FEATURES

10th Anniversary Farm Products Guide hits the streets this month!

Looking for the most comprehensive guide to local farming and food? Get a copy of your local daily newspaper the week of June 12 as CISA releases its 10th Anniversary Farm Products Guide!

The 24-page Guide is loaded with information about local farms and food. 143 farm stand listings. 21 restaurants that serve locally grown food. Dozens of area grocery stores, from independent markets to chains, that use the Local Hero label to help you find locally grown food for your table. And the area’s most complete Farmers Market and farm event lists!

Here’s how to get your copy of the 2006 Farm Products Guide:

Purchase one of these local newspapers during the week of June 12:

The Republican Hampden County edition: June 14
The Towne Crier, Greenfield and North Quabbin editions: June 15
The Town Reminder and Belchertown Sentinel: June 15
The Recorder, Daily Hampshire Gazette, and Amherst Bulletin: June 16

Get a Guide at your local Chamber of Commerce office or Visitor Information Center after June 19.

Download the Guide on CISA’s web site after June 12.

Search the Guide on the web!
Also during the week of June 12, search the 2006 Farm Products Guide on the web at http://www.buylocalfood.com/find.html. Simply enter your search word and receive a list of all the farms that carry that product. What a simple way to get a list of local strawberry patches, dairy farms, grass-fed meat growers, orchards, nurseries and more!

Thanks the many local businesses who underwrite the cost of this community project through the display ads they buy in the Guide, as well as the Guide’s sponsors: The Franklin, Hampshire and Hamden County Farm Bureau chapters; Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture; Berkshire-Pioneer Resource, Conservation and Development; Northeast Farm Credit AgEnhancement Program. {MENU}

Buying Locally Grown and the Environment

CISA’s newest brochure makes the connection between local farmers and a healthy local environment. It explains the many ways in which farmers like Mike Wissemann of Warner Farm work to protect wildlife habitat, air, forests, water and soils. “Farming is integral with nature,” said Annie Cheatham, CISA Executive Director. “Local farmers protect the environment by the choices they make. We are fortunate to live among farmers like Mike Wissemann who understand the impact they can have, and who choose to protect these natural resources for all of us.”

The 100-acre Warner Farm abuts the Connecticut River and is the site of many environmentally-friendly farming practices: cover cropping, crop rotations, buffer zones between fields and the Connecticut River, IPM (integrated pest management); transition of some land to organic production; and agritourism. “I have lived in the Valley all my life,” said Wissemann. “I love the clean water, rich soils, fresh air and wildlife. I want to protect our environment. I believe I can make a difference for our communities by farming in an environmentally responsible way.”

CISA members and supporters who receive our print newsletter will receive a copy of the brochure in the mail later this month. If you do not receive one, give us a call at 413-665-7100 and we will send one to you.

Production of the brochure was supported by the The Environmental Grant Program of Northeast Utilities, the Franklin Conservation District, and the Trustees of Reservations. {MENU}

NEWS
June is berry and dairy month!

One of the highlights of summer is the all-too-brief strawberry season. We have it on good authority that it will happen again this year, usually by Father’s Day. But keep your eyes peeled for the ‘Open for picking’ signs at your favorite berry patch as unpredictable weather affects opening day.

And what better way to enhance those ruby-red jewels than a plump of cool and creamy locally grown whipped cream, sweetened with local maple syrup, of course? June is National Dairy Month- this would be a great time to try out some of that locally grown cream you see in your local market. From local milk and cream to farmstead cheeses, local dairy farmers are providing wholesome locally grown dairy products for your family.

