NEWS

CISA welcomes new Board members
At the February 28, 2007 Annual Meeting, the following individuals were elected to the Board of Directors:

Michael Parry – During his 25 years with The Yankee Candle Company, Michael served as general manager, Vice President, and President and Chief Executive Officer, helping to direct the local company’s evolution to a national business force before retiring in 2001. A resident of Shelburne, Michael and his wife Barbara own Foxfire Fiber & Design at Springdelle Farm.

Rus Peotter – WGBH Vice President and General Manager for WGBY Springfield, Rus believes the role of public television is to highlight the value of “place” and he uses programming at WGBY to help focus on the farms and rural character of our region. Prior to joining WGBY, Rus was Vice President for Marketing and Development at Maine Public Television. He lives in Chesterfield with his wife Jennifer, stepdaughter Rachel and son Alden.

Tim Smith – President of Apex Orchards in Shelburne. Apex Orchards has been supplying the region with farm fresh produce since 1828, offering a selection of apples, peaches, pears, apricots and plums through pick your own and retail operations. Tim also operates The Shelburne Honey Company out of Apex Orchards, running approximately 100 hives each year.

Mike Wisseman owns Warner Farm in Sunderland, where he grows conventional and organic vegetables and fruits on approximately 110 acres of land that has been farmed since the early 1700s. Mike sells his produce wholesale to area markets and at his own farm stand, and also creates the area’s most unconventional corn maze, featuring a clever new design each year.

'Buy Local' on the newstands this month
When we launched the Local Hero campaign nearly nine years ago, buying locally grown was a theory we were testing - not the full blown trend it is today! Our Local Hero program has become a model for programs across the US and Canada. Staffer Mark Lattanzi has been working in CT, NY and Ontario over the last two months to help them learn from our successful program.

We are pleased to see our movement getting more and more national press. These two magazines came out just last week. And we owe the success of our Local Hero brand to the dedicated and passionate farmers, and eaters, of the Pioneer Valley. Here's to another great season of locally grown food!

Mass. dairy farms seek help
We received this letter from one of our Local Hero dairy farmers and wanted to pass it along to you. Please note that public hearings are scheduled and that the local hearing is Friday, March 16 at UMass Amherst. Details below.

I am writing to you in hopes of obtaining your support for the financial crisis that Massachusetts Dairy Farmers are facing. Prices we received for our milk in 2006 were lower than prices we received in 1981 for the same gallon of milk, yet produced with much higher costs. Many farms have done all they can to keep the farm going with diversifying, getting off-farm jobs or even selling land just to offset the great losses we have had.

A few months ago, members of the Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers got together and decided something had to be done because we simply were not going to survive like this much longer. Legislators, Farm Bureau and legal advisors became involved in our group and gave us direction on how to get our state government to initiate possible solutions for this crisis. We were reminded that Massachusetts law states that through a petition process we could bring about awareness to just how critical the situation really is. We sent out petitions to all licensed dairy farmers in the state and had an overwhelming response, with more than 85% returned. Only 25% were required to begin the hearing process.

We've recently submitted our petitions to the state and two hearings have been set-up to determine the magnitude of our crisis. The first hearing will be March 16th at the UMASS campus in Amherst from 10am-4pm, and the second hearing will be March 20th at Faneuil Hall in Boston from 10am-4pm. Please plan to attend-we need as many supporters of our industry their as possible. For more information please log on to www.massdairyfarmers.com.

Through the petition process, we are seeking $12 million in state relief for last year’s drastic losses as a short-term solution. But dairy farmers need a long-term solution to our financial situation as well. If consumers were willing to pay an extra few cents a gallon, the cost to the consumer would be minimal, given that the average person consumes just 20 gallons of milk per year. Dairy farmers provide the public benefits of open space preservation, working landscapes, preserving agrarian culture, and fostering tourism. The cost to the state for the long-term program would be virtually zero.

The number of dairy farms has declined from 800 farms in 1981 to 186 farms today. A tremendous benefit of the proposed long-term plan would be the stabilization of these numbers. Studies have shown that each cow in the Commonwealth provides $13,000 in gross community economic value. We require services and products from a multitude of local businesses across the state keeping them thriving from our high volume of business.

