SEMAP's e-Newsletter
THE VINE
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JOIN SEMAP TODAY!
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Become a SEMAP Member!
Whether your a farmer looking to promote your locally grown foods, or an eater looking for information on delicious local products - we've got the perfect membership level for you!
Visit our website to learn more: www.SEMAPonline.org
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Don't be a chicken!
Dive right into local food in Southeastern MA!
While we wait a tad bit longer for the sun to show, farmers in Southeastern MA have been extremely busy transplanting crops, coaxing seedlings, filling springtime orders and planning for the upcoming farmers markets season. PHEW!
A little celebration can go a long way!
Let's celebrate all this hard work! Attend one of our region's yr-round markets and/or seasonal markets as they celebrate their transition to spring! For example North Easton's Opening Market Day is this Saturday with SEMAP as a guest discussing delicious local foods and getting a little dirty making 'seed bombs'! Remember to attend your local market early in the season - especially on those cloudy days!
Looking for a stronger bond? Join a CSA!
(Community Support Agriculture)
Membership is still available at several CSA farms throughout Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth counties. Pay upfront and receive 20-22 weeks (or longer!) of fresh locally grown produce reflecting a wide variety of vegetables, fruit and (in some cases) proteins available in our region.
Want to celebrate BIG TIME? SEMAP is hosting two fundraising events in 2011 - Our 4th Annual Farm to Table Dinner & our new 5k trail run, the Bog Jog. Learn more and sign up at our website, www.semaponline.org.
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SEMAP MEMBERSHIP, ADVERTISING & SPONSOR Opportunities! 
Are you a Grower or Buyer of Local Food?
As a Farm Member or Tomato Approved Business you'll receive Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL) materials and all the promotional and educational strength of the BFBL Campaign. SEMAP's Buy Fresh Buy Local Campaign educates the communities of Southeastern MA on the Why, Where, and How of local food with fun workshops, hands-on learning experiences and speaking engagements. Be sure to have your local farm or business included in these promotional and educational experiences! Learn more!
SEMAP's Local Food Guide: DEADLINE Extended to May 31st, 2011 Ad space available! Let your customers know you grow or support local food with an ad in the SEMAP Local Food Guide. Over 20K to be printed early summer 2011. View the ad space and price details. 20% off advertising for SEMAP members! |
LOCAL FOOD NEWS
edible Communities Receives James Beard Award -
'Publication of the Year'
Congratulations to edible Communities, the parent company of our beloved edible South Shore and edible Cape Cod for their recent James Beard award! The Award Committee described the edible publications as "...rooted in distinct culinary regions throughout the United States and Canada, celebrating local, seasonal foods with the goal of transforming the way we shop, cook, and eat. Their underlying values speak to today's spirit of shared responsibility: every person has the right to affordable, fresh, healthful food on a daily basis." Read the whole story here!
And remember to pick up a copy of edible South Shore and edible Cape Cod!
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SEMAP Events
Saturday May 21st 2011 - North Easton Farmers Market OPENING DAY!
(10am - 2pm) 
Join SEMAP is celebrating the opening market day in North Easton! Visit the farmers and food producers and check out their array of fresh picked salad greens, delicious locally raised eggs and meat, and of course a few sweet treats! SEMAP will be up in the Red Barn conducting children's activities and local food fun! Bring the whole family and tour the Natural Resource Trust's walking trails, farm animals and community gardens. A great afternoon to celebrate local food and farms!
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Sunday May 22nd, 2011 - Local Forestry Talk & Walk
10 am - 11:30am @ Soule Homestead Education Center, Middleboro
The future of Massachusetts' forestland: Forest fragmentation is as big a problem as ever. Our forests are invaluable in the ecological services they provide yet they can not stand up to ever increasing development  values. What do we want our communities to look like in the future? We will examine the history of land-use in the southeast and how it has shaped the forests we see today. We will also consider the history of our working landscape; the value and importance of actively managing lands and supporting a sustainable local forest products market. A short presentation will be followed by a forest walk. RSVP and directions available here.
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Thursday June 2nd, 2011 - Local Food 101 @ Easton Foodie Group
7:00pm @ The Ames Free Library, 53 Main Street, North Easton MA
SEMAP Executive Director Bridget Alexander will host a fun Local Food 101 presentation looking into local food and sustainable farming throughout Southeastern Mass. Learn fun ways to incorporate more local produce and locally made products into your families' meals. Also, discuss ways to connect to the farms and food producers closest to you!
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Tuesday June 7th, 2011 - Cooks & Books Series - SEMAP & How on Earth
7:00pm @ the Mattapoisett Library, 7 Barstow St., Mattapoisett, MA
Join SEMAP and Margie Baldwin, founding member of Marion Institute and How On Earth for an evening discussion of local food and sustainable agriculture. Discover how you can help support local farms in Southeastern Mass., as well as create healthy eating habits that help the planet! Cost - FREE!
Click here to RSVP Online!
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WHAT'S AVAILABLE?
Spring farmers markets, locally owned nurseries and farmstands are all starting to hum with the spring's bounty! Vegetable plants, herbs, eggs, cheese, lobster, shellfish and tender greens are all available at this time and even the spring favorite - asparagus! Don't forget the wine. Locally  produced wine is now available at many markets across the region.
Visit the Farm Profiles of the SEMAP member farms below to get a better idea what they're growing, and where to find it. Visit our SEMAP Member Farms page to see the complete list. SEMAP's newest farm members and local food producers are listed below.
