Stearns Farm news, etc.
Food, Farm, and Sustainability Institute at Hampshire College
Fri 17 Feb 2012 11:21pm
Announcing the inaugural Food, Farm, and Sustainability Institute at Hampshire College, a six week summer academic program designed for undergraduate students interested in sustainable agriculture and food studies.
Overview: From June 4 to July 13, 2012, students, faculty, staff, and alumni will come together as a living and learning community at Hampshire College. Students will gain hands-on work experience with the guidance of the Hampshire College Farm Center staff, learn through inquiry-based projects mentored by faculty with a range of expertise, and acquire ownership of knowledge through independent research projects. The institute will follow food from its origin in the soil, through plant cultivation and animal management, address issues in public health and politics, and end up in the kitchen, breaking bread and assessing the character of the food we produce and eat. There will be numerous opportunities for community building through roundtable dinner discussions with local farmers and food producers, a weekly film series, and field trips to local farms emphasizing environmental and community sustainability.
Tuition for the six week program is $3,400, including communal lunch costs (students are responsible for breakfast and dinners as well as all weekend meals). Lodging is an additional $800 for students who wish to reside on campus. Hampshire recommends 8 academic credits for completion of the 6-week program. Students are encouraged to check with their home institutions for credit equivalent.
Online Application Deadline: March 1, 2012
For more detailed information about the Food, Farm, and Sustainability Institute, please visit the website:
http://summer.hampshire.edu.If you have any questions, please contact ffs
hampshire.edu.more here . . .
Movie & Discussion Friday Feb 17 at 7pm in Concord: Food Fight
Tue 14 Feb 2012 10:18am
How did it happen that our food today is lower in taste and nutrition, and higher in fat and salt, than it was in 1960? And that in just two generations, American consumers of food have traded under-supply and malnutrition for excess and obesity? Food Fight tells the story.
Winner of the prestigious Audience Award from the International Documentary Association, the film features interviews with Michael Pollan, Alice Waters, Marion Nestle, and other chefs, farmers, and politicians who are dedicated to reversing recent trends.
Friday, February 17th, 7:00-9:30 PM, Alcott School. Focus on Food Friday Night Film and Discussion Series
Meet Commissioner Soares at 7 PM. Bring your questions and ideas for Concord's Food System!
“Food Fight” screening is at 7:30 PM & discussion will follow at 8:30 PM with
Scott Soares, MA Commissioner of Agricultural Resources
J.D. Kemp, CEO of Organic Renaissance FOODEx
Our speakers will bring us up to date on initiatives in our Northeast regional food system as well as the impact of the 2012 Farm Bill on farm land conservation, small farms and consumers.
This film screening is co-hosted by ConcordCAN and the Walden Woods Project. Learn more at:
http://concordfood.ning.comIf Concord Schools are closed due to bad weather, the program will be cancelled.
MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:
Scott Soares is an advocate of sustainable farming and has taken a leadership role in building strong partnerships at the local, state and regional level aimed at achieving this goal. He grew up on his family farm, and joined the Department of Agriculture in 1996. His primary focus is enhancing economic opportunities for the Commonwealth’s farming community that meets the needs of an increasingly discerning public that is keenly interested in sustainable agriculture.
J.D. Kemp launched Boston-based Organic Renaissance Food Exchange in 2009 to help 're-regionalize' the Northeast food system. Food Ex offers an online platform to local food buyers such as restaurants and grocery stores, plus warehousing and logistical support so they can purchase directly from local food producers.
more here . . .
Movie Jan 27 at 7:30pm in Concord: The Future of Food
Tue 24 Jan 2012 7:28am
We all eat...but we may not all be aware of just what is on our plate! Don't miss this film and discussion as part of ConcordCAN's initiative to start a public conversation about our food system. Details on public forums for the Concord Food Assessment will follow! Come join us...and bring a friend or neighbor!
ConcordCAN, Debra’s Natural Gourmet and Walden Woods present —The Future of Food— Charlotte Vallaeys, Cornucopia Institute, speaker and discussion leader, Friday, January 27, Alcott Auditorium, 7:30 PM, Doors open at 7 pm.
There is a revolution happening in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America, a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. This documentary explores the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled grocery store shelves for the past decade. It also examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multi-national corporations seek to control the world's food system.
Go to
http://www.thefutureoffood.com for details, and to watch the official trailer. more here . . .
