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Lydiardwildlife's PhotoBlog
Munich Zoo
Was in Munich for work the other week so had to pop into the zoo while I was passing… For those who may have noticed I'm not active here any more, I mostly post…
posted on Dec. 09, 2011
What The Duck
Took my own ducks to the park today… I must be quackers… www.whattheduck.net
posted on Aug. 29, 2011
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Another trip to CWP as this weekend is probably last chance this year to catch birds of prey flying displays there. I still fail to get them flying…
posted on Aug. 27, 2011
Anyone noticed I've not been around here so much these days? I just haven't been going on that many trips to the park this year. In part, it's because I've got…
posted on Aug. 25, 2011
Ducking Around
Random ducking!
posted on Aug. 09, 2011
Typical. It rained while I was out. But I got to see a rainbow because of it.
posted on Aug. 02, 2011
My 2nd visit to Whipsnade, this time in summer not winter like last time.
posted on July 28, 2011
Dartmoor Zoo, yet again
An unplanned trip to the SW meant I just had to stop by the zoo again…
posted on July 16, 2011
Another Sunday
Yes, I'm really running out of ideas for titles. Yesterday was the big arts day. Which I totally forgot about until I heard the closing fireworks going off. So……
posted on July 10, 2011
Light Rain
It tried to rain, but didn't get too far…
posted on July 06, 2011
The Church
For a change I quickly popped in the church in the park as well as checking out the wildlife…
posted on June 19, 2011
Around Plymouth
Finally took a walk around Plymouth, first time in many years.
posted on June 17, 2011
Dartmoor Zoo
A very wet day…
posted on June 16, 2011
More from travels… still so much more to go! These are from Paradise Wildlife Park.
posted on June 13, 2011
Cat Survival Trust
I'm so behind on posting these… my first big cat trip of the week was at Cat Survival Trust. Rain fell the whole time which didn't help.
posted on June 12, 2011
Slightly Bigger
All the young ones are still growing. Cygnets are bigger than adult mallards now.
posted on June 02, 2011
Growing Up
Little ones still getting less little…
posted on May 24, 2011
Reptiles 2
Went for a another reptile photo day :)
posted on May 21, 2011
Damp Duckling
The little ones are a bit less little now.
posted on May 19, 2011
Into the Cotswolds
Went looking for bird hides today, and consequently birds… partial success. Anyone know what the red bird is? In a random look around I think the best candidate…
posted on May 14, 2011
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Press Room
Featured Events
February 27, 2017
February 28, 2017
February 28, 2017
March 1, 2017
March 1, 2017
March 3, 2017
March 3, 2017
March 7, 2017
February 8, 2017 - Shira A. Scheindlin, a retired judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York known for high-profile cases involving civil rights and public policy, is the 2017 Day Pitney Visiting Scholar at UConn School of Law. Read More »
February 2, 2017 - The popular perception of a nation awash in frivolous lawsuits and outrageous damage awards is not just inaccurate, it is undermining one of the pillars of American democracy, writes UConn Law Professor Alexandra Lahav in a new book, In Read More »
January 27, 2017 - The simplistic idea that free markets always generate the greatest possible economic well-being is helping drive economic inequality, writes UConn Law Professor James Kwak in a new book, Economism: Bad Economics and the Rise of Inequality. Read More »
The 22nd Gallivan Conference - Municipal Climate Policy: Local Solutions for a Global Problem to be held March 3, 2017
January 11, 2017 - The density of human beings and infrastructure that make cities vibrant also leaves them especially vulnerable to the threats presented by climate change. As extreme weather events become increasingly frequent and intense, and greenhouse gas emissions continue to erode air quality, cities across the United States are responding by taking steps to build community resilience while simultaneously addressing the root causes of climate change. Read More »
January 4, 2017 - A new incubator at UConn School of Law will provide affordable legal services to people who need them and help lawyers establish solo practices. Read More »

subset: commoncrawl


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The 7 Habits of Happy Kids at Margaret Elementary School
Margaret Elementary is implementing a new initiative this year. They are helping students become lifelong leaders by teaching "The 7 Habits of Happy Kids."
The principals in the book are based out of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Steven Covey.
The habits include:
Habit 1: Be proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 3: Put first things first
Habit 4: Think win/win
Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then be understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the saw
The students learn how to take charge of their attitudes, actions, and moods. To help foster leaders, Margaret Elementary School is now selecting "Leaders of the Month."
This month, they are focusing on students who are using habit 1 – be proactive. Being proactive means to take responsibility for your choices and behaviors.
Habit 1 is the key to all of the other habits; that's why it comes first. Be proactive says, "I am in charge of my own life.I am responsible for whether I am happy or sad.I can choose how I react to other people or situations.I am in the driver's seat."


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Sold Out
The Internet has become such a powerful instrument for business and communication that it would be hard to imagine operating without it. The business benefits of having an Internet presence are undeniable. Any AS-400 company that doesn't have an Internet implementation is going to find itself losing market share--it's that simple.
This book is intended to give AS-400 professionals an understanding of the protocol at the heart of Internet and intranet communications. The information presented here will position you to take full advantage of your system's potential for optimizing your business.
This is the most complete TCP-IP book on the market. It has the concepts and background material that traditional AS-400 professionals need as they start their Internet development journey. It covers the details of all the significant TCP/IP utilities available on the system so you can have all the information you need for your development in one source. And it explains sockets technology by presenting a full-featured production-quality TCP-IP sockets server program with RPG IV. This book is truly the source for AS-400 TCP-IP programming information.
Upon completion of AS-400 TCP-IP Handbook, you will be able to:
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The Horse Forum (http://www.horseforum.com/forumindex.php)
- Jumping (http://www.horseforum.com/jumping/)
- - Adorable video to make you smile. (http://www.horseforum.com/jumping/adorable-video-make-you-smile-145886/)
Adorable video to make you smile.
I was grinning from ear to ear watching this. I hope you all enjoy it too.
BIG HUGE smile here
Loved it.
Watched it twice because id seen it before it was fun 2 watch.
That was so neat! What handy ponies! (and horses).
214 Attachment(s)
what a fantastic experience for those young little riders! And those ponies.... simply to die for!
SO cute!!! Those little ponies can surely go!
I loved the little grey pony during the second one! The one with the tinsel in it's mane! That was adorable!!!!
That certainly made me smile. What a hilarious contrast they had between the tiny ponies and their sky-scraping counterparts.
Thanks for sharing. :)
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Tara Trask and Ramona Pierson will visit Fort Lewis College on Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23. They will work with a number of classes, in addition to participating in several events open to the public.
Fort Lewis College's Skyhawks Cycling team won third place overall at USA Cycling's Cyclocross Nationals in Hartford, Connecticut on January 4-5, 2017. Go Skyhawks!
For Fort Lewis College alumnus Matt Shriver, the end of his racing career didn't spell the end of his involvement with competitive cycling. Instead, his skills and education were diverse enough to blaze new trails for himself in the cycling industry. He's now working at the highest levels of both the sport and the industry.
Like many young basketball fans, Andrew Sharp dreamed of joining the NBA. His dream finally came true after spending five years with the Navy and then graduating Fort Lewis College as a nontraditional student. But instead of suiting up as a power forward or point guard, he dons a different suit altogether. "I'm a staff accountant for the Phoenix Suns," Sharp (Accounting, '16) says.
"Durango, CO, is home to many innovative and disruptive companies, and we believe this has created an environment whereby the FLC Hawk Tank will accelerate the next generation of entrepreneurs' success."
View all news stories
View all events


