Building Our Farmers' Markets
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Danielle McAuliffe, our new Farmers' Market Promotion Program Manager, is hard at work setting up a ton of stuff for this market season. EBT service is on order for the Massena, Gouverneur, and Martins' Markets, expanding access for our county's low-income households.
This season the Canton and Potsdam Markets will also pilot debit card service. Yes, you will be able to use your debit card at those markets. Just stop by the market managers' booth, swipe your card for $5 tokens, and spend them with any vendor.
Watch for other exciting developments to promote St. Lawrence County Farmers' Markets this season! For example, the season-opener Garden Festival, May 11th, at the Potsdam Farmers' Market, focusing on seeds, herbs, garden tools and more. There will be additional vendors, music, demonstrations, samples, and lots of fun! Special events throughout the season have been sketched out for other markets as well.
For the location, times and days of St. Lawrence County Farmers' Markets nearest you, be sure to visit GardenShare's online Local Food Guide.
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Farmer Training and Certification:
WIC Vegetables and Fruits
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
7pm - 9pm
Potsdam Public Library Computer Center
Webinar, paperwork, notary, stamp & envelope included!
FREE
OK growers, we know this is a sore subject. But WIC checks, even the complicated kind that have to be signed at the market, are still good money. It's good money that could be in your pocket, and circulating around in our economy, but instead we're letting this money leave our community and head straight to Arkansas.
You will leave this free training all set to accept these checks.
More information is available here.
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 | | Does she really need three acres? |
Town of Canton Zoning, Continued (again)
County Planning Meeting
Thursday, April 11
7:00 pm
Potsdam Town Building
18 Elm St., Potsdam
The Town of Canton has proposed new rules for small scale agriculture in the residential zone, and has submitted them to the county for approval. Unfortunately, the rules, posted here and here, do not serve to increase food sovereignty in the Town's residential zone at all.
Of particular concern is the three acre minimum to practice virtually any kind of agriculture or have even one laying hen. Three acres!
Some of these activities, raising laying hens, for example, are allowed in the village, which is befuddling, to say the least, to Town residents who purchased property outside the village intentionally for a rural lifestyle.
Please voice your concerns at the County Planning Board meeting on Thursday, or by writing to the County Planning Board at planning@stlawco.org.
Small-scale agricultural production and marketing has a growing place in our food system and our local economy. The residential zones in the Town of Canton include small strips of property, and can be seen on this map.
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CSA Bonus Bucks Available
Once again, GardenShare is offering CSA Bonus Bucks to help limited-income households join the CSA of their choice. In many cases, we are able to facilitate CSA payments with Food Stamp/EBT benefits as well.
Funds are limited this year, so don't delay if you are interested in participating. More information is available here.
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Sustainable =
Responsible + Profitable
 Mark Curran developed a hugely profitable local produce business in Vermont that currently focuses on environmental sustainability. Hear what he has to say about building environmentally responsible business on Friday, April 12, at 3pm at Clarkson. It's free and open to the public. Details here.
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GardenShare's annual Local Food Guide will hit the streets in May. If you're not already on our postal mailing list, and you'd like to receive a free copy mailed directly to your home, email your mailing address to us at info@gardenshare.org.
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GardenShare and YOUR Club or Civic Organization
 Does your club or civic organization seek presenters to educate your members about community issues? GardenShare's Outreach and Education Committee would value the opportunity to present a little about GardenShare and our local food system at your meeting or event. Give us a call at 315-261-8054 or shoot us an email.
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Help Us Welcome Our New Program Manager!
 We are pleased to welcome North Country native Danielle McAuliffe as our new Farmers' Market Promotion Program Manager. Danielle will provide additional marketing and promotional support for the county's famrers' markets. She holds a BS in Finance, an MBA in Management, and an MS in Engineering and Global Operations Management and teaches Business Strategy and Marketing courses at Clarkson University. Danielle has a lot in store for St. Lawrence County Markets this season.
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