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April,
2007
April
comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing
flowers.
-
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Or in the case of our weather this week,
complaining and strewing ice pellets.
Backyard
gardenders feel ahead of the game when we
manage to get our peas in early, but most
of our local farmers have been putting in
long days, busy in their greenhouses and
barns or boiling off the last of the sap
run. In another month, farmers
markets across the region will
open, offering early crops and bedding plants
to eager shoppers. To many the transformation
from winter to spring will seem sudden and
magical. But to those of us tuned to the
season's turning, it can't happen soon enough
- and it seems to end so quickly. Make the
most of it.
CISA
goes to Beacon Hill
Honored for work on behalf
of farmers
 CISA
staff and area farmers took the farm to
the city last Wednesday for the annual
“Ag Day” event in the State
House. A tradition for over 20 years,
Ag Day recognizes farmers’ contributions
to the state’s economy and culture,
while providing an opportunity for farmers
to meet with lawmakers to discuss issues
and legislation that affect agriculture.
That
serious endeavor is leavened by copious
amounts of freebies, like toy cows, geraniums,
mugs, tree seedlings and a bountiful spread
of locally grown food, prepared by students
from a local vo-tech high school. The long
lines of happy eaters in the Great Hall
of Flags provide a good opportunity for
farmers and legislators to connect and communicate.
It’s no surprise that State House
employees and legislators call Ag Day their
favorite day of the year!
Great Hall
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This
year CISA coordinated two vans to make it
easier for farmers to attend the event.
26 farmers and staff made the journey, departing
in the wee morning hours to try to beat
the infamous Boston traffic. The group –
mostly dairy farmers – immediately
fanned out to implement their ambitious
agenda: meet with as many legislators and
aides as possible, pitch their case to the
editorial board of the Globe, and
serve up locally grown milk and other dairy
treats to the hundreds of visitors to the
event.
In
the event’s speaking ceremony, the
Massachusetts Agricultural Promotion Board
recognized CISA for its “outstanding
support and leadership to the Massachusetts
agricultural industry.” The award
recognizes the work that CISA has done over
the last 13 years in the Pioneer Valley
and around the state. “CISA is a leader
in innovative farming programs in the Commonwealth,”
said Ken Nicewicz, Chairman of the Board,
who presented the award. “CISA’s
expertise has helped many of our farmers,
and they are now a nationally and internationally
recognized leader in buy local farm programs.”
Other awardees at the “Ag Day”
ceremony on Beacon Hill were CISA’s
companion “buy local” organizations
around the state including Berkshire
Grown, Essex
Buy Local, and SEMAP
(Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural
Partnership).
“This
award was a great honor and a complete surprise,”
said SEMAP Executive Director Sarah Kelley.
“Our four organizations have been
very fortunate to receive strong support
from both our legislators and the Massachusetts
Department of Agricultural Resources, so
we are especially grateful that the Ag Promotion
Board would choose to recognize our groups
when so many others have contributed to
our successes. We hope this award will increase
public attention for the local farms we
serve through our Buy Local Campaign, and
for their fresh, delicious local products.”
CISA and the other “buy local”
groups also released their jointly produced
brochure about “Buying Local in Massachusetts”
to legislators and attendees. This colorful
map tells consumers where to find local
farm products throughout the state, from
seafood to wine, from honey to cheese, from
apples to cranberries. “This is the
first project undertaken across the state
by all of the Buy Local groups,” says
Annie Cheatham, Executive Director of CISA.
“Massachusetts agricultural non-profit
organizations are leading the way, showing
how diverse programs with many different
farm products can work together to promote
agriculture throughout the state. Massachusetts
farmers and fishermen are doing their part
to bring us high quality local food and
farm products. As organizations, we are
working together to raise awareness of this
precious resource beyond our regional borders.”
To
receive a copy of “Buying Local in
Massachusetts,” call or email Jennifer
Williams at CISA (413-665-7100, Jennifer@buylocalfood.com).
To
read a reporter’s take on Ag Day,
visit the Boston Dig blog.
CISA
extends its thanks to supporter Oona Coy,
who made it possible for us to provide transportation
for the farmers to Beacon Hill.
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NEWS
Calling all Farmers' Market Managers
CISA's 2007 Farm
Products Guide is going to press very soon! To
ensure that the listing for your market is accurate
and up-to-date, please contact Claire at (413)
665-7100 or claire@buylocalfood.com
by April 9th with current information.
