Daylilies for growing…and eating!

Local Hero farm Glenbrook Gardens offers daylilies for digging, planting, and cooking and eating! Join them at their open house and daylily sale days, and spend time with them at their Daylily Festival learning how to cook and eat these amazing flowers!

Daylily Sale dates: July 22, August 19, 9-4 all three days.

Dig, Divide, Design and Dine
Daylily Festival July 22, 9-4

• Field Dug Daylilies • Mini Market Place • Name the Daylily Contest • Work Shops • Daylily Dining

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Program update: Local Hero New CISA Program Assistant CISA has hired Claire Morenon to be our seasonal program assistant. Claire has a great mix of on-farm and administrative experience and is off and running making Farm Products Guide deliveries, coordinating our annual Local Hero Restaurant event and assisting with our Local Hero, Farm2City and FarmShare programs. Be sure to introduce yourself to her should she visit your farm or business over the next few months!

Program update: Farm2City and FarmShare
By Claire Morenon

Summer is finally here, and that means that two of CISA’s most exciting programs are starting up again.

The Senior FarmShare Program, which provides locally grown fruits and vegetables to low-income seniors, is entering its third year. Many seniors find it difficult to access fresh, local food because of transportation problems or because of its cost. This program brings participants a weekly share of the local harvest at no cost. There are also lots of chances for socializing and exchanging recipes with other seniors, farmers, and volunteers at many of the weekly distribution sites.

All nine of the farms that took part in the FarmShare Program last year have signed on again, and the program has expanded to include another farm. Kate Stevens of Wilder Brook Farm delivers produce to seniors at the Shelburne Senior Center each week. She says “this program was a great opportunity for our farm. It brought in shareholders we usually don’t reach, and they really appreciated our produce. It was a nice increase for us, and we made some new connections in the community.”

This year, CISA committed to making 220 shares available through ten participating farms. Local donations from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the Bridge of Flowers Road Race Committee, individuals, businesses, banks and faith communities make FarmShare possible—if you’d like to join them in supporting FarmShare, click here.

Distributions to shareholders in CISA’s Farm2City Program have also begun. Now in its second year, Farm2City facilitates community supported agriculture, or CSA, distributions at seven urban locations, most of them large workplaces. Through this program, urban consumers gain convenient access to fresh, local produce that is often not available in their neighborhoods; at the same time, farmers tap into new markets. This year, the distribution sites are serving just over 200 members in Springfield/Enfield, CT (MassMutual, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield College); Holyoke (Nuestras Raíces, Holyoke Community College) and Greenfield (Franklin Medical Center). After just a couple of distributions at most sites, the enthusiastic chatter at distributions indicates that shareholders are enjoying the whole experience—talking to farmer who grows their food, trying new things, and eating lots of vegetables!
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Local Hero Snapshot: Brookfield Farm
By Claire Morenon

Brookfield Farm is experiencing some exciting changes these days. Of course, the start of a new season is always exciting, and after slogging through an unusually wet spring, the team at the farm has kicked off the distribution season with radishes, PYO strawberries, and a wide variety of greens including lettuce, arugula, and a mix of cooking greens. As the season progresses, shareholders will enjoy broccoli, chard, beets, carrots, eggplant, peppers, cucumbers, summer squash, raspberries, tomatoes, cabbage, winter squash, pumpkins, and the list goes on. Farmer Dan Kaplan estimates that over the course of the summer, shareholders pay about one dollar per pound for all those fresh vegetables.

There’s something else growing at Brookfield Farm in addition to the fruits and vegetables. The staff (with a good deal of help from volunteers and contributors) is creating a section of the farm that will be accessible to people who use wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers by constructing smooth pathways and raised beds. This project will make it possible for everyone who goes to the farm to experience the pleasure of smelling flowers up close, sticking a hand in the dirt, and enjoying a quiet moment surrounded by beauty.

For more information about the accessible garden project or to make a donation, please contact Jeff (253-7991) or Karen (253-5085).

