McKenzie Farm July Updates

These updates just came in from McKenzie Farm in Milton, NH.  They are open daily from 9 am - 6pm.

Wild Blueberries
We are now taking orders for 10lb boxes of Wild Blueberries from Alton, NH. Blueberries are $33.00 a box. Picking begins July 17, and we expect them soon after. Quantities are extremely limited this year, so please call or email ASAP with your order. Please include your name, phone number, and how many boxes you would like.

Lobsters
Lobster Saturdays are back again! Fresh lobsters caught off the boat of Miss Betsey in Bath, Maine. Call the farm 603.652.9400 for your orders by Fridays at 3:00pm. (please no email orders) Lobsters are $5.50/lb

Pick Your Own Raspberries

We are now picking delicious fruit! Pick Your Own Raspberries are $3.25/pint. We expect to be picking for at least 2 more weeks. Stock up now for your winter supply!

McKenzie’s Farm Family Recipe Contest

Don’t forget to submit your best recipe using McKenzie’s Farm produce! Winner will receive a $20.00 gift certificate to the farm. Contest ends July 15th.

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Barrington Farm Tour Day

The 3rd annual Barrington Farm Tour Day is coming up on June 27th. Farms will be open from 10am-4pm and there are 8 farms to visit this year! Download and print a map and farm descriptions

Participating Farms 2010

#1 Warren Farm
30 Warren Road, 868-2001
Offering fresh picked vegetables in season and “pick your own“ vegetables, berries and flowers. We have fresh picked strawberries June thru October and handmade herbal soaps year round. Cut Your Own Christmas trees and handmade wreaths Nov -Dec. Tour the farm and eat strawberry deserts for a small fee. Common sense, sustainable farm practices.
www.warrenfarmnh.com

#2 Sallie’s Fen Alpacas
97 Swain Road (come from Route 9)
Tour our alpaca farm. Meet our award winning livestock and cute crias (baby alpacas). We
have been raising these beautiful relatives of the camel for show and for their luxurious fiber here in Barrington since 1995. Learn about alpacas, watch a hand spinning demo. Available for purchase we have yarn grown and spun on the farm in a wide variety of natural undyed colors, as well as our hand painted options. We also have hand made scarves and hats made with our fiber, and New England made socks.
(603)664-2916.
www.sfalpacas.com

#3 Yellow House Farm
541 Route 202
We specialize in foundational breeds of heritage chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys for the
production of meat and eggs. Gradually we are developing a permaculture model to complement our breed preservation and hatchery efforts. We also cultivate many heirloom vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers, combining beauty and production. At Yellow House Farm we are developing a curricula of classes and seminars for our friends and neighbors to promote our collective efforts to create a more beautiful and sustainable local culture of awareness. Come and Enjoy!!
www.yellowhousefarmnh.com

#4 Nippo Brook Farm
628 Mount Misery Rd.
Growing fresh vegetables in season, Nippo Brook Farm is committed to raising local food in a healthy and ethical way. Come tour our beautiful vegetable fields and ask the farmer for tips and tricks to growing your own food! Learn about heritage breed chickens and turkeys, and visit with the newest members of the farm, old fashion meat rabbits.  We look forward to seeing you!
Abram Pearson and Jessica Hebert
nippobrookfarm@gmail.com

#5 Castle Anam Cara “The Castle”
20 Hansonville Rd.
The noted medieval living history residence of David O’Connor (Lord Duncan) and Loretta Salazar (Lady Espringale). In addition to stepping back in time 1000 years, you will see how committed David and Loretta are to solar, organic, self responsible and sustainable living: from organic food production and food preservation to organic mushroom growing, heating and cooking with wood and solar furnaces to irrigation with collected rain water. David is also the well known “Dr. Tomato” and partner in HEALTHY HOME HARVEST LLC - known for their organically grown vegetable and flower plants grown in their self built, fully insulated, petroleum AND bio-fuel free green house! Come see how you and your family can begin to move in a more self-reliant direction.  Please note you must sign a liability waiver to tour the grounds and Castle. (500 ft. from Greenhill Rd. intersection)
www.castleanamcara.com

#6 Profile Alpacas
345 Dry Hill Road
Enjoy the day while taking a tour of our farm and viewing our Alpacas. Lear how their fiber is spun into yarn and what you can do with just the loose Alpaca fiber. See examples in our new farm store. Be sure to ask questions about how this fine fiber is so warm on those cold New England winter days!