WELCOME!
Brambly Farms, Norfolk, Ma.
The Farm at Community Green, Sandwich, Ma.
Family Secrets Bakery, Plymouth, Ma.
Hearth Wood Fired Bread, Plymouth, Ma.
Skinny Dip Farm, Westport, Ma.
SEMAP Member Farmers Markets:
The Farmers Markets @ Attleboro Farms (yr-round), N. Attleboro, MA
Sundays 12:00 noon to 4:00pm
Marshfield Farmers Market - Starting Friday June 3rd (2:00pm - 6:00pm)
North Easton Farmers Market - Visit SEMAP at the Opening Day Celebration! (see below)
Saturdays, 10:00am - 2:00pm; Tuesdays, 2:00pm - 6:00p, 
Pembroke Farmers Market - Starting Saturday July 9th (9:00am - 12:00pm)
Plymouth Farmers Market - Opening days: Thursday June 16th & Saturday June 18th
Plant and seedling sale Saturday 28th (rain or shine)
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SEMAP Member Farm CSAs. Please visit the Online Farm Guide to search for CSAs near you!
Oakdale Farm - 61 Wheaton Ave., Rehoboth, MA www.oak dalefarms.com Coonamessett Farm - 277 Hatchville Rd.,East Falmouth MA www.hilltopfarmwestport.com Langwater Farm - Washington Street, N. Easton, MA langwaterfarm.com/find-our-produce/ Kettle Pond Farm - 181 Bayview Ave., Berkley MA www.kettlepondfarm.com Brix Bounty Farm - 858 Tucker Road, Dartmouth, MA. www.brixbounty.com Silverbrook Farm - 596 Chase Rd., Dartmouth MA www.silverbrookdartmouth.com  Dufort Farm - 55 Reservoir Ave., Rehoboth, MA (meat CSA) www.dufortfarms.com The Farmers Garden - 140 Davis St. Rehoboth, MA www.farmersgardencsa.com White Barn Farm - 458 South Street, Wrentham, MA www.whitebarnfarm.org Silverbrook Farm - 934 Main Street Acushnet, Ma. (also meat CSA) www.thesilverbrookfarm.com Lucky Field Organics - 570 New Bedford Rd., Rochester, Ma. www.luckyfieldorganics.com |
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TWO GREAT EVENTS!
4th Annual 1st Annual
Farm to Table Dinner Bog Jog 5k Trail Run
Set between the soil and the stars Family friendly event!
at Round the Bend Farm.
Seats are going fast...
Purchase your tickets online!
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Local Food Events & Classes!
Saturday, May 21st 2011 - DIGGING DEEP - Springtime Organic Gardening Course
Brix Bounty Farm, 858 Tucker Road, Dartmouth, MA.
10:00am - 2:00pm on 5 Saturdays: May 21st - June 25 w/ optional work session May 28th.
A dynamic hands-on learning opportunity for new & experienced gardeners interested in gaining knowledge and skills central to organic vegetable production. Pre-registration prequired.
Contact: Derek Christianson at 508-992-1868; [email protected]; www.brixbounty.com
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Monday, May 23rd, 2011 - South Shore Locavores - Drink Local!
7:00pm @ Sampson Hall / Beall House, 222 Main Street, Kingston, MA
Join the Locavores in exploring local libations from artisans like Travessia Urban Winery, Simpson Spring, Plymouth Winery and others. Kingston Empire Wine will be donating a door prize, and Equal Exchange of West Bridgewater will be providing samples of their coffee.
Come at 6:45 to register, mingle, and get some refreshments before the program starts. Feel free to bring a snack to share. The gatherings are free. However, donations of up to $5 will be gratefully accepted to help cover expenses and to supplement the Library book budget.
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Saturday, May 28th 2011 - Plymouth Farmers Market Plant & Seedling Sale
Rain or Shine!
9:30am - 1:30pm @ Court House Green, Plymouth, MA
Heirloom tomato plants, herbs, organic vegetable seedlings, flowers and more! Parking in the Burial Hill lot. http://plymouthfarmersmarket.org/
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Farm & Food Positions
The East Coast CoFed Retreat
This summer, college teams from all over the country will converge on our East and West Coast retreats in mid-June to create or expand a student-run, cooperative, sustainable food businesses on their campuses. CoFed, provides support to students interested in food sustainability, food sovereignty and food justice in their endeavors to bring more democracy into their campus food systems. Each retreat will host programing all day, including, professional development, business and organizing skills, and yummy sustainable food. We will be bringing in prominent figures within the local food and co-op worlds to give workshops. The East Coast retreat will be getting a visit by Bill McKibben!
Location - Hawthorne Valley Farm , A 400-acre, diversified Biodynamic farm that is part of a not-for-profit organization dedicated to agriculture, education, and the arts. Located 2 hrs north of NYC.
Dates - June 19th to the 25th
More information: The application can be found here Become a SEMAP Volunteer! - Find more information on our Volunteer page! SEMAP is looking for eaters of all ages to help attend farmers markets and local food events all across Southeastern Mass. We also are looking to train 'Local Food Ambassadors' to help educate their communities on the importance of supporting local farms and eating locally grown food. Contact us anytime! Email: [email protected] |
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Happy Spring!
Sincerely,
Sarah Cogswell
SEMAP Buy Local Coordinator
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