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Twerking hoax fools some in small Louisiana city
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — When a satirical website reported the small city of DeQuincy had banned twerking, some local residents thought it might be true.
City Hall got 40 to 50 calls about the ban Tuesday, and similar calls tied up two lines at the police station, Mayor Lawrence Henagen told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
"We had quite a few calls laughing about it, seeing it was a joke," he said.
But he estimated that more than half thought there might be truth in the article posted at the National Report, even though it was clearly "baloney."
The article by Paul Horner of Phoenix, Ariz., quotes "Maynard Wilkens who is the Mayor of DeQuincy" as telling CNN, "Twerking is a defiant act against Jesus and his teachings. The rest of the country can keep their heads in the sand about this sexual act before marriage, but not the great city of DeQuincy."
It continues, "Bobby Joe Williams who is the sheriff in the town told reporters about the penalties for those caught twerking. 'First time offenders will receive a mandatory 30 days in the county jail. After that it will be a much harsher punishment.'"
City residents know that neither person exists, Henagen said.
"They know Maynard Wilkens is not the mayor and Bobby Joe Williams is not the sheriff. ... And anybody in Louisiana realizes we don't have counties. We have parishes," he said. And anyone who pays attention to government knows that ordinances cannot be passed by executive order.
Horner, who owns a web design business, does standup comedy and gets a share of ad revenue generated by his pieces at National Report, has written other spoofs about DeQuincy. Headlines include "Former Teacher On The Run After Criminal Actions & Telling 1st Graders That Santa, Easter Bunny And Tooth Fairy Do Not Exist" and "Small Town In Louisiana Arming Its Students & Staff With Hand Guns."
He said he first used DeQuincy in a satire about the drugs called bath salts about a year ago, after news reports speculated that a Florida man might have taken them before attacking and chewing on the face of a homeless man. He said he wanted to set that piece in "a town that was like in the middle of nowhere." A friend suggested DeQuincy.
Henagen said he'd seen news reports about Miley Cyrus' twerking on the MTV Video Music Awards, but hadn't paid enough attention to remember what the butt-bouncing dance move was called.
"I didn't think it looked very appropriate, where she was at, but this was just my opinion," he said.
"I walked into the office yesterday and a lady asked was I banning twerking," Henagen said. "I said, 'Tell me what it is, and I'll tell you.'"
Such a ban might not seem out of place in a state where at least nine municipalities and two parishes have banned pants that ride low enough across the hips to show underwear. Some people have asked Henagen to propose a ban on low-hanging pants.
"But we don't really have that big of a problem here," he said. "Most of the time, you ask them, 'Pull your pants up' and they go on about their business."
As for twerking, he said, "I think that's a parent's job, not mine, to decide if appropriate for their kids to be doing that."
If he could talk to Horner, Henagen said, he'd suggest a visit to see DeQuincy's finer points, such as the Old Town Hall Museum, the Railroad Museum, and the Railroad Days Festival which brings 10,000 to 20,000 to the town of 3,400 in April.
And, "Pick another town for a while."
Horner said he'd already decided not to use DeQuincy as a setting again.
"It wasn't meant to do any harm to him," Horner said. "He seems like a nice guy."
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Welcome to Hogwarts! It's so great to see the faculty rocking their regalia for this special occasion. I know you are admiring my enormous velvet beret.
As all of us gather to induct students into Cum Laude, I want to think together with you about what this kind of achievement really means. I went to high school outside Boston, so I tend to think about strong students in the local vernacular: wicked smart (smaht). Maybe some of yinz don't know what this means, but it's an east coast thing. Wicked smaht is someone who is intelligent, perhaps with some esoteric knowledge, a skill set not necessarily academic, and a flair for using their erudition in the service of living vibrantly.
There is a lot that goes into being wicked smaht. There is the capacity piece, which I will glibly call "brains." Then there is the hard work component, the grit. To perform so well at school, and with such consistency, over all the years of high school requires tenacity, practice, and stamina. As an educator, I work with people who spend a lot of time thinking about ways we can nurture brains and grit in all our students.
One domain of wicked smahtness we talk about less is opportunity. Cum laude students, and I submit, every student in this auditorium gets to shine in their own way because they have been given the time, space, and attention necessary to grow as students. To spend your adolescent years learning, developing interests, and refining your skills is, in all honesty, a privilege. Your fabulous endeavors include music and drama, global studies, service learning, and being members of sports teams. Sewickley Academy students are not scheming about how to protect their families during a civil war. In some parts of the world, this is the reality that people your age encounter. I know it can be challenging for all of us in the room to feel grateful for the internet service that allows us to do research at night when we would really rather be sleeping, or to savor the electricity that enables us to read at any hour of the day, but it's worth considering. These privileges have played important roles in all of our successes.
Shankar Vedantam, who wrote a book called The Hidden Brain and has a podcast of the same name, came up with one of the most helpful metaphors for thinking about privilege: privilege is like swimming with the current. You are swimming, doing the strokes, putting in the effort. This is work and it requires skills and knowledge. It's only when you swim against the current that you realize how much easier progress is in a more hospitable environment. The biggest insight Vedantam makes is that "Those who travel with the current will always feel they are good swimmers; those who swim against the current may never realize they are better swimmers than they imagine."
Within this metaphor, I think there is much that applies to all of us in the Sewickley Academy community. Someone taught each of us how to swim in these waters of academia; in fact, many teachers have helped us become the swimmers we are today. The Sewickley faculty is committed to each and every one of your successes; this is a tremendous privilege. Think of all the teachers whose goal is to keep their students from academically drowning; we are lucky to find ourselves in the relatively warm waters of Sewickley Academy where we have the luxury to dive so much deeper.
In non-metaphorical terms, you are learning academic skills that will become lifelong productive habits of mind: to be careful observers, to ask for help when necessary, to think critically, to detect patterns, to communicate effectively, to put forth a best effort.
Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps's mother, Debbie, brought him to swimming. In a NY Times interview, she recounted that "In kindergarten I was told by his teacher, 'Michael can't sit still, Michael can't be quiet, Michael can't focus.'" Because she was committed to helping Michael find a milieu in which he could thrive, Michael joined a swim team. Swimming provided an outlet for Michael's energy and taught him self-discipline. His long limbs, for which he was sometimes teased at school, were an epic asset in the pool. Mrs. Phelps must have known what she was doing because Michael became the most decorated Olympian of all time, winning 22 medals in three Olympiads. In my book, Mrs. Phelps demonstrated exactly how wicked smaht she is by creating this opportunity for Michael.
To make good use of opportunity requires brains and grit. I've seen this in action. Lia Neal, who is the daughter of a Chinese-American mother and African-American father, is the first U.S. woman of Black descent to swim an Olympic final for the United States. She won a bronze medal as a member of the women's relay team. I was on the faculty of the school Lia attended, and graduated from, while she was on the Olympic team. On top of a demanding academic course load, Lia trained five hours every day. She spent her days developing her talents and passions, and she chose to forgo some parts of a typical high school experience. Lia missed social events once or twice. By once or twice, I mean maybe a couple of hundred times. Lia is a huge Justin Bieber fan. Just kidding, I don't know if she is a Belieber or not; sometimes it's just too hard to resist a Bieber joke. Sorry. In any case, Lia demonstrated that opportunities need to be nurtured, that they require focus and intentionality. Lia set goals and worked towards them with fierce commitment. To live like this while still in high school is a sign of how wicked smaht Lia is.
Brains and grit are no assurance that things will go the way we want them to. I feel like I should stand here at the Cum Laude assembly and tell you all that hard work and good intentions pave the road to success, but I'm going to tell you something a little different. Even when you are well-prepared and show your best work, you may not get every college acceptance or job offer you want. Or you may get it, and then realize you hate being there. Hardly any of us will make it to the Olympics. Your heart will be broken. Life is not always fair, and it is not always merit-based. You may not get all the things you deserve, or want, when you deserve and want them. Opportunity can be fickle.
I see some skeptical looks. Maybe you are a statistical outlier and your life will be perfect: here's hoping! But even then, because you are a careful observer, a critical thinker, you will find yourself back in the boat with the rest of us. It is impossible to see the news without feeling at least a tinge of despair. Because you are awake, and noticing, and human, you will grapple with some heavy situations and feelings. Brains and grit cannot protect you from these blows. They can, however, help you through them, and this is where wicked smahtness comes into play.
As wicked smaht people, we all get to choose how to respond to the wrenches life may throw in our paths. We have the wherewithal to work through rough times. The poet Jack Gilbert wrote, "We must risk delight. We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world." What? Some poet is advising that we acknowledge how life can really burn us and then recommending that we use our grittiness to experience delight and gladness? I am a psychologist and I know that this kind of bravery and vulnerability is not always accessible to everyone; there are clearly times when asking for help is a life skill. But, often as we muddle through the hard times, being wicked smaht can be handy. At the very least, close observers accumulate a repertoire of ways to hold on to hope, and this is often an act of courage and fortitude. I find that friendship and spontaneous dance parties can salve many of life's wounds.
Creating opportunities for others is, interestingly, another almost universal way of shining light into dark spaces. There is a reason that Debbie Phelps, and your teachers and parents do what they do; it's good for humanity, and it gives them hope and joy most of the time. Or, at least, often enough.
As we sit here, swimming in opportunity and promise, I'm going to get a little ethical on you and tell you that because you have been given some awesome opportunities you are in a great position to spread the love. When you are swimming with the current, invite others along. When you see someone swimming as hard as they can against the tides, speak up for them or lend them a hand. Help those swimming against the current understand exactly how strong they are. Whatever your event, swim proudly knowing that the Sewickley community is rooting for you. When you are on the sidelines, cheer others on. And, for crying out loud, toss a floatation device to anyone you see who is going under. This is all part of the Academy's mission to nurture "potential in service of a greater good."
Cum Laude is a real honor and accomplishment. These students are rightfully being applauded for their hard work, grit, and smahts. They have made great use of the opportunities afforded them. In celebrating them today, we all strengthen the delight and gladness in our community. Congratulations; well done!