To search for strawberry farms or dairy farms in your area, use our online Farm Products Guide at http://www.buylocalfood.com/find.htm. {MENU}

Chef seeks silo
Casey Douglass, chef-owner of the Apollo Grill in Easthampton, wants to heat his new home with locally grow corn and he needs an 8-ton corn silo to store it in. Please contact him directly if you have one or know where to get one. 413-517-0031 or casey@apollo-grill.com. {MENU}

Once in a Blue Moon
Celebrate the first anniversary of Local Hero grocery store member Blue Moon Grocery at Eastworks in Easthampton this weekend! Join them for an outdoor party with food, beer and music and samples of wine, cheese, chocolate, bread, olive oil, and many other customer favorites inside the store all weekend long. Get all the details of this big birthday bash at their web site: http://www.bluemoongrocery.com {MENU}

Iris Show this weekend
Get great local blooms for your garden! The Bridge of Flowers is blooming and the Western New England Iris Society is holding its annual Iris Show at the Shelburne Buckland Community Center on Sunday, June 4th from 1:00 to 4:00 on Main Street (off Bridge) in Shelburne Falls. {MENU}

Go Native!
Support the amazing work of the New England Wildflower Society as they propagate and promulgate native plants throughout the region. Their annual plant sale is the largest in the Northeast and you can get a sneak preview and early bird shopping privileges by joinging them at their Plant Sale Preview Party on Friday, June 9 from 5-8 pm. Enjoy the plant sale and an evening of earthly delights, music, expert advice, and perfect shopping, without the crowds. $25 ticket benefits plant conservation and gains admission to an unforgettable evening, and FIRST CHOICE of thousands and thousands of remarkable plant selections. This peaceful evening will be attended by plant experts with ready advice-just for you! To reserve your space, call Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham at 508-877-7630 or contact cbennett@newfs.org.

Can’t make the preview? Love jostling elbow-to-elbow with fellow gardening enthusiasts? Then visit the plant sale on Saturday, June 10th 10 am -3 pm, rain or shine. This is the largest native plant sale in the Northeast, at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham and it benefits the plant conservation work of New England Wild Flower Society. Select from 11,000 choice plants including rare lady-slipper orchids, and receive friendly advice from Society experts. Children’s table refreshments, garden walks and used book sale. The sale event is FREE. Afterwards take a great garden walk, rain or shine. Garden admission $7 adults, $5 seniors, $3 youths. This is the ULTIMATE in native plant experiences. Bring your wagon and a very large vehicle-you'll need them to haul away the dozens of plants you won't be able to resist. And it is all guilt free shopping, because you'll be supporting the environment with your purchases. Members receive 10% off purchases, so the sale is a great place to join or renew. Info: 508-877-7630. {MENU}

Saving the art of beekeeping
Despite sophisticated technology in other sectors, farmers are still dependent on the hardworking honeybee to pollinate their fruit, vegetable and nut crops. "Sixty percent of what we eat is pollinated by insects," said Amy Robinson, vice president of the Seacoast Beekeepers’ Association. "Honeybees are most efficient. If we lost the honeybees, forget about almonds, peaches, blueberries; it’s really critical."
Full article here. {MENU}

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: June 17, 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

{MENU}

Farm Viability Program applications now available
The Farm Viability Enhancement Program is technical assistance and business planning program designed to assist farmers in improving the economic bottom line and environmental integrity of their operations.

Administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the program helps farmers to prepare a business plan, and then awards of $20,000 up to $60,000 may be available to a farmer to implement strategies in the plan. In return, the farmer agrees to restrict the use of the farm to agricultural uses only by signing a five or ten year Agricultural Covenant.

Any Massachusetts farmer with at least 5 acres of land in agricultural production is eligible to apply but greater acreage is more competitive in the farm selection process. Typical uses of funds from the Farm Viability Program include building or repairing farm structures, modernizing field equipment and tractors, improving marketing structures and equipment, and to supplement federal funding for conservation practices.

Applications are available on line at the Agricultural Resources web site, or you can request a copy of the application by calling the Farm Viability Program at 617-626-1723. The deadline to submit applications is 12 Noon, Friday June 30, 2006.