24 Hulst Rd., Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 253-7991
info@brookfieldfarm.org

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From rough ground to vegetables
Bringing a pasture back into production

If you’ve ever passed an old pasture growing scrubby and neglected, you’ve probably wondered how it got that way and how could anyone ever get it back into production. Hint: as with most farming activities, it takes time. Sometimes lots of it. Read on to find out more.

By Ryan Voiland, Red Fire Farm

At first, if you drive down Lyons St. on the back way between the remote corners of Granby and Ludlow you likely won’t even notice any signs of agricultural happenings. This street, sometimes called Turkey Hill by the old timers, is after all more of a back woods lane. Mostly surrounded by forests, and increasingly the yards and drives of suburban residents, the neighborhood doesn’t really exude the heavy air of agricultural productivity that just a mile away our bottom valley fields conjure up. Instead a more reserved sense of hill town sparseness pervades the atmosphere. For maple sugaring, this would be a perfect place. Large ancient maple trees line the road, and also grow amidst the stone wall fence lines. Admittedly, little fields can be found tucked away behind the backyards here and there, but they are all small, irregularly shaped, and ever so sloping. Nothing that looks particularly farmable.

Yet, when you pass from Granby into Ludlow, just beyond the border of the towns, you will come upon a beautiful old barn tucked right up near the road; just a stones throw away from a picturesque traditional New England farm house. Why a barn and farm house built here, you might wonder? After all, the real prime farm land you already passed a mile or so back before you started going up the hill climbing from the Stony Brook valley which is at about 100’ above sea level. Now you are some 300’ above sea level, and the terrain is decidedly more hilly and rocky. Yet, take a closer look behind the farmhouse, and just barely from the road you can make out that there might be field back there somewhere through all those trees.

Yes, this field is the first of a new cluster of scenic fields that just this spring has been added to the Red Fire Farm land base. As Red Fire Farm has increased in scope and scale over the past few seasons, our need for additional farmland has been increasing. For sustainable organic farming, it is very important that there is enough land in the rotation that not every square inch of earth has to be cropped with a cash crop every season. Each piece of land needs to have fallow seasons every three or four years where only regenerative soil improving cover crops are grown. The addition of the fields on this scenic old farm will eventually add almost 10 new acres to the Red Fire Farm land base.

This spring, with an agreement to rent these fields worked out, one of our biggest challenges as farmers has been to reclaim these (new for us) fields from the wild state of hay sod and brush that has for the last few seasons been the rule on these parcels. The challenge is to wrestle the ground back from a wild soddy condition, and get the fields mellowed out and prepared for growing vegetable crops in the future. The land in these fields is mostly good ground. The fields are mostly well drained, the slopes are gentle, and the soil types are classified as productive types for agricultural crops.

This doesn’t mean that we can just show up with our tractors, though, and just start planting tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and the like. The land in these fields has for many years been in hay sod, or even worse in a few of the fields allowed to begin growing into brush and trees. Perennial grasses and forbs make a tenacious grip on the earth. This is a good thing for they help protect the precious soil underneath. Grasses provide stability to the soil, they keep it from washing away in rain storms, and they provide habitat for the many worms and microorganisms that make for a healthy soil. Nevertheless, when the time comes for a field to turn its attention to the more cultivated persuasion of growing vegetables, the vigorous and overly competitive perennial grasses suddenly become reclassified as weeds. This spring we have begun the process of converting acres of land from old perennial grassland, into fields ready to grow vegetables in 2007 and beyond.

This is not an easy process. We start with a moldboard plow. Although the land on the new fields that we are working has good potential, in many places they do have rocks and stones to contend with. There is a constant danger that the next furrow could contain a plow point damaging rock somewhere just below the surface. At any rate, we must bust through some 20 years of sod and flip the topsoil upside down or at least onto its side. This makes the fields extremely bumpy and full of furrows and ditches. We began plowing these fields back in April and early May. Next, after allowing each field to sit a few weeks, we go at the land with a harrow to re-smooth the surface and bust up the grasses (especially the troublesome quack grass) which repeatedly try to re-grow and re-colonize the exposed topsoil. This is not an easy process on account of the giant clods and furrows left after the plowing process.