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The Bird House, NC We Ship
Handfeeding these baby Greencheeks now. Yellowsides and pineapple.$250.00 Quick View New
Birdie Brains Aviary, NC We Ship
Pending sale. High Red Pineapple breeding pair. This pair is just now 2 years old, and they should breed this spring. I've had them together almost a...$500.00 Pair Quick View Just Updated
Wacky Wings, NC We Ship
-3 turquoise green cheek males 1year old-175.00/ea -turquoise gc male x turquoise hen 1.5 year old-350.00/pr -turquoise gc male x cinnamon turquoi...$175.00 Quick View


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© Copyright 2017 mommy3. All rights reserved.
Status: Finished
Genre: Fantasy
That is so sad, awww i feel so bad for that girl.very touching, loved it much! ~KeRi
great poem :) good luck
Such a sad poem. It seems to ring with melancholy and that feeling that she can't escape, which traditionally is associated with destiny. Great entry here :) Good luck in the challenge!
Oh, and happy holidays!
Whoa, this is intense, and so sad :( Poor woman. Love it though, and the picture! Very nice!
Love it!! The feeling, the passion, everything. It has a nice flow but I still feel very sorry for the girl. I don't know why but I have a feeling that she loves him and that makes it just twice as sad...Just my opinion though!! Hope you had a nice Christmas and that Santa brought you lots of gifts!!
The rhyming scheme is not the best I have ever seen, but it is superior to many on here. Your words certainly convey a vivid imagery of what is happening in the picture and leave us with sadness for the careless loss of life when she did not appear to do anything wrong. Not an easy picture to write for, but well done for giving it your all.
Sad but great. Pressing the i like vote for a great entry. I wish you the best of luck in this challenge.
Complies with the picture very well. The rhyming is well done, and the story line fits perfectly. Good Luck!
Really powerful write. Think it fits the picture well. Like the words and strong emotions you used. Well done! Good luck in the challenge my friend. Susan :)
This poem had a nice flow and rhythum to it though i was a little confused to it's meaning,i was somewhat saddened by the eventual demise of this black rose who sits so unusually on the edge of the ocean.
A chilling and very atmospheric write well done.
Very good poem. The picture was kinda hard to write about, but you did a great job.
This was a very sad poem, but I enjoyed it.
I dislike how some people humiliate themselves for others just to get broken. I think you made that very clear here...
This is awesome. I really enjoyed this. It was meaningful and it teaches us that we can't expect too much from life. The words were apt to describe the picture. You've got loads of talent. :)
Interesting. I think this is your best so far I have read by you.
I am not crazy about your rhyming scheme, but it's not bad at all.
Susan's and a few to mention their rhyming scheme spoils me. I cannot rhyme for the life of me. I stick to blank verse haha. I am too much of a chicken.
This was a bit confusing and could be tidied up but well written and powerful. Definitely emotive!
Wow! that was fantastic! I love it! It was sad. And I can't imagine myself writing that. I rhink it takes a certain kind of person to write stuff like that, and you are definitely that kind of person!
Book / Fantasy
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Best Mini, Europe & No-Fly Cruise Deals
11 Deals
Wake up in a new European city each day and only unpack once; the major benefits of cruising include the opportunity to visit multiple countries in one shot, with all accommodations and transportation included.
Sail to the Mediterranean, stopping in cities such as Barcelona, Civitavecchia (near Rome), Sicily, the Amalfi Coast and Venice, plus posh destinations such as Cannes, Monte Carlo, Portofino and Mallorca. Eastern Mediterranean sailings feature ports in Greece, such as Mykonos, Santorini and Athens, Croatia's famed Split and Dubrovnik, and Istanbul and Izmir in Turkey.
Northern Europe and Baltic cruises provide rich itineraries which include Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, St. Petersburg and Helsinki.
Norwegian was voted Europe's top cruise line at the World Travel Awards, but many diverse options are also available aboard Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Oceania Cruises, MSC Cruises and Azamara.
For those seeking a more intimate experience, river cruising has quickly become one of the fastest growing trends in the cruise industry. With smaller ships that are able to navigate through inland waterways, river cruises often dock in the heart of cities and villages such as Vienna, Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Budapest, Paris and Passau, allowing for seamless exploration of places that large ocean carriers could never reach – including Germany's popular Christmas Markets. Top river cruise lines include Viking River Cruises, AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways and Uniworld.
Summer is the most popular time to cruise through Europe, but the best Europe cruise deals can be found in the winter, spring and fall months.
Best Mini, Europe & No-Fly Cruise Deals
Greece & Croatia: All-Inc Cruise w/Venice Stay
Broadway Travel • Venice, Split, Santorini, Mykonos & Dubrovnik
21 Sep
Danube: All-Inc 7-Night Cruise w/Flights & Drinks
Broadway Travel • Austria, Slovakia & Hungary
6 Oct
5-Nt Adult-Only Medieval City Cruise fr Tilbury
Iglu Cruise • Belgium & France
28 May
16-Night No/Fly All-Inc Cruise w/Monaco & Cannes
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines • Spain, France & Gibraltar
19 May
5-Nt Northern Cities & Seine River Cruise
Iglu Cruise • Belgium & France
28 May
Ultra-Luxury Yacht Cruise w/All Meals
eWaterways • Venice, Split, Korcula, Dubrovnik, Hvar & more
11 Jul
European Cities & Fairy Tales Cruise
Broadway Travel • Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Alborg
Singles Cruise to France & Spain fr Southampton
Iglu Cruise • La Rochelle, Santander, El Ferrol & St Peter Port
7-Nt Fjords on P&O Britannia from Southampton
Going Luxury Cruise • Norwegian Fjords
Celtic Coast: 5-Star Mega Yacht Cruise
eWaterways • Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Scilly Isles & Guernsey
8-Night European Cruise fr Southampton
Tour Center • Spain, Portugal & Italy


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|5' 11"
Blue Label Keswick Down Insulated Long Duffle Coat
- Self: 60% wool , 40% viscose
Lining 1: 65% poly , 35% viscose
Lining 2: 100% nylon
Pocket Lining: 100% poly
Filling: 80% down , 20% feathers
- Dry clean only
- Zip and toggle front closure
- Hooded
- Waist flap pockets with button closure
- Interior velcro patch pockets
- Revolve Style No. PENF-WO28
- Manufacturer Style No. PF1396W13.019
- Modeled in size S.
- Model Measurements: Height 5' 11", Waist 24, Bust 32, Hips 34
- Size Guide
- Need size help? Contact our Style Expert!
Penfield was established in Hudson, Massachusetts in 1975 and have built a reputation for making the highest quality down-filled jackets, fleece, and outerwear.
If an item you would like to purchase is out of stock, you can place a Special Order Inquiry. REVOLVE will then check the availability and obtain an approximate arrival date for the item, if available. Typically, it takes up to 3-4 weeks to verify this information.
Placing a Special Order Inquiry is absolutely free and there is no obligation to follow through with a purchase.
- You will be notified by email once we receive the item.
- You may cancel at any time without penalty
- Your card will ONLY be charged when your order is shipped.
- Availability is not guaranteed.


text:
PSD to Joomla
This project was awarded to ChrissAmirian for $250 USD.Get free quotes for a project like this
Project Budget$250 - $750 USD
Total Bids41
Project Description
This website is for an internet service provider.
The template must be done in Joomla.
The website needs to work perfectly on iPad, therefore it is highly desirable that the site is done in HTML5. Flash will not be used. The website also needs to work perfectly on the major browsers (IE, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari) on both mac and pc.
Its structure will consist of a main navigation bar (see [url removed, login to view]'s menubar and [url removed, login to view] ) and sub-links for the individual pages (see [url removed, login to view]). The body will then consist of a large box and/or smaller boxes that will contain text and graphics. The main navigation bar and sub links will always be visible in the browser. This means that once a user scrolls down the page, the page will scroll down past the logo and social links, but past that, only the body will scroll down and not the main navigation bar and sub-links. See here for a practical example: [url removed, login to view]
It is VERY IMPORTANT that as much as possible of the site is in text-form so it doesn't become too large.
Project tasks
1. The buttons in the main navigation bar will have a 'mouse-over' function where the buttons will change appearance when 'mouse-over'.
2. The active buttons in the main navigation bar will turn blue.
3. The navigation bar must have a search function. The user will write some text and either press enter or press the magnifying glass to start the search. This search function needs to be good enough to search the whole website and display the search results in a comprehensible and intuitive way. The graphical layout for the search page will be provided.
4. We need to be able to change the text in the main navigation bar in the joomla backend.
5. The site will be based on the fonts 'Myriad Pro' and 'Helvetica'.
6. There are three 'social' button links that need to have a 'mouse-over'. When 'mouse-over', the buttons change from grey-scale images to color images. They will link to a twitter profile, rss, and facebook.
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44598011262628155522016-12-13T07:01:03.648-05:00North Shore LocavoreConnecting people looking for local food on the North Shore(MA) with the people producing itJohn Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-7937662231608270182016-12-12T21:36:00.000-05:002016-12-12T21:36:00.559-05:00Finding Locally Grown Food This Winter Is More Convenient Than You Think

Click on the links across the top of the site and discover all of the great community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, farm stands, farmers markets, grocers, vintners, brewers, cheesemakers, and more the North Shore has to offer.