#7 Lasting Legacy Farm
148 Second Crown Point Road
Come and enjoy this family farm that has been in existence since the late 1700’s. Raising farm animals as it once did for it’s family and neighbors we are always learning about farming an environmental friendly way, allowing the animals to do what they naturally do using their individual assets to work with mother nature at her best. Come and enjoy other aspects of agriculture here at Lasting Legacy. Taste the bounty of flavor in our burger raised on our farm while you have lunch with us!!
www.llfarm.net

#8 Spring Harvest Maple Farm
220 Route 9 (Across from the police and fire station)
We are a producer of exceptional maple syrup and maple products. The sugar house will be open for tours and we will be available to answer questions. We will also have samples of maple syrup and other products. We have recently completed our second year of production with great success. The support from the local community is amazing and will allow us to expand for next season. Also, we will have maple syrup, maple cream, and maple candy available for sale. We look forward to seeing you.

Sponsored by the Barrington Parks and Recreation Department.
Download and print a map with farm descriptions to guide you throughout the day on June 27!

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Cows and Communities

Tuesday, May 25, 7:00 PM - . “Cows and Communities: how the lowly bovine has nurtured New Hampshire through four centuries” a presentation by Steve Taylor, former NH Agriculture Commissioner.

At the Chesley Library at the corner of Routes 4 and 43 in Northwood.
Co-sponsored by Chesley Library, the NH Humanities Council, The Blaisdell Memorial Library in Nottingham and the Philbrick-James Library in Deerfield.

Cattle were essential to the survival of the earliest New Hampshire settlements and their contributions have been central to the life and culture of the state ever since. From providing dietary sustenance to basic motive power, bovines have had a deep and enduring bond with their keepers, one that lingers today and is a vital part of the iconography of rural New Hampshire. Where are New Hampshire's cows today? What are they doing for us now? Some answers will surprise you. The program will be presented by Steve Taylor: independent scholar, farmer, journalist, and longtime public official. Taylor operates a dairy and maple farm in Meriden Village, New Hampshire, and served a quarter century as NH's Commissioner of Agriculture. He has been a newspaper reporter and editor. He was also the first Executive Director of the NH Humanities Council and is a lifelong student the state's rural culture.

The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Donna Bunker at 942-5472.

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Speak Out Against GMOs in NH

This is from Slow Food Seacoast and I just wanted to ensure this gets around and people get their written statements in or have the opportunity to make plans to attend the public hearing.

The ramifications of the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture are varied—some have slowly become evident over time, and some remain unknown. Hearings for HB 1172 “GMO Labeling Bill” and HB 1388 “GMO Liability Bill” are scheduled to be held this Thursday in Concord, NH, and the Northeast Organic Farming Association–NH Chapter (NOFA-NH) invites the public to help build support for these bills. If you can describe why GMOs are bad for our health, are concerned about GMO seeds contaminating organic crops, or simply believe in the right-to-know in seed labeling, then your oral testimony—or written statement—is requested!

WHAT: Public hearings for HB 1172 “GMO Labeling Bill” and HB 1388 “GMO Liability Bill” (read more in ADDITIONAL INFO below and in links)

WHEN: Thursday, 2/11/2010, at 11 am (HB 1388) and 1 pm (HB 1172)

WHERE: Legislative Office Building (LOB), Room 308, 22 North State Street, Concord, NH

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW: If you can’t attend the hearings on Thursday, submit your written statement for the record. Comments to the House received by email are not included in the permanent record, so please email statements to Elizabeth Obelenus of NOFA-NH (info@nofanh.org), and she will print out the required copies and submit them in person at the hearings on Feb. 11 as official testimony. 

