Countryside Conservancy |
|
| About the Countryside Conservancy |
Since 1999 the Countryside Conservancy has supported community-based food systems throughout Northeast Ohio. This unique non-profit organization helps re-establish farms in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and runs farmers' markets at Howe Meadow (also in the park), as well as and at the historic Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron. Other programs help up and coming farmers find land, connect local growers to chefs and consumers, and educate citizens about the importance of local food systems. Visit our website to see what's growing on! |
| CC's Executive Director honored by The Garden Club of America
|
|
The Garden Club of America presented their Zone X (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan) Conservation Commendation to the Conservancy's Executive Director in October 2009 "in recognition of successful management of the rural landscape in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park." |
|
Upcoming Conferences
|
January 18-20
OH Produce Growers & Marketers Association
|
|
|
|
Celery
Root and Potato Gratin
From the
book Vegetarian
Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison
Serves: 4 to 6
Introduction
A broth
made from the celery-root trimmings replaces half of the cream that's usually
found in potato gratins, without loss of flavor or texture. Celery root has a
haunting flavor that always reminds me of truffles, which are an excellent
addition should you be so lucky. (If I were using truffles, I would use all
cream in the dish.)
Ingredients
1 clove
garlic
~ Butter
for the dish
1 Celery
root (about 1 lb),
scrubbed
1 lb.
potatoes, preferably
Yellow Finn or Yukon gold
~ Salt and
freshly ground
pepper
½ cup heavy
cream
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 cup grated Gruyère or
Cantal cheese
Steps
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Rub a
2-quart gratin dish with the garlic, then with the butter.
Peel the celery root and put the parings
in a 3-quart saucepan with 3 cups water and whatever remains of the garlic. Set
a steamer over the top and bring to a boil.
Quarter the root, then slice it ¼-inch
thick. Steam for 5 minutes and remove the roots to a large bowl.
Peel the potatoes, slice them into thin
rounds, and steam for 5 minutes or until tender, then add them to the celery
root.
Strain the cooking liquid. Measure 1¼
cups liquid and mix it with the cream and mustard. Pour it over the vegetables
and toss well. Season with ¾ teaspoon salt and pepper.
Transfer the vegetables to the gratin
dish, smooth them out, and cover with the cheese. Bake until bubbling and
browned on top, about 30 minutes.
Deborah Madison will be the guest
speaker at CVNP's monthly Lyceum Series on Friday, February 12th from
7-9 PM at Happy Days Lodge.
|
| 
|
| Acme Fresh Markets supports organizations like the
Countryside Conservancy with their "community cash back program". The
Conservancy will receive a % of your food dollars, and all you have to
do is shop and save the receipts.
Please save your Acme receipts for the Countryside Conservancy! Bring them to our markets, drop them off or mail them to our office! Thank you for supporting community-based food systems!
|
|
|
 Season's Greetings
Winter '09 has arrived - and winter '10 is just a few days
away. This closes out the first decade
of the 21st Century and begins the second. The Conservancy got a slight headstart on the
new century - by being established in 1999.
So, 2009 was the first year of our
second decade. And, this issue of
our newsletter highlights a couple of our "biggest deals" from decade one, and
a couple of important decade two initiatives.
We began our first decade focused on the Countryside
Initiative - the program to rehabilitate and revitalize old farms still
surviving in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
By 2009, eleven of those farms were operational, and a twelfth was offered
for lease. One of them, Greenfield Berry
Farm is profiled in this newsletter.
Brief bios and photos of all are now available on-line and in hard-copy
in the just published 2009 Countryside Initiative Request for Proposals.
The second big happening of our first decade was the
establishment of our Countryside Farmers' Markets, beginning in 2004. The 2009 summer season was by far our biggest
and best - and this winter for the first time, we'll be open once a month from
November to April. See Beth Knorr's
update below.
Decade Two Initiatives are growing naturally out of the many
things we learned, and the needs we discovered, from 1999-2008. Clearly many kinds of workshops, seminars,
and services are going to be needed to help build a new generation of farming
and food system entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio. And, the Conservancy has begun developing a
growing "curricula" of such programs - we'll provide multiple offerings of
eight such courses/services in 2009.
Meredith Fox introduces you to one of them in this issue - business
planning.
Another important new initiative begun in 2009 is the Northeast Ohio Agricultural Atlas - a
multiyear research, education and publication program aimed at creating a
comprehensive, systematic profile of agriculture in Northeast Ohio. Katie Myers introduces you to some of the
surprising information already to emerging from this project.
Want to get involved?
Need info? Read on.
|
| Countryside Initiative Program
2009 Request For Proposals are
Now Available!