Locally grown/produced food is more nutritious, safer, and way more tasty than the stuff you'll find in the produce sections of supermarkets or big-box department stores. And when you commit a portion of your food budget to local foods, it is an investment in your local community.

Make 2017 the year you begin incorporating more locally grown and produced foods and beverages into your daily routine. It's easier and more convenient than you think!John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-18418538904464940432016-07-18T13:20:00.000-04:002016-07-18T13:20:02.387-04:002016 Farmers Markets Hours of Operation

The 2016 summer Farmers Market season is in full swing on the North Shore. Click on this link to see a complete list of markets and their hours of operation.

If you click on the name of the market you'll be taken to its official site, where you can find more details about location, vendors, entertainment, special promotions, and more.

You can also select "Farmers Market" from the navigation bar at the top of the site to view the list.

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-12408163623396168742016-04-02T12:34:00.000-04:002016-04-07T07:34:02.655-04:00North Shore Farmers Markets Seeking Vendors, 2016

The following list of North Shore farmers markets seeking vendors was adapted from a publication by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). To find the full, statewide list of new and established farmers markets seeking vendors, click here.

Please note that other North Shore farmers markets may still be accepting vendor applications for the 2016 season. To learn more about the locations or application processes for these markets, and others on the North Shore, please follow this link to my full list of official sites of North Shore Farmers Markets.

Danvers, Wednesdays, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, June 8 to October 5.
Contact Bill Nolan, 978-774-4468 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Seeking meat, fruit, vegetables, eggs, artisans.

Essex, Saturdays, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, June 18 to October 15.
Contact Alison Taylor, 978-836-1129 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Seeking cheese, fresh juice.

Gloucester, Thursdays, 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm, June 2 to October 13.
Contact Nicole Bogin, 978-290-2717 or email@example.com.
Seeking cheese, dairy, prepared foods, i.e. food trucks, ethnic foods.

Newburyport, Sundays, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Contact Shari Wilkinson, 978-457-6644 or email@example.com.
Seeking cow's milk cheese, local fish.

Peabody, Tuesdays, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm, July 12 to October 18.
Contact Lucia DelNego, 978-538-5782 or firstname.lastname@example.com.

Salem, Thursdays, 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm, June 9 to October 13.
Contact Kylie Sullivan, 978-744-0004. X 15 or email@example.com.
Seeking meat, bread, cheese.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-83721487307507989832015-11-11T11:31:00.000-05:002015-11-11T11:31:30.111-05:0010 Upcoming Indoor Farmers Markets for Stocking Your Holiday Table

It's a lot easier than you might think to make sure all of your upcoming holiday festivities are stocked with locally grown/produced foods and drinks.

Beverly Farmers Market will be holding a pair of indoor markets from 3 to 7 p.m. on November 23 and December 21 at the Cove Community Center.

Another terrific option this month is the Swampscott Farmers Market, which will be holding its third annual indoor Thanksgiving farmers market from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, in the atrium at Swampscott High School.

Long Hill Orchard, in West Newbury, will be there, bringing locally raised turkeys for everyone who preordered birds. Clark Farm, of Danvers, will have a selection of apples, squash, greenhouse tomatoes, kale, and more. And there are more vendors to be announced. Market organizers are still finalizing their vendor list, but check their event page on Facebook as we get closer to market day for a full list.

It's just one of many opportunities this month and next to stroll indoor markets on the North Shore, just in time for your holiday gatherings. And don't forget, the incredible Marblehead and Newburyport outdoor markets run through November 21 and November 22, respectively.

Here are the other indoor market dates you should add to your calendar right now.

Wednesday, November 18

Ipswich Farmers Market (3:30-6:30pm)
Ascension Memorial Church Gymnasium, 31 County St.

Saturday, November 21

Cape Ann Farmers Market (10am to 2pm)
UU Church, 10 Church St., Gloucester

Sunday, November 22

Melrose-Wakefield Farmers Market (11am to 3pm)
Memorial Hall, 590 Main St., Melrose

Salem Farmers Market (3-7pm)
217 Essex St. (Pedestrian Mall), next to Muddle Puddle Toys

Swampscott Farmers Market (10am to 1pm)
Swampscott High School, 200 Essex St.

Monday, November 23

Beverly Farmers Market (3-7pm)
Cove Community Center, 19 East Corning St.

Saturday, December 19

Cape Ann Farmers Market (10am to 2pm)
UU Church, 10 Church St., Gloucester

Salem Farmers Market (1-5pm)
217 Essex St. (Pedestrian Mall), next to Muddle Puddle Toys

Sunday, December 20

Melrose-Wakefield Farmers Market (11am to 3pm)
Memorial Hall, 590 Main St., Melrose

Monday, December 21

Beverly Farmers Market (3-7pm)
Cove Community Center, 19 East Corning St.

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-88285341584102405272015-05-16T09:18:00.000-04:002015-05-16T09:18:12.002-04:002015 North Shore Summer Farmers Markets' Opening Days

The farmers market scene on the North Shore continues to expand and contract, as communities compete for vendors' attention and search for the right combination of supply and demand. This summer, a new market will debut in downtown Danvers on Friday evenings, but markets in Middleton and Woburn will not be held.

For a full list of 2015 North Shore Summer Farmers Markets, including opening days and hours of operation, click here.

The Essex Farmers Market and Ipswich Farmers Market will look to build on the success of their rookie seasons, while relatively new markets in Swampscott, Rockport, and Peabody will look to continue to gain momentum.

The Bevery Farmers Market, which is held on Monday afternoons, saw a record number of vendor applications this year and will feature at least 37 vendors for their seventh season. (Market organizers are still accepting applications from farms and artisan bread makers.)

Marblehead Farmers Market will kick off its 18th season, beginning on May 30.

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-22447260077009563472014-06-06T05:59:00.002-04:002014-06-06T05:59:56.893-04:00Summer Farmers Markets Opening Days, 2014

This week, farmers markets in Swampscott, Gloucester, and Salem will ring their opening bells for the 2014 summer season, joining Newburyport and Marblehead as your first-of-the-season choices for fresh, local produce.

Later this month, two new North Shore markets will debut on consecutive days, in Ipswich (June 20) and Essex (June 21). Both Cape Ann communities have hosted farmers markets in the past, but this year they'll be moving to new downtown locations and a welcoming a host of new vendors.

If you'd like to find out hours, locations, entertainment, special events, or any other details about North Shore Farmers markets, click on the navigation bar at the top of the site or click here.

Sunday, May 4
Newburyport Farmers Market

Saturday, May 31
Marblehead Farmers Market

Sunday, June 8
Swampscott Farmers Market

Thursday, June 12
Cape Ann Farmers Market (Gloucester)
Salem Farmers Market

Monday, June 16
Beverly Farmers Market

Wednesday, June 18
Middleton Farmers Market

Friday, June 20
Ipswich Farmers Market

Saturday, June 21
Andover Farmers Market
Essex Farmers Market
Rockport Farmers Market
Wakefield Farmers Market

Sunday, June 22
Woburn Farmers Market

Saturday, June 28
Haverhill Farmers Market

Thursday, July 3
Lynn Farmers Market

Wednesday, July 9
Lawrence Farmers Market I

Friday, July 11
Lawrence Farmers Market II

Saturday, July 12
Lawrence Farmers Market III

Tuesday, July 15
Peabody Farmers Market

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-8868017670543139452014-05-27T06:45:00.000-04:002014-05-27T06:45:14.986-04:00Gleaning Group Would Love Your Help

Are you interested in a unique volunteering opportunity that helps connect hungry families to local food?

Boston Area Gleaners is a nonprofit organization that rescues produce that's been left in the fields of local farms and delivers it to hunger relief organizations.

Produce is left out for various reasons. It could have been missed by harvesting equipment used by the farmers or it could have become overripe or slightly damaged by frost. Although that produce might be imperfect and hard to market at a farm stand or farmers market, it's still edible and packed with nutrients.

