ACORN's mission is to promote the health and growth of local food and agriculture in Vermont's Champlain Valley.
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Follow us to stay up-to-date on our local food initiatives in the Southern Champlain Valley and around Vermont
#AcornNetwork
Send events & items of interest for this newsletter to Annie@acornvt.org
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You can find area farms and food producers in ACORN's
Farm to Plate is increasing local food sales through a strong network that includes ACORN!
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Soothing Day at the Goat Farm
Garland Soaps has found a great way to showcase their small batch soaps and lotions with day trips to the farm.
Founded in 1981, Elderly Services' original purpose was to offer elders an adult day care center to help delay or prevent nursing home placement. Decades later, the award-winning adult day center - Project Independence - continues their flagship program. Seniors affiliated with the program enjoy many unique things in and around the county. A stop at Garland is a special day. Sampling of goat milk lotions is always a welcome stop. You can find Garland's online shop a great place to buy gifts.
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Chris Callahan
Calling All Farmers & Food Storage Advocates:
Chris Callahan, UVM Extension Specialist has created a storage planning tool intended to help growers estimate storage space, temperature and humidity conditions, grouping and product heat load. It has been developed using published data from several sources including USDA Handbook 66 (1). It is provided as a beta release and your feedback is welcome. He is particularly interested in feedback on the bulk density of various crops and even varieties that you are growing (i.e. how many pounds of a product are in a bushel or other volume measure.) Help him improve this tool by letting him know where it could be better.
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Cows Need Their Tails: VT S22
S.22, introduced by Sen. Dick Sears, bans the routine docking of dairy cows' tails. In order to justify "buying local," many Vermonters want to be assured that their food is humanely produced.
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Are you looking for new sources of seeds? Pick a Carrot is a website search engine devoted to helping farmers & gardeners locate the right seed variety, check prices and order directly from seed suppliers. Check them out!
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(AWA) is a food label for meat and dairy products that come from farm animals raised to the highest animal welfare and environmental standards. More consumers & institutions are seeking humanely raised meat.
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It is said: 95% of all corn grown in the US comes from seeds coated with bee-toxic neonic insecticidal chemicals. This includes the popcorn industry. JOIN THE MOVEMENT sign onto the campaign for Orville Redenbacher to purchase popcorn from non-treated s eeds.
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MiniBury is a fantastic family resource for information on family events and activities around Middlebury. In partnership with Building Bright Futures these organizations are helping grow community connections for our youngest citizens! 
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Photo credit: Lauren Honican
Cornwall School loves Lewis Creek Carrots and hats off to this school for their exemplary ag-education program. This fall students visited farms and studied relationships to the land.
photo credit: Trent Campbell Addison Independent
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Agricola Farm hosts Valentine's Dinner!
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ACORN HOSTS FARMER MEET-UPS
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op we brought together farmers and food producers in small , regional gatherings. We heard many challenges and discussed potential opportunities. ACORN is hosting a half day forum at Middlebury College March 10th 8:30-1:00 where buyers and producers will meet to hear more about markets both within the state and regionally. Space will be limited stay tuned for our event registration. Questions? contact Lindsdy@acornvt.org
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ACORN Seeks Sponsors
 For the past four years we have worked with community members to award each and every Addison County Junior Iron Chef participant a quality pan. We do this because we know each team cannot take home the coveted grand prizes, yet we want to share our enthusiasm for each teams' dedication to learning to cook as a life-long activity and for shared experiences in team work and leadership while working under intense pressure.
We are seeking business sponsors! Join our notable, exemplary supporters including Neat Repeats, The Eagles Club of Addison County, Basin Harbor Club, Citizen' Bank, Middlebury College Dining Services. Will you or your business be the next to lead the way in our community supported Junior Iron Chef recognition? These youths represent our future consumers, business leaders and upstanding citizens, let's celebrate their teamwork together as a community.
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American Wasteland
Jonathan Bloom, renown journalist, author and activist who has specialized in researching food waste came to Vermont in January where he spoke to the Healthcare Leadership Working Group.  From farm to fork, he provided clear images of waste touching on food production, processing and how we buy food, cook or don't cook it. His book American Wasteland is a fantastic read for anyone looking to affect change personally or within the larger food system. His blog is great for teachers, school compost projects, institutional buyers, farmers and of course all of us consumers. Check out Food Tank, addressing global issues at local, regional, national and international levels.
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Farm Labor Update: H2A Visa Status Change
Heads up for those of you that will have H-2A workers in the coming season:
As of February 19, 2016 all H-2A temporary agricultural workers coming from Jamaica will be required to have a passport and an approved visa in order to be allowed entry into the U.S. This has not been the case in the past and it will involve additional process, and cost for those using the program.