We are more united than ever before. We are working together for this common goal because we are all in the same situation. We are determined to succeed because our livelihoods are at stake. We love our jobs and we love our cows. We work 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. Cows need to be milked, fed and cared for 365 days a year. We are excellent stewards of the land and very attentive caregivers to our animals. We love raising our families on our dairy farms so we can teach our children a sense of responsibility, high morals and strong family values. We hope our children will also have the opportunity to continue the farm and raise their children here. That cannot happen until something is done to give us a fair price. We believe one-third of the state’s dairy farmers could go out of business in the next 12 months if relief is not received soon. The word needs to be spread for all consumers to hear so you can support our efforts and encourage our legislators to accept our proposals to keep our industry alive.

A petition is attached for you to print out and have all of your Massachusetts family, friends, co-workers, associates, etc. to sign as well as yourself. Once the petition has been filled please mail to: MADF, 160 North County Rd., Leyden, MA 01337, and then print out another copy and continue gathering signatures. Print one off and take to your local library or town hall or any other public place you can think of. Please forward this email to as many Massachusetts residents as you can! Thank you for your time and we appreciate any support you can give. Please log on to www.massdairyfarmers.com for more information or give me a call at 413-774-3038.

Thank you,
Angie

Angie Facey, Dairy Farmer
Bree-Z-Knoll Farm, LLC
Home: 413-774-3038
Fax: 413-773-9305
Cell: 413-262-1816


Dairy Farmer Petition for Relief received by state
Below is the text of the petition for relief submitted by Mass. dairy farmers, and the schedule of public hearings.

The Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (“Commissioner”) has received a Petition for Relief pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 94A, Section 12 (M.G.L. c. 94A, Sec. 12; “Petition for Relief”) dated January 29, 2007, from the Massachusetts Association of Dairy Farmers, Inc. on behalf of Massachusetts licensed dairy farmers. Said petition sets forth Facts and Statutory Allegations in support of a Request for Relief. The request for relief asks, in part, that a public hearing be convened by the Commissioner to address questions regarding a claimed emergency in the Massachusetts dairy industry and to issue appropriate orders regarding minimum prices and a system of payments for dairy producers. This page will contain important information regarding the Petition for Relief. Further information and notices will be posed here as they become available.

March 16, 2007, 10-4pm at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Campus Center Auditorium

March 20, 2007, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Faneuil Hall, Congress Street, Boston

Agricultural Day at the Statehouse March 28
Join farmers and farming advocates for a day of celebration and conversation about Massachusetts agriculture with our legislators. Free van rides from the Valley (see below). The schedule for Ag Day is:

9:30 am – 11:30 am Registration between the Great Hall and the Grand Staircase
10:00 am Farmer Orientation on Agricultural Issues Great Hall
10:00 am – 11:15 am Farmer – legislator
11:30 am Speaking Program - Grand Staircase
12:00 pm "Taste of Massachusetts" Reception - Great Hall

Hop a bus to Ag Day
CISA is providing FREE van transportation to Ag Day in Boston on March 28. Vans will leave from Greenfield and Holyoke promptly at 6:30 AM. Space is limited, so sign up with Jennifer at CISA to reserve your spot, 413-665-7100, Jennifer@buylocalfood.com . We hope to be back in the valley by 4:30pm.

Greenfield pick-up: The old Cherry Rum parking lot at 5&10 (Federal St.) and Rt 2, across from the Magic gas station.

Holyoke pick-up: The parking lot in front of the Friendly’s / Holiday Inn on Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke (just off the Ingleside Mall exit from I-91).

Wanted: Farmer Interested in Senior Farm Shares and New Farmers Market!
All Are Welcome to “Target Hunger”

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) and The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’s Target:Hunger program are teaming up to support an emerging farmers market/farm stand in the Mason Square district of Springfield! This would bring a needed source of fresh, local produce to an urban neighborhood that currently lacks adequate outlets selling fruits and vegetables.