Last year, its most productive to date, its network of staff members and volunteers helped gather nearly 90,000 pounds of produce (46 different crops) from 27 farms.

All of the farms BAG partners with are less than an hour drive from Boston. In the past they've worked with North Shore farms such as Alprilla (Essex), Appleton (Ipswich), First Light Farm (Hamilton), Moraine Farm (Beverly), Smolak Farm (North Andover), and more.

If you're interested in volunteering send an email to the following address:

firstname.lastname@example.com

Your name will be added to the group's Gleaning Trip Alert List and you'll be notified when the group has a gleaning trip scheduled. The season typically runs from June to January and, in general, gleaning trips are organized on weekday mornings.

And if you're interested in volunteering some of your other skills to this organization, check out the other opportunities on the volunteer section of its website.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-39405067705921815332014-05-25T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-25T06:00:00.828-04:00Massachusetts Ranked 11th-Best at Supporting Local Food

A Vermont-based food advocacy group, Strolling of the Heifers has released it's annual Locavore Index, ranking states on their support of local food, and Massachusetts moved up one place from a year ago to #11.

The organization tallies the number of farmers markets, CSAs, food hubs and what percentage of schools have a Farm-to-School program. It compares the data for each state on a per-capita basis, according to its website.

All six New England states appear in the to 20, with Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire ranking first through third in the country.

According to data included in the index, Massachusetts (with a population of nearly 7 million) has 292 farmers markets, 227 CSA programs, 13 food hubs, and 77% of its school districts have Farm-to-School programs.John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-68891262429483125482014-05-24T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-24T06:00:06.715-04:00Six North Shore Craft Breweries Appear on MA "Brewer's Trail"

The Massachusetts agriculture department has released a Massachusetts Craft Brewers Trail Brochure that you can use to navigate your way through more than 60 breweries in the state, from Cape Cod to the Berkshires.

There are a half dozen breweries featured in the North of Boston region of the map. They are:

Cape Ann Brewing Company (Gloucester)

Ipswich Ale Brewery

Newburyport Brewing Company

Riverwalk Brewing Company (Newburyport)

Salem Beer Works

The Tap Brewing Company (Haverhill)

To download and print your own copy of the brochure, click here.

Photo: (c) Paul David Gibson

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-73281908657596612172013-10-12T07:33:00.000-04:002013-11-10T09:09:58.645-05:00Closing Dates for 2013 Farmers Markets

Don't pack away those reusable shopping bags just yet. The North Shore farmers market season isn't over.

There are still some North Shore farmers markets that are open through late October and into November. If you stop by these markets during their operating hours you're likely to find piles of root vegetables and fall fruits, which when stored in a cool, dry basement or pantry will last much longer than you'd think.

Here are the closing days for farmers markets on the North Shore. Schedule some time to visit them over the next few weeks and stock up on some locally grown produce.

Here is a link to operating hours and official websites for these markets.

Sunday, Nov. 24
Newburyport Farmers Market

Saturday, Nov. 23
Marblehead Farmers Market

Saturday, Nov. 2
West Newbury Farmers Market

Thursday, Oct. 31
Lynn Farmers Market

Wednesday, Oct. 30
Lawrence Farmers Market (Wed.)

Sunday, Oct. 27
Swampscott Farmers Market

Saturday, Oct. 26
Haverhill Farmers Market
Lawrence Farmers Market (Sat.)

Thursday, Oct. 24
Salem Farmers Market

Sunday, Oct. 20
Woburn Farmers Market

Saturday, Oct. 19
Wakefield Farmers Market

Sunday, Oct. 13
Point Shore Farmers Market (Amesbury)
Saugus/Cliftondale Farmers Market

Oct. 10
Cape Ann Farmers Market (Gloucester)

Oct. 9
Middleton Farmers Market

Oct. 7
Beverly Farmers Market

Oct. 6
Rowley Farmers Market

Oct. 5
Andover Farmers Market

Sept. 28
Essex Farmers Market

Sept. 7
Rockport Farmers Market
Topsfield Farmers Market

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-43643507547024692642013-06-20T06:25:00.000-04:002013-06-20T06:25:19.438-04:00Farms Release Outdoor Farm-to-Table Dining Schedules; Make Your Reservations Now!

In the last few years, outdoor farm-to-table dining events, held at North Shore farms, have generated a lot of interest for the farms and people like you, looking for fun and easy ways to eat locally grown/produced foods.

I'm still waiting to hear what, if any, dinner events Cider Hill Farm, in Amesbury, has planned for this summer, but below are the schedules for three other North Shore farms.

Take a look, and make your reservations soon. These events always sell out quickly.

Apple Street Farm (Essex)
Enjoy a seasonal cocktail and hors d'oeuvres prepared by chefs from L'Espalier and Sel de la Terre restaurants, and then sit down under the tent for a four-course meal and trio of wine pairings.

You should plan to arrive at 5:30 p.m. for these events. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $180 per person and includes tax and gratuity.

June 21, 22: Summer Solstice (click here to see menu)
July 19, 20: Firefly Festival
August 23, 24: Brandywine Bash
September 20, 21: Fire Pit Fiesta
October 18, 19: Essex Harvest Feast

For reservations: Call L'Espalier at 617-262-3023

Green Meadows Farm (South Hamilton)
This is the second year this certified-organic farm is hosting a farm-to-table series. Chef Manny Besanna is back to prepare the incredibly fresh meats and produce that are available to him at Green Meadows.

Dinner starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $55 per person and include gratuity, tax, and a signature cocktail.

June 22: June Farm-to-Table Dinner (Click here to see menu)
July 18: July Farm-to-Table Dinner
August 22: August Farm-to-Table Dinner

For reservations: Stop by or call the farm stand at 978-468-2277

Smolak Farms (North Andover)
Whim, the farm's summer outdoor dining series is back once again, starting July 10 and featuring visiting chefs from around the greater Boston area. Below you'll find the dates of the series, followed by the evenings featured chef/restaurant.

The events are held on Wednesday evenings, beginning at 6 p.m. with cocktails. Dinner starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $69 per person and include tax.

July 10: Mary Dumont/Harvest
July 17: ChrisForthingham/Vine Brook Tavern
July 24: Brian Rae/Rialto
July 31: Chris Coombs/Deauxave & Boston Chops
August 7: Alex Saenz/Lineage
August 14: Andy Husbands/Tremont 647 & Sister Sorel
August 21: Kevin O'Donnell/The Salty Pig

For reservations: Click on this link to buy your tickets.

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-6554560501148777762013-06-18T06:27:00.001-04:002013-06-18T06:27:21.150-04:00Revere Beach Farmers Market Relocating to Wonderland T Station

My friends over at NOBO magazine have the scoop about the Revere Beach Farmers Market, which after years of setting up in the beach's bandstand is moving to the upper level of the recently renovated Wonderland MBTA station this year.

Also, with the new location comes new operating hours. The market will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays beginning June 20 and running through October 17.

It's a modest-size market, but still a convenient and fun way to buy locally grown produce, dairy, and more. The market will be set up on the upper level of the Wonderland station next to the new Markey Pedestrian Bridge, which leads to the historic North Shore beach.

Returning vendors this year include Brox Farm (Dracut), the hub for Farmer Dave's CSA, Andover's Hereford Valley Farm, and Sugar Covered Heaven (Chelsea).

This year, they'll be joined by two new vendors: Foxboro Cheese and The Soup Guy (Dover, NH).

The Revere Beach Farmers Market is managed by the Revere Beach Partnership, the same nonprofit organization behind the National Sand Sculpting Festival.

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-43036428532366629232013-06-13T11:44:00.001-04:002013-06-15T06:21:13.724-04:0010 Best Pick-Your-Own Strawberries Farms on the North Shore

Within the past week, farms all across the North Shore have opened their pick-your-own (PYO) strawberry fields.

Now is the best time to get out to one (or four, or five!) of the farms listed below for the best selection of locally grown strawberries.

And if you love picking strawberries without all the...y'know...picking...skip the fields and go directly to the farm stands where you'll find freshly picked strawberries in ready-to-go quarts.

Here are my (ahem) picks for the best PYO strawberry farms on the North Shore, listed in alphabetical order, featuring hours and prices.

Boston Hill Farm (North Andover)
The PYO strawberry fields at Boston Hill Farm opened for picking on Saturday (6/8).

Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: $2.45/lb

If you're looking for an update on conditions, give the farm stand a call at 978-681-8556.

You'll also find freshly picked berries for sale in the farm stand in a variety of sizes: pint ($4.25), quart ($5.75) and tray ($7.50).