So far this season, farm apprentice Jarrett, who has been doing much of this harrowing work with our 65 horsepower Ford 5610 tractor, has been stuck to a standstill 3 times, requiring us to use another even bigger tractor, and once even a tow truck, to pull the 5610 out of the trouble. Eventually after a few more passes with the harrow every two weeks or so, the fields are a tad smoother and the sod beginning to break down a bit. Now we plant a super competitive cover crop, buckwheat, which will capture all the light and water, effectively smothering out the remnants of the grasses which are still trying to re-colonize the ground.

If the process goes successfully, we will have by fall fields which have mellowed out a bit. The sod chunks will hopefully by then have broken down into smaller more manageable chunks of soil organic matter, and the perennial grasses and ferns have given up in face of the new management program. If the fields are looking like the tilth is mellow enough at this point, we can take soil tests, add lime and plant a winter cover crop in preparation for cropping next year. Sometimes, though, the ground will still be rather rough, requiring another year of tillage and cover cropping before we can even dream of successfully planting vegetables.

This all goes to show, that farming is a long term process. To get this land ready for growing crops successfully might take anywhere from 2 to 4 years to get it into condition. Fortunately, these new fields on Lyons St. are some of the most beautiful picturesque fields you are likely to see anywhere in New England. Spending a couple of years on a tractor coaxing this soil back to productivity is not the worst thing someone could do with their time!

Do you have news from your farm or Local Hero business to share? Email your story to the newsletter editor for consideration.
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NEWS

Fossil fuels and food

A growing number of writers and researchers are exploring the relationship between our industrial agriculture system and fossil fuel use. Take a moment to read these short articles below and let us know what you think in the web survey at right!

Fossil fuels consume a big portion of food costs
"The price of gas is hovering around $3 a gallon, leaving many American families to think hard about the distances they are willing to drive this summer. While families rebudget their travel expenses, most are not questioning how the price of gas will affect their dinner plans. But decisions about the foods we eat might be a far more important consideration when trying to cut down on energy use." Read more here.

The lure of the 100 mile diet
"Fisher is one of more than 1,000 "locavores," self-styled concerned culinary adventurers, who took the pledge last month to eat nothing--or almost nothing--but sustenance drawn from within 100 miles of their home. The movement began last year when four San Francisco-- area foodies designated August 2005 as the first Eat Local Challenge and launched a website, Locavores.com They were inspired by the book Coming Home to Eat, ecologist Gary Paul Nabham's account of his yearlong effort to restrict himself to native foods near his Arizona home." Read more here.

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It's a thought: Food miles
Matthew R. Simmons is a Houston-based banker to the oil industry and an adviser to President Bush. So it's a shock to hear his Al Gore-like message of looming oil shortages and the need for creative conservation techniques.

One of the most creative: chart your “food miles” and buy local produce, meats and dairy products. This is a global issue. This summer, Simmons notes, 80 percent of the apples in British markets will come from New Zealand. “That's 22,000 miles of travel,” he said.

But Americans, in particular, are accustomed to supermarkets stocked with Chilean nectarines, South African grapes, Mexican tomatoes, Australian wines. What one scholar calls “the journey from field to fork” consumes growing amounts of fuel – a 50 percent increase between 1977 and 1999.

Outside of a few bureaucrats and academics, though, few people seemed concerned. Until last year, that is, when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast and demonstrated how quickly a region can be left to its own resources.
“I used to get a call a week,” said Rich Pirog, who studies food miles for Iowa State University's Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. “I get about two a day now.”

Pirog and Andrew Benjamin, an Iowa State student, discuss food miles in a paper that is posted online. Article source (scroll down to find section on food miles).

Why can’t the chicken cross the road?
This situation in a small Vermont town captures the challenges of getting local food from the farm to your favorite restaurant. Read more here.

Profitable farms the best way to save farmland
Who knew? Read more about this Maryland study here.