Don't miss this FREE opportunity to advertise
your market!
Stockbridge
Farm Cooking School
Presented
by CISA's Women in Agriculture Network
Join us at Frontier Regional High School in South
Deerfield as Denise Lemay and Mary Ellen Warchol
from Stockbridge Farm will lead a cooking class.
Enjoy a delicious dinner and learn recipes that
you can use at home or adapt for use at your farmstand
or special events! April 25, 2007. 6:30pm-9pm.
For more information, contact Claire at (413)665-7100
or claire@buylocalfood.com.
Ware Farmers Market - space available, opening
soon
Franki Tripoli
writes with this announcement from the Ware farmers
market:
This
will be our first full season and we expect it
to be better even than last year's. DIFFERENT
TIMES ! SAME DAYS AND SAME LOCATION !!!
The Ware Parks Department has approved us for
ALL SATURDAYS from 5/12 TO 10/27 and from 10AM
TO 2PM at GRENVILLE PARK, on Church St. That’s
a 25 week season...
Not only do we expect our regular customers, but
the Parks Department has told us to expect LOTS
of traffic from little league, t-ball, and soccer
practices... EVERYONE is very welcome.
The time change means a later start and shorter
hours, to benefit some vendors who can ‘PICK
FRESH’ in the morning before they arrive,
or who visit multiple markets on Saturdays.
VENDOR FEES: $20/week or $240 for the season.
If you’re a vendor who would like to sign
up, please visit our website: www.warefarmersmarket.org.
Space available at the 2nd Annual Specialty food
Show May 31 in Northampton
The
Franklin County CDC's Food Center program is putting
on its second annual Specialty food Show. There
are still spaces available for the May 31 show
being held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference
Center in Northampton from 12:00 Noon to 6PM.
The show is nearly twice the size of last year,
and we expect to see an even larger number of
buyers this year.
Last
year, 35 exhibitors of specialty, natural, organic,
and farm value-added products had a captive audience
of more than 100 buyers. Among the attendees were
representatives from co-ops, natural/specialty/organic
stores, independent chains, and large players
such as Whole Foods (nearly all of the individual
New England stores), Associated Buyers, United
Natural Foods, and brokers to the specialty food
trade.
Don't
miss out! If you have specialty products that
you would like to exhibit, please contact Herb
Heller at herbh@fccdc.org
for registration details.
Martin’s Farm Compost approved for organic
farms
Local Hero member Bob Martin announces
that his compost has been approved by Baystate
Organic Certifiers for use on organic farms and
gardens.
Martin’s
Premium compost is a blend of approximately 50%
manure, 50% leaves. They also will offer a ‘humified’
compost ready in April, made from a wide variety
of organic materials. “We
use only local, compostable materials in our products,”
says Bob. “Many farmers and gardeners in
the area report great success with our products.
We hold our compost piles at around 150 degress
for several weeks to destroy all weed seeds and
other pathogens.”
Pickup
at the farm or delivery is available. Call Bob
at 774-5631 for more info or visit their web site,
www.martinsfarmrecycling.com.
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Opportunities
for farmers
Hospital
farmers market
Mercy Medical Center in Springfield is looking
to partner with a farmer for a monthly,
bi-monthly or weekly farmstand on the campus
of their main medical facility this summer.
They'd like a farmer who can bring mixed
vegetables for sale directly to their over
1000 employees. If you are interested in
this opportunity please contact Kelly at
CISA, 413-665-7100 or kelly@buylocalfood.com
for more details.
Farmers
wanted to help with habitat management
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries
and Wildlife is looking for growers to help
with wildlife habitat management. MassWildlife’s
Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) (MDFW)
provides cost-share and technical assistance
to private landowners who manage their property
for the benefit of declining wildlife species.
Most of the participants in the program
are not active farmers, but own old farm
land. Some of these landowners maintain
grasslands for nesting birds. One of the
issues they face in maintaining these fields
is finding growers to cut and harvest this
hay, after July 15th or to have livestock
growers graze their animals on their fields.
To
facilitate the connection between grower
and landowner, the MDFW is planning to create
a place on the LIP home page of the MDFW
website for growers and landowners to share
information. So if you are a grower looking
for more hay or pasture for your operation
you will be able to post your need on the
site or if you are a landowner who is looking
for someone to harvest your hay this will
be the site to make the connection. It is
hoped that both farmers and wildlife will
benefit from this partnership effort.