Brooksby Farm (Peabody)
Last year, our unusual spring weather forced Brooksby to cancel PYO strawberries.

This year, they've got a great-looking crop of strawberries and picking will begin today (6/13).

Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (weekends); 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (weekdays)
Price: $5.00/quart

Call them for updates on picking conditions at 978-531-7456.

They've also got freshly picked strawberries in the farm stand, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cider Hill Farm (Amesbury)
Cider Hill opened up its fields on Monday (6/10), and reportedly it's their best-looking crop of strawberries in years.

Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $2.75/lb.

Conditions change fast, so visit Cider Hill's update page before you head out. Or, call 978-388-5525.

Connors Farm (Danvers)
The fields were opened on Tuesday (6/11), and Bob Connors told me this week that the crop looks great.

Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: $4.50 per quart

Check the official website of Connors Farm for updates on conditions, or give them a call at 978-777-1245.

The farm's annual Strawberry Festival will be held starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 22.

Ingaldsby Farm (West Boxford)
Ingaldsby opened its fields for strawberry picking last Sunday (6/9).

Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: $2.85/lb (10lbs+ $2.65/lb)

To check for updates on conditions, visit Ingaldsby's Facebook page, or give them a call at 978-352-2813.

Marini Farm (Ipswich)
[UPDATE 6/15] PYO strawberries fields are now open at Marini Farms.

Although you can find freshly picked strawberries in its renowned farm stand, Marini hasn't opened up its 12 acres of PYO fields just yet. They're tentatively planned to open up this weekend (June 14 & 15), so keep checking Marini Farm's Twitter account and Facebook page for confirmation and updates on conditions.

Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $2.59/lb

Rain or shine, you'll always find freshly picked strawberries in Marini Farm's award-winning farm stand, open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Marini Farm's annual Strawberry Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 22.

If you'd like to give them a call before you head over, dial 978-356-0430.

Maple Crest Farm (West Newbury)
Despite the fact that deer reeked havoc on their strawberry plants last fall, the folks at Maple Crest are happy to announce that PYO strawberries will begin on Saturday (6/15).

Hours: Daily, (except Mondays) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $2.50 per quart

Check the Maple Crest Farm website for updates on conditions, or give them a call at 508-641-5955.

Rogers Spring Hill Farm (Haverhill)
The strawberry fields (133 Neck Road), located in the Ward Hill section of Haverhill, are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hours: Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: $2.50/lb

You can either bring your own container or the folks at the farm will provide you with one when you get there.

Strawberries are also available by the quart ($5.75) in their garden center (1269 Boston Road) from 8-6 on weekdays, 8-5 on Saturdays, and 9-5 on Sundays.

For updates on conditions, check out Rogers Spring Hill Farm's Facebook page, or give them a call at 978-372-4780.

Russell Orchards (Ipswich)
Russell Orchards opened up their PYO strawberry fields last weekend, but the fields were picked so much that it had to shut it down for a day or so afterward to let the strawberries catch up.

Rest assured, the sunshine on Sunday afternoon was just what they needed and the fields opened again on Monday (6/10) afternoon.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Price: $3.00/lb. There is also a $3.00 charge to enter the fields,but that entry fee will be credited to you at checkout.

You'll find 24 varieties over three fields covering three and a half acres, according to its website.

The best place to check for updates on conditions is Russell Orchards official website, but you can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.

Russell Orchards' two-day Strawberry Festival will be held from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. on June 22 and 23.

Smolak Farms (North Andover)
The strawberry fields will be open starting tomorrow, Friday (6/14). They are located 1 mile from the farm stand at 494 Ipswich Road (Boxford).

Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $3.00/lb. There is also a $3.00 charge to enter the fields,but that entry fee will be credited to you at checkout.

For updates on conditions, check Smolak Farms' official website or give them a call at 978-682-6332.

If you're out there picking this weekend, please let your fellow North Shore Locavore readers know about conditions and pass along any advice you might have via the NSL Facebook page.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-34375031199307235522013-06-05T06:05:00.001-04:002013-06-19T20:34:28.935-04:00Opening Days for Farmers Markets on the North Shore

This is one of my favorite posts every year.

Below, you'll find a list of opening days for spring/summer farmers markets on the North Shore.

Interestingly, this is the first year since I started the site, two years ago, in which we don't have a new market making its debut.

North Shore Community College's sustainability club has planted a community garden and is looking to organize a farmers market to sell what they've grown, but that hasn't come together just yet.

If you haven't stopped by yet, the spring/summer Newburyport Farmers Market is already open for the season from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday morning.

If you'd like to learn more about vendors, locations, parking, and more, you'll find links to official websites for these markets on my Farmers Market Directory page.

Sunday, June 9

Swampscott Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, June 10

Beverly Farmers Market, 3 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 11

Peabody (Tues.) Farmers Market, 2 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, June 13

Salem Farmers Market, 3 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 15

Marblehead Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon

Georgetown Farmers Market, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, June 19

Middleton Farmers Market, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 20

Cape Ann Farmers Market (Gloucester), 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 22

Wakefield Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rockport Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Essex Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, June 23

Woburn Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, June 29

Andover Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Haverhill Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, July 6

Lawrence (Sat.) Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, July 10

Lawrence (Wed.) Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m

Tuesday, July 2

Saugus/Cliftondale Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, July 11

Lynn Farmers Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, July 13

Topsfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon

Sunday, July 14

Rowley Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

West Newbury/Laurel Grange Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon

Saturday, July 20

Ipswich Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-90394865251356753582013-05-10T11:45:00.001-04:002013-05-10T11:45:49.498-04:00"Top Picks" for the weekend, May 10-12

Every week, the North Shore Locavore email newsletter not only contains a summary of the week's blog posts, but also you'll find my "Top Picks" for the upcoming weekend's local-food events on (or near) the North Shore.

For those of you who aren't subscribers yet, I thought I would include this week's "Top Picks" in today's post.

Click here if you'd like to subscribe to my weekly email newsletter. It's completely free and always 100% locally written. :-)

Seafood at Sundown<o:p></o:p>

Friday, May 17<o:p></o:p>

6 to 9 p.m.<o:p></o:p>

(Boston)<o:p></o:p>

Tickets are now on sale for this exciting fundraiser for the Boston Public Market Association, which is working to create a year-round public farmers market in Boston. The Seafood at Sundown event will be held on Boston's Fish Pier. Learn about the remarkable work Red's Best is doing to support local fisherman and enjoy some locally caught seafood. Tickets are $75 each and include food, beer, and wine. There will also be live music and raffles. Click here to reserve your tickets now. <o:p></o:p>

Moraine Farm Geology and Field Walk<o:p></o:p>

 Saturday, May 11

1 to 3 p.m.<o:p></o:p>

(Beverly)<o:p></o:p>

Join geologist James Matz and farm manager Gretta Anderson for a tour of Moraine Farm in Beverly. Matz, who is also a member of the Beverly Planning Board, will present information about the geology and soils on the farm. Anderson will introduce participants to the 23-acre organically managed community vegetable farm owned by the Trustees of the Reservation. The tour is free and open to the public but limited to 30 guests. Click here to register online. <o:p></o:p>

Food Day 2013 Planning Meeting<o:p></o:p>

 Monday, May 13

1 to 3 p.m.<o:p></o:p>

(Lowell)<o:p></o:p>

Food Day (a cousin of Earth Day) is a national campaign for healthy, affordable, and fairly produced food, and it will be held on October 24. Last year, Massachusetts led the nation with more than 500 Food Day events, and this will be the first round of meetings to plan events for this year's Food Day. There will be four meetings held across the state. The North Shore region meeting will be held at Community Teamwork, Inc. (155 Merrimack St.) in Lowell. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p>
</o:p>

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-10649453342092554022013-05-08T10:53:00.000-04:002013-05-09T15:46:25.945-04:005 Gifts You Can Buy Right Now for the Locavore Mom You Love

If you're looking for a great restaurant to take Mom out to eat for brunch or lunch on Mother's Day this Sunday, I'll let my friends at North Shore Dish provide you with some can't-miss recommendations.

But, if you're still looking for a gift, here are five recommendations you can buy online right now that will show her you support her locavore lifestyle. If she loves to support her local growers and the businesses that work hard to source and support local businesses, she'll love these gifts.

Also, keep in mind that your Mom's favorite farm stand has gift cards/certificates you can buy through their websites, even if they aren't yet open for the season. Here is a link to a list of North Shore farm stands.

Flower Share from Green Meadows Farm
A bouquet is nice, but why not support a local organic farm and give mom access to fresh locally grown flowers for 10 weeks this summer? With a Green Meadows Farm Flower Share, Mom will be able to pick her own fresh flowers each week from mid-July through October at the farm in South Hamilton, everything from asters to zinnias. Visit Green Meadows Farm's website for more details.

