TEDxManhattan's 2012 edible logo was created by urban microfarmer Frieda Lim from Slippery Slope Farm: http://www.slipperyslopefarm.us/

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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. We are now accepting applications for 2012 as well as donations to the scholarship fund.

2012 Application

For more information or to donate to the scholarship fund, please contact the Cheshire County Conservation District at 603-756-2988 ext.116 or amanda@cheshireconservation.org. More information is also available online at www.cheshireconservation.com. Applications are due by March 1, 2012 and donations are accepted through out the year.

During his lifetime, Jeff Smith, a former member of the Monadnock Localvore Steering Committee, was an enthusiastic supporter of sustainability and local agriculture. He firmly believed in the connection of all living things, and stressed the importance of working in harmony with the systems of the universe. Seeing himself as a “steward” instead of an “owner” of the land, he felt the earth was entrusted to us for safe keeping during our lifetimes, to be passed along intact to future generations. With an eager and vibrant sense of life, his every activity was geared towards improving the lives of others and the environment through giving freely of his time and efforts. To keep alive that vision, the Jeffrey P. Smith Farm Scholarship Program was initiated in August 2009. The program’s purpose is to send children to an area farm camp to discover the inherent rewards that come from cultivating with one’s hands and heart.

Food travels an average of 1500 miles before it ends up on your dinner plate. The Localvore movement is working to change this statistic, for the benefit of our health, palate, local farms, the environment and the community. Now in its fourth year, The Monadnock Localvores are focused on encouraging the eating, growing, and buying of more local food.   Sponsors for the 2012 Monadnock Localvores include Hannah Grimes and the Cheshire County Conservation District.

For my Transition Keene New Year’s Resolution, I will be posting regularly on Permaculture – with a healthy dose of Positive Visioning thrown in. To start, I’d like to share with you an 11-minute video called “The People in My Neighbourhood” by Mariko Uda and winner of the 2011 Transition Toronto Film Contest. It’s a perfect example of what happens when you combine Permaculture with Positive Visioning.

Read Katy’s full post “Permaculture + Positive Visioning = “The People in My Neighbourhood”

Current list of Commercial Kitchens in or near the Monadnock Region

• Neighbor Made
• Monadnock Fusion Kitchen
• Franklin County Community Development Corporation
• Who is missing?  Contact us.

Read more information about each Commercial Kitchen:

Neighbor Made: Do What You Do Best, We’ve Done the Rest

From Neighbor Made’s Website

A fully equipped, commercially licensed, shared-use kitchen in Keene’s Railroad Square. Helping you build or grow your specialty food business.  One of the biggest obstacles for starting a food business is the high cost of setting up a commercial kitchen. Neighbor Made is here to help. We are a fully equipped, commercially licensed, shared-use kitchen in Keene’s Railroad Square, allowing you to build your business on an as-needed basis with lowered risk and minimized start-up costs. Like Neighbor Made on Facebook.

Monadnock Fusion Kitchen

From Monadnock Fusion Kitchen’s Website

“Our mission is to empower local food producers in the Monadnock Region.” An affordable commercial food preparation and cooking facility for bakers, caterers, and small food processors and producers in Peterborough.

For details and rates, please call Roy Gandhi-Schwatlo at 603-313-9768.

Franklin County Community Development Corporation

From FCCDC’s Website

Have you ever been told that your recipe is good enough to bottle? That’s the seed that grows into a successful food business at the Center. The Center can help you overcome the obstacles to commercial success and guide you through the process of bringing your recipe to market. With the resources of the Center and the support of the Franklin County CDC behind your business, you can realize your dream of owning your own business.

Congress is making decisions about your food and our farms. The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) is partnering with the New England Farmers Union (NEFU) to help raise funds to send farmers to Washington to talk to our lawmakers.

Several times a year, the National Farmers Union coordinates a legislative fly-in. This is an opportunity for our members to go to D.C., walk the halls of Congress, meet with government officials and tell them our concerns for New England agriculture and fisheries. Because lawmakers listen to personal stories, we want to make it possible for more New England farmers and fishermen to participate in these fly-ins.

“Small farms are increasingly important and are at the forefront in developing innovative farm technologies and sustainable farming practices,” says Tim Wennrich of Meadowstone Farm in Bethlehem, NH, a participant in a recent fly-in.  In a political atmosphere supportive of big agriculture, “vision is not our problem. Small farms could use a little more voice and a little more support.”

You can help strengthen the voice of farmers in DC.  Please send a $10 tax-deductible contribution the NEFU Education Foundation today and help send a farmer to Washington.  Thank-you.

For more information and to make a contribution, please visit http://newenglandfarmersunion.org/sendafarmer.html.