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Canadian researcher says ‘industrial food’ less nutritious

Ever wonder why the government recommendations on fruit and vegetable servings per day keep going up? One Canadian science writer claims it’s because produce has declined in nutritional value since the 1960s. “For us to get the same amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that our grandparents or even our parents did," he says, "we would have to eat five times as much or more of some of those fruits and vegetables.” There is a solution, though. Any guesses? Read more here.

Food fight
Author Michael Pollan and Whole Foods chief John Mackey spar over role of mass retailing in changing global food system

In one corner is the best-selling author of The Botany of Desire and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, who sees troubling implications for our food system in the growing global shipping of organic produce. In the other corner is the outspoken president of the world’s largest natural and organic grocery chain, who sees growth in organic cultivation as his singular and most important goal. Read their open letters to each other – and us – here.

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Commercial planting of genetically modified plum trees proposed
Contact USDA with your comments

(From www.stopgetrees.org)

The US Department of Agriculture is accepting public comments between now and July 17, 2006 on a petition that would allow commercial growing and marketing of the first genetically engineered (GE) plum trees. If approved, this would remove all regulatory oversight of this GE variety, a virus-resistant plum tree known as the Honey Sweet Pox Potyvirus Resistant plum.

This may open the door to GE varieties of many other related stone fruits, such as peaches, apricots, cherries and almonds, that are susceptible to the same virus. Ironically, this virus is not even found in the US today according to the USDA.

The USDA admits that this GE plum will contaminate both organic and conventional non-genetically engineered plum orchards if it is approved. Since all commercial plum trees are cultivars that are relatively cross compatible within the same species, Prunus domestica, contamination via GE plum pollen carried by bees and other insects will infiltrate the plum orchards of organic and conventional growers. The proposed buffer zones between GE plums and other plums will not prevent genetic contamination from being spread by pollinating insects.

Because this GE plum tree is also the first genetically engineered temperate tree proposed for commercial planting, it also opens the door to the commercialization of GE varieties of other temperate trees such as poplars, pines, and walnuts.

The one GE fruit tree that has previously been approved, a virus resistant Hawaiian papaya, has caused extensive contamination of organic, conventional and wild papaya orchards on most of the Hawaiian Islands in just a few years. This contamination has spread far more quickly than the USDA predicted in its initial assessment. Once native and cultivated plum varieties are contaminated with transgenic pollen, there is no calling it back.

This petition has implications for all other GE tree species, as the USDA and the industry want to gauge what the public's reaction will be. It is critical that all concerned about the threat of GE foods and GE trees respond to this USDA petition.

To learn more about this issue and to see how to submit a comment online to the USDA, click here.

Workshops, Events, Announcements

Second Annual Celebration of Women in Agriculture
Thursday, July 27
Hear Cheryl Rogowski, farmer-owner of W. Rogowski Farm in Pine Island, NY and MacArthur Foundation Genius Award recipient speaking on "Working Smarter, Not Harder: Strengthening our Connections". Dinner and child care provided, free
of charge. Registration by 7/24. Call 413-665-7100 or email
therese@buylocalfood.com. Sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Women’s
Agricultural Network, CISA, and the USDA/RMA.

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July 8
Foraging for Wild Edibles. Hampshire College, Amherst, 9:30AM to12:30PM.
In this workshop you will learn over two dozen of the more than 150 species of edible wild plants, many of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. Join expert forager Russ Cohen on a three-hour walk to learn about the comestible qualities of over two dozen wild plant species. Pending favorable weather conditions, several edible wild mushroom species may be encountered as well. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with information on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation method(s), along with guidelines for safe and environmentally responsible foraging. The focus of this program is on the non-commercial (i.e., fun) aspects of foraging as a way for anyone to enhance their enjoyment of the outdoors through nibbling on the landscape. Russ is in his 32nd year of teaching courses about wild edibles. Last year, he led over two dozen classes/walks at various outdoor locations throughout New England from May to October for over a dozen different organizations, ranging from two-hour evening walks in the city to maritime expeditions along the coast and full-weekend forays in the mountains. Russ' recently-published foraging book, Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten, is published by the Essex County Greenbelt Association. Pre-registration is required. More info at 781-894-4358, email seedpotato@yahoo.com, or on the web at nofamass.org. NOFA Members: $14 Non-members: $19.