25th Annual NOFA/Mass WINTER CONFERENCE — Jan 14, 2012
Tue 27 Dec 2011 3:17pm
All 4 Stearns Farm Farmers will be going!
info hereABOUT THE NOFA/Mass WINTER CONFERENCE 
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference attendees register for a whole day of workshops, a keynote speech, over 75 exhibitors and vendors, a children's conference and all-local organic meal catered by Worcester State University Dining Services. Over the years, NOFA/Mass has presented a wide array of thoughtful, engaging and important keynote speakers, including Joel Salatin, Eliot Coleman and other thoughtful leaders in the food movement.The 2012 keynote speech will be given by John Jeavons, the Executive Director of Ecology Action in Northern California. He is known internationally as the leading researcher and method developer, teacher, and consultant for the small-scale, sustainable agricultural method known as GROW BIOINTENSIVE mini-farming. He has authored, co-authored or edited over 30 publications on this high-yielding, resource-conserving Biointensive approach, including a five-part, peer reviewed article that appeared in The Journal of Sustainable Agriculture. Jeavons' food-raising methods are being used in 141 countries and by such organizations as UNICEF, Save the Children, and the Peace Corps. Jeavons' 2012 Winter Conference keynote is entitled "Food and Our Future: Exciting Solutions Through Biologically Intensive Gardening" He will also offer an all-day seminar on "Planning Your Garden/Mini-Farm for the Future."
Workshop topics for 2012 include: Animals, Beginning Farmers, Crops, Farm Economics, Management and Equipment, Food and Cooking, Gardening and Greenhouse, Healthy Living, Land Care, Policy, Practical Skills, Soil and Fertility, Teen Workshops, Urban Agriculture and Youth & Education.
SPECIAL 3-hour WORKSHOPS at the NOFA/Mass WINTER CONFERENCE
This year, the 2011 NOFA/Mass Winter Conference will feature a few new 3-hour intensive workshops on the following topics: Integrating Livestock on a Small Farm, Pigs and Pork Products on the Small Farm, and Using a Pressure Canner, and a special series of workshops for Beginning Farmers.more here . . .
From the Board: Potluck and Annual Meeting Sept. 24th
Mon 19 Sep 2011 9:26am
Families enjoying last fall's Potluck and Annual Meeting.
Louise Bendel, Frann Bennett, Debbie Blicher, Scott Clevland, Peter Doherty, Lisa Kamer, Sarah Larson, George Mahowald and Tom Yelton
more here . . .
The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) 2011 Summer Conference
Tue 12 Jul 2011 8:48am
August 12-14, 2011 at UMass AmherstKeynote Speakers: Eric Toensmeier, Perennial Edibles Expert, and Dr. Ignacio Chapela of UC Berkeley, GMO Activist. Over 200 Workshops on Organic Gardening, Farming, Food Politics, Permaculture, Homesteading, Landscaping, Draft-Animal Power, Alternative Energy, Livestock, Cooking, and more! Hundreds of Vendors and Exhibitors. Live Entertainment. Children’s and Teen Conference. Country Fair and Farmer’s Market. Silent Auction. This year NOFA is proud to partner with the Draft-Animal Power Network. Spend the weekend or come for the day. Activities for all ages.
To register:
http://www.nofasummerconference.orgEmail: info
nofasummerconference.orgCall: 978-355-2853
more here . . .
Food, Farm, and Sustainability, June 10-12, 2011
Fri 27 May 2011 8:32am
Food, Farm, and Sustainability offers a lively and varied program that promises to appeal to anyone who eats.
Current and former faculty from across the College along with alums and current students will address critical and practical questions about food policy, food safety, the sustainability of Hampshire, carbon neutral building, and more.
The program will consist of classroom and panel discussions, workshops, tours, films, and lab experiences. In addition to academics, the weekend will include exhibitions, performances, outdoor activities, receptions, local food meals, and more.
http://www.hampshire.edu/alumni/forum.htmmore here . . .
5/26 7pm: Food and Sustainability Talk at the Museum of Science, Boston
Fri 25 Mar 2011 6:06pm
link to info. While eating is a necessity, it is not a license to be reckless in our consumption. What happens when we use up all of the world's resources? Share the discussion as we imagine what a healthy food system for the planet would look like. How do we feed a growing population without exhausting the planet?more here . . .
