Business

Go-Berry!!!

1 Comment

Molly Feinstein is the owner of Go-berry, a frozen yogurt shop in Noho and Downtown Amherst. A fairly new business, Go-Berry opened up in Noho in May of 2010, a mere 3 months after Molly and Alex (her husband) decided to quit their jobs in Boston and start up a business in the Pioneer Valley. Go-berry makes all their own frozen yogurt, using just milk, yogurt, sugar and fruit puree; unlike other frozen yogurt shops, who water down their yogurt to bulk up the product.

Coming from a background in healthcare, Molly never really had any experience in farming or restaurants. The idea spurred one day when she was in line at Starbucks thinking “I wonder what the heck is in this food and where it’s from?” Since then, local food has been a part of her business plan. She uses local sources such as Sidehill for yogurt, Mapleline Farm for milk, and various other farms  for the fruit puree.

Go-berry and its owners are new to the Valley, but their enthusiasm and curiosity have gained them many friends. The quick success and growth of their business is a great example of the local food community in this Valley. By finding their niche market and sticking to their values, Molly Feinstein has proven that local food doesn’t mean just perusing Farmer’s Markets and buying CSA shares; you can enjoy your guilty pleasures, without the guilt.

Business

The “Real” Behind Real Pickles

Leave a comment
Dan Rosenberg explains the lacto-fermentation process

Dan Rosenberg started his business in 2001 not solely as a way to make a living, but as a way to make change. Real Pickles produces 12 naturally fermented vegetable products out of Greenfield, MA using produce from 6 organic farms within a 40 mile radius of their facility. You can find their products at over 350 natural food stores throughout New England. Since starting this endeavor, Dan and his crew have received well-deserved recognition from the press and organizations; they were deemed a “Local Hero” by CISA and won a Good Food Award for their Garlic Dill Pickles last year (they are finalists in the Good Food Awards again this year!).

Dan’s devotion to a regional food system definitely presents him challenges- our current industrial food system doesn’t provide much infrastructure for people wanting to support local farms. But the fact that Real Pickles exists and is thriving is a great indication of how more businesses could operate in the future to support a more regional and local food system.

Besides being devoted to local food, the folks at Real Pickles are ultra-conscious of their consumers and the world around them. Dan was inspired to start fermenting after learning about Dr. Weston A. Price, a researcher who found people living in non-industrialized societies that still consumed fermented foods had significant nutritional benefits compared to people in industrial societies (where fermented foods were replaced with their factory-made “sterile” foods). Real Pickles is pioneering the comeback of naturally fermented foods in this area, and health-conscious people are definitely starting to catch on. Real Pickles also has a blog, Ferment, in which the staff connects their work to what is happening in the world (OWS, sustainable agriculture, etc.).

In addition to their social awareness, Real Pickles as a business is a great model for an energy efficient operation, as they are aware of how their actions affect the environment. Less than a year ago, Real Pickles’ neighbors Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics installed solar panels on the roof of the Real Pickles facility, making them 100% solar powered. Besides using solely solar power, Real Pickles also strives to lower the amount of energy they need in the first place. They use very little machinery whatsoever and do most of their work by hand.

Real Pickles is a great model for a sustainable business that supports a local food system. Any person looking to help farmers in their area by processing their produce can learn so much from Dan and every other person who has helped make Real Pickles “real.”

[Astrid O’Connor]

Ginger Lover's variety pack (www.realpickles.com)
Cabbage-based Real Pickles products (www.realpickles.com)
Farming

Jennifer Hartley-Grow Food Northampton

Leave a comment

 

Jennifer Hartley and her daughter, Lily

Jennifer Hartley, a Northampton resident, is one of the founding    board members of the non-profit group Grow Food Northampton. Jennifer’s interest in the project grew from her interest in food and the power of community agriculture in bringing people together, as well as her concern for food shortages and the state of modern commercial farming.

In 2010, GFN, driven by the commitment and energy of its fanatic members, waged a grassroots campaign to purchase 121 acres in Florence (formerly the Bean and Allard Farms) and start a community farm. The group set out to educate Northampton residents about their cause to rally support and raise funds, eventually reaching their goal and purchasing the land. The project was funded primarily by individual donations and received grant funding as well.  The City of Northampton pre-paid a 198-year-lease for the Florence Organic Community Garden portion of the site, which enabled that parcel to be purchased.

