37th NOFA Summer Conference

Friday, August 12 to Sunday, August 14

Farm of the Month: 

Two Girls Farm

By Sarah Antel, Two Girls Farm

Two Girls Farm is an organically-run, diversified homestead located on fifty-four acres of fields and woods in rural southwest New Hampshire.  We engage in traditional New England agricultural activities, including animal husbandry, woodworking, maple sugaring, baking, vegetable-raising, and forestry.  We run an apprenticeship program which provides an opportunity for an individual or couple to gain a diverse range of experience and skills. 

Our hens are pasture raised in the hills of Acworth, NH.  They have constant access to fresh food, water, and the outdoors where they eat grass, insects, and weeds from the garden.  

Taste these delicious treats at Hannah Grimes Marketplace on Saturday, August 13, 12-3pm!

Planet Marsmallows available at

Hannah Grimes Marketplace

Recipe of the Month:

Udon Soup with Bok Choy

and Poached Egg

By Emma Christensen, The Kitchn 

The bok choy at our local Japanese market looked so fresh and green the other day that we had to pick some up. We also nabbed a few packets of udon noodles and a bunch of spring onions. Cooked in some chicken broth back home, we had a very satisfying bowl of soup within 15 minutes of walking in the door!

I used packages of pre-cooked udon noodles in my soup, but you can also use dry udon. Add the dry udon directly to the broth and let it cook for a minute or two. When it's just pliable, add the eggs and continue with the recipe. 

Serves 2

4-5 cups chicken broth
2 whole star anise
1 stick cinnamon
2 eggs
2 7-ounce packages pre-cooked udon noodles
4-5 bok choy leaves, sliced into ribbons
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
3-4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Bring the chicken broth to a simmer in a medium sauce pan. (The broth should be about 2 inches deep in the pan.) Add the star anise and cinnamon and simmer for 5-10 minutes to infuse the broth with the spices while you prepare the other ingredients.

Crack the eggs into separate measuring cups and slip them one at a time into the broth. Cook for two minutes. Add the noodles and bok choy, and stir very gently so as not to break the eggs. Cook for an additional two minutes, until the egg whites are completely set but the middles are still loose. (Cook for an additional minute if you like your yolks set.)

Off the heat, gently stir in the soy sauce, garlic powder, and the spring onions. Taste and add more soy sauce if necessary. Remove the star anise and cinnamon with a slotted spoon. Divide the soup between two bowls and eat immediately.

Fresh, local eggs available at

Hannah Grimes Marketplace

Cheshire County Farm Conversation

Wednesday, August 3, 6:30-8:30pm

Jaffrey Civic Center, Jaffrey 

What does the future hold for the 150 year-old Cheshire County Farm and former County jail? Join fellow Cheshire County residents to find out more about what's happening at the publicly-owned farm in Westmoreland. Share your ideas for the future uses of the Farm's property and buildings. Delicious Walpole Creamery ice cream will be served! For more info email Libby Weiland at eweiland@antioch.edu, call 603-756-2988 ext.116, or visit CheshireConservation.org .

2nd Annual Northeast USA Rice Conference

Saturday, August 6, 9am-4pm

Akaogi Farm, Westminster West, VT

Following the 2009 Sustainable Rice Production for the Northeast Workshop, this conference will focus on wildlife conservation issues associated with rice paddy systems in the morning and general rice agriculture topics in the afternoon. Lunch will highlight the importance of rice as a staple food for many cultures and will include short presentations by local chefs. $30 ($20 students)- register ASAP, space is limited! RiceNortheasternUS.org

Beginner Beekeeping Workshop 

Saturday, August 6, 9am-12pm

Imagine That HONEY!, Swanzey

Learn how to get started and keep healthy bees. $25 per couple. Led by Dean and Jodi Turner, 603-381-1717.

Backyard Chickens Workshop

Sunday, August 7, 2-4pm

High Hopes Farm, Westmoreland 

The Monadnock Localvores and Darcy Wilson will host a Backyard Chicken Workshop in Westmoreland at 580 Glebe Rd (High Hopes Farm).   Bring a lawn chair and come gather around the coop of a small household farm (13 hens & 2 roosters) and discuss the joy and challenges of chicken ownership. Handy flock management tips to be discussed such as: feed; housing options (chicken tractors/buildings), predators, first-aid, free range vs cooped, wintering, getting one to set, breed discussions, resources and trivia. Registration is limited.  The sliding scale fee is $5-15; but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. More info and registration here .

