CISA to study salad greens statewide

Most salad greens on supermarket shelves come from Arizona or California—even when local farms can grow them ten months out of the year.This is true because many farmers in the Commonwealth don’t have access to processing facilities that meet retailer's new standards.

Recent illnesses traced to pre-bagged salad greens have raised consumer concern about salad green safety. As a result, many large retailers and buyers, such as Whole Foods Market, will only carry salad greens that are HACCP-certified. (HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points and refers to an international processing standard.)

“Without the right processing facilities, our farmers are effectively locked out of a market that could be very profitable for them,” says Annie Cheatham, CISA’s executive director.

In May CISA announced plans to study the problem in western MA. Now, CISA is expanding its study to include the entire Commonwealth with an additional $33,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

Over the course of the 12-month study, which begins this month, CISA will assess statewide market demand for salad greens, determine the costs of producing and processing salad greens to retailers’ standards, and examine the feasibility of developing salad processing facilities at community kitchens or at on-farm facilities.

“We often hear from the retailers and food buyers who are looking for sources of local salad greens,” says Cheatham. “This study should help us eventually connect those buyers with local farms.”

Shelburne artist hosts night of music, film to benefit CISA

On Friday, September 7, filmmaker and musician Steve Alves will host Stay on the Farm: An Evening of Music and Movies to benefit Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) at the Memorial Hall Theatre in Shelburne Falls.

Starting at 7 PM, Alves and the Falltown String Band will perform a mix of jigs, reels, ballads, and Tin Pan Alley songs. Beginning at 7:30 PM, Alves will show scenes from his Where We Live collection and share stories about 20 years of filmmaking in the Pioneer Valley interspersed with music by the Falltown String Band and special guests the Amandla Chorus and jazz fiddler Kenny Butler.

Proceeds from this event go to support CISA’s efforts to rebuild a dairy processing infrastructure in western Massachusetts.

“We’re thrilled that Steve is supporting our work with dairy farmers,” says Margaret Christie, who oversees CISA’s dairy initiative. “His work showcases what we all love about the culture and natural beauty of our region, and how prosperous working farms are central to that.”

Advance ticket sales are available at the World Eye Bookshop in Greenfield and Boswell's Books in Shelburne Falls. All tickets $10.

[top]

Put a cow on your license plate, help CISA save a farm

This August, state officials unveiled a line of "agriculture specialty license plates," announcing that a portion of proceeds from the sales of the will go to benefit agricultural organizations—including CISA.

Designed by Susan Bergeron West, graphic designer and longtime CISA collaborator, the so-called “Ag Tag” portrays a bovine beauty surrounded by picturesque local fare—cranberries, apples, corn, and geraniums.

Under a state law 1,500 of the agricultural plates must sell before the state Registry of Motor Vehicles will start producing them. Click here to reserve now!

Acting Agriculture Commissioner Scott Soares told Springfield Republican reporter that he expected sales of the plate to bring in around $60,000 a year. Click here to read the complete August 17 Springfield Republican article, which quotes CISA’s Mark Lattanzi.

A community Leader

Rachel Leader, 12, of Northampton, MA serenades shoppers at the Farmers’ Market at the X in Springfield on a hot August Tuesday. As part of a public service requirement of her preparation for her Bat Mitzvah, Rachel chose to promote CISA’s work at area farmers’ markets. Between rounds of fiddle playing—she prefers Klezmer tunes and waltzes—Rachel distributed information about CISA and about the importance of our local farms.

Her efforts raised spirits, awareness, and money. Rachel collected over $200 for CISA in donations from her three Farmers’ Market performances. CISA thanks Rachel for using her exceptional talent and motivation to spread our message and congratulates her on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah!
[top]

LOCAL HERO NEWS

Local Hero fiber farmer to talk sheep in national spotlight

Barbara Parry, the fiber artist, farmer, and creative vision behind Foxfire Fiber & Designs at Springdelle Farm will address Knitter's Review Retreat, Seven Hills Inn Lenox, MA November 9-11, 2007. The conference is hosted by Clara Parkes, creator and editor of Knitter's Review, a knitting reference site with a forum that reaches 63,500 members.

“I feel honored to be chosen to speak at this event and this exposure is huge for Foxfire,” says Parry. “I plan to share stories about the lessons I've learned from my sheep in the process of raising them, and also about the process of designing and hand-dyeing yarn for the knitting market.”

Fresh Local and on the Menu a success

Twenty-six Local Hero chefs served up delicious locally made meals during CISA-sponsored Fresh, local and on the menu on August 8th. The event shined a spotlight on those area restaurants and caterers who serve the freshest, highest quality local foods, while supporting our area farmers.

Congratulations to Alisa Beaver and Altman Nelson of Holyoke, MA who won our raffle contest and received a CISA goodie bag stuffed with gifts certificates to Bridgeside Grill in Sunderland and Bottega Cucina in West Springfield, and lots of other tasty treats made with local farm products, of course. All for dining well at Pizza Paradiso—not a bad deal.