In the community garden, which will have its first growing season in spring 2012, individuals will pay a reasonable fee for a small plot of farm land.  GFN will not only supply this land for public use, but also will work to educate individuals on how to successfully manage their plot.

GFN leases land to community-minded organic farmers on long term leases. These long leases allow new farmers to make substantial investments in the land, making them feel truly connected to the land and promoting the development of operations that are accessible and educational to the public.

Grow Food Northampton is working to break down the barriers between consumers and farmers. Their commitment and values have driven them so far as a young organization, and with no sign of slowing efforts, GFN should prove to be a staple in the Pioneer Valley’s community food movement well into the future.

 

Food Policy and Advocacy

Anne Cody

Leave a comment

           Anne Cody is a consultant for the Massachusetts Farm to School Program, which is a program created to help farmers distribute their fresh food to their local school community.

The program is beneficial on many different levels to both the farmers and the school system. Local farmers benefit not only from having a large year round paying customer but even get to sell some of the foods that would have otherwise been rejected by other consumers (for example potatoes that would have been too small are PERFECT for tater-tots!). The Schools are able to serve healthier, better quality food to their students, create a relationship with their local farmers (students get to go on field trips to the farms) and remove a large portion of their imported food.

When Anne Cody isn’t building bonds between schools and farms she’s working on her other program: The Kindergarten Initiative, which, similarly to the Mass Farm to School Program, helps offer locally grown snacks and nutrition education to Worcester kindergarteners and their parents.

Some of the toughest obstacles that Anne faces are convincing some of the lower income schools to buy local food because of the difficulties of organizing school financing. She feels her job is making a large difference in society and is an exciting change for the school system. She is grateful to live in a community, which is such a large support for local food and I believe that with her successes already, her program could eventually join local farms and schools together all over country!

 

Farm to School: http://www.farmtoschool.org/MA/programs.htm

Food Policy and Advocacy

Lets bring more fresh local food to the city!

Leave a comment

Farmers Markets are one of the fastest growing sectors of the food economy in the U.S.

Notice on the map the concentration of farmers markets in some areas of the countries.  A few of  the markets in New England are reporting that farmers seem to be competing with each other for the same customers.  The USDA reports that less than one-percent of the population buys food direct from farmers on a regular basis.  So how will new farmers find customers in these regions?  One way is to bring the food to the people!

While many CSA’s have a delivery stop “in town” here is one that specializes in it!   Farmers to You offers products from over 25 suppliers in central Vermont and delivers to people in the Boston metro area.

This business represents a evolution of Community Supported Agriculture, where individual families make a commitment to buy at least $30 worth of produce each week.  FarmersToYou deliver to one of 9 suburban pickup sites or even direct to your doorstep or office in urban Boston.

Most people appreciate excellent quality, fresh produce, meat, milk and eggs but are generally unwilling to give up the convenience of a large supermarket.  Farmers To You makes getting fresh New England grown food possible in areas where there are no farms – and makes it convenient too!

Farmers To You will deliver to your doorstep or office by bicycle in urban Boston.

Local Food

A Few Creative Ideas for Local Food Markets

Leave a comment

 Signage matters!   Here are a few

Creative label
Simple Sign
Attention getting

—————————————————————————

Remember Value Added Products!

Home made cookies
Cupcakes
Pet Treats

Mobile Carts Are a Low Cost Way to Get Started

A pickle cart
"Free Range" Coffee!

To make a farmers market more friendly

Invite dogs but make the rules clear
Free Water on a hot day


Business

Welcome to our class project

Leave a comment

This blog was created by the students in PLSOILIN 265 – Sustainable Agriculture class during the fall semester, 2011.  Our purpose is to celebrate the many individuals, families and small businesses that contribute to the “nation of farmers” in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachuchusetts.

Students were asked to interview someone they admire or want to get to know better, asking some of the following questions:

  • What do you do?
  • How did you get here?
  • How do you stay motivated?
  • What obstacles (if any) have you had to overcome?
  •  How would you describe your network of people/support?
  • Web links to organization/business/farm etc.

