January 27, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

In the Concord Monitor today:

It’s that time of the year when our chickens start producing eggs with orange yolks. That’s because our chickens love the tiny bright coral-colored shells of Pandalus borealis - a.k.a. northern pink or Maine shrimp - as much as we love the tender, sweet flesh inside them. The best things about these tiny crustaceans (besides their great flavor), is that they’re just about the only shrimp you can buy that are harvested both sustainably and locally.

Though you might find the larger shrimp imported from Asia appealing, keep in mind that shrimp farming in places like Vietnam has wiped out huge swaths of traditional rice paddies, as well as fragile wild ecosystems like mangrove swamps. Too, these shrimp have to travel thousands of miles and many days to reach U.S. markets and are likely to have been frozen.

Northern shrimp, on the other hand, are, for the most part, harvested with trawlers that have been redesigned in recent years so they don’t do as much harm to the fish stocks as the old-style trawlers did. And because they’re caught off the New England coast, the fresh shrimp can reach local markets quickly.

read the full article >

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January 27, 2010 by Debra.

The University of New Hampshire sponsors a Sustainability Internship Program, a new but already vital source of grassroots people power for Seacoast organizations involved in sustainability issues. We are fortunate to have three interns from this program joining us this semester. Hillary started her internship with us in the Fall and has been a integral presence at all of our Winter Farmers’ Markets; more about Hillary can be found in a recent post on the Office of Sustainability’s blog. Sarah and Michelle are our newest interns, all of whom, in addition to other projects, will be aiding in our annual update of Seacoast Harvest. A big welcome to Hillary, Sarah and Michelle!

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January 24, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

There’s a new Winter Farmers’ Market in New Hampshire, and it is starting up this Saturday, January 30th, from 10am-2pm inside the greenhouse of Cole Gardens! 19 farmers and food producers are signed up so far, selling everything from eggs, sprouts and greens, honey, cider and apples, meats, composting worms, breads, and more!

Help spread the word! Farmers’ Markets rely on word of mouth for success - if you know of people living in that direction, send an email, give them a call, take a field trip!

Here’s a flyer you can download and print to help - .PDF

For more information, contact Joan O’Connor at joconnornh@yahoo.com

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January 24, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

From UNH Cooperative Extension:

New Hampshire Organic Producers’ Workshop
co-sponsored by UNH Cooperative Extension, NOFA-NH, NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, and the USDA Risk Management Agency

Wednesday, Feb 19, 2010 — Common Man Restaurant, Plymouth NH — 10am-3:30pm

Season Extension Structures: The Basics, Becky Sideman, UNH Cooperative Extension

Year-Round Income through Season Extension and Winter High Tunnel Production, Paul and Sandy Arnold, Pleasant Valley Farm, Argyle, NY

Crop and Revenue Insurance for Organic Growers, Mike Sciabarrasi, UNH Cooperative Extension

Profitable Marketing through Simple Record-Keeping and Crop Evaluations, Paul and Sandy Arnold, Pleasant Valley Farm, Argyle, NY

Finding Funding: Opportunities for Farmers with SARE, NRCS and FSA

A Challenging Year: Organic Management of Late Blight & Other Diseases, Cheryl Smith, UNH Cooperative Extension

$20 registration includes Lunch.  Register online at http://www.events.unh.edu/RegistrationForm.pm?event_id=6521

For more information call UNH Cooperative Extension Educator Heather Bryant, 603-787-6944

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January 24, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

New Hampshire House Bill #1456  proposes to convene a committee of three House members and three Senators to: I. Study the use of pesticides, herbicides, and their alternatives in residential neighborhoods, school properties, playgrounds, and other places children congregate; II. Study the effects of a moratorium on the use of such pesticides and herbicides; III. Determine what areas and properties would be exempt from such a ban; and IV. Study any other issue related to a moratorium on the use of such pesticides and herbicides.

In addition to kids, bees would really benefit from reduced use of pesticides and herbicides on lawns. Bees love lawns - especially the clover and dandelions, as well as the wildflowers often found at the edge of lawns. Bees and other pollinators are in trouble, and the current thinking is that build up of pesticides, a product designed to harm insects, is greatly affecting them. Evidence shows weakening of their offspring physically and in mental/behavioral ways in particular.

You can show your support of New Hampshire House Bill #1456:

1.  Call or write your State Representative. Ask him or her to support NH HB #1456.  Visit the super-handy Who’s My Legislator? page for email address and phone numbers (phone calls are more effective)
2.  Write to Rep. Tara Sad, Chair, Env & Ag Cmte, 82 North Rd., Walpole, NH, 03608.
3.  Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper in support of HB #1456.
4.  Come to the State House Feb. 11th, 8:15 am to show support or appear before committee.

