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What's Fresh
1. Want to know more about dry beans that grow best in local soils? Head down to the Breazeale Interpretive Center at Padilla Bay on Thursday, March 14 from 7-9pm and hear from
Dr. Carol Miles, a horticulture specialist at Washington State University's research center on both heirloom and modern varieties.
3. Don't miss the popular Whatcom Conservation District Plant Sale--Sat. March 23, full of low cost native plants, festivities, entertainment and food. WCD will be accepting pre-orders through March 11. Order forms & more information are available at www.whatcomcd.org
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"Eat Your Yard!"
We recommend you eat your yard only if it's got edible stuff in there. Here are some great upcoming workshops to be able to do just that:
'Grow Your Own' Workshops, Saturday March 16, Deming Library:
10:00--Beekeeping Basics with the Mt. Baker Beekeepers Association (see their demonstration hive)
12:00--Backyard Chickens with Dalia Monterroso of Hannegan Farm and Home
2:00--Growing Beans and Grains with Krista Rome
Free workshops are one hour each with time for questions and discussion in between. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. This program is a partnership between Local Food Works! and the Deming Library. For more information call the library at 360-592-2422.
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March
Bountiful Events
March 5
Bon Anniversaire, Julia Child! w/ Karina Davidson
March 6Green Drinks at Pure Bliss Desserts March 7Sizzling Shellfish w/ Robert Fong communityfood.coopMarch 8 International Women's Day 2013 Celebration
March 9 Growing Fruit: Espalier & Growing Grapes workshops March 11Slow Food and Nourishing Traditions w/Gigi Berardi, PhD March 14 Get the Dirt on Dry Beans workshop
March 14Thai Favorites w/ Robert Fong communityfood.coopMarch 16 & 17 St. Patty's Day Celebration
March 16 Bellingham Farmers Market OPEN, 10am-3pm
March 16
-Beekeeping Basics w/ Mt. Baker Beekeepers Association -Backyard Chickens w/ Dalia Monterroso -Growing Beans & Grains w/ Krista Rome
March 16 Growing Small Fruits March 23 Growing Apples & Pears & Growing Stone Fruits: Cherries, Peaches and Plums workshops cloudmountainfarmcenter.orgMarch 24Rite of Spring Seed Exchange & Potluck, 3pm Van Zandt Community Hall March 29The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks with Amy Stewart March 30Sustainable Gardening & Growing Grains and Beans in Your Backyard workshops
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Take action for a healthy food system!
Want to help support a strong local food system? Do these 3 simple things:
1. "Like the Eat Local First" on Facebook to stay up to date with all the localicious happenings.
2. Patronize the list of businesses participating in Eat Local First and tell them we sent you.
3. Forward this newsletter to 3 of your friends with a personal note about why you are involved in the eat local first movement.
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Greetings!
It's that time. . . blooms are emerging from trees, seeds and plant starts welcome us at the grocery stores, and we've seen over 50 degrees a few times. Boy, it feels like spring--are we there yet? We're getting close! Farmers are back at full speed with vigor, the weekly Bellingham Farmers Markets are just around the corner (catch one March 16), and sign-ups are open for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares. This month we're working on getting resources together for YOU to better find local foods--the new 2013-14 Whatcom Food & Farm Finder will be out the first week of April. We just finished compiling the annual CSA Farm List with the Community Food Co-op, so you can see all of your delicious options in one place. This week we're hosting a luncheon around Workplace CSAs and how to get farm fresh foods delivered right to your office or workplace. About a quarter of the CSA shares sold in Whatcom County last year were to workplaces -- it's a popular (and convenient) option! See below for details. The Farm-to-Table Trade Meeting this last month was a great event. We had about 135 folks from farmers, retail food buyers and more in attendance, for a day of valuable connections and information sharing. Just a fun reminder that there are thousands of people hard at work to bring the freshest, most delicious local food to you and our community throughout the year. How much local is on your plate this month? Here's to participating and being a part of our local food system!  Sara Southerland Food & Farming Program Coordinator |
Dashi Noodle Bar
Bellingham's newest downtown eatery features local
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Image courtesy of Dashi Noodle Bar
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Bellingham's restaurant scene has gained a new flavor--Dashi Noodle Bar--serving up fresh made noodles, savory broth, steam buns and a kimchi and condiment bar, featuring fresh, local ingredients.