Connecting to Local Food - Tuesday March 29th, 7pm at the Framingham Library
Tue 22 Mar 2011 9:25am
CONNECTING to LOCAL FOOD
A FRAMINGHAM SIERRA CLUB EDUCATIONAL FORUM
Learn About Sustainable Food Issues, Local Co-ops, CSAs* and More!Kelly O’Connor, President of Mass Local Food, will educate us on how we can support local farmers through this food cooperative
Owen Ackerman, Corresponding Secretary Norfolk County Beekeeper Association, will share information on the world’s declining bee population, and what we can do about it.
We will also get an update on the community farm project in Downtown Framingham, learn about Community Supported Agriculture, and hear from some of our local farmers about their products.
- WHEN: TUESDAY, MARCH 29 , 2011
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
WHERE: FRAMINGHAM MAIN LIBRARY
COSTIN ROOM
Email them for more info at: Framingham
SierraClubMass.orgmore here . . .
Kathy and Stearns Farm in the Boston Globe on Winter CSAs
Mon 14 Feb 2011 8:55am
Our own Kathy Huckins was recently interviewed by the Globe for an article on winter CSAs. If you missed it you can still see it
here (article) and here (recipe).more here . . .
4 Season Ag Pioneer Eliot Coleman Visit to Yale
Mon 3 Jan 2011 8:32am
Eliot Coleman who pioneered the 4 season growing methods used at Stearns Farm that enable us to provide winter shares, recently visited Yale University to speak. You can read the articlehere.more here . . .
Stearns Farm Harvest Festival, Volunteers Needed — Saturday, Sept. 25
Sat 4 Sep 2010 12:31pm
Stearns Farm Harvest Festival, Volunteers Needed
Photo by Claudia Gustafson
We are looking for volunteers to help in the following ways:
- Help set up tables, chairs, etc.: beginning at 11:00 AM
- Help with managing the pot luck and parking lot: beginning at 12:00
- Help with the children's activities: after lunch
- Help with clean up: after the party is over
If you are able to help with any aspect of the Harvest Festival please contact Sara Abramovitz at saralarry
verizon.net.more here . . .
Bill McKibben talks about his new book Eaarth in Lexington, Sunday Aug 29th
Tue 24 Aug 2010 9:23am
"for the ten thousand years that constitute human civilization, we’ve existed in the sweetest of sweet spots. The temperature has barely budged. BUT WE NO LONGER LIVE ON THAT PLANET...the earth has changed in profound ways" — Bill McKibbenOn Sunday, August 29, 2010 7:30 pm at Lexington's Cary Hall,
LexGWAC is sponsoring a talk by Lexington native and climate activist BILL MCKIBBEN about his new book, Eaarth. Books will be available for sale and signing. Admission is free.Two evenings have been reserved at Cary Memorial Library for a book discussion group, July 28 and August 18. If you are interested in participating in a discussion about "Eaarth", please email info
LexGWAC.org. Seating is limited.For more information on "Eaarth" see this
article in the Lexington MinutemanThis talk is cosponsored with by the Lexington Community Farm Coalition.
more here . . .
NOFA/Mass Opposes State’s Aerial Spraying of Toxic Pesticide
Sat 7 Aug 2010 12:32pm
The state of Massachusetts has announced plans, starting August 4, to spray pesticide from the air over a significant area of the state in an effort to kill mosquitoes carrying the virus responsible for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). EEE is a disease that infects birds living in freshwater swamps and can be carried by mosquito bite to horses and humans. It can be fatal, especially to the young. As of early August 2010, there have been 15 mammal-biting mosquitoes detected yielding positive results for the virus, although only one horse has been found with it, and no humans.
Initial state plans call for nighttime spraying of pesticide over nearly 30 towns, centered on Middleborough, MA, covering an area of almost 300,000 acres. The state says it has mapped no-spray zones around public water supplies, coastal areas, organic farms, fish hatcheries and habitats of endangered species. The pesticide to be sprayed will be Anvil, a synthetic pyrethroid. The normal concentration is 10% of the active ingredient sumithrin, 10% piperonyl butoxide, and 80% inert ingredients.
Although pyrethroids are listed among the least toxic insecticides, they are still potent nerve poisons. Inhaling them can cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain and difficulty breathing. Skin contact can cause a rash, itching, or blisters. Piperonyl butoxide, although not yet fully researched, can cause skin and eye irritations.