Each approved H-2A worker from Jamaica who will be entering the U.S. after February 19th will need to apply for an H-2A non-immigrant visa and be interviewed at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston. The cost for each H-2A visa application is $190 USD.
Photo credit: UVM.edu
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It Takes Two to Tandem in Bristol
Main Street Bristol has an innovative new business! It is still taking shape but two food-loving community-oriented women are looking to create a dynamic destination for foodies.
Originally planned as a production kitchen, it is fast becoming known as a place to gather, cook, eat and scheme.
 Jesse Messer specializes in small batch, handmade natural soda, Savouré jams and popsicles and caterer Lauren Gammon of Nomadic Chef are riding the wave of community food businesses. Together they host 'pop-up' dinners advertised to their facebook friends and followers. Want to take part in these delicious events? The dinners offer up a globally inspired palate and a refined farm to table approach. For more info call: (802) 734-8698
Need a spot for a group meeting? Tandem might just fit your needs. ACORN hosted one of our farmer meetings here and it was wonderful!
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Porter Medical: Local Food Index
Laura Brace of Porter Medical has been documenting her local food purchases for over fiver years. Through this exercise undertaken for ACORN, Laura has increased her local food purchases and sees opportunities for even more.
From milk, eggs, orchard products, she is looking to expand meat, fruit and vegetables purchases in 2016. Favoring food safety and animal welfare plans, this may just be an opportunity for local food producers to open up new outlets and increase local food purchases at our local hospital.
 As a member of Health Care Without Harm, the Vermont Fresh Network and ACORN, the hospital is working toward increasing its positive impact on the community. Laura plans to attend ACORN's March 10 Producer-BUyer Forum at Middlebury College.
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Farmers Sharing P2P Learning
 Peer to Peer (P2P) sharing is big these days. It plays into DYI and the sharing economy for efficient problem solving.
One way many farmers do this through the VT Vegetable Berry Growers list serve, other ways are through Facebook groups. These are often closed groups but each very responsive to new members joining in. These resources have been very helpful to VT farmers. Check them out!
Slow Tools perfect for those working on smaller scales
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Nestled near the shores of Lake Champlain, Bridport Creamery brings you farm fresh Vermont made artisanal cheese. Some of their popular flavors include Swisserella cheese with Dill, Mustard Seed, Caraway Seed and Cumin. One of their specialties is farm fresh cheese curds- awesome for snacking, poutine and more. Nicole, her brother and sister have developed a well-known Brown Swiss herd of 110 including 50 milking cows showing nationally and sold for breeding stock all over the world. They are exceptional producers of high quality milk & cheese. Bridport Creamery distributes throughout VT& the region. |
Harvest of the Month: Cabbage
Does cabbage get a bad rap? Maybe, but it is really not deserving. Perhaps it is because so many folks no longer take the time to cook, despite all the food shows on television and the magazines or online recipes.
All Harvest of the Month recipes are created for home and restaurant cooking as well as for schools and institutions. Give them a try and expand your seasonal menus with local ingredients.
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34th Annual NOFA VT Winter Conference February 13-15th Burlington
3 days 87 Workshops! For commercial organic  producers, localvores, homesteaders, and gardeners. There are three featured workshop tracks: a community and school garden series, in collaboration with the Vermont Community Garden Network; a Food Systems Solutions track, in partnership with UVM's Food Systems Initiative; and a Direct Marketing track organized with leadership from organic farmers who direct market their farm products. One of winters' most favored events!
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Events, Opportunities & Jobs
Alternative Financing for Your Business ACEDC
Feb 11 8:30-10:30 Isley Library Middlebury
Feb 13-15 Burlington
Agricola Farm: Monthly Dinners
Feb 14: Valentine's Night Dinner
February 20th , all day Sheraton, Burlington
A must attend for ALL hop growers!
Transitioning Your Dairy to Organic Production
February 25 10-12:30 UVM Extension 23 Pond St Middlebury
February 22-28
Sign up for one or all classes to round out your knowledge
AVAILABLE: Land for farming in Weybridge, VT
Seeking grower/producers to keep 8 acres of land in use
Contact William Roper at 802.545-4507
Rural Vermont
Small Farmer Action: Water Quality Let's Get it Right
March 11 Capitol Plaza Montpelier: all day
March 15: RAPs, GAPs and FISMA: the regulators speak up
ACORN sponsored 9-11:30 UVM Extension Office Middlebury
Learn more on food safety & water quality and on-farm systems from our VT representatives. stay tuned for registration info! or contact info@acornvt.org.
March 24; 8:30-10:00 AM
Are you going to be hiring for summer help? Maybe you need a refresher on how to interview to get just what your business needs.
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