economy this Christmas season. There's a gift for everyone available locally!

Handwoven Giveaway!

2009-12-10T22:35:00.000-05:00

Nope, not on my blog! Sue of Life Looms Large, a local NH blog, is celebrating her first blogoversay and is giving away two of her handwoven huck towels.

Be sure to stop by her blog and congratulate her on her first blogoversary. Just by commenting on the blogoversary post, you're entered to win these two great towels!

Green Alliance Gift Giving

2009-11-30T09:16:00.006-05:00

Looking for a versatile, local and green gift to give this year? The Green Alliance has a sweet deal for you and yours...check it out:

For a limited time only we are offering membership in the Green Alliance at a discounted rate. Join the GA today and get yourself a Green Card and a second one to give as a Gift for only $50 total. Thats two memberships for $50! The Green Card is already a great deal at $35 a year; giving you access to discounts at 72 local green businesses -- savings that can translate into thousands of dollars!

We also have partnered with local writer Lindsey Carmichael, author of the new book Greening Your Family. Get Greening Your Family and a Green Card – usually $35 by itself – for $40! Greening Your Family is a valuable reference guide for parents to make informed decisions about the consumable products we buy on a regular basis; a perfect companion to the Green Card.

Finally, Paul Button of Energy Audits Unlimited has increased his discount for a full and complete home energy audit to $100 off! So join the GA and save $100 on tightening up your home and Serendipity of Exeter has bumped up their discount to 20% off everything in the store until Jan. 1st!

For more local and green gift giving, check out:

Lasting Legacy Farm Shoppe (sausage, ice cream, hams and more)
NH Made Online Store
Winter Farmers' Markets (check far right column for list of local winter markets)
Warren Farm (herbal soaps, maple syrup, wreaths)
Jenness Farm Stimulus Package

We will offer 10% off your entire purchase from Nov. 27 through Dec. 24, 2009. This offer valid in our retail shop only and excludes food/beverage sales.

The Fourfold Path to Healing Conference

2009-12-06T22:40:00.002-05:00

I definitely want Santa to put this under my Christmas tree!

Tom Cowan, MD, Sally Fallon Morell and Jaimen McMillan, authors of The Fourfold Path to Healing, will be coming to Nashua, NH Jan 29-Jan 31, 2010 for a Fourfold Path to Healing Conference! If you don't know, Sally Fallon is also the author of Nourishing Traditionsand my food hero!

Why attend?
A unique opportunity for individuals, families and health professionals to learn more about diet and health from the internationally acclaimed authors of The Fourfold Path to Healing, who will challenge your deepest beliefs while showing you a practical approach to improving your health and your quality of life.

Who should attend?
Doctors, nutritionists, parents, students, people interested in health and nutrition, baby-boomers concerned about their health, grandparents concerned about their grandchildren, couples who want healthy babies, people who want answers, people who want to know more about how to improve the quality of their lives...

What will you learn?
Your views on health and healing will be transformed as you explore how your health is affected by how and what you eat, the medicines and supplements you take, how you move your body, and how you guide your thinking processes. Topics include:
Food facts and fiction: How to eat more nutritiously and more wisely
Mystery and myth of the heart and heart disease
How to treat common illnesses at home
How to improve your emotional state and your health with exercise and movement
How to plan nutritious menus (including recipes) for yourself and your family
Alternative treatments for inflammatory diseases, chronic fatigue, cancer, diabetes and more.

There will also be various specialized lectures spanning the three days and you can choose from three different lecture tracks:

I. Therapeutics with Thomas Cowan, MD:
Topics include

What is the Fourfold Path to Healing?
The Mystery of the Heart
Warmth and Rhythm - the Universal Healers
Treating Common Illnesses at Home
Treating Inflammatory Illnesses
Alchemical Healing

II. Movement & Emotions with Jaimen McMillan
Topics include

Spacial Dynamics in Practice
Healing the Emotional Body
How Gestures Reflect Your State of Health
Ennobling Your Motions and Your Emotions
Movement Exercises to Maintain Emotional and
Physical Health

III. Nutrition and Health with Sally Fallon Morell:
Topics Include

The Pioneering Work of Dr. Weston A. Price
Why Butter is Better
The Magic of Fermented Foods
The Ploy of Soy
Understanding Fats and Oils
Got Raw Milk?
How to Change Your Diet for the Better
Practical Meals and Menu Plans

Conference fees:
Pre-Registration is due by 1/8/10
Regular attendees: $295/$345 at the door
Student/Seniors: $175/$225 at the door

Fees include Friday evening reception and nourishing traditional lunches on Saturday and Sunday.