Milk & Honey Green Grocer Gift Certificate
Salem's best source for local food, Milk & Honey is a treasure trove of gifts for mom. Why not treat your hardworking mom to a decadent dessert? You'll find three new flavors of gelato, made in Maine, four new flavors of Boston-based Batch ice cream, as well as homemade pop tars and brownies. If you can't decide, pick up a gift certificate and let mom choose whatever she wants.

Dinner Dealer Deck
This unique card deck, which costs just $25, unlocks savings of more than $300 to local restaurants, including some that work extra hard to source their ingredients locally whenever possible, including Scratch Kitchen (Salem), Willow Rest (Gloucester), and Vidalias (Beverly). Each card will save you money off your bill (e.g., $5 off your $20 order), and there are more than 40 North Shore restaurants featured in the deck. Mother's Day orders are due by Thursday, May 9, so act fast!

Cider Hill Farm "Greens" Card
Amesbury's Cider Hill Farm is offering a "Greens" Card from now until early July. This is basically a 10% savings card for those who plan to shop a few times at Cider Hill's farm store over the course of the season. The card has a value of $275, but costs $250. This is the only denomination the card is available in, but you may purchase as many as you like. These make great gifts, and also offer an alternative to CSA membership.

Taza Chocolate (Mexicano Discs)
It's safe to say that chocolate is a safe bet for Mom on her big day. But I suggest you avoid the traditional prewrapped boxed sets and choose delicious stone-ground chocolate made by a sustainable, forward-thinking company like Taza Chocolate, in Somerville. In particular, I recommend you choose from their selection of Mexicano Discs, which they describe as "rustic, organic dark chocolate discs bursting with bright tastes and bold textures." I've tried the salted almond flavor and I'm counting down the days until I can have it again. Trust me, Mom would love some of these.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-43812358035846118512013-05-03T06:12:00.000-04:002013-05-03T06:12:06.623-04:00Cider Hill Farm Stand Opens Today for the 2013 Season

Amesbury's Cider Hill Farm opens it's farm stand for the 2013 season today, and according to farmer Glenn Cook the fruit trees are not only looking great this year, but also they're are right on schedule.

Starting today the 150-year-old dairy barn that's home to the farm stand at Cider Hill Farm (45 Fern Avenue) stand will be open daily from 8am to 6pm.

Cook said in the farm's newsletter this week that there is a big peach bloom and a huge apple bloom this week, which is a stark contrast from a year ago when warmer-than-usual temperatures had trees blooming three weeks early.

Cider Hill's renowned bakery is stocked and ready to go with a lot of new treats, and of course you'll find syrup, jams, jellies, specialty meats and cheeses, cider donuts, and much, much more.

Also, while you're there, ask them about their summer CSA program, which is about to embark on its fourth season. There are still openings if you're interested in joining, according to Cook.

And this year Cider Hill is once again offering a "Greens Card," which is ideal for frequent visitors to the farm stand. The card has a value of $275, but only costs $250. Use it all season long in the farm stand to shop for your favorite fruits and vegetables. (Though, you could just spend it all on cider donuts!)

Finally, if you're interested in part-time work in the bakery at Cider Hill, please email email@example.com.

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-76603072218175954712013-05-01T06:20:00.002-04:002013-05-02T05:16:50.132-04:00Smolak Farms Farm Stand Swings Open Its Doors for the 2013 Season Today

North Andover's Smolak Farms is the first of three North Shore farm stands to swing open their doors for the 2013 season this week and next.

I'll post about Connors Farm, in Danvers, (which also opens May 10) and Cider Hill Farm, in Amesbury, (open on Friday) in the coming days.

Beginning today, the farm stand will be open daily, 7am to 5pm.

And not only has Smolak Farms (315 South Bradford St.) arranged for some amazing weather today, but also they've organized a bunch of free family-friendly activities between 10am and 3pm to help kick-off the season.

Hayrides (also offered on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th)

Games and crafts in the barn

Complimentary cider donut holes for kids

Birthday party open house in the barn (Any party booked on May 1st will receive complimentary donuts and coffee for adults on the day of party)

Plan for Mother's Day and take in the flowers and plants that will fill the greenhouse from the Andover Flower Farm Collection

And according to the farm, there will be a lot of activities going on this summer that will make it simple and fun to try some locally grown food.

The Whim outdoor dining series will be back again this summer. Also, there will be an impressive collection of classes at the farm that will, among other things, teach you how to cook seasonally with farm-fresh foods, and plant a container garden.

They're also planning to hold Yoga and Yogurt classes at the farm, pairing relaxing and healthful stretching and meditation with homemade yogurt and freshly picked fruits. And their Daily Picnic Program will provide guests with a full basket and a blanket to enjoy a unique afternoon lunch.

Keep an eye out for more details about those classes and programs in my event calendar and weekly newsletter.

And while you're at the farm today or this weekend, ask them about the Summer CSA Program, which is still accepting applications for the 2013 season.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amiefedora/5045596687/
John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-30183145124891491232013-04-17T06:21:00.002-04:002013-04-17T06:21:52.429-04:00Spring Cape Ann Farmers Market, in Gloucester, Scheduled for Saturday

For those of you who can't wait until Gloucester's Cape Ann Farmers Market officially opens for the summer season in Stage Fort Park on June 20, organizers have scheduled a one-time spring indoor market this weekend just for you.

From 10:30am to 1:30pm inside the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church (10 Church St.), you'll get a preview of the summer market. It's your chance to stock up on some early-season produce and meet some of the vendors you'll see this summer.

The market will also be a stop on Cape Ann TimeBank's Eco-Scavenger Hunt being held all around Gloucester from 12:30 to 2:30pm, to help celebrate Earth Day.

Register individually, as a family, or with a team, and you'll be given a map that will take you on a 1 1/2-mile walk to eight Gloucester businesses (including the market) where you'll solve puzzles and answer riddles for a chance to win prizes and learn how local businesses are helping take care of the environment.

Also, don't forget to buy your tickets to the annual fundraiser for the Cape Ann Farmers Market. The dinner and movie event will be held from 4-7pm on April 28 at the Cape Ann Community Cinema.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-47444365702929055872013-04-14T06:41:00.002-04:002013-04-14T06:41:32.582-04:00Newburyport Farmers Market Opens for the 2013 Spring/Summer Season

It's been a long winter. But here's your chance to enjoy a Sunday morning stroll, get reacquainted with old friends, and shop for some healthy, locally grown/produced foods and drinks.

Beginning today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Newburyport Farmers Market will kick off it's fifth season, bringing back the vendors you love and welcoming some new ones you'll need to try.

Expect to see produce, meats, and more from Amesbury's Middle Earth Farm, Farmer Dave's (Dracut), Plough in the Stars Farm, in Ipswich, Heron Pond Farm (South Hampton, NH), John Crow Farm (Groton), Kellie Brook Farm (Greenland, NH), the Herb FARMacy, in Salisbury, and many more.

Remember, you can also buy some locally made wines from the likes of Jewell Towne Vinyards, in Amesbury, Mill River Winery, in Rowley, and the Parker River Winery, in Boxford.

And if you're hungry while you're at the market, there will be plenty of baked goods, breads, soups, and more.

And here's a brief rundown of the new 2013 vendors you'll get to meet:

Red's Best Wild Catch: A local seafood company that uses QR codes you can scan with your smartphone to discover where and how the product was caught.

Brookford Farm: This New Hampshire farm specializes in a variety of cheeses made with cow's milk. Taste some at the market!

New Hampshire Mushroom Co.: This organic mushroom vendor will have six varieties on hand this weekend for tasting.

Habib's Mediterranean Foods: Taste and then take home some homemade hummus, pita chips, spinach pie, and more.

In partnership with one of its longtime partners, The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, market organizers will be collecting food for North Shore families who are hungry. Please try to remember to bring a donation, which will go to Our Neighbor's Table and Pettengill House. Specifically, this month donations of fruit cups, dried fruit, canned veggies, and healthy snacks are especially appreciated.

Music at this weekend's market will be provided by Liz Frame and the Kickers.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-37125091903502534372013-04-09T06:01:00.002-04:002013-04-09T17:07:33.865-04:00Which Massachusetts Farmers Markets Are Seeking Vendors?

The Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) just released a list of farmers markets across the state that are seeking vendors for the upcoming season.

I know some North Shore farmers market managers, especially the newer ones, would be interested in this list because they've approached me about adding a section to this blog that connects vendors to markets with vacancies.

If you'd like to view the full list, click here (pdf).

If you would like to add your market to this list, contact David Weber: firstname.lastname@example.com, 617-626-1754.