We are seeking a local farmer interested in growing produce for the market’s anchor stall. (In the first year, we anticipate this to be a lively farm stand – more than a full-fledged market, but we are hopeful that it will grow in coming years!) In partnership, the organizations will offer the farmer support with regard to market administration, produce transportation, necessary market materials, outreach/publicity and volunteers. CISA will also offer bronze membership benefits in the Local Hero Campaign and access to 25 Senior Farm Shares dedicated to Mason Square elders.

Farmers will not be required to transport their produce to the market or be present at the market, although they would be welcome do to so. Farmers will be asked to grow a modest amount of specific produce that has been found to be “most wanted” by Mason Square residents in a recent survey. This produce includes: lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, collard greens, corn on the cob, strawberries, carrots, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, and sweet potatoes.

Supported by the surrounding neighborhood councils and a network of community-based organizations, and hosted by the Mason Square Health Center, this farmers market will open Saturday mornings beginning in July 2007.

This farmers market is a central strategy of Target:Hunger Springfield, an asset-based community organizing pilot initiative under the auspices of The Food Bank and supported by the wider Mason Square community. The goal of Target:Hunger is to effect a 10% reduction in hunger and increase community food security within four years. And The Food Bank is dedicated to providing support and resources to this market for the next three years.

The Senior Farm Share program provides low-income seniors with mini-shares of the harvest in the height of the season. Shares are valued at $100 each and will be pre-paid by CISA (funding for the shares is provided by our community members and the state of Massachusetts). Shares should be delivered in bulk to the Mason Square neighborhood once a week for ten weeks starting in mid-July.

All interested farmers are encouraged to phone Kelly Coleman at 413.665.7100 by April 2, 2007.

For more information about Target:Hunger Springfield , please contact Tasha Moultrie at 412.247.9738 x 113.

Farmer Opportunity
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.

River Valley Market to break ground in March
The River Valley Market Board announces that we have closed on financing to build our cooperative, and will begin store construction this month!

Using a complex financing structure called New Market Tax Credits which involves a broad array of equity lenders (including River Valley Market member-owners--thank you!) and a mortgage loan from the Bank of Western Massachusetts, we closed the financing on Friday, March 9th 2007.
Congratulations to all, and thank you for your persistence and faith in this project. We look forward to shopping with you in our new, bright, green, state-of-the-art, locally produced, healthy and organic, community-owned store!
Stay tuned for more updates from us in the near future: www.rivervalleymarket.coop.

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.

Healthy Food in Healthcare
Something's cooking at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, and it's not the usual hospital fare - carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, even macintosh apples, straight from farms right here in Western Mass. Three years ago, Cooley Dickinson signed on to an initiative to buy locally grown food. Now, the hospital's taking it a step further, signing the Healthy Food in Healthcare Pledge, a commitment to serving healthy food that is locally sourced.

Read the rest of the article and view the CBS-3 news story here:
http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/local/6092966.html

Worthington potato farm up for auction - again

As reported in the Daily Hampshire Gazette: The sale at auction of 550 acres of former potato magnate Ben Albert's Worthington farmland to a New York farming corporation has apparently fallen through, according to town officials close to the deal. Worthington selectmen voted Tuesday night to require between 45 and 60 days of notice before the next auction, said selectman Evan Johnson. Johnson said he spoke earlier this week with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Services Agency in Amherst, which had initiated foreclosure proceedings against Albert in 2005. Town officials want to ensure that residents and potential local buyers have sufficient notice of the next sale, Johnson said.

To see the complete auction info, click here.

USDA Rural Development Grants available

Farmers and rural small businesses interested in renewable energy and energy efficiency or developing and marketing value-added products can benefit from a pair of grants available through USDA Rural Development. Funds are available in the form of loans, loan guarantees, and in the past several years the awards have gone overwhelmingly to small projects. If you’ve been dreaming about installing a solar energy panel on your farm or selling your homemade jams at your stand, this is a great opportunity to fund the project!

Grant applications will be accepted starting when Rural Development releases a notice of solicitation of application, and the application period will be relatively short. The announcement will be made on the websites listed below and is expected sometime in March. If you have questions, please see the Rural Development office contact information below or contact Claire at CISA, 665-7100 or claire@buylocalfood.com.

Value-Added Producer Grants

Grants may be used for planning activities and for working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures.