**If anyone is interested in going, or already going, please let me know. We could potentially carpool if you like. Plus I'd just love to meet other like-minded people on the Seacost!

Lasting Legacy's Farm Shoppe

2009-12-04T22:12:00.000-05:00

Lasting Legacy Farm in Barrington, NH has some awesome December sale s happening right now. All pre-orders can be e-mailed to Wendy Berry at wberry@llfarm.net

Check it out:

**Homemade ice cream from Sugar & Ice in Barrington, NH is offering customers a selection of their flavors made at their stand only from top quality ingredients.

Pick 5 Pints for $22 or 1 pint for $4.95

Flavors include:

Pumpkin

Chocolate

Chocolate Peanut Swirl

Yellow Cake Batter

Caramel Cashew Crunch

NY Cheesecake

Brownie Batter

Order by Tuesday, December 15 at 6pm for Friday, December 18th pick up at our shop from 10 am to 6 pm!

**Locally raised hamburger on sale! Packaged in approx 1 1/2 lb packages to 1 2/3 lb packages selling at $5/lb. This is roughly 90-95% lean hamburger!

To get this price you do have to pre order how many tubes you'd like by December 15th and it has to be picked up on Friday December 18th from 10am to 6pm at our shop.

**Preorder your Christmas hams. Hams are nitrate and nitrite free, sugar cured and smoked with 4 woods. For sale are approx. 5 lb picnic ham or a regular ham of approx. 10 lb. The price is $4.75/lb.

And the last deal is....

**Bulk sausage! Flavors include Garlic & Cheese and Sweet Italian. Packaged in approx 1 1/2 lb packages to 1 2/3 lb packages selling at $4/lb for burger or $5.lb for links (approx. 4 links equals one pound).

Just like the other shoppe items, please pre-order by December 15th how many tubes or links and what flavor you would prefer. It has to be picked up on Friday December 18th from 10am to 6pm at our shop.

Everything listed here can be pre-ordered by e-mailing Wendy Berry at wberry@llfarm.net

(I have more Lasting Legacy Farm food treats to highlight in the near future, but for now, get those pre-orders in and happy shopping!)

Vintage Thingies Thursday: MY Kitchen

2009-12-03T05:53:00.001-05:00

Finally have another Vintage Thingies Thursday to share with you!

I don't know how vintage this particular item is, but it is definitely a vintage concept.

I stumbled across it at a local thrift store. At first all that I saw was "Virginia" so I assumed it was yet another Virginia state memorabilia piece. I had to double check and upon un-burying it, I saw that it wasn't a Virginia state item, but my name clearly stating who was the queen cook in the kitchen. I know it's a tad on the ugly side, but it's vintage-esque and mine!

The lovely cashier sold it to me for all the change in my car...$0.87! I mean, how many more Virginia's were going to come along looking for a kitchen plaque? It's placed on my wall next to my stove and I just love it! I don't have any personalized Virginia items so it's quite special. Thanks for stopping by my VTT post!

For more Vintage Thingies Thursday posts, be sure to check out Coloradolady's blog.

O Christmas Tree!

2009-12-02T07:25:00.004-05:00

Do you have your tree up yet? This year we're ditching the fake tree for a fresh cut tree from Warren Farm.

Our 53rd “Cut Your Own” Christmas Tree Season is about to begin. We have the best selection of 5-9 foot Fir balsam, Blue Spruce and Concolor Fir trees that we have had in quite a few years. We have improved the road to our newest tree patch (west field) and added a parking area. This field is well stocked with balsam fir and blue spruce trees up to 8 ft. Our old patch (back field) has a selection of Concolor fir, Blue Spruce, and Balsam Fir up to 9 ft. Beginning Saturday November 21 we will be open 6 days/week, 9am to dusk. We are closed every Monday and Thanksgiving day. You are welcome to cut your tree beginning 11/21 however the free bow pile and hot mulled cider (cider on weekends only) won’t start until the day after Thanksgiving, 11/ 27.

Our “Cut Your Own” price is $35.00 per tree. We will also have available “already cut trees” priced from $10 to $35 per tree. Saws, netting and twine are provided.

At the farmstand we have local maple syrup in ½ pt, pint, and quart containers, quite a few varieties of potatoes from Heron Pond Farm in South Hampton and everlasting dried flower wreaths. We are well stocked with our own naturally made soaps and will offer them packaged and unpackaged. All soaps are vegan and contain no animal products except for our three varieties of goat’s milk soap.