This blog is the result!

This project was partially inspired by three incredible women who joined us in class to discuss their own work and lives.  They were (from left to right in the photo):

Thanks so much to thsee three amazing women and the many local heroes who agreed to be interviewed.

Local Food

Vote for democracy and community – buy local food

2 Comments

Those of us living in Western Massachusetts are privileged to have lots of farmers markets and CSA’s offering excellent quality, locally-grown fresh food at a very reasonable price.   Many people buy from local farmers (who are also our neighbors) because the food is so good.  But that’s not the only reason I walk my dog to North Amherst on Saturday mornings.

At a time when our global food system is threatened and corporate political power is out of control, many of us choose to buy local as an act of protest.  We “vote for democracy and community” with our dollars by not supporting a global food system whenever possible.

I was thinking about this while walking Riley down to the North Amherst Farmers Market on Saturday morning.  It was a lovely day, but I was troubled by the political theater around a “manufactured” debt crisis.  I had sent a few emails to congress, but was feeling helpless.   Economic recession… debt crisis… corporate influence on government and control of the food system… it all seemed connected.

The global food system favors large, financially efficient businesses which exploit people, undermine democracy, erode community and degrade natural resources in order to maximize profits for shareholders.  When economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few multi-national corporations, it not only results in the erosion of environmental quality and social justice –  but creates a political situation that undermines democracy.  And I help create this situation every time I buy food that is offered by the global food system.

So Riley and I went for a walk…

As we arrived at the farmers market, Joe Swartz (the manager of Swartz Family Farm, which is right around the corner) had a warm welcome for Riley, who he knows by name (he then said hello to me).  We love the salad greens offered by Sarah and Joe Swartz, who grow entirely without pesticides.

At J & J Farms we said hello to Laura and bought some sweet corn (that was grown within a mile of the market) and then a few homemade dog biscuits from Leigh’s Mixing Bowl of Haydenville.  Leigh, who stopped to play with Riley, learned to bake from her grandmother Irene (I don’t know if Grandma is responsible for the dog biscuit recipe, but Riley surely appreciated the biscuits and the attention).

My wife Phyl (who stopped by while running errands) bought some local maple syrup from Parkers Sugar House, which is just over the New Hampshire line, for our son and daughter-in-law who we will visit this month in Colorado (we try to give locally produced gifts, whenever possible).  And finally I had a nice conversation with my friend Mary Hager (who also is the best web designer I know) about how to cook a goat!

I came home a little less depressed and well stocked with local food.  Maybe I’ll see you at the market next Saturday!  We can talk about the debt crisis, how to cook sweet corn and maybe even about how to raise your own hens!

Check out a few of my pictures from the market.  And if you can’t make it to North Amherst on Saturday morning, don’t forget the Wednesday afternoon market at Kendrick Park or the Downtown Market on Saturday.

Lots of good food –  and maybe a touch of democracy and community!

==========================================================================

For more ideas, videos and challenges along these lines, please join my Facebook Group; Just Food Now.  And go here for more of my World.edu blog posts.

Education

Please join me in supporting local farming, education and community at NACF

Leave a comment

TO:  Friends of local farming

FROM:  John Gerber

I love local farms and community farming, and although I have a huge garden that provides my family with much of our produce, chicken and eggs, I still volunteer to support the North Amherst Community Farm.  I’m asking you to join me in helping to promote local farming by making a financial contribution to NACF today.

Please show your support for local farms and community farming!

The North Amherst Community Farm is a community based non-profit organization which saved the land from development that is currently farmed by Simple Gifts Farm in North Amherst, MA.  Part of the NACF annual operating budget is based on gifts from our supporters and we are now at 72% of our fundraising goal for the year which ends June 30th, 2011.

Here are a few highlights of our recent activities:

  •  Amherst Town Meeting voted to give us $25,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to begin repair of the historic barn – future home of workshops, farm camp, community dances, music and more.
  • We hosted a fun day at the farm last Saturday – kids got to dig in the dirt, play with worms, and plant seeds for the new Children’s Garden and then hop aboard a hayride around the farm to meet the farm animals.
  • In July and August, we will partner with the Amherst Survival Center and Simple Gifts Farm to provide more fresh veggies and teach cooking classes at ASC.
  • And we are planning a full line up of educational programs again this summer, culminating with our annual Harvest Festival on September 18!

