Did the rainy weather get you down? now that sun is on the way....how about a cookie and creamee from the Love Shack on Rt 7 in Ferrisburg. Now that will turn your spirit around! Need those awesome rain & mud pants? Nothing beats Filson Tin Pants- they are worth the investment! Support ACORN's
just a reminder...
Neat Repeats Resale Shop will sell your used, but clean great condition clothes. Target your donation to ACORN.
Bring a bag down with a note inside that says "ACORN #149" and help us fund our small projects.
|
Orb Weaver Cheese melted over crusty bread..perfect for a rainy (or sunny ) day!
|
|
Film makers & farmers
take note!
NOFA & the Vermont Farmers' Market Association announce the 5th annual National Farmers' Market Week Film Challenge; August 4th-10th.
Farmers' markets and individuals create short videos that display their love and appreciation for the farmers and vendors that make farmers' markets. Details are at Nofavt.org/NFMW
Bring your eye for local food to the (big) screen!
Upload video by August 1st to be considered for a prize!
NOFA film info
 Tour de Farms is coming up September 15th..mark your calendar; register will be announced soon! 
What's trending? Aqua Vitea Kombucha. Cool off with the refreshing beverage of choice in Addison County!  Perhaps the rainy weather got you down- raise your spirit with kombucha!
|
|
|
Summer is busy! In June, farmers and hospital food service attended the first Farm to Healthcare Forum. Held at Wake Robin, in Shelburne this meeting brought together area producers, processors, distributors, non-profits, healthcare administrators, doctors and food service buyers. The goal is to expand local food purchases through relationship building. Addison County was well represented with non-profits, Porter Medical and a number of producers and processors.
Another great June event was the Farm to School Institute at Shelburne Farms. This provided an excellent opportunity for peer to peer learning and cross pollinating with many great Vermonters. Special thanks to Emily Hoyler, Anne Bijour and Meghan Camp for allowing ACORN to sit in as an observing organization. We took away great insights for our USDA grant work to increase the connections that lead to more local foods in our schools.
New this summer is the lunch program prepared by school school foodservice workers. The free lunch program in Addison County provides over 2000 lunches a week to families a specific locations. This program extends to mid August. For details please call Kathy Alexander 453-2333.
Another opportunity is offered through the VT Department of Health-Farm to Family Program:
The Farm to Family Program gives WIC participants coupons for free, locally grown, fresh vegetables and fruits from farmers' markets. WIC participants over the age of six months are eligible for Farm to Family Coupons which are available on a first come, first serve basis. When you attend a Farm to Family activity you will be given one free coupon book. After all local Farm to Family activities have ended you may call the Middlebury District Office, 388-4644, to see if additional coupon books are available.
Come to a Farm to Family Activity and get your coupons! Join us for a fun family activity, recipes
July 13 Bristol Farmers' Market, On the Green 10-1:00
July 17 Middlebury Farmers' Market, Marbleworks, 9:30-12:30
July 25 Vergennes Farmers Market, On the Green 3-6:30
call for more dates in August 388-4644
|
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 Eat the bounty of the county  |
|
Feeding the Community
 | | Nash Farm: producing for the community |
Farm-to-Table, MCCC's newest project, brings fresh produce grown on donated land at Blue Meadow Farm in Lincoln and Nash Farm in New Haven directly to these community meals. All the work-from planning, planting and weeding, to harvesting, processing and preparing the meals-is provided by volunteers. Last year we harvested about 8,500 lbs of produce, and this year we're expecting even more!
Volunteers are welcome in the gardens. To learn more about the farm-to-table and community Lunch connection, and other programs of the Middlebury Community Care Coalition, contact Molly Rose-Williams at mrosewilliams@middlebury.edu and find more info at the Community Care's website.
Please note above, another community meals program through the ANESU lunch program.
|
School gardens are busy with activity. As with any garden, each has its own feel. With help from organized community members, school boards and volunteers the gardens are coming along. Above, Mary Hogan gets a new set of garden beds and students begin the planting of fall crops that will be served up in lunches and snacks!
ACORN intern Linnea Burnham will visit this and other gardens adding a helping hand to stay ahead of weeds. ACORN seeks garden helpers for August Email Linnea for details!
On another Farm to School Note...do you want to be part of the growing farm to school community in Addison County? A group of interested folks meet monthly to nudge change. Contact Lea for details and be part of the change you want to see!
Are you a business owner looking to engage your staff in wellness as part of your benefit plan? Consider working in our school gardens. ACORN can help match our community and school gardens with your employees to everyone's benefit. Contact Annie if you are interested in partnering for personal and garden wellness!
|
Celebrate our local farmers!
NOFA-VT and your neighbors at Elmer Farm are partnering for one of NOFA's Celebrate Your Farmer Socials!
July 18, 2013 - 5:30pm -
7:30pm
Elmer Farm
855 Case Street
East Middlebury, VT
Join us for farm-fresh pizza from NOFA-VT's mobile pizza oven, a farm tour and a community celebration. Suggested donation is $5. Register here!
|
|
Farm Updates
It may have been crazy rainy outside, but our farmers have been bringing color into our lives with an abundance of flowers ground under row covers and in greenhouses.