This is actually the first time I've ever gone to a farm and cut down my own tree! A sad fact, I know. Check out the post Colleen at Penny-wise People just posted about real vs. fake trees, quite an interesting blog post!

Here's info about the tree varieties available at Warren Farm:

Fir Balsam: ¾” to 1 ½” short, flat, long lasting needles that are rounded at the tip; nice, dark green color with silvery cast and fragrant. These needles are 3/4 - 1 ½ in. in length and last a very long time. This is the traditional Christmas tree that most Americans grew up with. This tree has a dark-green appearance and retains its pleasing fragrance throughout the Christmas season. Named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on bark. Resin is used to make microscope slides and was sold like chewing gum; used to treat wounds in Civil War.

Blue Spruce: dark green to powdery blue; very stiff needles, ¾” to 1 ½” long; good form; will drop needles in a warm room; symmetrical; but is best among species for needle retention; branches are stiff and will support many heavy decorations. State tree of Utah & Colorado. Can live in nature 600-800 years.

Concolor Fir: blue-green needles are ½ to ½ inches long; nice shape and good aroma, a citrus scent; good needle retention. They have good foliage color, good needle retention, and a pleasing shape and aroma. In nature can live to 350 years.

Warren Farm is located two miles west of the Lee traffic circle off route 4 on Warren Road. You can call the farm phone anytime at 603.868.2001.

For more tree farms in NH and beyond, be sure to check out Pick Your Own Christmas Tree.

Puffed Rutabaga Gratin

2009-11-28T22:32:00.004-05:00

I had a lovely Thanksgiving with my in-laws and my dad. I was the guest so all I brought was my famous carrot cake and a new dish, puffed rutabaga gratin. I've been getting a few rutabaga in my CSA share from Heron Pond Farm and I thought this would be a good use of the rutabaga. Enjoy! (Oh, if you're not a big nutmeg/veggie fan, cut back on the nutmeg...)

Puffed Rutabaga Gratin

1 large rutabaga (~1 lb)
2 tbsp salted butter
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1 tbsp salted butter
salt and pepper to taste

Peel the rutabaga and cut it into 3/4 – 1 inch pieces. Boil them for 35-40 minutes, or until they’re fork-tender.

Drain the rutabagas. Mash them until they’re smooth with the butter and milk.

Mix in the brown sugar and nutmeg to the rutabaga mash….and continue to mash until it’s smooth.

Add the baking powder and flour, stirring or mashing (whichever is easier at this point) until combined.

Crack the eggs into the rutabaga batter, stirring well after each addition.

Pour into a buttered casserole dish. Mix together the last 1 tbsp of butter with the breadcrumbs and sprinkle this on top of the rutabaga mixture.

Bake in a 350F oven for 30 – 35 minutes, or until the bread crumbs are lightly golden and toasted.

Other Thanksgiving treats from around the local blog community:
Colleen's Pumpkin Puree
Amy's Roasted Parsnip Bread Pudding
Sue's Pear Tart
Seacoast Eat Local turkey talk

Shift Your Spending

2009-11-27T04:42:00.002-05:00

As the "black Friday" shoppers swarm the stores, I encourage you to sit at home and start thinking about the meaningful, homemade, local, thoughtful gifts you're going to hand out this Christmas season. There are so many options for buying local gifts, you really have no excuse!

Next week starts Seacoast Local's Buy Local Week. Here's a blurb from Kelly Cioe President, Board of Directors for Seacoast Local:

SHIFT YOUR SHOPPING
and enjoy
SEACOAST LOCAL'S BUY LOCAL WEEK
November 30 - December 6

Don't forget to get Buy Local Week in your calendars. Come out and support your neighbors.

In an effort to give our local economy a much-needed boost this holiday season, towns throughout the Seacoast officially proclaim "Buy Local Week" Nov. 30 through Dec. 6. Tell everyone, so we can really make a difference!

Buy Local Week encourages shoppers to "Shift Your Shopping" and seek out local businesses during the biggest retail shopping week of the year.

Dollars spent at locally owned, independent businesses recirculate up to twice as much in our community compared to dollars spent at non-locally owned businesses. That means each dollar that Seacoast residents shift to local independents during the holiday season turns into more local people getting a paycheck, paying their mortgage, and buying what they need at other businesses across our community.

