Food & Ag Working Group Resources

Please visit our new home for the Brix Bounty Blog at http://www.brixbounty.com/blog. We will not be updating the blogspot blog site in coming weeks.

This email was recently posted to the Food&Ag Working Group of the Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability…

Hello,

Hope to see folks at the quarterly Council on Sustainability meeting this afternoon (March 11th) and at this Saturday’s Shrink Your Footprint Fair; 1-5PM at the GNB-Voc Tech School, 1121 Ashley Blvd. in New Bedford. Here are a few other items that might be of interest to the Food&Agriculture working group in the coming weeks:

Health, Nutrition, and Food

• The School Nutrition Bill and the Local Farm Products Bill will be voted on in the Senate today (March 11th); see also today’s Globe Article: Support grows for limiting junk food…
• IATP Food&Society Fellows Child Nutrition Issue was recently published on the web (Feb 2010).
• Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition – Food Systems and Public Health: Linkages to Achieve Healthier Diets and Healthier Communities free access to current issue online.
• Healthy Southcoast by Design Summit in New Bedford featuring Mark Fenton – March 23rd and 24th.

Sustainable Agriculture at the Local Level

• Enhance Your Farm’s Future -One Day Farm Conference and Resource Fair – Sat. March 27th at BCAHS in Dighton.
• Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities, a guide to federal programs that provide financial and technical support for sustainable agriculture.
• Relocalizing our Foodshed Conference is next Mon/Tues in MN – might be worth watching what reports or abstracts come out of this gathering…
• The Carrot Project – Small Farm Loan Program has a March 19th deadline for loan applications.
• Slow Money’s Ideas for Change in America Invest in Local Food Systems to Save the Economy and the Planet

Educational Resources and Events

• Annual Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Winter Conference – Sat. Mar 13th in Ludlow, MA.
• Saturday March 13th – Shrink Your Footprint Fair ; 1-5PM at the GNB-Voc Tech School, 1121 Ashley Blvd. in New Bedford.
• Helping You Grow Your Bounty, Trade Your Foodmiles for Foodsteps: ongoing – organic gardening, nutrient density, and sustainable agriculture workshops presented by Brix Bounty Farm – see list of upcoming events and resources.

Brix Bounty Blog has a new home

Now that it's March; we have decided to officially launch our new website and blog
We still have a few items to smooth out with our new website, but I would estimate its 90% complete. Please visit the new site at www.brixbounty.com and also our new BrixBounty.com Blog page.

Please consider updating your bookmarks or links to the new website.

Thanks!
-Derek

Ag. Conference for Southeastern Mass.

Enhance Your Farm’s Future:

3^rd Annual One-Day Farm Conference & Resource Fair
Organized by Bristol County Conservation District & SEMAP
Saturday, March 27, 2010, 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Bristol County Agricultural High School, 135 Center St., Dighton MA

A great event in the works for Saturday March 27th, including demo and introduction on Biochar. I'll be offering a workshop on soil fertility in the morning - with an emphasis on organic methods for nutrient dense production.

We are in the process of switching from blogspot to our new website at www.brixbounty.com. and our new BrixBounty.com Blog. Please visit the new website and blog for up to date Brix Bounty Farm info.

Roots Down New Bedford - postponed 'til Feb. 18th

UPDATE: Due to the anticipated arrival of a winter storm and a Snow Emergency Parking Ban in effect in the City of New Bedford, we have decided to postpone the start of our Roots Down Series until next Thursday Feb. 18th. If you have any questions please contact the farm. Thanks.

For more information on the Roots Down Wintertime Garden Planning Series please visit our new website: http://www.brixbounty.com/events/roots-down-new-bedford/

And if you haven't heard the news out of Washington; The First Lady launched Let's Move, the new Child Obesity Campaign yesterday and the USDA released it's impressive Food Environment Atlas, which contains an astounding array of data related to access to healthy food.

Join the 2010 Brix Bounty Crew

Our new website development is going well...In a few weeks we'll be transitioning our blog to the new BrixBounty.com Blog.