Rats fed high doses of pyrethroids showed liver damage, and there is evidence it can harm the thyroid. Sumithrin has been shown to disrupt the endocrine system by mimicking the effects of estrogen. In men this can lower the sperm count, in women it can cause the growth of abnormal breast cells. It has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a possible human carcinogen.
Sumithrin is also very poisonous to bees and fish. Its half-life in soil is from one day to sixteen weeks, depending on the type of soil,
Human Impact
NOFA/Mass doubts that the potential ill effects of this poison and suspected carcinogen on hundreds of thousands of people in the path of the spray can be justified by the seriousness of the health risk so far posed by EEE. The state has called upon people to close up their houses and shut down their air-conditioners and fans to avoid exposure. They advise rinsing any homegrown fruits and vegetables, keeping pets indoors, and washing any exposed clothes or skin. Do we really need to impose these conditions on our citizens to protect them from being poisoned by their own government?
Environmental Impact
It is unacceptable that the state has chosen a compound highly toxic to bees, which can last almost 4 months, to introduce in our environment, when Massachusetts is already suffering a serious decline in bee population from Colony Collapse Disorder caused, many feel, by exposure to another toxic pesticide, Imadacloprid.
Organic Farm Impact
Although the state has taken the precaution of surveying certified organic farms and locating them by GPS coordinates on the aerial spraying maps, we are not confident that such farms can be adequately protected by such exclusion zones. The farms’ small size, the strength of prevailing winds, the speed of the planes, and the imprecision inherent in this type of nighttime flyover suggest that such protection is not a practical measure.
We call upon the state to reconsider this gamble with our public health, and urge anyone concerned about this spraying to protest it by calling Governor Deval Patrick at 617-725-4005.
NOFA/Mass (Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts Chapter) is a community of farmers, gardeners, landscapers and consumers working to educate members and the general public about the benefits of local organic systems based on complete cycles, natural materials, and minimal waste for the health of individual beings, communities and the living planet. The NOFA/Mass office is located at 411 Sheldon Road in Barre, MA 01005; telephone is (978) 355-2853. Visit www.nofamass.org for much more information.
Mindy Harris
Public Relations Coordinator
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass)
Home Office:
110 Kodiak Way #2825
Waltham, Ma 02451
310.663.0054
mindy
nofamass.orgwww.nofamass.org
Please join us at this year's 2010 NOFA Summer Conference. August 13-15, 2010 at UMass Amherst!
www.nofasummerconference.org
more here . . .
Documentary Film: Disappearing Act: A World Without Bees
Wed 9 Jun 2010 4:57pm
Wednesday, June 16, 7:00pm, Main Library, Costin Room
Framingham Public Library and Whole Foods Market Framingham present a timely documentary from the award-winning producers of the PBS Chefs A’ Field series. This episode investigates the looming crisis of disappearing bees. Honeybees pollinate over one-third of the foods we eat and they are dying off in record numbers from something scientists call Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). In addition to exploring the profound effect of their loss on U.S. agriculture and the economy, the film also tells the ways in which these important creatures can be helped.
Refreshments provided by Whole Food Market Framingham
more here . . .
Stearns Farm Spring Celebration and Orientation
Fri 14 May 2010 9:11am
Stearns Farm Spring Celebration and Orientation
SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010
| 11:00–11:30 | Orientation for New Members (or anyone who would like a refresher on how pick up days work) |
| 11:30–12:00 | Walking Tour of the Farm with Kathy Huckins |
| 12:00 | Potluck: Bring a dish to share (that serves about 8) Remember to bring plates, cups and silverware. We will not provide disposable dishes. Farmer’s Welcome By Kathy Huckins Poems read by Brian Huckins |
| 1:00 | Music by String Along New England Traditional New England Contra Dance Music performed by Steven Cushing, Damaris Rohsenow, and Jim Guinness, traditional musicians Herb Identification Walk in Penelope’s Garden Rock painting in the Children’s Garden After the music Hay Rides |
more here . . .
FARM LIFE IN SOUTH SUDBURY at the SUDBURY TOWN HALL, on MARCH 7th, 2010 at 2pm.
Wed 3 Mar 2010 5:23pm
The SUDBURY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.
Presents: FARM LIFE IN SOUTH SUDBURY
At the SUDBURY TOWN HALL, on MARCH 7th, 2010 at 2pm.