Remember: Local Hero restaurants serve up local foods year-round. For a complete list of them, check out the restaurant listings in our Farm Products Guide at www.buylocalfood.com.

Catamount Farmers’ Market adds Local Hero farm

Catamount Farmers' Market welcomes Local Hero member Bloody Brook Farm from South Deerfield as a new produce vendor. Their pesticide and chemical free produce rounds out the eclectic offerings of the other Local Hero farms at the market, including Johnson Hill Farm, New England Wild Edibles, and Atherton Farm. Stop by and support this market Tuesday and Friday 2-6 and Saturday 9-1 on the Mohawk Trail in East Charlemont under the big tents.

Ready for a change?

Has your Local Hero bumper sticker seen better days? We’ll gladly send you a new one so you can keep spreading the word that local is better. Just e-mail Tracie Butler-Kurth at tracie@buylocalfood.com to request a new bumper sticker. Be sure to include your mailing address and phone number.

[top]

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Warm Colors Apiary's 6th Annual Honey Festival, September 8th

Check out the buzz in South Deerfield from 10AM - 4PM. Vendors, honey ice cream, nature talks, and bee demonstrations scheduled throughout the day. The event is free and open to the public. Visit www.warmcolorsapiary.com for a schedule of events and directions.

Raw Milk Dairy Day at Robinson Farm, September 9 in Hardwick

Help us celebrate the Northeast Organic Farming Associations "Raw Milk Dairy Day".
Robinson Farm is hosting an Open Barn on Sunday, September 9 from 10am until 4pm. Takea hayride, visit the farmstand, milk parlor, calves, cows, and chickens.Don't forget to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy by our beautiful perennial garden. Need Directions? Click here.

North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival, September 15 & 16 in Orange

At “the festival that stinks” you’ll find over 100 amazing art, agriculture and garlic food vendors, renewable energy workshops, and great entertainment on two solar-powered stages. Festival composting results in only two bags of trash for 10,000 folks. Wow! Organized, in part, by Local Hero member Seeds of Solidarity. Click here for directions.
Ricky Baruc and Deb Habib of Seeds of Solidarity

Harvest Fest at Simple Gifts Farm, September 30 in Amherst

Join the North Amherst Community Farm's second annual Harvest Festival. There will be a pig roast featuring Simple Gifts Farm pork with all the fixings made from local farm ingredients. Live and silent auctions. Games and activities for kids and grownups alike. Ottomatic Slim, Grupo Folkloria Palo Santo, Rusty Belle, and Lui Collins will offer a diverse and exciting musical lineup. It will be a fun day at the farm, celebrating the recent community purchase of this great piece of farmland. Go to www.simplegiftsfarmcsa.com for more information.

Free Fall Plant Seminars at Nasami Farm in Whatley

For directions to this Local hero farm, which boasts the largest selection in the northeast of native species, click here.

Thursday, September -- 6 Open 9-5- Grand Opening Fall nursery season

Sunday, September 9-- 1 p.m. Native ornamental grasses

Sunday, September 16 -- 1 p.m. Best native plants for fall color

Sunday, September 23 -- 1 p.m. Preparing your plants for winter

Mass Woodlands Cooperative Showcases Sustainably Harvested Wood

A Local Hero member representing forest agriculture in Western Mass, the Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative, is a proud sponsor of the 2007 NESEA Green Buildings Open House tour. Its HomeGrown Wood™ floors can be seen on the tour at the Topia Inn in Adams, MA and the newly completed Wendell Free Library in Wendell. HomeGrown Wood™ is a sustainably harvested wood flooring, composed of wood grown and milled all within a 50 mile radius. Get information on the tour here.

[top]

EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Author of Hope's Edge to speak at Mount Holyoke College

On Wednesday, September 26, Mt Holyoke's Center for the Environment will be hosting an evening lecture by best-selling author and renowned public speaker Anna Lappe. Co-founder of the Small Planet Institute and co-author of the critically acclaimed Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet and Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen, Ms. Lappe helps to clarify the intersecting challenges posed by climate change, environmental degradation, and the industrialized global food system. She offers ideas and inspiration for actions we can take to simultaneously improve the health of people, communities, and Earth's land and water ecosystems.

The event will take place on September 26 at 7 p.m. in Hooker Auditorium on the Mount Holyoke campus. After her lecture, Ms. Lappe will be signing copies of her books, thanks to the assistance of Odyssey Bookstore. Click here for more information.

Pasture walks

Local farmers and anyone interested in learning about grazing livestock are invited to attend a series of pasture walks hosted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, UMass Extension, and the Northeast Organic Farming Association/Massachusetts Chapter this summer and fall. For more information visit www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov/news/news_pasturewalks2007.html, or contact Kate Rossiter, NOFA/Mass Organic Dairy Coordinator, at krossiter@nofamass.org, (413) 625-0118

“Harvest for Students Week” this September

The Massachusetts Farm to School Project is introducing the first annual "Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week," the week of September 24-28, 2007. During this week, all schools, kindergarten through college, will be asked to purchase, serve and talk about fresh locally grown food on their menus.

Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week will help to spur new local food purchasing as well as increase existing purchasing in schools across the state. Schools that elect to participate will receive an introductory package with resources on how to buy locally as well as free technical assistance from the Massachusetts Farm to School Project on setting up a buying relationship with an appropriate farmer.

Are you a school food service employee or a farmer who would like to participate?Contact (413) 253-3844 or go to www.massfarmtoschool.org for more details.

A Day for Bread

Hungry Ghost Bread and El Jardin Bakery are hosting a bread celebration Sunday, September 23 from 11am to 4pm at Hungry Ghost Bread in Northampton. We are currently searching for vendors of local toppings (butter, jam, cheese, honey, pesto, you name it) as well as local musicians to join in. For more information, please call Jonathan at 413-582-9009.

[top]

CLASSIFIED

Grass-fed Lamb - Springdelle Farm is now taking reservations for custom cut, grass-fed lamb available in late October. Call Barb at 413-625-6121 to place an order.

Volunteer needed to go to Palestine and help with the olive harvest next year, 2008. The season usually starts in mid-October and lasts about 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the harvest. Next year is expected to yield a bumper crop. Anyone who is interested can contact sherif2@comcast.net. (617) 491-2313 home, (703) 622-9151 mobile

FOR SALE: Large classic colonial farmhouse with wrap-around porch, barn, garage, building previously used for retail on 2+ acres in very quiet setting on country back road. More land available for rental with purchase of house. Or choose to purchase entire 20 acre property with fenced pastures, hay fields, prime farmland for crops and river frontage. West Northfield, MA. More info call Geri J at 413-863-9736, ext. 20 or email GeriJohnson@Realtor.com."

FOR SALE Kifco Water-Reel B210 with 320’ of 2.1” hose, Mercury 202 gun with several nozzles, expandable high mount gun cart and offset 3pt hitch attachment. Excellent condition. $4600 Three-inch layflat hose, 759’ of assorted lengths with camlock fittings. Excellent condition. $1500.
Contact Eileen, Ol'Turtle Farm farmer@olturtlefarm.com 413-527-9122

Rotavator, Howard HR7. Working width is 60 inches and works with a 20 HP tractor or greater, 3 point hitch and PTO. In good condition. Asking $950Call Dick Starkey, 413-774-4215

Farmland Wanted: Farm couple with 20 years combined experience seeks 30-50 acre farm for sale in Franklin or Hampshire county for a start-up organic vegetable operation. Please contact Elise at eliseleclair5@hotmail.com or (413) 522-9122.

For sale: Large classic colonial farmhouse with wrap-around porch, barn garage, building previously used for retail on two-plus acres in a very quiet setting on a country back road. More land available for rental with purchase of house. Or choose to purchase entire 20-acre property with with fenced pastures, hay fields, prime farmland for crops, and river frontage. West Northfield, MA or email Geri J at 413-863-9763 ext 20, or GeriJohnson@Realtor.com

Goats for sale. Contact Evelyn Hatch at Breezy Acres Farm 413-467-3276

For Sale: Farm team draft horses; horse-drawn farm equipment including corn planter, cultivator, plow, harrows, mowing machine, tedder, rake, manure spreader, fertilizer spreader, baler, wagons and more. Chee Chee Mamook Farm. 413-498-2160.

Coordinator sought for newly forming non-profit Boston Area Gleaners. Ongoing for the last three years, harvesting some 564 boxes of produce (over 10,000 pounds) for charity, mostly going to Food For Free, a Cambridge food pantry that delivers. Low stipend and possible lodging. Contacting farmers, gleaning the produce and fund raising (administration) involved. E-mail Oakes Plimpton at plimag@rcn.com for further information.

FOR SALE: Purebred Finn ram & wether lambs for sale. Gentle, prolific & really nice fleece. Contact Sangha Farm for more information..... sanghafarm@yahoo.com 413.628.0026 www.sanghafarm.com

Lovely non-toxic S. Hadley riverfront home. Share with (mostly) absentee owner with chemical sensitivities. Will rent 2 of 3 bedrooms home on a cliff above the CT River. (3rd bedroom and 2nd bath in separate wing for my storage and occasional use.) Available ONLY to clean, responsible person or couple who live 100% without fragrances, pesticides, smoke and synthetic chemicals and who will care for house in my absence. Lease until April 2008 or longer. Rent $1000/month for one, $1200 for two, plus utilities; deductions possible for extra maintenance/caretaking. References, usual deposits required. Karen at 413-303-1609. Email: ksutherland@hampshire.edu.

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.

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.

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.

[top]

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