ADDITIONAL INFO:

• HB 1172 (GMO Labeling Bill) “defines genetically modified seeds and organisms and requires that genetically modified seeds be labeled as such.” (More and more people raise their own food in NH to ensure quality and purity—and to save money. How do they know if their seeds contain GMOs if the seeds they buy are not labeled? This bill asks that the time-honored consumer’s right-to-know be extended to seed labeling.)
• HB 1388 (GMO Liability Bill) “defines genetically modified seed or organism” and “establishes a cause of action for farmers sustaining damage from the use of mislabeled or genetically modified seeds or organisms.” (Genetic drift is proving to be a huge problem for farmers that do not purposefully raise GMO crops. If a farmer’s crop becomes contaminated with GMOs through pollen drift, this bill gives the farmer the right to seek damages.)
• If you wish to testify in person or want more information about how you can participate, contact Elizabeth Obelenus of NOFA-NH at 603-224-5022 or info@nofanh.org.
• Slow Food Seacoast posted about a February 3 meeting related to these bills.
• Read an interesting recent article about GMO policy in NH in Front Door Politics.
• The House Environment & Agriculture Committee is set to make recommendations 1 week later, on Feb. 18.
• See my post on GMO Alfalfa here.

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A Call to Young People

I picked up this essay from Annalisa Cox of Tuckaway Farm at the Newmarket Winter Farmer's Market.  I think it is very inspiring and an important read so take the time to read it all.  At the end, take action, join a community group, learn how to garden, try your hand at canning, or just visit the farmers' markets and cook one meal from local ingredients per week.  Let's encourage the young generation to rise up and be the food providers of the future, providing us with sustainable delicious foods!

A call to the young people…

I want to ask you to listen to me for a while and see if any of what I have to say
to you rings of truth to you in the center of your soul. We are living in a time of change, and a time of shifting, a time of searching. We are living in a time of truth seeking, of seeking for what grounds us to Mother Earth and what connects us to each other. We have been moving too fast and have been losing the connection to our sense of place. In order to live lightly upon the earth we need to feel connected to her and to our place on her and to our place in our community.

Why don’t we start at the beginning of our story. We all must be born, and then live, and then we all must pass on. Let us talk about the time in the middle, the time when we live. Let us speak of this time. How do we want to live? How do we want to practice this daily task of living? What are the skills we need in order to live upon this earth with respect for ourselves, the earth we live upon and each other? What are the skills we need to have in order to live lightly upon the earth and use only what we need? Our earth is trying to speak to us, so let us listen. She is asking us to slow down and step back. To slow down, and step back… to listen, to watch to look inside and to look at the natural cycles and harmonies of the earth to receive the clues as to what will be truly sustainable practices of living on this earth so that we will have a healthy home to pass on to our grandchildren and their grandchildren. What ties all of these cycles together and what we all need in order to live well is a healthy food system.

Let me tell you that I am concerned. I am very concerned about who will be the people growing food in twenty years? The average age of a farmer in the United States at this time is 54. I hope we are not relying upon 74 year olds to be growing all of our food in twenty years. I am concerned about our food security in New England. Our grocery stores have gotten to the point where they are stocking only 3 days worth of food for all of the people that they serve. We have gotten to the point where most houses do not have a root cellar. We have gotten to the point where we have forgotten the skills we need in order to provide the most basic necessity of all, food, for our loved ones.

We need to remember how to grow carrots. And we need to remember that when we harvest our carrots and store them in the root cellar to eat all winter long, we need to save out some of the best ones to replant in the spring in order to have them finish their life cycle to give us seed for the next year’s crop. We need to remember to practice growing food, and saving our seed for the coming years, so that even if we are not here, the seed is still here for our loved ones to plant. In this way we can continue to nourish our loved ones even when we are gone. But first we need to remember how.