Find out about the many ways you can join the Brix Bounty Crew for 2010 on the Apprenticeships Page on the new site.

Roots Down NB - Wintertime Organic Garden Planning Series

*note, we are currently transitioning to our new home on the web - www.brixbounty.com

Just Announced - Roots Down - New Bedford - We are pleased to announce the dates of our free 2010 Wintertime Organic Garden Planning Workshop Series.
4 Thursdays (Feb 11, Feb 25, Mar 18, Mar 25) 4PM-6PM, at the Coachman's House at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum (entrance on 7th st.)

This series of four workshops is geared toward new and experienced gardeners who are interested in learning more about organic growing techniques, connecting with other gardeners, and learning about nutrient dense food production.

Each workshop will build on topics presented in the earlier workshops, so we invite and recommend attending all four dates. More details available at http://www.brixbounty.com/events/roots-down-new-bedford/.

Please RSVP to preregister by contacting us at 508-992-1868 or emailing derekchristianson@gmail.com..

We plan to resume monthly Roots Down - New Bedford Workshops in April 2010. Visit www.BrixBounty.com for more information.

CSA 2010 and New Website

Over the past few days we have been busy building our new BrixBounty.com website... we'll be finalizing a few items over the coming week and hope to have a full version online by the end of January.

We have also put the finishing touches on the details about our 2010 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

We have two exciting options for CSA membership in 2010:

• Protein&Vegetable Share (in partnership with Elen&T Vieira) - Mondays 2PM-7PM at Round the Bend Farm in South Dartmouth

• Vegetable Share - Fridays 2PM-7PM at Brix Bounty Farm in Dartmouth.

For more details please view or download our

• 2010 CSA Flyer
• 2010 CSA Info
• 2010 CSA Registration Form

We are excited to join a terrific group of local farmers providing CSA programs for our community. Other local CSA's in the area are listed at the SEMAP Online Farm Guide.

If you have any questions about our CSA programs after reviewing the info files please contact the farm at 508-992-1868.

Climate Change and Agriculture

A few weeks back, Katie and I had the opportunity to attend the Northeast Biochar Symposium in Amherst. The day yielded tremendous hope for the future of agriculture and its potential role in addressing climate change through carbon sequestration.

Tonight, at 5PM at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, David Orr will be presenting at SEEAL's annual meeting. In anticipation of that event I've put together a list of resources for folks looking into the impact of climate change on agriculture and agriculture's role in future solutions. Check out the November 2009 - Brix Bounty - Climate Change and Agriculture Resource Sheet.

There are so many profound ways that climate change will impact global agriculture, but I thought I would hilight one that has been on my mind lately, thanks to Lester Brown's Plan B 4.o. As glaciers in the high himalayas continue to retreat this will have a big effect on agriculture production in Asia. Many of the rivers in India and China that are used for irrigation of farmland are fed by snowmelt from these glaciers, as the flows associated with this snowmelt become less reliable we may find agricultural lands unable to rely on irrigation waters, thus lowering potential yields. Without shouting fire too loudly, I would direct folks to consider the writing on the Market Skeptics blog - as they address some of the potential impacts of global food shortages...

We can play a role in mitigating climate change, by moving toward increasing our local sources of food. Join us for a free Roots Down - New Bedford: Wintertime Garden Planning Workshop Series held in January/February 2010. Dates and Times to be announced in mid-December.

Know Your Vegetables - Biochar on Monday Nov. 16th at Brix Bounty Farm

It's been awhile...Join us for another installment of Know Your Vegetables on Monday November 16th, 6:30 PM at Brix Bounty Farm.

Katie and I are heading out to Amherst tomorrow for the Northeast Biochar Symposium 2009; should be a terrific day hearing from the leaders in the field from the Northeast and beyond. On Monday night we'll host a low-key Know Your Vegetables session focusing on Biochar production/use in small scale agriculture. Biochar - the potential for carbon sequestration, increasing nutrient holding capacity, and creating more biologically active soils are tremendous. We'll discuss these potentials and hopefully shed a bit more light on the subject. For a basic introduction I would refer you to a Brix Bounty Blog post from August 2008.