For
more information contact Ken MacKenzie at
508-389-6313 or email him at ken.mackenzie@state.ma.us
or check
out the LIP site.
Organic
farming research grant applicants wanted
The
Organic Farming Research Foundation grants
program is open to all applicants residing
in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
OFRF particularly encourages farmers, ranchers,
researchers, and extension personnel to
consider applying for funding. Farmers and
ranchers often find that working with professional
researchers can make it easier to design
and carry out a research project, and OFRF
encourages applications from such partnerships.
Proposals are considered twice a year. Proposal
due date July 16. Applicants will be notified
by Dec. 1, 2007. More info here.
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Workshops,
Events, Announcements
Practical
Skills workshops offered
The
Northeast Organic Farming Association is offering
its 2007 workshops series. Registration and additional
information is available
at their online store.
Cheesemaking
with Cliff Hatch at Upinngill Farm, Gill, Mass
Saturday, April 28, 8AM- 5PM
Cheese is one of the great tasting ways to store
milk. We will learn how to take raw milk and create
a hard cheese: a British "cheddar" style
cheese. This hands-on workshop will demonstrate
the process from raw milk to the the final pressing:
ripening, renneting, stirring the curds and the
cheddaring process and pressing. We will discuss
how different cheeses are made. Participants with
milking animals are invited to bring 2 gallons
of their milk with them to make additional cheeses.
Cliff Hatch has been making cheese for over 25
years. NOFA Members: $60 Non-members: $66
Rustic
Composting Toilets with expert and author Carol
Steinfeld in Dartmouth, Mass
Saturday, May 5, 10AM-12PM
Learn how to choose then buy or construct a composting
toilet system for field, cottage, home and boat.
We'll also touch on graywater systems, urine-diverting
toilets, and ecological wastewater systems. You'll
leave knowing a design for a simple system you
can construct for field, cottage or event use.
Carol Steinfeld is the author of The Composting
Toilet System Book, Liquid Gold: The Lore &
Logic of Using Urine to Grow Plants and the forthcoming
Reusing the Resource: Adventures in Ecological
Wastewater Recycling. She directs Ecowaters Projects
and runs Ecovita, which supplies urine-diverting
eco-toilets. These can be seen at the Cape Cod
Center for Sustainable Living in Cotuit, Mass.
NOFA Members: $24 Non-members: $28
Organic Apples in Bloom with John Bemis
at Hutchin's Farm in Concord, Mass
Monday, May 14, 9AM-1PM
John Bemis, with 30 years of apple tree management
experience, says, "Blossom can be the time
when we are most optimistic. What have we done
to think that? What arrows are still in our quiver?
Different varieties and their bloom schedules..."
Hutchins Farm's John Bemis will teach you what
he has learned about organic apple tree management:
see the tools he uses to get a fairly predictable
marketable crop, hear what has and has not worked
well, tour the orchard when the apples are in
bloom. Hutchins Organic Farm has grown apples
for over 30 years, first very low spray, the last
11 years organically. They currently manage 1000
trees. NOFA Members: $36 Non-members: $41
Red Fire Farm is looking for your farm product
to sell at the farm stand
The stand located in a 1922 barn sells
it's organic vegetables, local grocery items and
non food items. Everything from El Jardin bread
to Songline Emu oil. Especially needed are jams
and jellies. Send a letter with your product information
and prices to Red Fire Farm, 7 Carver Street,
Granby, MA 01033...attention Deb. Be sure to visit
the web site to see the farm stand: www.redfirefarm.com.
Garden
like the pros with free spring seminars at New
England Wild Flower Society’s Nasami Farm
The New England Wild Flower Society is a leader
in horticulture workshops both at it’s Nasami
Farm site and throughout the region. Here’s
just a sampling of what is coming up this spring.
May
6 Choice Native Plants for Containers
Nasami’s Nursery Grower Mariya Navazio shares
her secrets of using native plants to create bold
and beautiful container plantings.
May 13 Tips for PlantingTrees and Shrubs
Education Director Greg Lowenberg shows you how
to install woody plants like a pro—it’s
easy! Give your trees and shrubs the best start;
avoid common mistakes.