More information on the effects of pesticides/herbicides on children and ways to get involved can be found by contacting:  The LEAH Collective, Ellen Fine (603)236-8269/ellen_bfine@yahoo.com or NOFA NH (603)224-5022.

sent from Nature’s Wonders

Posted in author: Sara Zoe | Print | No Comments »

January 22, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

Some recent changes at the farm where the creamery is located made it uncertain, but tomorrow at the Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford, 10am-2pm, we’ll be able to buy that awesome cheese curd, cheddar, brie, my new favorite golden rae, and a dozen other varieties of cow’s milk cheeses.

The kid’s table is also returning! Fun, free crafts for kids to make - thank you to our amazing volunteer Julianna!

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January 21, 2010 by Debra.

Last year’s attack of late blight may have been due to plant material that came from outside our region. A way to ensure quality and support biodiversity — an important component of a safe and healthy food system — is to be aware of where your gardening supplies come from and to start your vegetables from seed. Here is a partial list of sources for vegetable seeds and plant material produced in New England:

• Fedco Seeds, Waterville, ME (organic & conventional/non-GM)

• High Mowing Organic Seeds*,  Wolcott, VT (organic)

• Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Winslow, ME (organic & conventional/non-GM)

• The Maine Potato Lady, Guilford, ME (organic)

• Turtle Tree Seed, Copake, NY (biodynamic & organic)

• Wood Prairie Farm, Bridgewater, ME (organic)

On a national level, the Safe Seed Pledge is another resource for locating non-GM seeds.

If you’re unsure if the seeds are non-GM (genetically-modified) or where they are from, or maybe just wondering which end to plant up, ask! Whether contacting by email or by phone, you’ll have access to a wealth of knowledge and, more often than not, may find yourself talking to the owner. As an alternative, do remember many local farmers will be offering seedlings for sale as we get closer to Spring.

Note: *We are looking forward to featuring seeds from High Mowing Organic Seeds at our next Winter Farmers’ Market this Saturday, January 23rd, in Rollinsford. Make sure to stop by the Seacoast Eat Local table — all proceeds go to supporting the Winter Farmers’ Markets!

Posted in author: Debra, grow your own | Print | 2 Comments »

January 19, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

Helen Brody of New Hampshire Farms Network has written an in depth profile of one of the seacoast area’s most beloved farms, Berry Hill Farm of Stratham.

Roll back the years, to April 22, 1970. The first “Earth Day” was being celebrated around the country. Caroline Saltonstall and Buck Robinson, later to be husband and wife, were participating in different parts of the country in this first environmental “teach in.”  Thus begins the tale of these early innovators to help nudge the country, and indeed the world, toward understanding that organic farming was indeed a plausible way to grow crops, and to find ways to reduce farm energy costs. Read the full article >

Those looking for organic berries in the summer (and frozen blueberries in the winter) can seek out the booth of Meadow’s Mirth Farm at the markets, with whom Berry Hill shares a cooperative table.

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January 19, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

Riverside Farm of North Berwick, Maine has written to announce that they will be offering CSA shares this season. Their CSA share contents and pickups will be very flexible, and offer a very wide variety of products and fun things like farm tours.

Visit their website to learn more!

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January 19, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

4th NH Grazing Conference - Grazing Greener Pastures
Saturday, March 6, 2010 - 8am-4pm
Registration

The 4th NH Statewide Grazing Conference will focus on land utilization and building soils to increase herd health, Gregg Judy, author of “No Risk Ranching” and “Comeback Farm”, will discuss his success with holistic high density grazing, multi-species and custom grazing on leased land, while Doug Gunnick, author of “Sustainable Farming Guide Book”, will guide folks through the fundamentals of growing grass with animal nutrition and health in mind. Throughout the day, area speakers will lend insight into grazing fundamentals and developing a grazing plan, parasites as they relate to grazing practices, organic feeding systems, and fundamentals of balanced rationing, the benefits and how-to’s of converting your dairy to a pasture-based operation, and fencing fundamentals.

Brochure listing the day’s events

Location: Southern NH University - 2500 N. River Road, Manchester NH
Fee: Registration is $30.00 per person and $25.00 for each additional person from the same farm. Registration includes continental breakfast and lunch. Registrations postmarked after February 20, 2010 - does not guarantee meals. A coupon code is required to register additional people, call Mary West at 603-796-2151.
Sponsored by:
The Granite State Graziers, with support from the USDA-NRCS, UNH Cooperative Extension, and the North Country RC&D Council.
For more information: Call Mary West at 603-796-2151

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