Also, you can shop online at NH Made anytime and pick up nice gifts from all different catergories:

Maple Products
NH Mementos
Specialty Foods
Coffee & Tea
Decorative Accents
Pottery & Glass
Toys & Recreation
Clothing & Jewelry
Prints & Cards
Personal Care
Organic/All-Natural
Pet
Accessories
Books/Calendars/DVDs
Candles
Gift Baskets
Wood & Metal

And if you can't decide, there's always the NH Made gift certificate option!

Don't forget about the:

** Jenness Farm Stimulus Package**
We will offer 10% off your entire purchase from Nov. 27 through Dec. 24, 2009. This offer valid in our retail shop only and excludes food/beverage sales.

The Winter Farmers' Markets are also a great place to purchase Christmas gifts. Think about local maple syrup & maple treats, wine and spirits, a wooden cutting board from The Original Woodchuck, jams & jellies, teas and more!

Where do you buy your local Christmas gifts? What are your plans? Will you be doing more homemade/local products?

Let Us Be Thankful!

2009-11-26T23:28:00.002-05:00

The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest all is gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway ---
Thanksgiving comes again!

I am so thankful for so many different things this year, food on our plates, a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. Everything else is just the icing on the cake.

I'm also thankful to all my readers who come to this blog and for those that help me on the "local living" journey.

Here's to a wonderful year to come with bountiful harvests and blessings for all!

Virginia

Jenness Farm Annual Holiday Open House

2009-11-25T20:23:00.002-05:00

Jenness Farm Annual Holiday Open HouseDATE: Friday, Nov. 27 through Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009

TIME: 10 am - 6 pm each day
LOCATION: Jenness Farm, 77 Garland Road, Nottingham, NH (603) 942-805 www.jennessfarm.com

MORE: Come join us for our annual holiday Open House with lots of in-store specials, hot mulled cider, homemade cookies, cheese tasting and many new products.

Dueling Roosters Farm will be here with many new holiday items and her awesome goat milk fudge.
Chicken Foot Pottery will be here with beautiful pottery for sale.
Marie Rabinowitz will be here with her gorgeous photos and cards. & much more!

**New for 2009 - Jenness Farm Stimulus Package**
We will offer 10% off your entire purchase from Nov. 27 through Dec. 24, 2009. This offer valid in our retail shop only and excludes food/beverage sales.

Our Open House specials will run from Nov. 27 - Dec. 5, 2009 only.

Wordless Wednesday: Got Yogurt?

2009-11-25T07:02:00.001-05:00

Remember the farm yogurt I blogged about a few days ago? See....pure bliss!

Marvelous Winter Markets!

2009-11-24T22:10:00.000-05:00

I know I'm late in getting this post up, but I just have to rave about the fabulous winter markets happening on the Seacoast! I visited two Winter Farmers' Markets this past Saturday, and let's just say, don't say you can't eat locally during the dark New England winters!

The day started at the Newmarket Winter Farmers' Market at the Stone Church. It was my first time stopping by a Newmarket farmers' market and what a great set up they have. The next Newmarket Winter Farmers' Market will be December 19th from 9 am - 1 pm.

Dr. Tomato of Healthy Home Harvest was in attendance and it was great to talk to him about his greenhouse business. If you're looking into purchasing a greenhouse or just starting to consider the idea, definitely talk to Dr. Tomato. He's also a fabulous source of local mushrooms, if that's your thing. Me, I don't like mushrooms very much.

I also picked up the book Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal by Joel Salatin from Peter Allen of Newfields Own Produce who graciously was selling a few different books at cost. I love anything and everything Joel Salatin writes, he's amazing.

Since I had two sweet blessings pulling me in many directions, and a husband trying to control the chaos, I swiftly finished my trip and loaded up the car to head over to the Rollinsford market at the Wentworth Greenhouses.

All I can say about the Wentworth Greenhouse Market is....oh my goodness! The market has exploded with vendors! HUGE! You have to make it out to Rollinsford at least once this winter. The next Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers' Market will be held at the Wentworth Greenhouses on December 5th from 10 am - 2 pm. Be there! You won't be disappointed...fresh salad greens, seafood, meat, pork, poultry, eggs, beets, winter squashes, honey, cheeses, maple syrup and more.

All I snagged was maple syrup from Sugarmomma's Maple Farm and garlic seeds from Charlie Reed of Osprey Cove Organic Farm. I will be coming a whole lot more mentally prepared next time! Look for me in the khaki baseball hat with my blog name on it...and say HI!

Check out what Colleen and Amy picked up at the weekend markets:
Amy at What Did She Do Today?
Colleen at Penny-Wise People