FARMERS TAKE NOTE
Plan now for on farm custom composting. Highfields announces a new mobile trommel screen to provide custom screening services to farmers and composters. Rates and info This service supported through a grant through the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund.
Do you need farm packaging supplies? Some Vermont farmers like
Globe Bag Co
Plan to upgrade your soil in 2013 by re-mineralizing with locally sourced rock dust Contact Tom Vanacore and Rock Dust Local 
"Our most important job as vegetable gardeners is to feed and sustain soil life, often called the soil food web, beginning with the microbes.- Jane Shellenberger
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Could you use a helping hand or new perspective for your business? Explore these resources and keep your eyes peeled for upcoming ACORN round table discussions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Are you planning to grow a business? Consider selling at:
Cindy Myrick
myrick@middlebury.edu
Many thanks to Bristol's Bobcat Cafe for hosting a fundraising dinner on Jan 30th that benefited the Bristol Farmer's Market.
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Greetings!
Winter doldrums...I don't think so! Addison County is busy in all areas of agriculture, service, teaching and planning ahead in so many ways.
Producers plan on time to learn, organize and retool for improved profitability. Conferences and trainings are a top winter priority for many producers because time is a slightly more accessed resource.
Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming ACORN sponsored business roundtable discussions with professional peers to lead topics for better business efficiency. Do you have a particular issue we can explore with you? ACORN is crafting workshops to help you gain in marketing, business organizing for profitability and other topics. Help us plan to fit your needs! Please share workshop ideas with Annie.
We are hosting the first annual AC Farm to School Inspiration Awards. Please nominate your food heroes by March 15th and join us at the 4th Annual Stone Soup on April 4th to hear their stories. |
ACORN is a Vermont non-profit currently working on specific projects to broaden Addison County's impact in the arena of food, agriculture, capitalization of small businesses and renewable energy resources. We build connections; the links are meant to show the array of Vermont-based resources. Kindly share ideas that can support our effort. JOIN ACORN ski the bounty of the county at area slopes & cross country centers! |
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Stellar Cooking at Junior Iron Chef
 Junior Iron Chef is one of Vermont's best winter outings. Addison County had an excellent showing with teams from Mt Abe and Vergennes Union High Schools. These students are leaders not only in the culinary field, but in making a statement to their peers. It is true what they say: " In Vermont cooking is cool". Congratulations to our student chefs and to all the community mentors, teachers and food service directors who helped them along the way.
A BIG shout out to the teams:
MOUNT ABE
Middle School - "Mt. Abe Soup-a-Stars": Peter Gebo, Christian Boutin, Sam Kuhns, Kai Correll
High School - "Gourmet Girls": Julia Quattrocci, Zoe Bunch, Alex Carlton, Mikko Wells
High School - "Whisking Wizards": Susan Brace, Sara Jo Snide
VERGENNES
Middle School - "Culinary Commodores": Kaitlyn Brace, Lexi Brace, Olivia Kayhart, Ellie Martin
High School - "Walden Garlic Planters": Rachel Duke, Patrick McCarthy, Chelsea Fuller
Jr Iron Chef VT challenges teams to create a healthy, delicious, dishes that are replicable in school meal programs! This event teaches many life skills that will surely sway good life-long habits.
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Plan to Market for Profitability in the Local Guide
We are making changes to this year's format. It will be more compact -more like a magazine than a newspaper i nsert. Our distribution is increasing 50% from 10,000 copies to 15,000.
We think our upgrades to the Guide will make it a more useful resource connecting area producers, consumers and institutions to increase local purchase options.
ACORN can publish our annual Food and Farms Guide because of our generous advertisers. If you would like to support our mission to promote a sustainable regional economy
please consider purchasing ad space.
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Eleanor Roosevelt was right and her quote certainly has a business application. As a community resource we endeavor to help make business planning or community involvement fruitful. Our list of activities is growing this year. We will again host a series of events to highlight excellent planning resources and look for new occasions to connect in upcoming newsletters. In the meantime....
Food Safety for Food Service and Farmers: UVM is leading this workshop for all involved in food service. We are particularly pleased to dovetail this in with the Matchmaker . March 26th Matchmaker Event for Buyers and Producers at Middlebury College. This is a excellent time to forge new or shore up existing relationships.The day is designed to encourage participation in both events. Info & registration here Stone Soup : Farm to School Summit A pril 4th at Mt Abe High School in Bristol. This event brings together all those interested in food access, nutrition, wellness and our local economy. Please join in the lively discussions and community action to affect positive outcomes. Plan on attending this excellent opportunity to meet your county neighbors. And...New facilitated roundtable discussions-more on that next month. |
More Events, Opportunities & Jobs
NOFA Winter Conference Feb 15-17, UVM Davis Center
Everything it has always been and MORE!
Hannaford Career Center
Winter/Spring Courses
NEW! Skilled Meat Cutter Academy
Many courses to choose including:
HACCP Food Safety Sanitation & Meat Industry Apprenticeship
Financial Training for Farmers Wednesday, February 27th from 10am to 2pm. The workshop is free for farmers and will be at the Main Street Landing on It is designed for current and prospective farmers selling to food hubs.Lunch will be provided. contact Contact Sona for DetailsHops Conference February 22, 2013 9:30-4:30 Essex Resort & Spa Essex, VT Grain Grower's ConferenceMach 14, 2013 Essex Resort & Spa Essex, VT ACORN Matchmaker & Food SafetyMarch 26 Middlebury College 1:00-5:00 campus location TBA JOBS
Assistant Farm Educator, UVM
A part-time wages position, Assistant Farm Educator, for the Farmer Training Program, a six-month training program for aspiring farmers and food systems advocates. This is a part-time seasonal position, requiring 35 hours per week from April 15 to November 1, 2013.
Executive Director
Highfields Center for Composting
Seeks a looking financially savvy and experienced leader to fill the role of Executive Director. Visit the website for a full job description and application instructions.
Vergennes Laundry has several openings: front end staff, a pastry chef, and a garde-manger. It is a small, busy wood-fired bakery/espresso and wine bar on Main Street in Vergennes.
Seed Trial Workers
High Mowing Seeds, Wolcott, VT
Seeking hard-working, motivated, conscientious and fun-loving people to join our trials crew for the 2013 growing season. Prior experience working on a diversified vegetable farm or a university trials farm is a huge plus. Full and part-time positions are available.
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Plan to Succeed in Business Planning!
Strolling of the Heifers and Vermont Technical College have kicked off the 2013 Vermont Farm/Food Business Plan Competition, with a total of $60,000 in prizes in 3 categories: New Businesses, Existing Businesses and Student Entrepreneurs.
New! This is now a statewide competition, intended to encourage innovation at farm and food enterprises, and is a great way for small farm and food businesses to launch or expand, to create new products and to enter new markets. All participants benefit from simply creating a business plan, and a number of past winners have made great progress in achieving their dreams.
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Thanks to all of you for sharing links and information. Because of your input, we keep growing and catalyzing our network. Please share our website to build the network widely!
Annie Harlow
ACORN Network
802-922-7060
ahhannieahh@yahoo.com
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