Our local FARMER: ERNIE BEER will entertain and inform you, as only he can, about FARM LIFE IN SOUTH SUDBURY from the 1880's to the 1950's. The part of Sudbury the program is about is the lower end of LANDHAM ROAD. See it thru the eyes of families that lived in that area, and took pictures of their Farms, thru the years. SEE how where you now live once was a busy farm.
FARMER BEER will be taking you on an antique PHOTOGRAPHIC tour of the extensive Ames & Smith Farms, plus the Wright Farm.
We want to thank the McGraw Family, Town Historian Curt Garfield, the Wright Family, and Hal Cutler for their help in this program.
Hal Cutler's restored 1933 FORD Model BB Stake Body TRUCK will be on display in front of the Sudbury Town Hall during the program,as this truck was used in the Landham Road area from the 30's on. By the way if you have a picture of Hal's truck in use, back then, Hal will give the SHS a reward of $100. The Truck's doors once said "R.R.Cutler, So. Sudbury".
Refreshments will be served after the entertainment.
ALL WELCOME!
Sincerely,
The Officers & Board of Trustees,
SUDBURY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.
http://www.sudbury01776.orgmore here . . .
CSA Fair and Film in Somerville, January 11 @ 6pm
Tue 5 Jan 2010 7:13pm
Monday January 11 is the day of the FIRST-EVER SOMERVILLE FARM SHARE FAIR, followed by a special film screening of "The Power of Community" at the Somerville Public Library (79 Highland Ave)
- SOMERVILLE FARM SHARE FAIR :: 6PM - Free Admission
presented by Somerville Climate Action + Boston Localvores + Groundwork Somerville
Each year, local farms throughout the Greater Boston region offer weekly subscriptions to their delicious, fresh, and often-organic produce — delivered right close to home. But getting information on these shares (called CSAs, or community-supported agriculture) can be near-impossible. This year, we're bringing all of the farms together in one place, so you can get the information you need to get signed up. Bring in your checkbook to reserve a share!
- THE POWER OF COMMUNITY :: 7PM - Free Admission
presented by State Rep. Denise Provost + Transition Somerville
After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba faced catastrophic cuts in its oil and food supplies. In the face of the crisis, creative communities came together to transition to a more sustainable path, through organic farming and urban gardening. Their inspiring story offers hope for us all as we enter an era of rising fuel costs and impending global warming threats. Please join us after the film for a brief discussion.
more here . . .
Global Climate Action Day, Sat. Oct 24, 2009
Thu 15 Oct 2009 1:00pm
On October 24, join people all over the world to take a stand for a safe climate future. In December political leaders will meet in Copenhagen to iron out the treaty that may determine the Earth's future. This event is intended to focus politicians awareness on the science and the citizens over special interests. A regional rally is being held at Old North Bridge in Concord, MA at 2pm (
flyer here). There will also be a rally in Sudbury on the town common (rt 27 & Concord Rd) at 10am followed by lunch and forming carpools to the Concord rally. The global event has been organized by 350.org and locally by http://gwenet.org.Many churches including First Parish's of
Framingham (4pm) and Sudbury (10am) will be tolling their bells 350 times on Oct 24 to call attention to the urgent need to reduce the atmospheric CO2 level to 350 ppm.Why is 350 the most important number now for you, your children and the Earth?
See350.orgmore here . . .
NOFA food preservation workshops on September 19th
Thu 3 Sep 2009 9:13am
The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass) is holding workshops on how to preserve food from the fall harvest in two Boston area locations on September 19. The event is part of the Massachusetts Food Preservation Workshop Day, which has been organized to meet the resurgence of interest in local foods and self-reliance. One workshop will be held from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Natick Community Organic Farm on 117 Eliot Street in South Natick and another will be held from 9:00am to 12:00pm at the home of Jill Ebbott on 70 Beaconsfield Road in Brookline. Similar events will be held in 9 other towns and cities throughout the state (
link) on the same day. “Every year people are making more backyard gardens and enjoying the tremendous wealth of produce available from local farms in the fall. To enjoy this bounty into the winter it’s helpful to re-learn some techniques for preserving food at home that our grandparents probably used but that many of us haven’t learned yet,” said Ben Grosscup, the event organizer. “With this event, we're offering the public an opportunity to learn from experienced food preservation educators the basic skills they need to get started.”