Biochar has received a bit more attention this year, as many have been drawn to its potential role in future carbon sequestration. I don't think we'll be able to solve the debate about the role of large scale biochar production and application, but perhaps we can delve into its potential for small-scale production and use. There are a couple of individuals on the Cape at New England Biochar; who we will invite to a workshop in the area come springtime. Monday's conversation will focus on the basics, biochar resources, and more. We are in the process of looking into a small scale retort to process our own biochar on the Southcoast, if this interests you please be in touch.

Also a reminder, our winter study starts the following Monday with Small is Beautiful; there is still space to register (which is free) so let me know if you would like to join the group.

Connecting Gardens with Education - Resources for Educators

The school garden movement is alive and well on the Southcoast, with a number of projects thriving...

Since early October, we have been working with Watson Elementary School in Fall River to continue to development of their Watson School Garden. The Garden was started this past Spring thanks in part to funding from the Children in Balance Program in Fall River and through the vision of community members, teachers, and the school's principal Nancy Martin-Bernier.

This fall we, alongside 4th grade teacher Jasmine Olean and community members, have been working with 3 different groups of students (K-5) in an afterschool program titled, Worms, Worms, Worms. Over the past few weeks we have been busy filling 3 new beds that will provide a total of 600 sq. feet of garden beds for next seasons garden. Once we are finished filling the beds, we'll be busy seeding garlic before winter sets in, and then move our efforts into stewarding and studying the new worm composting bins set up in the classroom.

The Watson school garden is just one of many school gardens thriving in our area; the Friends Academy just down the road from the farm has been enjoying a wildly successful growing season and Hayden-McFadden Elementary school in New Bedford is focusing on re-energizing their garden beds that have been active for years.

We have a partial list of community and education gardens on the Southcoast from this past Summer. Please check out our list of Resources for Garden Based Education for great websites and book recommendations. SEEAL (Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance) is another great organization working on sustainability and education in the area.

Nothing compares to sharing the flavors and tastes of fresh grown produce with our youth, who knew turnips could taste so good?

Brix Bounty Farm hosts a series of Winter Studies 2009/2010

Beginning Monday November 23rd... with E.F. Schumacher's Small is Beautiful

Mondays at 7 PM (with an option to join us at 6PM for a simple Soup, Salad, and Bread Potluck Supper)

" And what is my case? Simply that our most important task is to get off our present collision course. And who is there to tackle such a task? I think every one of us, whether old or young, powerful or powerless, rich or poor, influential or uninfluential. To talk about the future is useful only if it leads to action now."
-E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered

I started rereading this book a few weeks back when the rains came and slowed down our Thursday markets in New Bedford. With the continued uncertainty about the future of our economy I thought it might be nice to reflect back on a rather seminal work that has provided insight and inspiration to many folk. The book must have been mentioned on at least 3 different occasions during this past weekend's Bioneers by the Bay and it made me think - perhaps we have time to get into delve into some thought regarding economics here in the late fall, many of you are likely aware its something that I spend a fair bit of time contemplating... We were originally planning to wait to begin our study groups until January, but instead will start on Monday Nov 23rd. with Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered.

The second selection, which will start in mid-January will take us to a more traditional selection focusing on sustainable agriculture - as we'll read Francis Chaboussou's Healthy Crops: A New Agricultural Revolution. Originally published in the mid-80's in France this book focuses on Chaboussou's research into his theory of trophobiosis: which "...is a commonsense and essentially simple biochemical argument: that most pest and disease organisms depend for their growth on free amino acids and reducing sugars in solution in the plant's cell sap." Given the severe impact late blight had on our tomato crop in the northeast I reckoned it would be worthwhile to spend a bit of time considering plant health and disease resistance in greater detail this winter.