Value-Added Producer Grants can awarded for up to $100,000 for Planning Grants and $150,000 for Working Capital Grants. Matching funds must be at least equal to the grant amount which includes in-kind contributions.

For more information on the program, you may access the Rural Development website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm, or contact Richard Burke in the Rural Development State Office at (413) 253-4319.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program

Rural Development offers grants, guaranteed loans and combination grant/guaranteed loans to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements in rural areas.

Grants are restricted to 25 percent of the total eligible project cost, less other Federal grants. For renewable energy systems, the minimum grant request is $2,500 and the maximum grant request is $500,000. For energy efficiency improvement projects, the minimum grant request is $1,500 and the maximum grant request is $250,000. Guaranteed loans are restricted to no more than 50 percent of the total eligible project cost with a minimum request of $5,000 and a maximum request of $10,000,000.

For more information on the program, you may access the Rural Development website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/, or contact Peter Laurenza in the Rural Development Area Office at telephone 413-585-1000, ext. 4, email: Peter.Laurenza@ma.usda.gov.

Workshops, Events, Announcements

Women, Families, Farmland: Farm Transition Gatherings For New England Women

Are you thinking about the future of your farm? Do you worry about how to pass the farm to the next generation, keep it in farming, and comfortably retire? Are you trying to figure out how to bring these issues up with your family?

These gatherings are for women thinking about farm transfer, succession and tenure.

• Learn about resources about farm transfer.
• Increase your ability to make informed and effective decisions.
• Gain skills for communicating with professional advisors and family members.
• Spend time with other women thinking about similar issues.

"Women, Families, and Farmland: Planning for the Future" gatherings are part of a four-state initiative which will increase women's ability to make informed and effective decisions regarding farm succession, transfer and tenure. The program is particularly targeted at women inheritors of farms and farmland and women in families preparing to exit farming.

Funded by the USDA Farm Service Agency, the program is a collaborative effort among several local organizations, including the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), Land for Good, Inc., and the Vermont Women's Agricultural Network.
"How women farmers handle transition is critical," says Lynda Brushett, Senior Cooperative Development Specialist at CDI. "Whether women farmers are sole decision-makers, farm partners or one of several farm heirs, their decisions have the potential to shape the future of a farm business - and the shape of U.S. agriculture. We will help women gain the information, resources and assistance they need to develop strong decision-making and negotiation skills, so they can ensure the agricultural future of their farmland."

In the next twenty years, 400 million acres of farmland across the Unites States will change hands. Researchers estimate that women - older women -- will inherit about 75% of those acres. Over fifty percent of farm operators are over the age of 55. Farmers are not well prepared to address farm succession: less than 10% have wills, and fewer than 2% have succession plans in place.

Women play absolutely critical roles in the extent to which family farm businesses remain viable through farm succession and transfer and into the future.

The Massachusetts "Women, Families and Farmland" gathering will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Delaney House, Holyoke, MA. For more information, contact CISA, (413) 665-7100. For registration: contact info@cdi.coop or call Laurie Broussard at 877-632-6677 (toll free).

The New Hampshire "Women, Families and Farmland" gathering will be held on Saturday, March 24, 10 am to 3 pm, at Canterbury Woods Country Club, The Glines Farm, Canterbury, NH. For more information or to register, contact info@cdi.coop or call Laurie Broussard at 877-632-6677 (toll free) or Lynda Brushett, 603-664-5838.

The Vermont "Women, Families and Farmland" gathering will be held on Saturday, March 24, 9 am to 4 pm, at Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester, Vermont. For more information and to register, contact Debra Heleba, Women's Agricultural Network, at (802) 656-0233 or debra.heleba@uvm.edu.

The Maine "Women, Families and Farmland" gathering will be held Thursday, April 19, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., at Nezinscot Farm in Turner, ME. For more information and to register, Susan Watson, Women's Agricultural Network of ME, 207-622-7847, ext. 4, or email susan.watson@me.usda.gov.

22nd Annual MapleFest on Chester Hill
Chester Massachusetts, a small town in the foothills of the Berkshires, is celebrating the beginning of spring with a Festival. March is the month that heralds the start of the sugaring season as days warm and lengthen, and the first signs of spring become visible. Visit Chester Center to experience old time sugaring first hand and relive simpler times.