May 20 Consult a Garden Designer
Master’s degree students from the Conway
School of Landscape Design help you solve your
own garden or landscape challenges. Bring your
questions, photographs, or schematics for a free
15-minute design consultation.
May 27 Great Wildflowers for Shady Gardens
Nasami Farm Manager Miranda Fisk shows off an
array of exciting species to light up your woodland
or partial shade garden. Come see some of the
Society’s favorite
natives for flowers, foliage, color, and texture.
June
3 Natural Pest Control: Insects,Weeds, Deer, Disease
Certified Horticulturist Jim McSweeney demonstrates
how to have a beautiful garden or lawn without
major pest problems. Learn some safe, pesticide-free
methods, and find out which “bio-rational”
products actually work.
Looking
to dig a little deeper…get your hands dirty?
Sign up for one of the Society’s many intensive
classes. For the complete list visit http://www.newenglandwild.org/courses/s-s-07-hort.pdf.
Here's just an example:
LOW
MAINTENANCE DESIGN WITH NATIVE PLANTS
Nasami Farm Native Plant Nursery, Whately, MA
Saturday, May 5, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
It’s both possible and practical to lower
your garden maintenance by using native plants
and designing carefully. Learn how to design a
unique garden space with strong connections to
our spectacular New England landscape—one
you can enjoy without a backbreaking effort. In
this interactive format, you are encouraged to
bring your ideas, along with photographs and plans
or sketches of your own property. Landscape designer
Owen Wormser will help you work on creating enjoyable,
low maintenance, and sustainable garden paces
while discovering important functional and aesthetic
aspects of native plants and their relation to
your landscape. Instructor: Owen Wormser, owner
of Treefrog Landscapes Inc., a design/build/consulting
firm in Northampton, Massachusetts Fee: $36M/$40NM
Limit: 15 participants
The
Society’s Nasami Farm offers 600 species
and cultivars of native plants for sale to the
public beginning April 20. All sales and membership
supports the health of New England’s natural
areas through the Society’s conservation
programs. For a complete listing of the Society’s
activities, visit their web site: www.newenglandWILD.org.
Nasami
Farm, New England Wild Flower Society’s
native nursery is located at 128 North Street,
Whately, MA, 413-397-9922. It is just 2 miles
from I 91, easily accessible to many local and
regional plant lovers. It opens for weekends on
April 20, Friday-Sunday 9-5 with 600 native plant
species available this year, and free demos on
Sundays at 1 in May and June.
Buying
Local Supports a Sustainable Future
Join us for the Awakening the Dreamer
--Changing the Dream Symposium and get
a deeper understanding of how buying local connects
to the big picture of creating an evironmentally
sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially
just human presence on this planet.
Awakening the Dreamer-- Changing the Dream Symposium,
developed by The Pachamama Alliance, is an interactive
presentation combining the wisdom of indigenous
cultures with the knowledge of modern society.
It reveals what we each can do to foster, stand
for, and accelerate a broad global movement of
change. This emerging discussion is born out of
both necessity and possibility - necessity, as
we discover just how dire is the condition of
our planet's life systems, and possibility, as
we come to realize the enormous potential role
of a committed individual working in concert with
others. Symposium is offered May 19th 1:30 - 5:30,
Unitarian Universalist Society Amherst. To register
or for more information contact: Eve Posada eposada@gis.net;
413-549-5122 or Susan Lantz susan@sblantz.com
413-586-3544.
CLASSIFIED
Hilltown
Community Development Corporation is seeking a
Business Program Assistant to
help expand our Small Business Development Program.
The position is half time for 3-6 months. The
Business Program is based in Chesterfield and
serves eleven hilltown communities primarily in
western Hampshire County. We are seeking a self-starter
with good phone and people skills, and computer
experience. Projects include building an Access
database, making improvements to the Hilltown
CDC web site, assembling the Hilltown Business
Directory, and outreach to area businesses. Training
is available. $20 per hour. Apply by April 9.
To apply, send resume and cover letter to Seth
Isman, Economic Development Director, Hilltown
CDC, P.O. Box 17, Chesterfield, MA 01012 or sethi@hilltowncdc.org.
(413) 296-4536 ext. 12
The
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, RSVP, of
Franklin and Hampshire Counties is looking for
a volunteer to help at Buckland/Shelburne Elementary
School in Shelburne Falls. The
volunteer would function as a Volunteer Coordinator.