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July 13
Managing for Success - Farm Viability Twilight Meeting
Two recent participants in the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Farm Viability Enhancement Program will share their approach to problems and opportunities on their farms, and the farm planning and management strategies they developed to improve operations.

6:30 - Intervale Farm is managed by Rick Tracy and Maureen Dempsey. The farm produces about 12 acres of vegetables, greenhouse production of potted and flowering plants, a small flock of sheep, and eggs. Rick and Maureen have a retail stand, CSA subscribers, and sell through their primary outlet – farmers markets. Greenhouse production and sales have expanded. There have been recent improvements to the barn to increase sales at the farm, and the CSA is a recent addition.

7:20 - Craig Richov, Director of the Farm Viability Program, will describe the Program process, its objectives, and provide a brief report on Program activity and accomplishments over the past ten years.

7:30 - Runnymede Farm is owned and operated by Karl and Lisa Norris. It is a dairy with 120 Holsteins, milking 70+ cows. Facing the same challenges as other dairies, Karl approached the problems of finding reliable help and controlling feed costs, by switching to round bale harvesting and increasing feed quality with a change from haylage to balage. Operation of an in-line bale wrapper will be demonstrated.

Both farms are located in a picturesque valley on South Road in Westhampton. South Road is off Route 66 about 8 miles west of downtown Northampton. The farms are about one quarter mile north of Route 66 with Intervale Farm on the east side of the road, and Runnymede Farm on the west side. Info: Craig Richov.

July 15
Draft Horse Workshop. Overlook Farm, Rutland, 9AM to 3:30PM.
In this workshop you will learn about both the care (health, nutrition, foot care) of horses as well as have hands-on opportunities in handling, harnessing, and driving draft horses (single and team). There will also be farm equipment demonstrations (logging, wagon, cultivator and walking plow) and informal question and answer time throughout the workshop. Dale Perkins is the Farm Steward at Heifer International's Overlook Farm and has more than 20 years experience working with draft and saddle horses. Pre-registration is required. More info at 781-894-4358, email seedpotato@yahoo.com, or on the web at nofamass.org. NOFA Members: $30 Non-members: $35.

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July 22
Free Range Chickens for Eggs. Many Hands Organic Farm, Barre, 9AM-4PM
In this workshop you will learn about brooding, pasture and rotation, feed, variety selection, health issues, forage, field and permanent shelter, slaughter and marketing of meat and eggs. Ducks, geese, and turkeys will be touched on. Jack and Dan Kittredge and Julie Rawson have been raising organic poultry in Barre since 1984. Pre-registration is required. More info at 781-894-4358, email seedpotato@yahoo.com, or on the web at nofamass.org. NOFA Members: $40 Non-members: $45.

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August 10-13
Northeast Organic Farming Association Summer Conference, Amherst, MA
"Sprouting the Seeds of the Next Generation" is the theme for this 32nd annual conference. The event includes a pre-conference on organic agriculture education, more than 200 workshops, a children's conference, keynote speaker, local meal, fair and farmers' market. For more info click here.

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September 16-17
8th Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival
A “Scent-Sational” Event for the Whole Family
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 PM both days. Shine or Rain
Location: Forster’s Farm, 60 Chestnut Hill Rd. Orange, MA 01364
Info and directions: www.garlicandarts.org
Admission: $4 per day for adults, $7 for weekend pass; bike or hike for 1/2 price. Children 12 and under free.