Come to the hills to cure your cabin fever, and spend a day in the country on Saturday March 17th, 2007 as the Chester Hill Association sponsors its 22nd Annual MapleFest from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Skyline Trail in old Chester Center.

Begin your day with a traditional Country Breakfast consisting of pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, juice, coffee and featuring maple syrup from Chester Hill. Breakfast will be served continuously from 9 am ‘til noon at the First Congregational Church in old Chester Center on Skyline Trail. After breakfast, visit local artisans and craftspeople, including quilters and spinners, at the old schoolhouse across the road or spend your afternoon listening to the sounds of the Pioneer Valley Fiddlers scheduled to play at the church at 12:00. Visit with our animal friends: a new baby llama, Jacob’s lambs and ducks. These programs are supported in part by a grant from the Chester Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state Agency.

Enjoy a tractor drawn hayride along scenic Skyline Trail to the wood-fired maple sugarhouse at High Meadows Farm. Observe sugaring and taste newly made maple syrup at the farm.
Latecomers to the MapleFest can still enjoy donuts, coffee, hot dogs, hamburgers and the famous Chester Chili from the food cart throughout the day. Also, be sure to purchase your raffle tickets—the prizes feature unique local events and products, and a special overfilled basket of local Chester Hill products.

The MapleFest takes place rain, snow or shine, from 9 am to 4 pm on Skyline Trail in old Chester Center. Cost for the Country breakfast is $7.00 for adults and $4.00 for children under 12. All other events are free. The Chester Hill Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of the area, sponsors the MapleFest. For more information call 413-354-6315 or 413-354-7897.


Your Food, Our Farms, Our Future
Organic, Inc. author Samuel Fromartz speaking locally

Organic food is booming, but what does it mean for our local farms? Join Samuel Fromartz, author of Organic Inc. for a discussion about the growth of organic food into a $14 billion marketplace and how it has affected smaller farms.

Ed Maltby, a longtime farmer and executive director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, will talk about what the organic market has meant for diary farmers, both locally and nationally.

Saturday March 24th, 3:30 p.m.
The Goodwin Library, Hadley
Corner of Rt. 9 and Middle St.

A book signing will follow the talk. Also sponsored by the Kestrel Trust. For more information contact Pat Vidil 586-1717.

Samuel Fromartz is a longtime business journalist whose work has appeared in Inc., Fortune Small Business, Business Week, and The New York Times. He spent 2-1/2 years working on Organic Inc., which was published by Harcourt in 2006. He speaks frequently on organic and sustainable food topics and has appeared on NPR, CNN, BBC, ABC and in many other media outlets.

Ed Maltby has managed organic and conventional dairy, beef, sheep and vegetable enterprises on farms in Europe and the United States for more than 35 years. For the past ten years, he has worked with regional farms to market their products cooperatively into mainstream markets. This included the “Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown” campaign in western Massachusetts. He currently serves as executive director of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance.

Growing Tomorrows: A workshop for farmers
National Ag Day Wednesday, MARCH 21
8:30 AM Joppa Flats Audubon Center, Newburyport

8:30 - 9.00 Registration

9:00 Welcome/ Information on Buy Local Program

9:15 - 9:45 Should Your Rethink Participation in Farmers' Markets?
Jeff Cole, MA Federation of Farmers' Markets

9:45 - 10:15 What You Need to Know to Stay Out of Legal Trouble
Frank DiLuna, Murtha Cullina, LLP

10:15 - 10:30 Greenscapes
Peter Phippen, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission

10:30 - 10:45 Exhibitor Presentations

10:45 - 11:10 Networking Break - Talk with Exhibitors

11:10 - 11:40 Alternative Energy for Farms
Michael Masterovsky, SJH and Company

11:40 -12:00 The Good & Bad of Installing a Wind Turbine
Glenn Cook, Cider Hill Farm