Endangered Wild Medicinals Workshop

Sunday, August 14, 2-4pm

Keene

The Monadnock Localvores  host this presentation and garden tour with Katy Locke. We will begin with a slideshow presentation of the United Plant Savers  (UpS) designated "At Risk" endangered wild medicinal plants of the U.S. Following will be a discussion of the UpS Botanical Sanctuary Network and a tour of a recently designated UpS sanctuary garden. Registration for this workshop is limited. The sliding scale fee is $5-15; but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. More info and registration here .

Garden Talk at Stonewall Farm

Thursday, August 25, 6-8pm

Stonewall Farm, Keene

Join Stonewall Farm's garden manager Amanda Maurmann as she walks the fields to answer any of your gardening questions. She will also discuss season extension, and putting your garden to bed. StonewallFarm.org

Eat Local Celebration

Thursday, August 25, 5-8pm

Granite Gorge Ski Area, Roxbury

Celebrate NH Eat Local Month with local food and live entertainment! There will be a pig roast, beef on the barbecue, local sweet corn, roasted vegetables and much more! Tickets available for purchase online in advance, or the day of the event. Suggested donation of $10 to $20, all proceeds will go to Monadnock Farm and Community Connection. CheshireConservation.org

Cheshire County Farm Open Barn Day

Saturday, August 27, 10am-2pm

Cheshire County Farm, Westmoreland

Explore this beautiful public resource, take a tour of the barns with the new lessee Dana Briggs, and learn more about possible future uses of the former jail building and how it could support our local farms.  Many organizations will have educational displays and there will be free ice cream provided by Granite State Dairy Promotion!

Wild Mushroom Foray and Medicinal Mushroom Tea Party

Sunday, August 28, 10am-4pm

Wichland Woods, Nelson

In this experiential workshop, sponsored by NOFA-NH, we will study mushroom identification and the mushroom life cycle with David Wichland of Wichland Woods. The class will go on a moderate-to-difficult wild mushroom off-trail walk and a mycological landscaping tour. We will look at our relationship with mushrooms throughout history and examine their many potential uses in our lives. After a mushroom show and tell, we'll make mushroom tea and have a tasting. Potluck lunch and mushroom feast. Rain or shine, please dress accordingly. $45. Register at NOFANH.org.

Cornucopia Harvest Dinner

Monday, August 29, 5pm

Brooks' Side Farm, Hancock

A sumptuous harvest feast of organic veggies harvested from the Cornucopia Project's school gardens, locally sourced meat, silent auction and the live music of Tattoo. Ticket info at CornucopiaProject.org .

Community Pizza Nights

Tuesdays thru August 23, 5:30pm

Orchard Hill Breadworks, Alstead

Far from a typical restaurant style pizza night, this is a hands on, guest led affair. Orchard Hill provides crusts, the oven, a baker, and some instruction, while guests bring toppings including sauce and cheese, make their own pizza, bring their own drinks and any other amenities they want. We ask for a minimum donation of $5 for your first crust, and $4 for every crust thereafter. All profits above our costs are donated to a local non profit or other deserving group. OrchardHillBreadworks.com

Keene Farmers' Market

Tuesdays & Saturdays, 9am-2pm

Gilbo Avenue, Keene

Located on Gilbo Avenue behind the Colonial Theater, find us each Tuesday and Saturday from 9-2 from May through October- providing 100% locally raised veggies, fruits, beef, pork, eggs, cheeses, jams, jellies, mustards, vinegars, and fiber. Also find baked goods, bread, granola, soaps, jewelry, and hand crafted wooden chairs and benches.

Walpole Farmers' Market 

Fridays, 4-7pm

Walpole Common, Walpole

We offer a wide variety of items such as veggies, herbs, fruit, dairy products, meats, maple products, honey & bee products, mushrooms, fiber, prepared foods, and some utilitarian crafts. The weekly market will run through Friday, October 21st. WalpoleFarmersMarket.com.