What brings 8,000 people from throughout New England to the Festival that Stinks? There are more than 10 great reasons to come to the Garlic Capital of the Northeast:

1) It’s a giant family picnic where everyone gets along.
2) Over 80 amazing art, woodworking and agriculture booths--everything is made by hand or locally grown.
3) A culinary feast. A dozen glorious garlic food vendors plus chef demos throughout the weekend satisfy the palate and fill
your belly.
4) Two solar powered stages come alive with jazz and juggling, belly dance and bluegrass, storytelling and soul, African
rhythms and acoustic rock.
5) Good clean stinkin’ fun. Garlic and egg tosses, garlic limbo, hoola hooping, and the world famous raw garlic eating contest.
6) Something for everyone. Mom gets the 10-minute healing arts massage. Grandpa checks out the portable sawmill demo. The kids love the horse-drawn hayride.
7) No Trash. Only two bags for 8,000 folks; everything gets composted or recycled.
8) Family-friendly admission. It is the only thing around that hasn’t gone up in price.
9) Learn… to grow garlic, press cider, make a wooden boat, build a timber frame, spin and weave, identify local flora, fuel a car on waste grease and more!
10) Build community, strengthen regional economy; support your local artists, craftspeople, and farmers.

Nationally Renowned Singer/Songwriter Dar Williams plays Sunday to benefit Seeds of Solidarity’s youth programs. Admission: $4.00 per day for adults, weekend pass is $7.00. Bike or hike, half price. Kids under 12 are free. Free parking. Handicapped parking and facilities.

See the Pet Policy, schedule of events, directions at www.garlicandarts.org.

The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival is a celebration of community organized by neighbors and Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, a non-profit organization. Supporters include the Forster/Stewart Family, North Quabbin Woods, Franklin County Solid Waste District, CISA, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council Local Agencies of Orange, Athol, Warwick, Wendell and Northfield.

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CLASSIFIED

Four Acre organic Farm in Amherst, Massachusetts, for rent to the right individual or group. Great growing area and great flower gardens. 19 room farm house, with four bathrooms, subdivides into four units easily.$2500 per month plus utilities. Cheapest rent around to right group, with great growing potential. Contact DonnaSchaper@gmail.com if interested.

For sale: 2001, 15 passenger van. It has over 100k miles but is in excellent condition and can be had for under $9,000. If you know a farmer, family or school that is in need of such a vehicle, please ask them to call John at 413-519-8955.

Tools and lawn equipment wanted for CISA office. Do you have any tools or lawn equipment that you could donate to CISA to help us care for our new building? We could use basic tools as well as a push broom, rake, shovel, etc. Call Jennifer Williams to discuss your donation. Thanks! 413-665-7100.

Land for rent. Eligible for organic certification, in conservation reserve for 10 years. 10-15 acres in Old Deerfield. Adjacent to Deerfield River for irrigation water. Call Frank Ciesluk, 772-0790.

HELP WANTED AT REAL PICKLES. We are a small business in western MA producing raw, naturally fermented foods from local, organic vegetables. Work includes all aspects of production, including preparing fresh ingredients for fermentation and packaging finished product into glass jars. Work is physically demanding. Applicants should be hard-working, reliable, and able to lift 50 lbs. Seeking people available 3 days/wk from July thru Nov. (or beyond), but willing to consider other schedules. Work location: Greenfield, MA. This is a great opportunity to learn all about the ancient art of lactic acid fermentation! Call Addie and Dan at 413-863-9063.

Farming opportunity. Hilltop market garden in Gill with two+ acres prepared beds, orchard, small CSA, hoophouse, dairy goats, interns, permacultural approach, etc... is seeking a full time, organic grower or trainee to collaborate with current owners on the maintenance, re-visioning and development of the farm. For further info visit our web site or email dbotkin@valinet.com

For Sale: 1966 John Deere 3020 gas row crop tractor. Runs excellent. Good rubber. Good tin. Three point hitch. Live PTO. One set of remotes. $9500 or BRO. 413-498-2160.

Female llama for sale. Proven breeder, nice fiber, 4 years old, experienced with goats & sheep. BO. 413-498-2160.

Package For Sale: Bred female huacaya alpaca (with free breeding 2006) along with one female and one male cria. See details of package here. 413-498-2160.

Got Wood? If you have over 20 acres of forest land and would like to discuss your management options with a licensed forester, please call Shane at Cowls: 413-549-1403.

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Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture
1 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield MA 01373
Tel: 413-665-7100  Fax: 413-665-7101
http://www.buylocalfood.com