February 18, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

Farm Taxes 101: An introduction to farm income taxes
March 22, 2010, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Merrimack County UNH Cooperative Extension
315 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH

Do you cultivate, operate, or manage a farm for profit; either as an owner or at tenant?
A farm includes livestock, dairy, poultry, fish, fruit, and truck farms. It also includes greenhouses and orchards.

UNH Cooperative Extension Professor/Specialist, Agricultural Business Management, Michael Sciabarrasi, will talk you through this workshop, explaining how the federal income tax laws apply to farming. This talk is geared toward beginners to help them organize their records and receipts in preparation for their accountant and tax time. This workshop is not designed or intended to prepare an individual to do their own taxes.

Space is limited so please register ASAP by calling Mary at 796-2151.

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February 18, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

The 4th year! To be held at Southern NH University, March 6, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The conference will focus on pasture management, creating a grazing plan and building soils to increase herd health.

The 4th NH Statewide Grazing Conference will cover 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.

For a brochure listing the day’s events, go to Merrimack Cooperative Extension.pdf

Location:  Southern NH University, 2500 N. River Road, Manchester, NH, 03106

Register on-line:

For more information: Mary West, mary.west@unh.edu  UNH Cooperative Ext, 603-796-2151.

Contact: Dot Perkins, Extension Program Coordinator, Ag Resources, dorothy.perkins@unh.edu

UNH Cooperative Extension, 315 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303, (603) 796-2151

Sponsored by the Granite State Graziers, the USDA-NRCS,

UNH Cooperative Extension, and the North Country RC&D Council.

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February 18, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

New Vendors Invited to Local Farmers’ Markets

New vendors are invited to apply for booth space at the six summer farmers’ markets organized by Seacoast Growers’ Association. The deadline to apply is March 1. Markets are held in Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hampton, Kingston and Portsmouth. The application form is online at www.seacoastgrowers.org.

SGA is especially encouraging new farms to join its group. Currently, the craft and prepared food vendor categories are full. The organization may not be able to accept new craft or food vendors this year, unless several new agricultural vendors are brought in. New farms or small operations often find great success selling produce at the weekday markets.

Membership of Seacoast Growers’ Association consists of 60 percent agriculture, 20 percent craft, and 20 percent food vendors, in accordance with its bylaws. All applications are welcome. If the group is not able to accept a business this year, any paperwork and check(s) will be mailed back to the applicant.

Shoppers at SGA markets appreciate the “SGA Guarantee” that all products sold at market are produced locally. Therefore, participating vendors must produce everything they sell, and their businesses must be based in Rockingham or Strafford counties in New Hampshire or York County, Maine.

Weekly farmers’ markets are held from May to November in Exeter and Portsmouth, and from June to October in Dover, Durham, Hampton and Kingston. In addition to the goods of almost 40 member businesses, farmers’ markets feature at-market demonstrations, workshops and entertainment, plus frequent nonprofit guests.

For more information or to download the application to join Seacoast Growers’ Association, visit www.seacoastgrowers.org.

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February 18, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

From Patti Qua’s farm in Exeter, Maine come Jacob’s Cattle, Calypso, Solider, Yellow Eye, Vermont Cranberry, Swedish Brown, and Bumble Bee beans!

9am-1pm at the Stone Church in Newmarket. More info

The Rye Farmers’ Market will also be open this Saturday, 11am-2pm at the Rye Junior High School.  More info

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February 17, 2010 by Debra.

Recent postings here and here have concerned GMO-related legislation in New Hampshire. The following Action Alert from Food For Maine’s Future concerns possible deregulation of GMO alfalfa, which threatens to contaminate organic foods and crops nationally. The USDA’s position is that genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa meets current standards, however, acknowledges that GE alfalfa is virtually certain to contaminate non-GE seeds. The extended deadline for public comment provides you the opportunity to help urge the USDA to protect organic farmers and consumers, and reject deregulation of GMO alfalfa, a potentially dangerous precedent:

DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON USDA ALFALFA EIS EXTENDED TO MARCH 3

In 2006, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) sued the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its illegal approval of Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa. The federal courts sided with CFS and banned GE alfalfa until the USDA fully analyzed the impacts of the plant on the environment, farmers, and the public in a rigorous analysis known as an environmental impact statement (or EIS). USDA released its draft EIS on December 14, 2009. A 60-day comment period is now open until March 3, 2010. This is the first time the USDA has done this type of analysis for any GE crop. Therefore, the final decision will have broad implications for all GE crops.