12:00 - 12:30 PR - When Everything Goes Wrong
Michael McClean, MDAR

12:30 - 1:00 Composting - Is it $$$ or Headaches?
Bill Blanchard, MDAR

1:00 - 3:00 Lunch & Special Session on CSA's
Andrew Rodgers, Green Meadows Farm
Kelly Coleman, CISA
Information so you can decide if a CSA is right for you.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are a relatively new concept that reduces farmers risks by creating a structure where consumers make a commitment, before the growing season starts, to pay a portion of the costs of seeds and planting. In return CSA members receive a portion based on the success/failure of crops of the farm's harvest each week. Farmers interested in this concept will have an opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities of creating and running a CSA in a special two-hour session beginning at 1:00 PM. Andrew Rodgers manager of the successful CSA at Green Meadow Farm and Kelly Coleman who is leading the development of institutional CSA's in western Mass. will give an overview of how CSA's operate and answer your questions. Since there are waiting lists for membership in the existing CSA's, we hope farmers will take advantage of this opportunity to learn about this program.

Registration

Please register so that we have the material for you. Seating is limited.
Cut off, fill out & mail this section to:

Christine Rasmussen, Ex. Director
"Buy Local" Program
82 Woodward Avenue
West Gloucester, MA 01930

Make Checks Payable to:
Essex Conservation District

Register by email at:

farmer@buyfresh.org
____Number that plan to attend morning session at $20.00 each Total $____________.

_____Number that plan to attend the lunch/ CSA session at $10.00 each.
Total $____________.

Name: _____________________

Address: ___________________

Town: _____________________

Phone: _____________________

Scholarships available call
978-281-0309

WE WISH TO THANK ESSEX COUNTY FARM BUREAU AND OUR STATE
LEGISLATORS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORTING THE BUY LOCAL PROGRAM

DIRECTIONS
Take Rt I-95 to exit 57 (Rt 113, W Newbury/Newburyport). At the end of the exit ramp take Rt 113 east. Follow Rt 113 and Rt 1A east for 3.8 miles to Rolfe's Lane in Newbury. At the traffic light at Rolfe's Lane, take a left (heading north). Drive 0.6 miles to the end of Rolfe's Lane and take a right. The sanctuary is 0.1 miles ahead on the left.

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.

Daniel Shays Flour and Milling Project Conference
March 19, 2007. 10am-2pm
The Red Barn at Hampshire College

On March 19th, a conference will be held to discuss the logistics of local flour production. Farmers, bakers, and community members are invited to attend the conference to discuss the technical side of growing wheat in our region, the demand for local flour, and the development an infrastructure to mill, move, and market flour locally. Contact Jonathan Stevens at Hungry Ghost Bread at somehungryghost@yahoo.com for more information or to help!

Massachusetts Farm to School Project
Consulting Positions Available Immediately

Please see descriptions for each consulting position below. Although not anticipated, it is possible that one person could be awarded both contracts. We desire to choose the consultant(s) and start the projects as soon as feasible.

One) In coordination with many community partners, we will be launching a statewide "Mass. Harvest for Mass. Students Week" in the fall of 2007. A part time consultant is needed to assist with coordination and promotional efforts for the Week. Consultant should be experienced with coalition-building and the development of promotional events and materials, well-acquainted with the farm community and/or school food services in Massachusetts, computer literate and organized. Currently funded March through July for 440 hours, $30 per hour, future funding is possible.

Two) In coordination with farmfresh.org, we are piloting a project for farmers who wish to sell products online to school food purchasing agents. A part time consultant is needed to finalize which farms in the state will participate, to write descriptive text and coordinate photography for each farm, and teach the computer skills necessary for the pilot farms to successfully sell online through farmfresh.org. Initial screening has been completed and it is anticipated that 8 to 12 farms will be included. 150 hours, $30 hour.

Project office is in Amherst. Must have car. Please email letter and resume to Kelly Erwin at kelerwin@localnet.com or mail to Mass. Farm to School Project, 16 Applewood Lane, Amherst MA 01002.

Winter Farmers Market 2/08: Plan Now for Eating Locally Next Winter

Eating locally grown food is easy in August when area farmstands are overflowing and a Free Harvest Supper is served on the Greenfield Town Common. But what’s possible in the middle of winter? “Lots!” according to Juanita Nelson of Deerfield. She and some friends want everyone to eat locally year-round, so they are planning a week of Winter Fare, starting with an indoor farmers market in Greenfield on Groundhog Day, 2008. The farmers market will feature locally grown food including vegetables, milk, eggs, cheese, meat, honey, and maple syrup as well as workshops and informational displays about how to eat locally year-round.