Sharon Kane of Ashland is a major proponent of lacto-fermented foods, which is the food preservation technique that she’ll be focusing on at the Natick workshop. In lacto-fermentation, salt is added to suppress the bacteria species that cause food to spoil while also fostering the growth of beneficial lacto bacillus bacteria that produce the natural preservative, lactic acid. “Lacto-fermentation works on the principle that fresh vegetables are covered with beneficial microbes, which given the right environment, multiply and then transform the sugars and the starches in produce into beneficial bacteria, yeasts, vitamins, and enzymes,” said Kane.
Kane got started as a food educator based on her own personal struggles with illness. “I was once quite over-prescribed with anti-biotics, and the result was that the beneficial bacteria in my body had been severely diminished,” she said. “When I first started incorporating lacto-fermented vegetables into my diet, I immediately felt a boost in my energy level and overall health. When you eat lacto-fermented vegetables, you are getting a really powerful dose of pro-biotics, and for just a few dollars – the same cost as the vegetables themselves plus a little salt.
“Live foods like this are the best kind of food we can be eating. The process is also simple and ancient, and it adds both flavor and nutritional value to everyday foods like cabbage and cucumbers.”
The workshop will provide hands-on opportunities to learn the techniques, as well as explaining the scientific principles that make the process work, and the health benefits of lacto-fermentation.
The workshop in Brookline will be taught by Jill Ebbott, NOFA/Mass board member, pregnancy nutrition counselor, and avid practitioner of lacto-fermentation, which is the food preservation technique on which her workshop will focus.
Ebbott says that although many people today are not familiar with lacto-fermentation – largely due to the packaging standards of commercial agribusiness – many cultures throughout the world have been using this technique to preserve food for millennia. “Fermentation is part of our ancestral wisdom. It allows us to step back in time, take control of our health as our ancestors did, and turn away from our toxic food culture. Real food is powerful, and it's a part of self-reliance.”
Participants in Brookline will also learn techniques for culturing dairy and making yoghurt, whey, and a simple cream cheese, and brewing some very nutritious non-alcoholic beverages including lacto-fermented sodas, beet kvass, and kombucha. Workshop participants are encouraged to bring their own questions to the workshops.
"You can save money, lessen your dependence on the global corporate food chain, and provide wonderful flavor and nutrition all year round for your family by incorporating these food preservation techniques into your life,” said Grosscup. “The best time to preserve food is the same as when backyard gardens and local farm stands reach the height of the season’s harvest. Savoring fresh summer flavors is an enjoyable way to make it through the winter.”
In addition to South Natick and Brookline, workshops are also being held in, Concord, Groton, Princeton, Winchendon Springs, Shelburne, Cummington, Northampton, Springfield, and Great Barrington.
To register, visit www.nofamass.org, or contact Ben Grosscup 413-658-5374, <ben.grosscup
nofamass.org>. The Natick workshop cost is $50, and there is a $5 discount for membership in NOFA/Mass. There is also a $5 discount for registration on or before September 5, 2009. Pre-registration is requested, but on-site registration is available for an extra $5 charge. If you plan to do a walk-in registration, please call in advance to find out if there is space availability. A potluck lunch will be shared at the Natick event, and registrants are invited to bring something to share or bring their own lunch. The Brookline workshop is $35 with a $3 discount for non members.###
CALENDAR LISTING
FOOD PRESERVATION WORKSHOPS IN BOSTON AREA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2009
A) Natick Community Organic Farm, 117 Eliot St, South Natick
10am-4pm $45 NOFA members and $50 non members
B) Home of Jill Ebbott, 70 Beaconsfield Road, Brookline
9am-12 noon
$32 NOFA members and $35 non members
The Natick workshop will focus on lacto-fermentation a process in which salt is added to suppress the bacteria species that cause food to spoil while also fostering the growth of beneficial lacto bacillus bacteria that produce the natural preservative, lactic acid.
Participants in Brookline will learn techniques for lacto-fermentation, culturing dairy and making yoghurt, whey, and a simple cream cheese, and brewing some very nutritious non-alcoholic beverages including lacto-fermented sodas, beet kvass, and kombucha. Workshop participants are encouraged to bring their own questions to the workshops.
This event is part of the Massachusetts Food Preservation Workshop Day, which has been organized to meet the resurgence of interest in local foods and self-reliance. In addition to South Natick and Brookline, workshops are also being held in, Concord, Groton, Princeton, Winchendon Springs, Shelburne, Cummington, Northampton, Springfield, and Great Barrington.
