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Late July 2014   

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July 29
"Growing the Best Heirloom Tomatoes"24K Heirloom Tomatoes, South Dartmouth 
 

August 13th
"Organic Weed Control"

September 2nd
"Biodiversity on the Farm"

October 6th
"Storage Crops for Winter Sales"
Skinny Dip Farm, Westport

Check SEMAP's website for details on these events and for registration

A quick update for the end of July, with a last minute invitation...

Join us this Tuesday evening for our next:

 Twilight Grower Education Workshop
with Bob Feingold of 24K Tomatoes in South Dartmouth
.

Tuesday July 29th, 6PM

$15 for SEMAP members, $20 non-members
$5 for beginning farmers

We'll be discussing all things tomato while touring Bob's extensive array of heirlooms. 

Registration is appreciated, but we'll save a few spots for walk-ins.  Hope to see you there!


Vegetable Farming by Derek Christianson
Late Blight Edition 
 
Speaking of tomatoes, late blight (Phytophthora infestans) was reported in Massachusetts last week.  See the updated USA Blight map here

The July 24th edition of UMass Vegetable Notes includes a valuable discussion of management options for commercial growers. 

Here's an archived late blight fact sheet from UMass produced for home gardeners.

At Brix Bounty, each of the past three seasons we've expanded our planting of late blight resistant tomatoes for our final succession of field tomatoes (read Cornell University agronomist  Meg McGrath's excellent review of late blight resistant tomato varieties).  This year our selection includes Mountain Magic, Defiant, Five Star Grape Tomato, Mountain Merit, Jasper (all available from Johnny's Selected Seeds & other suppliers).

This year we started our late succession of tomatoes in the greenhouse on the 7th of May and transplanted into the field on the 25th of June.  We ran drip irrigation once about 3 days after transplanting when the plants were ready to give up the ghost.  The plants were quite leggy at transplanting time and next year we'll return to planting them a week later in the greenhouse, while still targeting the final week of June for transplanting.  The varieties which require staking were staked about 2 weeks ago. 

Each bed was sidedressed this week with a bit of additional Nitrogen & Potassium (K) from composted chicken manure and sul-po-mag; the field we are planting was just turned from hay last winter and was quite low in K on the soil test.  The plants are just entering their rapid growth & expansion phase, most have set their first fruit cluster.  We should start harvesting from this late planting right around Labor Day, maybe a few days earlier for the small fruited types, and expect to harvest into mid-October.

I'm looking forward to seeing Bob's tomatoes this Tuesday and exchanging ideas with other growers to improve our tomato production.

A Great Weekend to Support Your Local Farmstands & Farmers Markets!

There is little doubt that late July offers an incredible array of local produce and farm products to enjoy.  Farmers throughout the Southcoast have been working at a fevered pace to bring you the bounty of the season.  Please show them your support. 

Whether you are basking in the abundance of locally grown sweet corn, savoring the sweetness of the first cherry tomatoes from your garden, whipping fresh cream to top blueberries, or grilling burgers with local meat... now is a delicious time to eat local. 

As the tagline goes:  Buy Fresh, Buy Local!  

 SEMAP's Guide to Local Food and Farms in Southeastern Mass!
 
 
Coming Soon!  We have pushed the publication date for this year's Local Food Guide back 'til late summer.  Thanks for understanding.  The good news - if you are a farm or local business you now have until August 4th to renew your SEMAP membership and be listed in the 2014 guide.

Look for the guide at farm stands, markets, and events starting in August! The guide will contain SEMAP member farms and local food businesses, as well as a list of farmers markets in our region.
  
Farmers Markets in Southeastern Massachusetts
Find One Near You
Farmers Market Today  
     
Events, Announcements, and Resources

 

Bristol County Conservation District - Livestock Day

Friday August 8, 9AM-4PM |South Rehoboth Fire Station | Rehoboth, MA  

$15 includes program & BBQ

 

Presenters include Tom Akin (NRCS), Steve Herbert (UMass), Masoud Hashemi (UMass), Carl Majewski (UNH), Eric Reid (Coop Feeds), Michael Botehlo (MDAR).   

 

See the Livestock Day Flyer for complete details. 

 

Southeastern MA Livestock Association (SEMALA)  

Introductory Event for Farmers & the Public    

 

Friday August 1st| Anawan-Oakton Grange #221|

Winthrop St., Jct 44 & 118, Rehoboth, Massachusetts

   

All are invited to learn more about our region's livestock producers and the newly formed Southeastern MA Livestock Association and the campaign to build a state-of-the-art custom and USDA-certified slaughter, butchery, cut and wrap facility in Southeastern MA. Learn more about SEMALA here. SEMAP is a proud supporter/partner of SEMALA.   

 

 

Fair Season Has Arrived!   

 

Barnstable County Fair | July 21-27, 2014

Rochester Fair | Aug 14-17, 2014  

Marshfield Fair | Aug 15-24, 2014

Dartmouth Grange Fair | Sept 5,6 2014

 

Visit  MDAR's Agricultural Fair's Directory for a complete list. 

   

 

Sharing the Harvest Community Farm Annual Summertime Ice Cream Social    

Thursday August 7 | 276 Gulf Road, Dartmouth, MA 02748 

$10 per person, $25 per family 

  

Need another excuse to enjoy an Ice Cream Sunday in the summer (or fresh sorbet)?   

 

Support Sharing the Harvest as they continue to grow fresh produce for emergency hunger relief efforts on the Southcoast while also providing a great opportunity for volunteers to learn about agriculture. 

     

 

NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) Presents 40th Annual Summer Conference 

August 8-10| UMass Amherst |  Amherst, MA

 

Featuring pre-conference intensive and keynote address by Elaine Ingham, Soil Food Web expert.  More than 150 workshops for consumers, farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, & more.  Children & Teen programming.  A great excuse to get out to the Pioneer Valley this summer.  For more info visit the Summer Conference Website.   

 

 

The Online Farm Guide 

Farmers: Keep your farmfresh.org listing up-to-date! The online farm guide, farmfresh.org, is a go-to for anyone looking for local foods, beverages and farm fun. Eaters: Visit www.farmfresh.org to find local food near you. 

 

 

The Beginning Farmers Network of MA has resources for beginning farmers, including an ever-expanding calendar of events statewide, helpful tips from guest bloggers, a jobs board, and a referral network. Get in touch or check out the BFN/MA site today to find the help you're looking for. See links to Young Farmer Nights (RI & MA super fun farm visits!) and New Entry's brand new publication, An Entrepreneur's Guide to Farming in Massachusetts.

     

SAVE THE DATE 

 

2014 Bog Jog | Saturday September 13 | in Plymouth - details coming soon!

  

  

When the Belly is the Beast - NOFA/Mass Health Seminar sponsored in part by SEMAP

  

Friday October 10, 2014 |9AM-5PM |Bristol Community College, Fall River

featuring Dr. Martha Herbert, Pamela J. Ferro RN ASN, & Raman Prasad

 

The seminar explains how environmental factors, including toxic exposures and processed and nutrient-poor foods, are causing a range of chronic and degenerative illnesses in the population. The seminar addresses details of treating and preventing conditions including autism, auto-immune disease, and Alzheimer's by healing the gut and preventing inflammation in the brain.  $70 if Registered by September 25th.  

   

 

SEMAP Annual Meeting | November 2014 | Location & Date TBA in September Vine  

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