Take a minute right now to tell the USDA GE alfalfa is unnecessary and poses too great a risk to organic producers and people who want GE-free food. Suggested comments are included here. Cut and paste into the USDA page (link) or compile your own comments.

*Please be aware that this is a Federal docket and any personal information you share may be publicly posted by USDA or other government agencies.

To review the EIS: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/downloads/alfalfa/gealfalfa_deis.pdf and supplemental documents here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/alfalfa_documents.shtml.

Provide your comments to USDA APHIS No Later Than March 3, 2010.

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February 17, 2010 by Debra.

As thoughts turn to the growing season ahead, we’re updating our list of community gardens in the Seacoast. Several new listings have been added recently, reflecting an upsurge in interest in growing your own. The latest entry is from the Exeter Community Gardening Committee:

Live in Exeter and interested in growing your own veggies?

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February 16, 2010 by Debra.

From MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association): 

Introduction to Organic Farming:

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February 16, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

On Friday, February 26, at 7pm, author Toby Hemenway will speak about
“How Permaculture Can Save Humanity and the Planet - but Not
Civilization” at the Dover Friends Meeting House, 141 Central Ave, Dover,
NH.

Toby Hemenway, author of the acclaimed “Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to
Homescale Permaculture,” will discuss whether “Sustainable Agriculture”
is an oxymoron. Feeding ourselves is not only central to our culture but
central to our survival and we will look back as well as forward at the
options and pathways before us. Attendees will gain a solid understanding
of permaculture concepts.

This event is free and open to the public.  Donations will be welcome and
books will be for sale.

Sponsored by Portland Maine Permaculture, Peace & Social Concerns
Committee of the Dover Friends Meeting & the Greater Seacoast
Permaculture Group.  For more information email hibernia33@yahoo.com ,
see www.meetup.com/portlandpermaculture/calendar/12428797/  , or call 207-229-2611.

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February 16, 2010 by Debra.

The Seacoast Community Garden Network (SCGN), a new online social network for Seacoast gardeners and community gardens, is in the process of being designed and plans to launch just in time for Spring. This should be a great resource for those growing their own as part of eating locally!

“Here’s a new idea — what if wanna-be gardeners could find an open community garden plot, or folks with an extra acre could find community gardeners to transform their land? What if community gardens and gardeners could share their needs and solutions and learn from each other — even get to know each other? What if start-up community gardens could find everything they needed — sample documents, supplies, information and real live people with experience — in one place? What if we could build an interactive community that would support the growth and uniqueness of our community garden movement right here on the Seacoast? This is the idea behind the Seacoast Community Garden Network — an open to all website that will be launching this spring, funded by the New England Grassroots Environment Foundation. Networks are popping up all over as people seek better ways to communicate with each other, but the Seacoast Community Garden is the first of its kind here. At a recent meeting, the ideas were coming fast and furious for how to build the Seacoast Community Garden Network (SCGN). It is being designed now, and should see the spring sunshine just in time for gardening season! “

For more information on how to get involved, please contact: Jenny Isler at jennyjennyi @ yahoo.com, or Gail Wingate at gkwings @ aol.com

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February 15, 2010 by Debra.

Fresh, organic chicken is available for pick-up from Chick Farm until the end of the day, Tuesday, February 16th. Located in Wells, Maine, Chick Farm plans to continue to have fresh chicken available periodically throughout the winter.

Certified Organic Chicken: Our chickens are raised with tender loving care, in accordance with USDA organic standards and certified by the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association. These birds are young, tender, and very meaty — excellent for roasting, grilling, or frying. They are fresh-frozen, vacuum-packed, and average 4-6 lbs each. Our organic broilers are $3.99/lb, sold as whole birds here at the farm. We generally have frozen chicken on hand all the time and fresh chicken available once or twice a month.

Please contact Chick Farm ahead of time before visiting the farm. If you would like to order chicken or request to be put on their email notification list, they can be reached at info@chickfarm.com.

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