Seacoast Eat Local

There’s been a lot of online buzz about HR 875, or the Food Safety Modernization Act. Some folks are very worried about the limits that this act might impose – everything from home gardening to the organic food program have been named as potential victims of this act. The available information is definitely confusing, but as we muddle our way through actually reading the contents of HR 875 to try to understand it, it’s interesting to note that President Obama used his weekly address to talk about it.

I’m not sure I agree with Obama’s premise that food safety is an area that government alone should be responsible for – I think we need to be responsible and educated consumers, too, and the only way we can do that with our food is to have the sort of connection with the producer that is possible when you are buying local foods.

Read up on HR 875 by searching for that bill number on Thomas >

found via the 236diner:

A Workshop on Sustainable Growing …native plants, xeriscaping, permaculture, organic growing and more!

South Berwick Town Hall

Wednesday March 25th  7:00 p.m.

Free.

Guest Speakers:
Jill Crosbie, Gardener
Karen Spillane, Organic Grower for White Heron Teas
Rian Bedard, Certified Permaculture Designer and Instructor

Jill Crosbie, Karen Spillane, and Rian Bedard will speak to us briefly about their varied organic and sustainable growing practices; we’ll then break-up into groups and there will be plenty of time to ask them your sustainable growing questions and get planning advice.  These are three amazing experts so come with questions, paper, and a pencil!

Jill is a local gardener with years of sustainable landscaping experience.  She is also on the board of the Great Works Land Trust.  Karen’s greenhouse is the envy of South Berwick and she grows many of the herbs used by White Heron Teas.  Rian is a certified permaculture instructor and designer and his permaculture practice has brought cooperative composting to many of the restaurants in Portsmouth.