If you are interested in joining us for one or both of the study groups, please let me know and I'll add your name to the list. Schumacher's book is widely available new and used through local booksellers. Chabbousou's book is available through Acres USA or Lancaster Ag if your local book seller has trouble tracking it down. If the cost of either book is a barrier please know that scholarships are available.

Winter Study 2009/2010 Mondays at 7 PM (with an option to join us at 6PM for a simple Soup, Salad, and Bread Potluck Supper)

Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered - Monday November 23rd through approx. January 4th/11th

Healthy Crops: A New Agricultural Revolution - Jan 25th through approx. Feb 22nd/March 1st

We'll plan on gathering for 6 evenings for each book, leaving a little room in the schedule for any weather related cancellations.

To register for the either Winter Study (registration is free) please contact Derek Christianson at 508-992-1868 or via email.

Roots Down New Bedford - 4PM Tuesday Nov. 3rd

Join us for the last installment of Roots Down - New Bedford for the 2009 season. We'll meet at 4PM at the Lawler Library, 745 Rockdale Ave in New Bedford.

The topic for this month's discussion will be: Wintertime Tasks for a Terrific 2010 Vegetable Garden: Mulching, Reviewing the Season, and an Organic Garden Reading List. We'll use our final session of the season to discuss common winter chores - from mulching the garden, tool care, and composting to the ever important review of the growing season. There will be plenty of time for general questions and discussions on a wide array of topics including your favorite vegetable gardening books, magazines, and seed catalogs. Feel free to bring along pictures of the garden and or your favorite book or catalog to share with the group.

Community Garden Film and Bristol County Beekeepers Monthly Meeting Tonight, Tuesday Oct. 27th

The Bristol County Beekeepers group meets on the 4th Tuesday evening of every month at Bristol Agricultural High School in Dighton. Visit their website for more information on beekeeping happenings in the area. Much has been written about the plight of the honeybee, suffering from Colony Collapse Disorder, for a thoughtful analysis I recommend Gunther Hauk's Toward Saving the Honeybee. Hauk is in the process of developing a honeybee sanctuary, Spikenard Farm in Virginia. For those interested in getting started with beekeeping, Bristol Community College offers beginning beekeeping courses.

Also this evening UMass Dartmouth's Sustainable Film Series continues with Another World is Plantable, a documentary focusing on community gardens, at the Library Browsing Area, 6:30 PM. To connect with community garden efforts, we have a partial list of Greater New Bedford community and educational gardens operating during the Summer 2009. The Southcoast Community Gardens Coalition currently has a small pool of funding from the Greater New Bedford United Way mini-grants program to assist with soil testing in community/educational gardens in the area. If you would like assistance with soil testing, please contact Derek at 508-992-1868.

Bioneers by the Bay 2009

Come on down to New Bedford, Massachusetts this coming weekend for a great 2009 Bioneers by the Bay... Read Will Allen's take on the Good Food Revolution in the Boston Globe earlier this week.

There are a number of food related speakers and workshop sessions (see link for full list), including:

Will Allen from Growing Power, Will was one of this Summer's NOFA Conference keynote speakers. In addition to his Friday morning keynote, he will also be leading a Friday afternoon workshop alongside Rich Pederson from Southside Community Land Trust and local community gardeners from Serenity Gardens in New Bedford. The focus of the workshop will be on soil restoration in urban agriculture through composting and marketing and improving food access in urban areas.

On Friday evening there will be a showing of the film "Fresh" with a q+a with the filmmaker and other panelists.

Sunday morning's keynote presentations include two shining beacons of light among the sustainable agriculture movement: Vandana Shiva and Woody Tasch. These are just a few of the amazing presenters who will be sharing words of inspiration over the weekend.

Food is just one of the themes that is covered by the conference... other keynoters include: Robin Chase, Winona Laduke, Paul Hawken, Paul Epstein, Juan Pachecho, Nipun Mehta, Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris, Khepe-Ra Maat-Het-Heru and Climbing poeTree. Of course there will be a 350.org event on Saturday afternoon as well.

Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change, the Marion Institute’s 5th annual conference will be held in historic Downtown New Bedford, MA, on October 22-25, 2009. Bioneers by the Bay provides an opportunity for concerned citizens to meet with environmental, scientific, and social justice innovators to address the Earth’s most pressing challenges. We are planning a rather remarkable three days of live keynote speakers, afternoon workshops, an extensive Youth Initiative program, a downlink of the 20th Annual Bioneers Conference in California [www.bioneers.org], an exhibition hall featuring sustainable businesses and organizations, a 350 Day of Action event, films, music, art installations, a farmers’ market and local & organic food. Also we have scholarships and volunteer opportunities available—if you want to come to the conference we want to help get you there. For more information, please visit connectingforchange.org or call 508.748.0816

Sustainabilty Council - Food&Ag Meeting Oct 21st and Sustainable Food Resources

Our next Southeastern Massachusetts Council on Sustainability - Food&Ag Working Group meeting will be held on Wednesday Oct. 21st at Bristol Community College (specific room tbd).
You can review previous meeting notes in the Forum: Food & Ag section of the Council website.

In March of this year we convened for a Sustainability Exchange focusing on Sustainable Food at UMass Dartmouth; Please check out the 2-Page Sustainable Food Resource List prepared for the March gathering for a wide ranging list of links related to Sustainable Food on the Southcoast.

Bounties of the Fall - Great Events Happening in October/November on the Southcoast and beyond

If you haven't seen the weekly Sustainability Almanac email blast published by UMass Dartmouth, I highly suggest checking it out. It's a great place to list events and find out about happenings on the entire southcoast.

As the fall sets in there are a number of terrific events happening in the area - either for pleasure or purpose...

Tuesday October 6th - 4PM - Roots Down New Bedford see earlier post on the blog today.

Tuesday October 6th 8:00 PM - Antique Apples and the Working of a Century Farm
with Sue Smith of Noakochoke Orchards at the Dartmouth Grange (1133 Fisher Road, Dartmouth, MA)

Wednesday October 7th - Noon - Southcoast Community Gardens Coalition Meeting at the Coachman's House meeting room at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House&Garden Museum.

Wednesday October 7th - 6PM - Joel Salatin speaking at the Association to Preserve Cape Cod annual meeting in Hyannis, MA (members - free, guests $20)

Wednesday October 7th 6:30 PM - Sustainability Film Series - UMass Dartmouth Library Browsing Area - A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba Brazil

Wednesday October 14th - Environmental Coffee Hour in New Bedford -
Autumn Coffee Hour on October 14th in Room 314 of City Hall from 7:30 AM to about 8:30 AM.

Friday October 16th 10AM at the ATMC in Fall River - Discussing Support for the Financial Revitalization in Southeastern Massachusetts' Agricultural Industry.
including remarks from Ag Commisioner Scott Soares.

Saturday October 17th the Dartmouth YMCA and Sharing the Harvest will host its Annual Fall Festival - including a road race in the morning and family friendly farm activities in the afternoon and a haunted hayride in the evening.

Definitely Not to be Missed: Thursday October 22 - Sunday October 25 - Bioneers by the Bay will be in downtown New Bedford. Including an event on Saturday October 24 in conjunction with 350.org's International Day of Climate Action. Featured keynote speaker of ag. interest include: Will Allen of Growing Power, Vandana Shiva, and Woody Tasch and a viewing of the new movie Fresh.

November 12th - 14th - Farm Based Education Conference in Tarrytown, NY.

November 13th and 14th - NESAWG It Takes a Region: A Working Conference in Albany, NY.

and finally... Friday November 13th - the first New England Biochar Symposium will be held at UMass Amherst.

Roots Down New Bedford - October 6th - Improving Your Soil

Our free Roots Down - New Bedford program continues this month on Tuesday October 6th at 4PM at the Lawler Branch Library - 745 Rockdale Ave. in New Bedford. The topic for this month's discussion will be: Improving Your Soils - Fall Soil Amendments for Organic Gardens.