To register, visit www.nofamass.org, or contact Ben Grosscup 413-658-5374, <ben.grosscup
nofamass.org>. Pre-registration is requested, but on-site registration is available for an extra $5 charge. If you are planning to do a walk-in registration, please call in advance to find out if there is space availability. A potluck lunch will be shared at the Natick workshop, and registrants are invited to bring something to share or bring their own lunch.more here . . .
A Stearns Farm Sharer's review of the film Food Inc.
Wed 22 Jul 2009 10:42am
This afternoon M. and I saw the documentary film "Food, Inc." in Waltham, which I feel is an absolute must see for all. (Also being shown at Coolidge Corner.) Encourage your friends to go.
After seeing the film I don't think I ever want to purchase beef again (unless grass fed on a small farm) and not purchase chicken from a factory farm. Same for pork. The first thing M. said after the film was that if she owned Monsanto or Tyson stock she would sell it immediately. Only about 3 major manufacturers of food now exist in USA. The FDA effectively does nothing. Food is grown and processed in a humongous mass production method with lots of machinery and in a manner where all is teetering on the edge of disaster. Disaster due to animal disease barely kept under control and growing animal feed and food as a gigantic monoculture. Human treatment of animals no longer exists. See
http://www.foodincmovie.com and http://www.takepart.com/foodinc I already knew the meat industry was not ethical and free of disease, etc., but this film obtained "inside" pictures the food manufacturers don't want the public to see. One of the farmers finally felt the way she was forced to grow chickens was too unethical to continue to keep quiet so let her and her farm be filmed. Her whole operation got fired for doing this. She now finds that if she needs antibiotics when sick, she can no longer use any. 73,000 Americans get sick each year from food born disease and obesity is out of control and farmland is going down-hill while many streams are highly polluted. The real cost of food far exceeds what one spends in the supermarket.
The film drives home that if we are to stay healthy and assist the planet being more sustainable there is an urgent need to purchase food locally grown by small farmers and to be members of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Community Supported Fishery (CSF), and/or shop at farmers markets.
more here . . .
WBUR program on sustainable AG in MA
Sat 20 Jun 2009 7:53am
Here's a link to the hour-long documentary about sustainable agriculture in MA that WBUR ran last Friday. CSAs played a starring role.
http://www.radioboston.org/shows/2009/06/10/local-sustainable-agriculture-2/Nomi
more here . . .
Come to the Spring Celebration, Sunday June 7th, New sharers 11am, Potluck at noon.
Wed 3 Jun 2009 4:55pm
This Sunday, June 7th we are kicking off our 2009 season with a Spring Celebration. Meet new sharers, talk to board members, rekindle old relationships, share new recipes, bring friends and enjoy the beauty of our farm. Pick-ups will start a few days later, on June 9th and 12th.
Come at 11:00 for a new sharer orientation. It can also be a refresher for seasoned members. We will discuss the logistics of picking up your share as well as what to do with it when you get home. At 11:30 we will walk the fields and discuss our growing practices. You will be introduced to the new locations of most of our crops. Crop rotation is one of our organic practices; it is not meant to confuse you.
Our potluck will begin at noon. This is your opportunity to shine by bringing in your favorite dish that feeds around 8 people. Please bring a card stating the ingredients of your dish. It helps those with restricted diets make healthy choices. Have fun, be creative and colorful. We all love to eat, especially food prepared by others. TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE, WE ARE NOT USING DISPOSIBLE PRODUCTS. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN PLATES, UTENSILS, CUPS AND NAPKINS. You can wash them at the sink before you go home.
After feasting and poetry and a welcoming to all, we are pleased to have a performance of traditional New England barn dance music by Steven Cushing and Damaris Rohsenow. As we are tapping and clapping and maybe even dancing, the children are invited to paint rocks that will be used to define areas in the children's garden. The Herb Garden crew will give a tour of Penelope's Herb Garden. Following the music performance we will offer hayrides for the kids, young and old.
A note about our parking lot. We are switching the exit and entrance to our farm. Please turn into what used to be the exit at the west end of the lot and go out the east end by the mailbox. Be patient with those who forget.