To help us continue this good work, please consider making a donation of $5.00, $50, or $500.oo to NACF online through Network for Good – just click on the button above – or use our mail in donation form.

——————————————————————————–

A Brief History of North Amherst Community Farm

In 2006, the North Amherst Community Farm (NACF) was created when the Dziekanowski farm, one of the last working farms in North Amherst, was purchased and saved from development. Funds were raised through a combination of private donations and town and state funding.

NACF, run by a local volunteer board of directors, worked out a long-term lease with Simple Gifts Farm (SGF) to run a community supported agricultural operation on the land. By combining their efforts, these two organizations have formed a successful public-private partnership that promotes sustainable, organic farming methods, provides healthy farm products to the region, educates the community on food and farming issues, and helps preserve the agricultural heritage and character of the North Amherst Village Center Historic District.

What Do We Mean by a Community Farm?

NACF’s mission is to promote and support sustainable agriculture in the heart of North Amherst. The primary objective of North Amherst Community Farm is to preserve and develop its 35 acre farm site into a productive and educational agricultural resource for the community.

The vision of NACF is to cultivate the farm as a unique community and natural resource. NACF will be a hub of community life and home to a working, organic and sustainable farm operation while maintaining the integrity of the wildlife corridor, natural landscape, and the public walking trails through and around the farm.

NACF will create more equitable access to fresh, organic food for the 10,000 people living within a 1-1/2 mile radius of the farm by leasing the land to a Community Supported Agriculture farm operation and by finding ways to make the food and the farm experience accessible to all. NACF’s educational and cultural programming will strengthen the bonds within our diverse community; engage a wide diversity of adults and children in the culture of farming and raising farm animals, and raise awareness of the connection between sustainable food production and distribution and the health of the environment.

Please join me in supporting this terrific community activity!  A donation of $25 will make you a member of the North Amherst Community Farm.

Backyard Chickens, Local Food

Amherst, MA passes zoning bylaw to allow backyard hens!

2 Comments

On May 25, 2011 the Amherst Town Meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a citizen’s petition article which makes it easier to raise hens in town legally!

The new bylaw was designed to achieve three objectives:

1.   To protect the health, safety and care of the animals
2.   To protect neighbors from noise, odors and nuisance
3.   To reduce the bureaucratic and financial barrier to raising hens legally

 A small group of residents has been working on this bylaw change for almost a year.  By the time the article came up for a vote it was supported by:

  • The Select Board
  • The Planning Board
  • The Board of Health
  • The Agricultural Commission
  • The Health Director
  • The Animal Welfare Officer
  • And over 200 Amherst residents who signed a petition in favor of the article
Me and one of my hens

Here is the story…..

Raising egg-laying hens is a safe, healthy and educational family activity.  Hens are quieter, cleaner and easier to care for than dogs.  

         But…….

A major barrier for many Amherst residents to raising hens was our town zoning rules which required many residents to go through a burdensome and expensive permitting process. 

 A Citizens Petition Article was proposed to Town Meeting to allow safe and responsible raising of hens and meat rabbits in all non-commercial zoning districts while putting the responsibility for protecting the rights of neighbors and the health of the animals in the hands of the Health Director and the Animal Welfare Officer, rather than the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The proposal was to eliminate zoning restrictions against hens and rabbits and allow up to 12 animals by right.  Sites where animals are to be raised will be licensed by the Health Department for a minimal fee, homeowners will receive educational materials on the safe care for animals, and sites may be inspected annually by the Animal Welfare Officer.   The new zoning bylaw is described here.   In addition, changes were made in the Animal Welfare Bylaw to protect the animals and the neighbors.  Relevant sections of the new Animal Welfare Bylaw are posted here.

Many other cities and towns are working on this as well.  Here are a few sample “chicken laws.”   And here is a blog post describing the political process in more detail and sharing some suggestions on how to be successful…

….get involved – it is possible to change the law!