We need to remember how to care for our topsoil. We need to remember that most things worthwhile take work. We need to remember that work is good for our bodies and souls. Our minds are sharper when our bodies are healthy and strong. Our topsoil. All of life on earth is dependent upon the quality of our topsoil, and the health of our fresh water supply. We need to remember that water and soil are sacred and a gift to us to be cherished and cared for. When we forget this, then we become detached and the soil becomes something to be mined. But we cannot take and take and take and take, and give nothing back and expect the soil to be there for us forever. We need to raise food on a scale that we can still pay attention and give back to the soil so that the generations to come will still have a chance to live. Let us remember that without soil and water, there is no life for us. We need to remember to slow down, we need to remember to listen, we need to remember to watch, and then to learn from the natural cycles that are our model for a sustainable way of life. We need to remember that the animals are put here as a blessing and a gift to us for us to cherish and to care for. We have been asked to care for them in their lives and they will give us life in their help with our soil’s fertility, and the food that they may provide and their nourishment of our souls and joy in our hearts. Let us be thankful.

We need to go through a practice of re-skilling and re-learning the cycles in order to have a healthy local food system for our community. New Hampshire people are currently producing less than 5 percent of our food here in NH. I wish I could grow enough food for all of the people of NH all by myself, but I cannot.

I am putting out a call for the young people who do not know their paths, for those who know their work and calling is not inside, but that their work is outside connected to the natural cycles of the earth and connected to the sun and the rain and the earthworms and the cover crops. You may not have had many people suggest this as a career, but let me tell you… this is not a career, but it is a life. I can think of no other life pursuit more worthwhile or life giving than the cultivation of food and health of ourselves, our land and our communities.

I am putting out a call to the young people whose work is caring for the animals and witnessing the miracles of every seed that is planted that bursts forth in the miracle of life to grow to reach for the sun and stretch those roots deep into the earth and to participate in the dance of life. My call is to those young people with a longing to feel connected. I am calling to those young people who want to experience a life full of purpose and connection to the place in which they live. I am calling to those young people who want to nourish and be nourished in their life. To those who want to know how to feed themselves and their loved ones. I am putting a call out to the young people who want to feel connected to the work horses though the touch of the reins in their hands, to the young people who want to feel the summer breeze, the smell of drying hay, who want to watch the field mice jump, and the red tailed hawk circling above, waiting for lunch.

Let us remember, that if we have shelter, and if we have food, and if we have community, then we are truly the wealthiest of the kings and queens on earth. Let us think about how we want to spend our lives, and how we want to leave this place for our grandchildren’s grandchildren. Let us remember. Let us be thankful. Let us cherish the sacred gifts we have been given. Let us take care of the water, the soil, the animals, our families, our communities and ourselves. Let us walk lightly upon the earth and leave to the young people to come good soil, healthy animals, plenty of seeds to plant and plenty of fruit trees.

Written by Annalisa W. Miller
Wild Miller Gardens
11 Randall Rd. Lee, NH 03861
603-988-4658

And in pairing with this, check out the awesome post by Amy at What Did She Do Today? about how she talks to her 3 year old about raising and eating their animals and the reactions of her daughter.

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Dover CSA Opportunity

 

I'm excited to present a Dover Summer 2010 CSA opportunity from Heron Pond Farm!  This is the blog entry from Heron Pond Farm.

Heron Pond Farm is proud to offer a community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program to the people of Dover. For the last two years we have been able to have a location in Portsmouth for CSA members to pick up there food and meet the farmers. Now after the loss of three CSA's that were serving the Dover area, we will be offering the same great service that the folks of Portsmouth have been enjoying to your community. Because over the last five years the members of our CSA have been shaping the food in the share (quantity and variety), and how it is distributed, I think you will enjoy all the aspects of being a member of Heron Pond Farm, and being able to pick up your food in a Dover location.