Owner Josh Silverman, previous owner and chef of Nimbus Restaurant, got started with Dashi last year as a lunch-based sidewalk café off of Ciao Thyme on Unity Street. After expanding to serving food at the Bellingham Farmers Market and other community events, Dashi opened in its more permanent home on State St. last month.
Haven't been? Head on over for lunch, dinner, late night or take-out, and tell them we sent you!
Dashi Noodle Bar
1311 N. State St, Bellingham (360) 305-1500
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Workplace CSAs
Farm fresh foods delivered right to your workplace
 Did you know you can get farm fresh products like vegetables, fruits, eggs, dairy and more delivered right to your workplace? Many Whatcom County businesses, both large and small, have jumped on board with signing up for their delivery of a Workplace Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share.
Farms offering CSA shares will make deliveries to your workplace for the usual minimum of 5 shares. Some of the benefits of having a Workplace CSA are that it's convenient, and you're getting farm fresh, seasonal, nutritious foods delivered at work, they support local farms and the local economy and it's fun to share and swap recipes with your co-workers. Resources: See what a typical veggie CSA box would look like from week to week in this neat slideshow here. See what past participants say about their Workplace CSA. Research your options: See the 2013 CSA Farm List, here.
Join us THIS Thursday for lunch to learn more!
What: Workplace CSA Member Luncheon, free to attend, $10 for local lunch from Acme Farms + Kitchen
When: Thursday, March 7, 11:45am-1pm
Where: Sustainable Connections Office
1701 Ellis Street, Suite 221, Bellingham
More info: Please RSVP to erin@sconnect.org
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New farmers on the local food scene
Food To Bank On welcomes five new farms in 2013
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Pigs at Well Fed Farms.
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We are thrilled to welcome five new farms into the Food To Bank On beginning farmer business training project this year. Raising a variety of meats, vegetables, eggs and seeds, we have a unique, diverse and motivated group of farmers on our hands. Keep up to date with the farmers through their websites or Facebook pages.
Well Fed Farms: A first generation family farmstead nestled at the north end of the beautiful Skagit valley, offering a variety of pasture-raised meats, eggs and produce. Check out our
their website and Facebook for news from the farm, product availability, and delicious tips on seasonal eating.
Backyard Beans & Grains Project: Conducting seed trials, selling locally-grown heirloom seeds and educating farmers and gardeners on how to grow dry beans, grains and seed crops using low-tech methods. Their home base is Riverhaven Farm, where several farmers cooperatively grow perennial food crops, mixed produce, lamb and poultry.
Prairie Road Farm: A small family farm located on 20 acres
at the base of Bow Hill. Without using synthetic chemicals or GMO feed or seeds, they raise free range pastured chickens for meat and eggs, grass fed sheep for meat and a variety of vegetables.
Blue Wheel Farm: Responsibly-raised and affordable pork, chevon (goat meat), poultry, and eggs. They strive to learn, implement, and pass on sustainable methods of animal husbandry and land stewardship.
Vine Maple Acres: A destination 15-acre homestead providing fresh, flavorful, diverse and sustainably grown vegetables, fruits, herbs and locally produced products, while building community around food and events.
For more information about Food To Bank On and to see all participant and mentor farmers, click here!
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What we do:
The Food & Farming Program at Sustainable Connections promotes, educates and connects farmers, food buyers and eaters (like you!) who support local food and agriculture. We are the home of the Eat Local First campaign, Whatcom Farm Tour & September Eat Local Month. 
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Food & Farming Program Goals:
1. Increase market demand and competitiveness of locally produced seasonal agricultural products
2. Increase the share of agricultural products consumed locally that are produced locally
3. Increase the number, diversity, prosperity and sustainability of local agricultural producers and food entrepreneurs.
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2013 Food & Farming Program Sponsors
 
 
Thank you, Food & Farming Program Sponsors
2013 Sponsorships still available!
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Each month we hope to give you the most juicy, important and pertinent information about skills for eating seasonally, what's up with local farms and the good food happenings in and around Whatcom County. How are we doing? Your feedback means a lot to us.
Let us know what you liked, your favorite recipes or farms, and your upcoming events to sara@sconnect.org. And a big THANK YOU to volunteers, Becca Taber, Dan Hauer and Mardi Solomon for their help with the March newsletter.
Cheers!
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