More Mainers becoming 'locavores'

[jpak]

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/3854974.html

FARMINGTON -- Garden fresh, locally grown baby spinach and fresh greens caught Joanne Estey's eye at the produce case at the Better Living Center in Farmington.

"I am very discerning about what I buy and where it comes from," the New Sharon woman said. "It is pretty scary what is going on in commercial agriculture and it is absolutely essential to support local growers. It may cost a bit more but I would rather spend my money on buying good local food. And I've got to have my greens."

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"There is a real want and need for locally-grown food. And if the market demands it, there will be people to farm. It is not a way to make big money but it is very satisfying to grow healthy food for your community," said Andrew Marble, who at 24 and a recent graduate from the University of Maine at Farmington is the entrepreneur of the family.

At a recent workshop on greenhouse growing given to about 20 area home growers and commercial farmers at the Marble Farm, Mount Vernon farmer and greenhouse consultant John Pino said for $10,000, a grower can put up a 20-foot-by-32-foot greenhouse. That includes the metal and plastic structure, site work, a frost-free hydrant, benches, electricity, seeds and a watering system.

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[MuseRider]

1. This is absolutely what we need to be doing.

Freeze out the big agribusiness as much as we can.

I am spending this summer getting a big garden ready on my farm to start doing just this for myself and my new, small community next summer. Eggs, veggies and if wishes come true, goat cheese. Everything I can't use and everything I already have stored enough of will be free to anyone who needs it. I am very excited about doing this.

[peacebird]

5. I started a 20x20 veggie garden this year. Heirloom veggies mostly, and I hope

to be able to put up a lot of veggies for winter use. I also just started keeping chickens for the fresh eggs. There are a couple family farms within 10 miles that sell grass fed, free range meats. I'm really excited about growing my own veggies, and supporting local farmers! The local eggs I have been buying are totally different than the runny anemic eggs from the grovery store - deep almost orange yolks, and the taste is incredible!

If all goes well I will have some cold frames for winter harvest too!

Somehow working in the dirt helps me to let go of the stress and forget about bushco for a while... And waking to the sound of the rooster makes me smile! It's good to disconnect from the political catastrophy around us every now and again - to stop and smell the new mown grass, listen to the birds chatter, watch the fireflies, and just exist without thought of anything but the moment. Gardening helps me keep my sanity these days!

peace all!

[panader0]

Con-Agra and the biologically altered food scares me.

Con-Agra owns many companies these days.

[MuseRider]

3. You and me both. n/t

[panader0]

Con-Agra and the biologically altered food scares me.

Con-Agra owns many companies these days.

[panader0]

2. Con-Agra and the biologically altered food scares me.

Con-Agra owns many companies these days.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. Cheaper greenhouse...

Wood frame, recycle old windows for the walls, clear corrugated fiberglass for the roof.

I have a plan all drawn up for the future, when I have a place to put it. :)

For now, I'm going to have to settle for a tabletop size I can put on the porch, :( ...but I will be able to move it inside for the winter. :) )

[NNadir]

6. I'd guess that clear cuts would be a great place to grow Spinach.

Of course, it doesn't help that Maine has the worst mercury pollution in North America, but who really cares? It's not like anyone really cares about dangerous fossil fuel waste, right?

[jpak]

7. Maine small scale goat farming..."The goodness of goats" Waterville Morning Sentinel

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3857308.html#begin

FAIRFIELD -- Angelo and Dawn Pirri got into the goat-farming business in a small way.

With four growing daughters, Dawn Pirri liked the idea of having a fresh, healthy source of milk, so when a friend was willing to part with two of her own goats, she jumped at the chance.

That was back in January 2000. From there, things just sort of mushroomed, said Pirri, who owns the Sherman Farm in Fairfield with her husband, Angelo.

The family now milks 14 goats and has 15 kids, selling raw milk and soft cheese at the Waterville Farmers' Market as well as replacement does for breeders and male goats for meat.

And for the first time since getting into the goat business as a hobby, the Perri family turned a financial corner last year, going into the black by about $2,000.

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