Our CSA does not work like a lot of others. Your food is not boxed for you, you choose the food from the offerings. We find that folks like to pick “the” tomato they want so why not let them. Food is grouped into category and you pick the prescribed number of things from that group. We find that this gives flexibility for your menu each week. We are also a full disclosure CSA. So if you want to know what past shares got each week, its on the web site. We do a financial disclosure as well, aiming to get you a 20% return on your investment. Last year folks made 14.7%, the year before 44.9% so the weather does make a difference.

Fruit is included in the share. We have strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, apples, and melons throughout the year, each in it's real season. We are planting some raspberries this year so they should be a few years out.

I'm sure there are a lot more questions that you have and I would love to answer them. Call me any time at 603-591-8720 and I'll do my best to answer them. If you would like to become a member we offer you an on line option to sign up. Otherwise you can make a copy of our registration form and mail it in.

Looking forward to having you as a member.

Andre Cantelmo, Heron Pond Farm

You can also find Heron Pond Farm at the Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers' Markets in Exeter and Rollinsford or follow them on Twitter @heronpondfarmer.

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Magnificiet Markets

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)

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Jenness Farm Annual Holiday Open House

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.

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Barrington Farm Tour Day

Finally I can share information with you regarding the 2009 Barrington Farm Tour Day!! It will be held Sunday June 28th from 10 am - 3 pm with nine different farms participating throughout Barrington.

Participating farms include:

• Warren Farm
• Sallie’s Fen Alpacas
• Yellow House Farm
• Nippo Brook Farm
• Castle Anam Cara “The Castle”
• Profile Alpacas
• Lasting Legacy Farm
• Young Road Peaches
• Ramsbotham’s Riverview Farm

Download and print a brochure and map: Barrington Farm Tour Day (.pdf)

Also, at Yellow House Farm there will be a table with information regarding the first annual “Natural Heritage Agricultural Fair” September 12^th, 2009. Be sure to make at stop at Yellow House Farm for this exciting information...as well as to see the amazing flocks of heritage chickens and more!

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April Showers Bring Farmers' Markets and More!

Are you ready for the month of May? It's definitely not going to be a dull month, that's for sure! I'm going to have a new format for May. On Mondays I will post the events for the upcoming week so that way I don't have one ginormous monthly post. I will also make a list of all monthly events on my blog sidebar.

So with that said, let's get to it. Here's the first set of upcoming events for this weekend:

May 1 - This is the last Free Family Fun Night at the The Children's Museum of New Hampshire from 5:30 pm - 8 pm. Free nights will resume in the fall.

May 1 - New England Barn Dance from 7 pm - 9m at the Good Shepherd School in Barrington, NH.

May 2 - Also at The Children's Museum of New Hampshire is their annual 5K Road Race & Fun Run fundraiser.

May 2 - First Portsmouth Farmer's Market of the season from 8 am till 1 pm. I am very excited for this event! The next set of markets to open include Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hampton and Kingston during the first week of June.

Also going on at the market will be the Local Food Advocates Training from 12:30 - 2:30 PM. Meet at Portsmouth Farmer's Market Info Booth then walk to Portsmouth Public Library about 1:00 PM.

May 2 - Hazardouse Household Waste Collection at the Turnkey Landfill on Rochester Neck Road in Rochester, NH.

A reminder that Emery Farm in Durham, NH will be opening for the season on May 1st.

The biggie this weekend is definitely the Portsmouth Farmer's Market. It's sure to be a festive celebration of spring and all the potential summer holds. Expect to see fresh greens, maple syrup, wine, meats and baked goods as well as plants for your garden or to give away for Mother's Day.

** Don't forget, Friday is your last chance to enter my giveaway. I'll be giving away a 30 Minute Mozzerella and Ricotta Cheesemaking Kit! Tomorrow I'll be bringing you a bread recipe that contains some of the leftover whey from cheese making. Yum! **

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