No doubt this year has had challenges- not just wet fields but the rain and humidity make for some challenging cultural situations with mildew or insect infestations. That being said, we have wonderful crops being sold at our local outlets such as Middlebury Coop, Greg's Meat Market has been expanding their local program, Mountain Greens in Bristol and of course our local farmers markets and best of all- the roadside stand.
There is an abundance of wonderful summer ingredients available- if you are a buyer looking for something special, use the local food guide as a starting point. If you attended a matchmaking event, follow-up with the farmers (or buyers) you met to see what is being harvested now, and crops soon to be harvested. A partial list Addison County produce currently being sold:
- zucchini
 summer squash - beets
- peas- all types
- radish
- turnips
- rhubarb
- raspberries
- gooseberries, currants & mulberries
- lettuces baby & head
- all types of greens
- fresh garlic
- potatoes
- broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages of all types
- cucumbers of all types
- carrots
- herbs of all types
- spinach
- let's just say fresh foods are coming in despite the many challenging conditions
Stop by your local roadside stands for great choices of specialty varieties. Now that the sun is coming back- look for even more products in the days ahead.
|
|
Basin Harbor Club-
Sunday Dinners With Farmers
Basin Harbor in Ferrisburg has a long history of satisfying their clients' needs with excellence in hospitality. One area they are looking at improving upon is including more local foods in their offerings. By attending ACORN matchmaking events over the past three years, they have expanded their local food connections and seek even more new relationships.
 This summer Executive Chef Chris Kruse and Sadie Stone, manager of client services have rolled out Sunday night artisan meals. With menus designed to showcase local producers they invite farmers to enjoy a dinner and share with talks and farm fresh sample tastings. These are open to the public and what is more enjoyable than time by the lake eating great food?
Are you a farmer looking to enjoy a relaxing buffet dinner while sharing your farm story? Contact Sadie Stone to schedule a Sunday night artisan meal at the lake. Farmers are encouraged to bring value-added products to sell.
Everyone, take note that Basin Harbor Club's Red Mill and Main Dining room are open to the public. In addition to the Sunday night dinners they also feature a Thursday night seafood extravaganza "Shore Dinner" served outside at the lake's edge. There are also evening cocktail crusies.
|
|
Online Farmers' Markets
 Be part of the ease of online ordering with Middlebury pick-up at the Addison Chamber of Commerce on Thursdays. For more info...contact Sue Hoxie at 388-7951 x2.
Order fresh local vegies and enjoy the bounty of the county!
|
|
Vermont Sail Freight Project: Slow Moving Food Picks Up Pace
The Vermont Sail Freight Project has a great deal of momentum leading up to its first voyage down the Hudson in September 2013.
They currently reaching out to producers including Champlain Orchards, Golden Russet, Last Resort and others who expressed interest in shipping their produce downriver on the sailing barge Ceres. Three Squares Cafe will be enlisting VSFP to sail cocoa upriver for their new chocolate enterprise.
Do you want to reach new markets
 and be part of this enterprising undertaking? Contact Eric Andrus of Bound Brook Farm & Good Companion Bakery and Hannah Mueller of Willowell. The crew will stamp this logo on products before sale at ports along the Hudson and New York City.
|
|
July Seed Savers Meeting
 Addison County Seed Savers will be meeting Tuesday, July 23 in the garden of James Ulager, 177 Ledgewood Lane, Hinesburg. Jim will be showing seed savers how to hand pollinate summer and winter squash flowers.
Hand pollination assures seed saver that the seeds taken from this summer's squash harvest will not have cross pollinated with another type of squash. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Smiley, 388 6601 ssmiley@sover.net
|
Opportunities & Good Things!
Save the Date: August 17th for ACORN's Bounty of the County hoe-down pig roast and fun-raiser at Rebel Farm in Starksboro
Farmers' Market Week Aug 4-10 seeks films! Details here
THIS WEEK! Middlebury Festival on the Green
Amazing music- no formal entry fee- just donations for world-class music by this 100% volunteer run festival 35 years and going strong!
This Weekend- July 12-13-14 SolarFest & Sustainability Fair
Tinmouth Vermont
International Bocce Ball Tournament
Willowell Foundation, Monkton
Stoney Meadow Lane and Bristol Road
have fun while supporting kids & community programs
July 27th Youth Farm Safety Day
9:00-4:30 10.00 includes lunch
VTC Randolph
Register by Junly 16th with UVM Extension
For youth 12-15: workshops in farm safety, including fire, tractor & machinery, livestock, first aid and woodlots
A must do for any youth looking becoming a farmer
NEWLY retooled with more farmers & artisans
Vergennes Farmer's Market on the Green
Thursdays 3:00-6:30
17 producers selling to the sounds of local musicians
Bristol Farmers' Market on the Green
Wednesdays & Saturdays see the website for full details
from bike tuning to Potato Hill Bakery and all the produce you would expect to find mid summer
July 23
Addison County Seed Savers
Contact Susan & see above for details to learn hands-on the art, craft & science of seed saving
Champlain Orchards has several job openings-
FT, PT seaonal, year round
|
|
|
Thanks again to all of you for sharing links and information. Please share our website to build the network.
Annie Harlow
ACORN Network
annieharlowahh@gmail.com
802-922-7060
|
|
|
