February 17, 2009 by Sara Zoe.

From Foster’s:

Inspections would allow poultry sales at Portsmouth farmers’ markets

By CHARLES McMAHON

Monday, February 16, 2009

PORTSMOUTH — Poultry producers hoping to sell their products at the city’s farmers’ market could soon** get the chance once again thanks to a proposed law.

House Bill 42 was created in hopes of letting the state veterinarian employ a meat inspection services administrator that would implement a statewide meat inspection program.

City Health Inspector Kristin Shaw testified before the House Environment and Agriculture Committee on the bill late last month, along with nine other people who she said were all in favor of the bill.

Shaw said the city supports the bill and has been working with various groups at the state level to advance it.

read the full article >

** The full text of HB 42 is available online, and we should all note that this law would bring state meat inspection for poultry online sometime in the latter half of 2010. Not that we shouldn’t support this bill, just a reality check that there will still be no poultry this summer in Portsmouth.

See Who’s My Leg? for contact info for your state senators and representatives.

You can track the progress of the bill (to better time your calls and emails to your elected officials) through the nifty NH General Court website’s tracker - just type hb42 into the “bill number” box on the left side.

Posted in eating locally in the media | Print | 2 Comments »

February 17, 2009 by Sara Zoe.

Saturday, 9am-11am, Giff Burnap of Butternut Farm in Farmington, NH will offer a hands on workshop on pruning both young and old fruit trees. Snow depth and time permitting, the workshop will also provide instruction and practical experience pruning blueberry bushes.

Workshop size is limited to 10 participants, cost is $5 each.

 Reserve your spot by emailing wberry@llfarm.net

Posted in grow your own | Print | 1 Comment »