The fall is one of the best time to apply rock minerals (hi-cal lime, soft rock phosphate, etc.) because the ensuing winter provides time for the minerals to be incorporated into the soil and made more available for the coming growing season. We'll discuss some of the various mineral amendments available through the NOFA Bulk Order, review soil tests if you have questions about them, and more.

This year, NOFA-Mass is offering it's first ever Fall Bulk Order - Oct 14th deadline. This is a terrific way to track down some hard to find minerals and soil amendments.

Looking for info on how to deal with Late Blight this fall - see this important info from UMass extension.

about Roots Down - New Bedford*

what: A Free Monthly Series Focusing on Sustainable Gardening Techniques

why: To help new and experienced gardeners gain a deeper understanding of methods used in healthy food production.

To help build local food security for our community.

*Roots Down - New Bedford is part of the Safe Soils for Healthy Food Project presented by Brix Bounty Farm and the Rotch-Jones-Duff House&Garden Museum and is made possible by the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts - SEEAL Fund.

Working Waterfront Festival - Sept 26th and 27th in New Bedford

This year's Working Waterfront Festival theme is Surf and Turf: Fisherman and Farmers Finding Common Ground. In addition to their annual celebration of the area's fishing industry the festival will include an agricultural focus. The festival includes a wide variety of family friendly activities, including: cross-cultural exchanges, music, waterfront tours, great food and more. Brix Bounty Farm will have a table with information about our education workshops - Roots Down and tips for home gardeners to grow great vegetables. It's all free! and a great way to spend a day this upcoming weekend celebrating our local culture.

Additionally, on Friday afternoon the 25th at 3:30 PM the festival will host a roundtable discussion about the recent development of CSF - community supported fisheries in New England. It's not too late to RSVP.

For recent media coverage of the festival see today's article by Becky Evans in the Standard-Times or listen to a recording on WCAI of The Point with Mindy Todd from Wed. Sept 16th (a half-hour discussion between Mindy, Laura Orleans of the Working Waterfront Festival, a local fisherman Ed Barrett, and myself).

Stop by the Brix Bounty table and say hello!

SE Mass Council on Sustainability Meeting

The next Council on Sustainability meeting will be held this coming Thursday, Sept 17th at 3:45 at the ATMC in Fall River. Douglas Foy will be a guest speaker, as well as updates from the 5 working groups. More info is available on the council website.

Roots Down New Bedford - Sept. 1 - Seeds to Sow in September and Extending the Season with Row Covers

Join us at our next Roots Down New Bedford workshop,

Short and Sweet Salad Greens: Seeds to Sow in September and Extending the Season with Row Covers
With the recent return of cool temperatures at night, we are reminded that fall is drawing near. Now is a great time to do some late seeding in the garden to ensure a fresh supply of greens throughout the mid-fall to early winter. From basics like Lettuce, Radishes, and Spinach to specialty crops like Arugula, Mache, and Mizuna there are still a wide variety of seeds that can be sown in the coming days. In addition to discussing crop varieties we'll also look at season extension strategies to make the most of the fall harvest.

Our monthly Roots Down workshops are held at 4PM on the first Tuesday of every month, this month it's Tuesday September 1st, at the Lawler Branch Library (745 Rockdale Ave.) in New Bedford. All of the Roots Down New Bedford workshops are free and open to the entire community. Download the complete Fall 2009 Schedule.

Have gardening questions, interested in following up on a Roots Down topic? You can catch me every Thursday, from 2PM-6PM, at the Wing's Court Farmers' Market in downtown New Bedford. In addition to being available to answer questions, we'll have our Brix Bounty tip sheets, info on soil testing, and other resources focusing on sustainability.

about Roots Down - New Bedford*

what: A Free Monthly Series Focusing on Sustainable Gardening Techniques

why: To help new and experienced gardeners gain a deeper understanding of methods used in healthy food production.

To help build local food security for our community.

*Roots Down - New Bedford is part of the Safe Soils for Healthy Food Project presented by Brix Bounty Farm and the Rotch-Jones-Duff House&Garden Museum and is made possible by the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts - SEEAL Fund.