Take the poll!

I posted a new poll, scroll down the right side to find it. This is to check your research skills. I will post the correct answer on Dec. 1.

Holiday Shopping at the Northwood Farmers Market - INDOORS!

It won’t matter if it rains (or even, dare we say, snows?), you can still find local produce for your Thanksgiving feast and pick up jams, wine, honey and goats milk soaps for those special gifts, wreaths and other decorations, all while staying warm and dry in the Masonic Hall on Rt. 4 in Northwood. Join us Saturday, Nov. 7th, and Saturday, Nov. 21st from 9 am to noon. Parking at the municipal lot at the corner of Rts. 4 and 202/9.

Celebrating vendors

Here are some pictures of some of our vendors at the indoor market.

It was raining but we were INDOORS!

What a lovely day for an indoor farmers market it was! While it poured outside, we got to shop for produce, honey, wine, goats milk soap and cheese, etc. Click the link for some pictures of the goodies.

Risk Management for Farmers

Risk Management Workshops Set for New Hampshire Farmers

UNH Cooperative Extension 24.OCT.09

Small farms in New Hampshire grew by nearly 4,200 in recent years, with an increasing trend towards organic and small-farm production.

To help navigate the inherent risks and learn new strategies for managing production, marketing and financing, a team of UNH Cooperative Extension staff will offer a series of workshops beginning November 2, and continuing through spring of 2010.

Over the course of these workshops, UNH Cooperative Extension, partnering with the USDA Risk Management Agency, the N.H. Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food, and the USDA Farm Service Agency, will provide tools and techniques for managing business risks while explaining the benefits of participating in crop and revenue insurance programs.

“UNH Cooperative Extension professionals have extensive experience in educational programming for farmers and a proven record of successful partnering with other agencies,” says Extension agricultural business management specialist Mike Sciabarrasi. “Extension educators believe outreach education is the best way to help New Hampshire farmers discover what’s available to them.”

The first workshop takes place November 2 with 10-plus Marketing Strategies and Tips to Consider When Selling Farm Products, at the Rockingham County complex in Brentwood. Featuring a panel of expert growers, those attending will learn more about potential farm markets for next season and the importance of branding and pricing products, while hearing different views about the pros and cons of crop insurance.

The workshops continue through the fall.

Tree Fruit – Year in Review and Planning for the Future, will be held November 14 at the Hillsborough County complex in Goffstown. Early December features a weekend seminar on ethnic crops, and in January the N.H. Small Family Farm conference takes place in Concord and the N.H. Women in Agriculture conference in the Keene area.

The workshop series focuses on reaching beginning farmers, women farm operators, fruit and vegetable farmers who market their products directly to consumers, and farmers interested in growing ethnic crops. In the winter and spring of 2010, additional programs will be offered for organic producers, dairy farmers and nursery operations. Financial support from the USDA Risk Management Agency has enabled UNH Cooperative Extension to offer these programs at minimal cost to participants.

What's growing in Maryland?

I am sure you are wondering why in the world I would put news of Maryland in this blog. Well, it is selfish. My daughter is a contributor to a blog about growing your own food in Montgomery County. She is a master gardener and volunteers with the Cooperative Extension Demonstration Garden there. I thought some of you might be interested in what is going on in another part of the country, and of course, as a mom, I love to showcase my child's work!

IT ISN'T OVER YET!!!!

It’s not over yet! The Northwood Farmers Market is moving indoors for three “off season” markets at the Masonic Lodge right next to the municipal lot (Rts. 4, 202/9 and Rt. 43 at the traffic lights) where we have been reveling in good local products all summer. Our local farms still have fall produce, there is still jam and salsa, wine and soaps, eggs and wool and more, all local, all fresh.

Come support your neighbors, meet friends and enjoy some more of the Northwood Farmers market - INDOORS!

9:00 a.m. to noon

Saturday Oct. 24th

Saturday Nov. 7th

Saturday Nov. 21st

Parking off Rte. 202/9 in the municipal parking lot.

USDA supporting local agriculture

An article in the New York Times brings to our attention a plan by the USDA to connect small farmers with local consumers.

Warriors in the battle for more local, sustainable food have long been suspicious of the Department of Agriculture and its relationship to large agricultural interests. But even the most dedicated political agrarian has to admit that the U.S.D.A is getting local food fever.

This week, the top people at the U.S.D.A. announced they would be handing out almost $65 million to help connect small farmers — especially those using sustainable practices — with people who want to eat local food.

The money is part of their new “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” campaign which includes a series of programs to help farmers better market their food and the people who run large institutions buy it.

“Americans are more interested in food and agriculture than at any other time since most families left the farm,” said Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan in a statement announcing the initiative.