And, for more information about the Countryside Initiative program, watch Blueberries, Carrots, and Goats: A Farm Renaissance
in Northeast Ohio on Forum 360 on Time Warner Cable Channel 23. The show features Katie Myers, Farmland Programs Coordinator and Alan Halko, of Spring Hill Farm & Market (a Countryside Initiative Farm) discussing the program with the show's host Ellen Botnick.
The show will air: Jan. 19th at 9:30 pm, Jan. 21st at 9:30 pm, and Jan. 24th at 5:30 pm. You can also catch it on the radio at: WONE FM (97.5) on Jan. 24th at 6:00 am, and WAKR AM (1590) on Jan.24th at 8:00 am. |
|
|
Farmer Profile: Greenfield Berry Farm |
|
Through the Countryside Initiative program,  Daniel and Michele Greenfield were awarded the historic Welton Farm in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Since moving onto the farm in 2005, they have been busy developing a Pick-Your-Own (PYO) berry farm. They are hard at work establishing several acres of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries - as well as other fruits and vegetables. The Greenfields also produce hickory bark syrup, jam, honey, and "oat bites," a snack food made from locally produced oats, walnuts, and honey. Daniel is also an environmental educator, and plans to use the farm to host classes from the nearby Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center.
Greenfield Berry Farm is a regular vendor at the Countryside Farmers' Market at Howe Meadow during summer months, as well as at the Countryside Winter Farmers' Markets at Happy Days Lodge. Keep abreast of their goings-on at their website. |
|
I Want to be a Farmer...
Meredith Fox, FarmLink Coordinator |
 Where do I start? Who do I talk to about it? Are there people out there who can help me realize my dream? What's the first step? These are all questions that go through the minds of people who want to live on a farm. Farmers are very specific. Farmers are business owners. In order to be considered a farmer the USDA has guidelines for the amount of revenue you must bring in. You qualify to be a farmer by the work that you do and the product that you sell. Buying a farm doesn't make you a farmer. Selling significant amounts of agricultural product makes you a farmer. Read full article. |
|
Extension of Winter Markets Through April Creates Opportunities for Local Farmers, Eaters to Connect Year-Round
Beth Knorr, Market Manager |
 Since 2006, we have been holding Holiday Markets. These markets, from the very beginning, have been popular with both customers and vendors alike. Who isn't excited to serve their family and friends local foods for Thanksgiving? This year with the extension of the markets beyond the holidays, our Winter Markets offer an opportunity to continue serving local meals all year round. Our vendors will be coming together on the third Saturday of every month through April at Happy Days Lodge from 9am to Noon. With many of our farmers investing in season-extending high tunnels, look for fresh greens to be available later into the winter and earlier in the spring. Let them know how much you appreciate their efforts to provide our region with fresh foods all year. |
|
Nuts and Berries are Economic Development
Katie M. Myers, Farmland Programs Coordinator
|
 Northeast Ohio (16 county region) is a thriving agricultural area and has quiet economic driver --> farms. I have been working on the Northeast Ohio Agricultural Atlas, a guide about the capacity and potential of and for agricultural operations here in Northeast Ohio. I wanted to give you a sneak peek into the findings. Did you know that there are over 1.68 million acres of farmland in Northeast Ohio? Even Cuyahoga County - the most populated holds approximately 2,900 acres of land in farms. The sad news is we are losing ground at alarming rates. In fact, the State of Ohio is ranked 2nd in the nation for loss of prime farmland, with a decreasing population to boot. The good news is...in the urban areas we are reclaiming a significant amount of once commercial or residential land by planting gardens and raising small scale livestock, and in the rural areas farmers are diversifying their operations and adding value through niche markets. Read full article. |
| Friends of the Countryside Program
|
Stephanie Webb, Administrative Coordinator
 We would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincerest appreciation to the 2009 Friends of the Countryside. We simply could not continue to do this important work without you. If you haven't yet pledged your support, there is still time to help us reach our goal of $10,000 this year. Becoming a "friend" is easy - donate on-line, or visit us at the Winter Farmers' Markets (at Happy Days Lodge), where you will receive a free gift for showing your support. |
|
| Enter to Win our "$25 for 25" Raffle! |
Countryside Conservancy is excited to present our "$25 for 25" Raffle. For only $5 you can enter for a chance to win a
2010 Countryside Farmers' Market Shopping Spree!! The shopping spree consists of $25 in markets tokens per week for 25 weeks between May 15 and December 18, 2010 - a $625 value!!
Tickets are available at all Countryside Winter Farmers' Markets. The drawing will be held at 11:30 A.M. on April 17 at the Countryside Winter Farmers' Market at Happy Days Lodge. Winner need not be present to win. Rules and Guidelines available here.
All proceeds benefit the Countryside Conservancy. | |
 Countryside Conservancy
Winter Readers' Group
Interested in other books the Countryside Conservancy recommends? Here's the list! | |
|