Local Hero farmers are welcome to call CISA Program Coordinator (and former Farm Viability program consultant) Margaret Christie for help thinking through their FVEP application. Please call by June 15. 413-665-7100.
{MENU}

Small Bites
Locally grown a growing trend!
But you knew that. We get articles like this every week. It just goes to show you that as we enter our 8th Local Hero season, our pioneering 'buy locally grown' message is catching on all over the country, something we can all be proud of!

Will gas costs benefit local farmers?
Location, location, location. Will our local farmers benfit from close proximity to local markets? Read about New Jersey farmers with expectations of making market inroads in their communities here.

As organic goes mainstream, will standards suffer?
With bigger players and ambitions marketing schemes, will organic standards get watered down in coming years? Read this informative article.

Paradise sold: what happens when you buy organic?
Does the reality of all those organic products live up to their pastoral image? Read more here.

{MENU}

Workshops, Events and Announcements

Solidarity Saturday
Saturday, June 3
Tour Local Hero Seeds of Solidarity farm and site, featuring solar greenhouses, energy efficient buildings, abundant market gardens, solar electric and hot water systems, biodiesel and grease fueled vehicles. Optional potluck lunch follows the two-hour tour. Saturday June 3, 10 a.m. All ages welcome. Free.
Click here for directions to the farm in Orange, MA.
{MENU}

Deerfield Land Trust Farm Festival
At Pioneer Gardens, Mill Village Road just north of Wells Cross Road in Deerfield, July 22, 2006

Join us for a day of farming and fun that celebrates local agriculture and raises funds for farmland preservation! Preliminary schedule includes:

Meadow Run (10K Road Race) 9:00 AM
Pioneer Garden 2 Acre Greenhouse Tours 2:00 & 4:00
Local agricultural products for sale 2:00 - 6:00
Lions Chicken Bar-B-Que & other great food
Berkshire Brewing Company beer 3:00-9:00
Live music! Polka from 4:00-6:30 and blues from 7:00- 9:30
Sponsored in part by CISA!
{MENU}

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". Thursday, July 27th, 6:00 PM. Dinner provided. At the Whatley Town Hall. Registration preferred. Call 413-665-7100 or email therese@buylocalfood.com.

June 8-10
Creating Sustainable Communities, Burlington, Vt
The 4th Annual BALLE Conference presents an opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs and innovators from around the globe who share a commitment to creating an economy that preserves community character and vitality, promotes economic justice, and protects ecological health and diversity. Speakers include Michael Ableman, Ben Cohen, Ronnie Cummins of the Organic Consumers Association, and Frances Moore Lappe. More info here.

{MENU}

June 7-11
Place, Taste and Sustenance: The Social Spaces of Food and Agriculture. Boston, MA. The Joint 2006 Annual Meetings of the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society (AFHVS) and the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) include tours, workshops, opportunities to listen to and present papers and panels, chances to participate in roundtable discussions, and times to meet formally and informally with colleagues. For more info, click here. [menu]

June 10
Annual Native Plant Sale of New England Wild Flower Society at Garden in the Woods. Our annual sale includes 11,000 choice plants for sale and world-class plant experts sharing custom advice for your garden. Kids’ Tables featuring Venus Fly Traps and other fun “creatures” and the used book sale includes garden classics. Afterwards, walk the garden trails. 508-877-7630. 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham 10a.m.-3 p.m. About two hours away but definitely worth the trip! Proceeds support our conservation work. Info: www.newfs.org. [menu]

{MENU}

June 11
Native plant makeover
Learn what it takes to convert a residential lot into an inviting garden integrating the home landscape and adjacent habitats with Liz Thompson of Cave Hill Landscape Architects, and Beth and Dan Russell, homeowners. Location in Easthampton, MA to be announced for registrants. 1-3 p.m. Pre-registration required at registrar@newfs.org $25 non-members, $20 members. Info: www.newfs.org. {MENU}

June 15 & 18
The Power of Food: Teacher Education Program, Troy And Salem, NY
Of special interest to social studies and family and consumer science teachers, but applicable to all teachers, this Regional Farm & Food Project workshop provides educators with context, resources and inspiration to use food and farming as a teaching strategy. The first part of the program, Food is Life, will focus on food itself with an introduction to sustainable agriculture and local foods followed by a trip to the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market. The second part of the program, Understanding the Food System, will focus on understanding food as a system with an introduction to farmland preservation followed by a tour of three family farms in the Washington County area. More info here.

