Monadnock Localvore E-Newsletter
Almost Spring 2016

Jeffrey P. Smith Farm Scholarship Program 
is Now Accepting 
Applications and Donations for 2016
 
Tiny seeds can produce baskets of delicious red tomatoes, tasty carrots, and colorful fresh lettuce for yummy salads. Animals give us fresh milk from which we can make flavorful cheese or butter; they also give us eggs, meat and even wool to make clothing! At farm camp children will be encouraged to plant, observe, nurture, problem solve and celebrate the importance of where your food comes from. It's a wonderful learning adventure! Jeff Smith was a man who also loved farms and the natural landscape around him. He felt it was everyone's job to keep the soil protected and cared for, so that it would always be there for you, your children, and your children's children to enjoy and have foods that keep families happy and healthy. Jeff Smith would love the thought of your children spending time on a real farm --- learning about how you can work and care for the beautiful land here in your own community.

To apply, please print out the application below:
 
Does your child have interest in farms or gardening?
Would he or she like to explore these interests this summer?    
The Jeffrey P. Smith Farm Scholarship endeavors to connect young people with agriculture and the natural world around them.  We hope to inspire the next generation of local farmers and local food supporters, by giving regional children an opportunity, through summer camp, after school programs, or membership to NOFA NH, to experience sustainable farming practices first-hand and watch their efforts bear fruit.  
 
After completion please submit by March 31st to
11 Industrial Park Dr,  
Walpole, NH 03608  
 or scan and email to amanda@cheshireconservation.org  
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Donations to the scholarship fund are accepted through out the year. Donations can be made by sending a check made out to CCCD to 11 Industrial Park Dr., Walpole, NH 03608.  Please note that the check is a donation the the Scholarship Fund.  Thank you!
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If you would like paper copies to share with a school or youth group please do not hesitate to contact us.   
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Featured Events:
                                 
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Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition
MONADNOCK FARMER WORKSHOPS & POTLUCK DINNER
Tuesday, March 8th, 2016, 4:30pm - 7pm  -  Alyson's Orchard, Walpole, NH
Learn a little and have a great night out before the ground thaws!

4:30pm     WORKSHOPS
"Marketing Your Farm Business"

 Best marketing strategies & markets
Using social media to promote your farm products/business
Best free websites
Panelists:
Chris & Caitlin Caserta, Walpole Valley Farm
Beth Hodge, Echo Farm Puddings

"Estate Planning: Caring for your Farm's Future"
Presenter:
Elizabeth Bayne, Yankee Farm Credit

"Infrastructure Needs Planning Meeting"
Led by Denise Meadows and Julie Davenson

5:20pm    RECEPTION
Featuring Mooselick Beers and Walpole Mtn. View Wines
Cash bar
6pm           POTLUCK DINNER (aka Farmer Appreciation Night dinner!)
Please bring a dish to share!
Children welcome!

Register here

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Beekeeping for Beginners
Saturday, March 5th 9AM  -  Noon
The Cheshire Horse, Swanzey. Beekeeping expert Jodi Turner will be in the store to answer your questions - from building your first set of frames to extracting honey, and everything in between. Jodi is a beekeeper with 15 years of experience educating bee enthusiasts in workshops, on television, and on YouTube. She will be at the store from 9:00-12:00. More info

Maple Madness Dinner
March 6th, Sun. (5 p.m.)
The Inn at East Hill Farm, Troy. Silent auction to benefit the Monadnock Travel Council
Visit www.east-hill-farm.com to make reservations or call
603-242-6495

Maple, MAPLE, Maple!
March 15 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm|$45
Join Kati from Woodard's Sugar House as she takes you on a delicious journey of easy ways to incorporate a healthier sugar option (Maple) into your diet.  On the menu: Maple Cream Vinaigrette, Maple Carrots, Maple Garlic Chicken, Maple Sweet Potatoes & Apples and ending with a decadent Dessert Crepes.
Instructor: Kati Woodard
Fee: $40/Stonewall Farm members  $45/non members
NH Maple Weekend, more than 100 sugaring operations throughout the state.

MONADNOCK BUY LOCAL

A network of locally owned businesses, nonprofits & citizens building a stronger local economy and a more vibrant community.
Top Reasons to Buy Local, Eat Local, Go Local (with documentation to back them!) By choosing local and independent businesses for your services, shopping, dining and other needs, you not only enjoy a more distinctive and personal experience, you're helping: 

BUILD COMMUNITY! The casual encounters you enjoy at neighborhood-scale businesses and the public spaces around them build relationships and community cohesiveness. They're the ultimate social networking sites! 

STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY! Each dollar you spend at independent businesses returns 3 times more money to your local economy than one spent at a chain (almost 50 times more than buying from an online mega-retailer) - a benefit we all can bank on. Click to see all four poster designs 

SHAPE OUR CHARACTER! Independent businesses help give your community its distinct personality. 

CREATE A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT! Independent, community-serving businesses are people-sized. They typically consume less land, carry more locally-made products, locate closer to residents and create less traffic and air pollution. More on this topic: Buying Green Means Buying Local. 

LOWER TAXES! More efficient land use and more central locations mean local businesses put less demand on our roads, sewers, and safety services. They also generate more tax revenue per sales dollar. The bottom line: a greater percentage of local independent businesses keeps your taxes lower.

GET REAL VALUE FOR YOURSELF! Reader surveys by the Consumers Union repeatedly show independent businesses beating their chain competitors in overall customer satisfaction (and often save you money). 

CHOICES! A wide variety of independent businesses, each serving their customers' tastes, creates greater overall choice for all of us. 

INCREASE WEALTH OF RESIDENTS! The multiplier effect created by spending locally generates lasting impact on the prosperity of local organizations and residents.  

CREATE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES! Not only do independent businesses employ more people directly per dollar of revenue, they also are the customers of local printers, accountants, wholesalers, farms, attorneys, etc., expanding opportunities for local entrepreneurs. 

GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY! Small businesses donate more than twice as much per sales dollar to local non-profits, events, and teams compared to big businesses. 

ENHANCE LOCAL DEMOCRACY! Local ownership of business means residents with roots in the community are involved in key development decisions that shape our lives and local environment. 

ENHANCE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS! Research shows a strong correlation between the percentage of small locally-owned firms and various indicators of personal and community health and vitality. 

Content Source: http://www.amiba.net/resources/localhero/
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Hannah Grimes Center - 25 Roxbury Street
Pollinator Enterprises Workshop with Michael Shuman

learn more and Register!




Recipe 

 

Killer Mac & Cheese with Bacon

Recipe adapted from Chef Ann Burrell

Serves 6-8

 

Ingredients
Extra-virgin olive oil
6 slices North Country Smokehouse bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons unsalted Cabot butter
1 onion, cut into 1/4 inch dice
Kosher salt
1/2 cup all-purpose King Arthur Flour
1 quart Manning Hill Farm milk, plus more as needed
1/4 cup Ruth's Hot & Sweet mustard
VT Maple Sriracha or other local hot sauce
1 pound VT Fresh Pasta fusilli other short pasta
2 cups grated Stonewall Farm cheddar (about 8 ounces)
2 cups grated Sawyer's Ver-Hampshire cheese (about 8 ounces)
1 cup grated Blythedale Farm Grana cheese (about 4 ounces)
 

Drizzle a bit of olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the bacon and set the pan over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels. Do not discard the bacon fat: Reserve that deliciousness!

Add the butter and onion to the pan with the bacon fat; season with salt and cook until the onion is soft and aromatic, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture looks like wet sand, about 3 minutes.

Slowly whisk in the milk, mustard and a few shakes of Sriracha. Season with salt and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the mixture is slightly thicker than heavy cream, 6 to 8 more minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 1 minute less than the instructions on the package suggest. Taste it: It should be toothsome, with just a little nugget of hard pasta still in the center-this is al dente. Drain the pasta.

Add the cheddar, Ver-Hampshire and Grana cheeses to the milk mixture and whisk to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed, adding a little more milk if the mixture seems too thick. Stir in the cooked bacon and pasta. The mixture should be very creamy and flavorful. Serve immediately. (If making ahead, transfer to a baking dish or ramekins, then reheat in a 375 degree oven.)

Photograph by Steve Giralt

Recipe courtesy of Anne Burrell for Food Network Magazine adapted for sourcing ingredients locally.

Additional Ingredient sourcing: 
Onions: Stonewall Farm, Tracie's Community Farm, Monadnock Food Co-op, Your local Farmer's Market
Classifieds*


More produce than you can use?

Gleaning Program now available in the Monadnock Region - please contact tckgleaner@gmail.com for more information and to get involved.


 

*Hannah Grimes Marketplace will post classifieds as a service to readers and does not imply endorsement.  Add a classified ad: Send a 20-30 word description of your service or product that is directly supporting Localvores to 
Make sure to include the best way to contact you.   
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In This Issue
Jeffrey P Smith Farm Camp Scholarship
Featured Events & Notices
Monadnock Buy Local
Recipe
Classified