Come, sit under the apple tree and celebrate the beginning of our season. I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
Peace,
Kathy Huckins, Farm Manager
PS If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with setup or cleanup for the day, please contact Gudrun Baubock at gudrunbaubock
gmail.com .more here . . .
Great Solar Panel Deal in MA
Wed 27 May 2009 11:34am
If you or someone you know has a nice south facing roof you should check this out:
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2009/05/24/sun_for_rent/- It's an old energy problem with a new solution: After decades of facing prohibitively high costs to install solar panels, Massachusetts residents will be able to lease the panels for a tiny fraction of their upfront cost.
Instead of paying $25,000 or more to buy solar panels, homeowners will have to shell out only about $1,000 to install the energy collecting devices on roofs. The companies involved in the leases say most homeowners will be able to recoup the initial cost within seven years through electricity savings - and then save money on future bills by locking in the rate they pay for the electricity generated by the leased panels.
...The Bay State is not expected to have such generous rebates for long. Already, 716 Commonwealth Solar rebates have been awarded, amounting to more than $25.5 million, according to state officials. Of that, 587 are homes, 113 are commercial or industrial buildings, and 16 are public entities.
more here . . .
How to use your Stearns Farm popcorn
Thu 8 Jan 2009 3:38pm
Stearns Farm Assistant Grower, Chris Kantlehner, tell us how to make the perfect bowl of local, organic popcorn—from start to finish.
You can also see this on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqGpoi-v9KE.more here . . .
2008 Stearns Farm CSA Harvest Festival
Thu 25 Sep 2008 10:59am
STEARNS FARM HARVEST FESTIVAL
Sunday, September 28th
COME CELEBRATE THE BOUNTY OF OUR 2008 SEASON
12:00 Dedication of the Root Cellar
- POTLUCK: Please bring a main dish, side dish, or dessert to feed 8 people. This is a time to showcase recipes using produce from our farm. Coffee, tea (hot and cold) will be provided.
Remember to bring your own plates, cups, and silverware! There will be no paper goods available.
1:30 BRIEF ANNUAL MEETING led by the Stearns Farm Board
- REFLECTIONS on a decade of farming at Stearns by Kathy Huckins
1:30 on PAINT YOUR OWN PUMPKIN
- MAKE AN HERB/FLOWER WREATH
- PRINT YOUR OWN T-SHIRT with farm vegetables
- FACE PAINTING
- HERB GARDEN WALK AND TEA TASTING
2:00 on COME FOR A HAYRIDE
- MUSIC by bluegrass band THREE TALL PINES
- Stearns’ Own POPCORN
more here . . .
Reaping dividends - Boston Globe article on local CSAs
Fri 15 Aug 2008 9:01am
By Christina Pazzanese, Boston Globe, August 14, 2008. "Across the state, CSA programs appear to be thriving, said David Webber, farmers market coordinator for the state's Department of Agricultural Resources. 'What we've been seeing this year, the CSAs have sold out and most have a waiting list,' ... there are 68 CSAs listed with the state, and he estimates there could be as many as 91 in Massachusetts. 'We're seeing a lot of farms that were doing farmers markets are now doing CSAs,' he said, noting one of the first CSA farms in the country was launched in 1985 in Western Massachusetts, at Indian Line Farm in Great Barrington."
link to articlemore here . . .
A Wild Ramble — learning about wild edible plants
Wed 9 Jul 2008 9:42am
Tuesday July 22nd, the Stearns Farm community will have the opportunity to experience something quite original. The Sudbury River Valley is home to over 100 species of edible wild plants, many of which are even more nutritious than their cultivated counterparts. Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten, will be taking us on a two hour ramble through Stearns Farm and the adjacent woodlands to learn about more than two dozen species of edible wild plants. Pending favorable weather conditions, several edible mushroom species may be encountered as well. Keys to identifying each species will be provided, along with information on edible portions, seasons of availability and preparation methods. Russ will also give us general guidelines for safe and environmentally-responsible foraging.
The ramble will take place on the evening of Tuesday, July 22, and sign-ups will take place soon, so stay tuned. You won't want to miss out on this unique adventure!
more here . . .
The Harvest Festival Sunday, Sept 30th
Sun 7 Oct 2007 12:00am
A collage of photos from our 2007 Harvest Festival.
Photos thanks to Claudia Gustafson.
more here . . .
Revision 1. Last edited Wed 9 Jul 2008 9:24am by TomYelton