Scheduled halfway between the first day of winter and the start of spring, Winter Fare will also include a week of meals featuring local foods, whether they are gatherings of friends or church-sponsored local food potlucks or special menus served at area restaurants. The Winter Fare organizers hope that their efforts will encourage everyone to include more local foods in their everyday life, whatever the season. Eating locally has many benefits, including saving energy, slowing global climate change, providing living incomes for area farmers, attracting new farmers to the area, and freeing far-away farms to grow food for their local residents instead of consumers in other countries.

Even though February 2, 2008 seems far off, the Winter Fare committee asks farmers, gardeners and everyone who likes to eat to plan now for what will be in local cupboards next Groundhog Day. The committee seeks farmers willing to grow extra storage crops to sell at the indoor farmers market and is looking into food storage facilities for those crops.

Committee member Ferdene Chin-Yee of Riverland Farm in Sunderland says, “For the market, we also are looking for people who make products such as pickles and preserves with locally grown ingredients. And we urge gardeners to plant lots of storage crops like potatoes, squash, and onions along with crops to preserve. Now is the time that home gardeners are buying seeds and planning this year’s garden. We hope they’ll plan for foods they can eat in the winter and include in Winter Fare week menus.” Also from Sunderland, Aaron Falbel adds, “For people without vegetable gardens, maybe this is the year to liberate part of your lawn and turn it into a productive vegetable garden.”

Actually, you don’t even have to grow your own vegetables to reap the year-round bounty of this area. Anyone who shops at summer farmstands, the summer farmers market or belongs to a CSA can stock up during the summer and fall harvest and preserve fruits and vegetables to eat in the winter. Mary McClintock, one of the Winter Fare organizers, knows she’ll have extra frozen pesto to trade at the barter mart section of the Groundhog Day market. She hopes others will bring their surplus to swap.

Interested in being a vendor or workshop leader at the Groundhog Day indoor farmers market? Want to know more about how to sponsor a Winter Fare meal? Want to help organize Winter Fare? Contact Juanita Nelson at 413-773-5188, or Ferdene Chin-Yee at 665-2041 or ferdene@usa.com.

Small Bites
MONSANTO FINED FOR FALSE ADVERTISING
A French court has fined the U.S. biotech behemoth Monsanto for falsely advertising its pesticide Roundup as non-toxic. Monsanto's ads claimed the product is biodegradable and leaves the soils clean after use. In actuality, the chemical, which is one of the most commonly used pesticides in the U.S, is deemed by the European Union as "dangerous for the environment" and "toxic for aquatic organisms". Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

FDA STILL ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON APPROVAL OF CLONED FOODS
The FDA is accepting public comments on their controversial proposed regulations that would allow milk, eggs and meat from cloned animals on the market, without labeling or safety testing. One major concern for organic consumers is the fact that it's impossible to determine via laboratory testing whether a particular meat or animal byproduct came from a cloned animal or its offspring. In other words, as the FDA approves conventional milk, eggs and meat from cloned animals, these same clone foods could find their way into foods labeled as "organic", even though foods from cloned animals cannot technically be labeled "organic". According to a report by Jim Riddle, former Chair of the National Organic Standards Board, labeling of cloned animals and their products is essential in order to "prevent entry of cloned animals, their progeny, and products into the organic food system." Learn more & take action: http://www.organicconsumers.org/rd/clones.htm

New Publication from the National Farm to School Program
"Going Local: Paths to Success for Farm to School Programs" is a brand new resource from the National Farm to School Program, Center for Food & Justice, Occidental College and the Community Food Security Coalition. With case studies from eight states - California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Oregon, the publication provides a snapshot of the diverse ways in which farm to school is making a difference nationwide. The case studies in this publication will facilitate a better understanding of the farm to school approach and encourage the development of future programs. Download for free. Contact Center for Food & Justice, cfj@oxy.edu for print copies.

CLASSIFIED

Food Project is hiring a Director of Youth Programs.Info here.

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.

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