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Organic and Sustainable Agriculture News
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Elderberry business blossoms
Maine Sunday Telegram - 2/7/2010.  By Beth Quimby – Dresden: When Edie Johnston moved to the Eldertide farm on the banks of the Eastern River, she was entranced by the wild elderberry bushes she found growing on the property. With a lifelong interest in the medicinal properties of herbs and plants, Johnston soon decided to do some research and discovered the tart fruit has long played a role in folk medicine. Current research shows the berries have some of the highest levels of antioxidants and flavonoids, which may have disease-fighting properties, of any berry. |
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Use pumpkin as a versatile base for soups
Bangor Daily News - 2/6/2010. By Sandy Oliver – Whatever pumpkins we haven’t used by now do begin to get spots on them by this time of year. What to do with them? I could cook them and freeze the pulp for pumpkin bread or waffles. I could make pie, which would make the other person in this household a very happy camper. My personal opinion is that a person can eat just so much pie, and I think pumpkin is a nice vegetable. I cook it sometimes as if it were a squash. |
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The year of kohlrabi
Bangor Daily News - 2/6/2010. By Reeser Manley – No other plant species can rival the diversity of vegetable garden forms found within the cabbage species, Brassica oleracea, which includes cabbages and cauliflower, kale and kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. Since we grow all of these biennials as annuals, we never see the flowers or we would not be surprised by this lumping; in bloom, they all look pretty much alike. What is this kohlrabi? I’m sure some of you have grown it, but most, particularly those new to vegetable gardening, have little or no knowledge of this member of the group. |
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The N2 dilemma: Is America fertilizing disaster?
Grist - 2/5/2010. By Tom Philpott – Where does our food come from? These days, most people might think corn, the ubiquitous grain that provides the bulk of feed for our livestock; most of the sweetener for our soft drinks and snacks; and a large amount of our cooking fat. But where does the corn – and other staple crops – come from? The answer to that question lies beneath our feet. Healthy soil is our food system’s bottom line. |
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State, industry agree on DECA phaseout
Kennebec Journal - 2/5/2010. By Ethan Wilensky-Lanford – Representatives from an environmental advocacy group and a company that distributes plastic pallets containing a toxic flame retardant told lawmakers Thursday they were close to reaching a compromise to phase out new pallet production "as soon as practicable." |
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So, just what is a CSA?
Kennebec Journal - 2/5/2010. By Denis Thoet - Imagine a group of people sending you checks for $100, $350 and $500 from January to June so that you can stockpile around $20,000 to 30,000 before you have to produce a thing in return. And there are no signed contracts with specific delivery requirements. |
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Permit bank to help rural fishing fleet
Portland Press Herald - 2/5/2010. By John Richardson – Federal and state agencies are setting up a commercial fishing permit bank to support small-scale fishermen in rural ports along the Maine coast. The bank would buy and hold groundfish permits, which entitle owners to a certain number of fishing days or pounds of haddock, flounder and other species. It would then divide up the fishing rights and lease them to eligible fishermen to help them stay in business until fish populations recover. |
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MOFGA is....
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Introduction to Organic Farming Short Course
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We're offering two sessions this year. The first will take place on February 4 & 5 at The Island Institute in Rockland. The second will take place on March 3 & 4 at Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport. Details.
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MOFGA Certified Growers' Meetings
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MOFGA Certification Services will host two meetings for staff to interact with and receive feedback from constituents, and for growers to discuss isses as a group. MOFGA's Organic Marketing Coordinator, Melissa White Pillsbury, will talk about marketing and MOFGA's online directory. The meetings will take place on:
- February 3rd from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport
- February 10th from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. at MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity
On February 13th, MOFGA Certification Services and MOFGA's Agricultural Services staff will host an Aroostook Organic Growers' Seminar. at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Musuem in Littleton from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This seminar will cover certification questions and issues, organic crop improvement topics and food safety.