{MENU}

June 15
Draft Horse Workshop, Rutland, MA
NOFA Massachusetts presents this Practical Skills Workshop at Overlook Farm. Participants will learn about the care (health, nutrition, foot care) of horses and 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. For more info click here.

June 22
Free Range Chickens For Eggs And Meat, Barre, MA
NOFA Massachusetts sponsors this workshop at Many Hands Organic Farm. This full-day workshop will discuss 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. For more info click here.

June 21-August 6
Eat In, Act Out Week, National And International
Eat In, Act Out Week is an annual event to encourage communities to eat locally and think critically about their food choices. "Eat In" refers to using local food, cooking food yourself instead of eating fast food or take out, and "Act Out" means speaking up and taking action to change our food system and promote local food. Groups across the U.S. and in Canada have scheduled activities centered on local food education. Events are listed online, and resources for planning an event in your area are offered. For more info click here.

{MENU}

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.

CLASSIFIED

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.

Help Wanted at Atlas Farm for 2006 season
We are accepting applications for the 2006 season. Applicants should be hard-working, reliable, self-motivated, and have a valid driver’s license and their own transportation. Farm work is fun and rewarding but also very physically demanding. Applicants should have the desire to work outside even in adverse weather and be able to work early in the morning. Hours listed below are average and may fluctuate slightly throughout the season.
Positions available for 2006:

Full-time Field Workers (May through October, 50 hrs./wk.)
Assist with all aspects of production including planting, cultivating, harvesting and wholesale deliveries. Some tractor work may be involved dependent on experience. There is also the opportunity to help run the stand at the farmers’ market in Boston. Previous farm experience preferred but not required. Pay dependent on experience.

Part-time Farmers’ Market Assistant (June through November, 20-30 hrs./wk.)
Assist with sales 2 days a week at our farmers’ market stand in Boston, Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-6:30. Responsibilities include stand set up and take down, vegetable display and customer sales. Previous retail or customer service experience desired but not required. Boston-area resident preferred, travel to the farm not required. Pay dependent on experience.

Part-time delivery driver (June through November, 8-10 hrs./wk.)
Make deliveries to Boston area stores with a farm truck Tuesdays and Fridays. This person will meet our truck at Copley Square in Boston, help unload for the farmers’ market, and make several deliveries in the Boston area, returning to Copley. Previous experience driving a 14’ or larger box truck required. Pay dependent on experience.

Atlas Farm is a small family farm located in South Deerfield, MA. We grow a wide variety of certified organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers and sell our products primarily at farmers' markets in Boston and Western Massachusetts. We also sell wholesale to area grocery stores and restaurants throughout the season. Currently we have 10 acres in production. For an application or more information, please email gideon@atlasfarm.com or call 413-695-2728.
Part time store product demonstrator and farmers market sales rep wanted. Terry Grinnan of Saw Mill Site Farm Horseradish Products is looking for someone to fill this flexible, part-time position. Duties include preparing for and implementing store sampling events and set up, staffing, sales work and breakdown at farmers markets, as well as strategizing with the owners as to marketing opportunities, networking and public relations to build brand recognition, product awareness and sales volume. For more information contact Terry Grinnan, 413-665-3005.

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

Goat boarding needed. Looking for full or partial board for 6 goats in the greater Northampton area. Please call Ruth Elgers at 413-320-5215. [menu]

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.
{MENU}

To unsubscribe from this list send an email to jennifer@buylocalfood.com.

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