Responsibilities include working with local education
council to organize times and positions of volunteers
working within the school. The position will be
during the school year, and it can be done from
the school or from the volunteer’s home,
or a combination of both. If you are interested
in this opportunity or in volunteering in the
school itself, please contact the RSVP Volunteer
Coordinator; Kelly Donahoe at 413.584.1300x183
or kdonahoe@uwshc.org.
Pasture available in North Amherst:
Approximately 5 acres of pasture available (has
been idle for 4 years) with access to brook. Needs
new fencing. Willing to trade rent for fence installation.
(sheep? goats? cows?) All considered. Joe or Sarah
(413) 230-3137
Land/homestead wanted to buy: Looking
to purchase that perfect little farm/homestead.
A fixer-upper farmhouse
with 2-10 acres (at least 2 open tillable) within
1 hour of Northampton. Please call Rachel at 413-268-7548.
Wanted:
Used small farm/market garden tools, equipment,
and supplies. Please call Rachel
at 413-268-7548.
Ongoing
classes on organic cooking. Visit
http://members.aol.com/lescerier/pages/classes.html
to learn more.
Farm for Sale:
20 acres of prime farmland along the CT
River. Quiet country setting yet just
10 minutes from I-91. Hay fields, crop fields,
woven wire & electric fenced-in pastures for
rotated grazing. No commercial fertilizers used
on the land. Barn w/new additions, outbuildings,
portable sheds, retail shop. 1800+ feet of road
frontage. Large, classic New England Colonial
Farmhouse with wrap-around porch and large front
& back yards. Many renovations since 2001.
Lots of potential -- perfect setting for bed &
breakfast; campground; retreat; stables/horse
boarding or your own dream farm. Located in West
Northfield, MA -- Chee Chee Mamook Farm. Contact
us at alpaca0410@yahoo.com
to be directed to online photos & more information.
For Sale: Tractor
items.
A/C Pick Up Plow - one furrow - 2 way. Will fit
Allis-Chalmers Model "B" & "C"
tractors.
Also A/C Tractor Mowing Attachment (side bar mower).
Fits both "B" & "C" models.
Complete with manuals. Both is good condition.
For further information contact
Terry Grinnan, prop
Saw Mill Site Farm Horseradish Products
287 Conway Road
So. Deerfield, MA 01373
p 413-665-3005
sawmillsitefarm@comcast.net
www.horseradishdirect.com.
Used books & ephemera
relating to AGRICULTURE
(also many other subjects including architecture,
woodworking and regional history) are available
for sale at:
Nancy L. Dole Books & Ephemera
32 Bridge St. 2nd floor
SHELBURNE FALLS, MA 01370
open everyday but Monday
(413) 625-9850
ndole@crocker.com
Farmland
wanted. 10
acres+ sought by farmer interested in raising
sheep. Prefers the Colrain, Shelburne, Buckland
area. Contact Ginger Wall, Gmwall42@aol.com.
Help
Wanted: Assistant Farm Manager for 2007 Season.
Atlas Farm
is a small family farm located in Deerfield, MA.
We grow a wide variety of certified organic vegetables,
herbs and flowers and sell our products at farmers'
markets in Boston. We
also sell wholesale to area grocery stores and
grower co-ops throughout the season. We are entering
our 4th season of operation and are committed
to growing high quality produce. Currently 11
acres are in production with plans for expansion
in 2007. We seek an Assistant Farm Manager for
the 2007 growing season to assist with all aspects
of production as well as supervision of the farm
crew. Training by the farm manager will be provided.
This is an ideal position for someone with previous
farming experience looking to take on more of
a management role. Salary is commensurate with
experience. To begin the application process,
submit a letter of interest to gideon@atlasfarm.com
or mail to: Gideon Porth/Atlas Farm 8 Pine Street
South Deerfield, MA 01373
Land
for rent. 15 organic acres in
Buckland close to Shelburne Falls. Large barn
available. Owner will help skilled operator with
start up expenses. Water available. Very low rent/barter
possible. Call Michael 413 625-8300.
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.
Editor:
Mark Lattanzi
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture
1 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield MA 01373
Tel: 413-665-7100 Fax: 413-665-7101
http://www.buylocalfood.com
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