We'll post details about these meetings in January. |
CSA and CSF Fairs
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Sunday February 28th from 1 to 4 p.m. Come to one of the 12 fair locations statewide to: learn about buying a share; become acquainted with local seasonal foods; meet your local farmers and fishermen; and discover how you can grow a relationship with them. Community Supported Fisheries may not be represented in all locations. The fairs are sponsored by MOFGA, the Maine Council of Churches, and local organizations at each site. Free admission. Each location will have its own local flavor including local produce and other farm products, light refreshments featuring local, seasonal foods, a Seafood Throwdown cooking competition with local chefs and more. Details. For more information, contact Melissa White Pillsbury, MOFGA's Organic Marketing Coordinator, by email at melissa@mofga.org or by phone at 207-568-4142.
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MOFGA's Spring Growth Conference
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March 13, 2010 at MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity. Details coming soon.
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MOFGA's Organic Orcharding Workshops
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A series of 4 day-long sessions, covering theory and hands-on practice in organic fruit tree and orchard management. Designed for beginner to intermediate orchardists managing backyard plantings to larger orchards. Pre-registration is required.
- March 20 - Pruning Fruit Trees and Early Spring Orchard Care
- April 24 - Grafting Fruit Trees
- May 8 - Organic Orcharding 101 With Michael Phillips
- July 31 - Bud Grafting With Delton Curtis
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Seed Swap and Scion Exchange
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| March 27, 2010, from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. at MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center. The Maine Tree Crop Alliance, the Maine Seed Saving Network, Fedco and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association will host this event. For gardeners and orchardists, it’s like the most wonderful flea market in the world. Not only that but most of the best stuff is free! Details. |
Grow Your Own Organic Garden
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April 1, 2010. Each year MOFGA sponsors this statewide educational event at more than 20 locations in Maine. Classes run from 6 to 9 p.m. The workshops are open to the public and to people of all gardening skill and experience levels. They are designed to provide folks with essential skills and knowledge needed to make a transition from conventional to organic gardening. Details.
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Commercial Kitchen Licensing Workshop
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April 8. SOLD OUT! At Royal River Natural Foods in Freeport. Designed for farmers and others interested in home-food processing for resale. Workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The morning panel presentation will be moderated by Cheryl Wixson, MOFGA's resident chef. Licensing requirements, food safety, and liability insurance will be covered by panel members, including: A representative from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension; Russell Libby, Executive Director of MOFGA; and a representative from the Maine Department of Agriculture. The afternoon program will be dedicated to a discussion of labeling requirements and organic certification requirements with Kate Newkirk, Associate Director MOFGA Certification Services LLC; and a round table sharing of experiences. Registration fee: $25 for MOFGA members and $35 for non-members. Please note: Lunch is not included in this workshop, but is available for purchase at the venue. If you would like to be on a waiting list, please call MOFGA at 568-4142.
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Farm Tractor Workshop
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| April 17 & 18 at MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in Unity. A hands-on workshop that demystifies tractors and empowers tractor users to operate and maintain their machines more safely, and with greater skill and confidence. Details. |
Farm Training Project Workshops
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We offer these workshops about once a week during the summer. The workshops are designed for participants in MOFGA's Apprenticeship Program, but are free and open to anyone interested. They are intended to give apprentices and other young, beginning, and aspiring farmers the chance to visit other farms, learn from farmers about their areas of expertise, and socialize with peers. The workshops follow an informal format. They generally begin in the late afternoon with a farm tour, followed by a presentation and demonstration on the topic of the day. Participants are then invited to stay for a potluck supper and discussion. Details.
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Common Ground Country Fair
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September 24, 25 & 26, 2010. Always the third weekend after Labor Day. Mark your calendars! This is MOFGA's signature event celebrating Maine's organic harvest. Details.
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The Great Maine Apple Day
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October 23, 2010. Sponsored by MOFGA, Fedco and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Educational workshops and talks. Rare and heirloom apples on display and for tasting. Vendors. Details.
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See the full calendar... |
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PO Box 170
294 Crosby Brook Road
Unity, ME 04988
Phone: 207-568-4142
Fax: 207-568-4141
Email: mofga@mofga.org
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