According to MDAR, the list, which contains both existing and new/proposed markets, gets updated regularly so you should check the link periodically.

Interestingly, the first market listed in the new/proposed section is "Danvers/North Shore Community College."

This is the first I've heard of that, so I'll check in to see if we will have another North Shore farmers market to add to the summer schedule.

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-49287890288485942942013-04-08T09:33:00.004-04:002013-04-08T11:34:17.260-04:00What Would You Do If You Were Hungry?

In today's post, I'm joining forces with a group of 200 other food bloggers to help raise awareness about hunger in America.

At the center of today's campaign, organized by The Giving Table, is a question that we're posing to all of our readers:"What would you do if you were hungry?"

Today, one in seven people are touched by this country's transitional assistance program, known as SNAP. And in Massachusetts last year almost 480,000 households participated in the program.

Calls to action like this one are being generated, in part, by a new documentary film called A Place at the Table. From the same studio that produced Food Inc., A Place at the Table traces the lives of three families struggling with food insecurity and discusses the long-lasting effects those challenges have on them, and the country.

The heart-wrenching theme of the movie is that our country's hunger problem isn't so much about food—we produce more than enough to feed everyone—it's about poverty. Millions of Americans—children and senior citizens included—can't afford the fresh, nutrient-rich food they need to live healthy and active lives.

After all, the average daily SNAP benefit is about $3–$4 a person, which inevitably makes participants' feel like their best choice is cheap, calorie-dense, processed foods. Unfortunately, these unhealthy choices have proven to lead to serious health issues down the road.

As part of The Giving Table event, all of the participating bloggers are including a recipe in today's blog post using ingredients that you could afford if you were making your food choices based on your daily benefit. (You'll find my recipe below, at the end of this post.)

Local Food and Food Insecurity on the North Shore
The connection between access to locally grown food and our neighbors on the North Shore who are struggling with food insecurity is one that I've tried to make at times on NSL, but now I realize that it is a very crucial connection that needs to be made more clear.

Fortunately, for those who are hungry on the North Shore, there are volunteers in towns and cities all over the region working to help improve access to locally grown/produced foods. For instance:

Did you know that there are community-supported agricultural (CSA) programs, such as Farmer Dave's (with pickup locations in Lawrence in Gloucester) and The Food Project (Beverly and Lynn), that offer you an opportunity to donate money to help subsidize CSA memberships for those in need?

Did you know that several CSA programs on the North Shore, such as the Farm-Direct Coop, in Salem and Marblehead donate any shares that are not picked up to local food pantries?

Did you know that there are several food pantries, like the Danvers People to People Food Pantry (in my hometown) and Beverly Boostraps, Our Neighbor's Table (Amesbury), and more, that will accept donations of fresh, locally grown food for distribution? Whether it's from a local farm, a community garden, or your own back yard garden, these organizations will accept the produce you and your family can't eat yourselves or can't give away to friends. (Stay tuned for a more detailed post on this later this summer.)

Did you know that more and more North Shore farmers markets are becoming equipped with wireless technology that allows them to process SNAP/electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards? The Salem Farmers Market, Wakefield Farmers Market, and Lawrence Farmers Market are three examples on the North Shore.

Did you know that on the North Shore, 35% of the households participating in the SNAP program include a family member who is 60 or older? And, in response, did you know that farmers markets like the Cape Ann Farmers Market (Gloucester) and the Peabody Farmers Market offer free shuttle service for seniors to their markets?

But These Private Organizations Can't Do It Alone
Despite all of these amazing efforts, led most often by volunteers, we're still not reaching the roots of our hunger problem in the United States. We need everyone to take a closer look at our government's current food and health policies, which are creating more causes for food insecurity and very few solutions.

The only way for hunger to be eliminated in this country is for there to be policy changes on Capitol Hill and on Beacon Hill. Here's what you can do right now:

1. Use this link to take 30 seconds and send a letter to Congress asking them to support anti-hunger legislation.

2. Take some time to watch A Place at the Table, which is available at Google Play, Amazon, and iTunes right now. And then go to the film's official website, or other online advocacy websites and learn about additional ways you can get involved in a local movement to make significant changes to food policy in this country.

And, as I mentioned above, keep following NSL to read more about the connection between locally grown/produced food on the North Shore and the policy changes that stand between healthy, nutrient-rich foods grown in our communities and the hungry families that need them.

And if you've got an experience you'd like to share, or if you're involved in an organization that is helping foster that connection, I'd love to hear about it.

Asparagus with Gremolata Sauce
Fresh asparagus is typically one of the first types of locally grown produce available in Massachusetts, arriving in some of the early-season farmers markets in May. Low in calories, and packed with nutrients, it's a lot of nutrition for your money. A gremolata is simply a fancy name for a lemony-garlic-herb sauce that will complement and enhance the already flavorful asparagus. If you'd like to find this recipe and others like it, visit the USDA's SNAP-Ed Connection Recipe Finder.

Ingredients
2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons lemon peel, grated
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Parsley, dried

Directions
1. Cook asparagus in a large pot of boiling water until tender, about 4 minutes.

2. Drain: rinse with cold water to cool quickly, and drain again.

3. Pat dry; wrap in a paper towel and then plastic wrap and refrigerate.

4. Melt margarine in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.

5. Add lemon peel and garlic and stir for 30 seconds.

6. Add asparagus and toss to coat.

7. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Sauté until asparagus is heated through and coated with Gremolata sauce, about 3 minutes.

8. Transfer to platter. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with brown rice or whole grain pasta or noodles.

Yield: 6 servings

Source: Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Eat Smart New York!

John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-34597098849948887092013-04-05T05:59:00.000-04:002013-04-05T05:59:05.745-04:00A Graintastic Arrangement for Adventurous Local Brewers, Bakers, and Cooks

Although it's not based on the North Shore, this grain CSA is so close (and cool) I want to make sure all the homebrewers and bakers who follow this blog are aware of it.

Valley Malt is a new malthouse in central Massachusetts that converts locally grown organic barley, and other grains, into the malt that many craft, micro, and homebrewers in New England have begun using to create great-tasting unique local beers over the past few years.

Thanks to Valley Malt, local brewers around New England don't have to pay to have processed malted barley shipped from Canada, the Midwest, or the Pacific Northwest. Instead, since 2010, Valley Malt has been working with organic grain farmers around New England and malting those grains on site in Hadley.

Today, Valley Malt works with a network of grain farmers in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and upstate New York, totaling almost 400 acres of organic barley.

But for the truly adventurous brewers (and, I know, that's incredibly redundant), bakers, and cooks who love to work with unique whole grains, Valley Malt's new Northeast Organic Grain & Malt Offering (NOGMO) is a grain CSA you should explore.

Valley Malt has paired with a select group of grain farms, mills, and maltouses they work with to offer three deliveries of unique, locally grown grains. Each delivery will include the following:

5 lbs of freshly milled flour

10 lbs malt

2 lbs of popcorn

2 lbs of wheatberries

3-5 lbs of another tbd specialty grain (e.g., oats, dry beans, polenta, other heirloom grains)

You'll also receive recipes for baking, cooking, and brewing with the grains.

There will be three deliveries throughout the year, one in June, August, and October. Each NOGMO membership costs $200. To sign up, use this online application form.

In addition to pick-up locations in Hadley and Northampton, there is a new distribution site for Boston and the North Shore at the Clover Food Lab, in Cambridge.

Brewers, also take a minute to check out Valley Malt's Malt of the Month Club shares. The so-called brewer-supported agriculture (BSA) project delivers barley malts and specialty malts four times a year.

Valley Malt is an incredibly unique resource, locally owned by a hard-working family that recognized a need and have gone out of their way to support local grain farmers around New England. In the process, they've helped build an important connection between New England farmers and brewers, bakers, cooks, and more.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-23454711458311436602013-03-22T05:13:00.000-04:002013-03-22T05:18:23.140-04:00Locally Owned, Locally Sourced: Newburyport's Buttermilk Baking Company

Buttermilk Baking Company (3 Liberty Street, Newburyport, 978-499-8278)

Buttermilk Baking Company isn't even a year old yet, but this downtown Newburyport bakery's mouthwatering array of handmade pies, pastries, cakes, and more have customers gushing online and off about their made-from-scratch favorites.

Just take a minute to look at Buttermilk's ridiculous roster of baked goods greats, and then a few more minutes to scroll through its collection of pies and cakes.

Amid the staples you'd expect to see, you'll find a heart-racing collection of seasonal and regional made-to-order desserts that are almost too much for your taste buds to take, all at once.

Pastry chef and owner/operator Ashley Bush is the engine behind Buttermilk Baking Co., and it's her commitment to using locally produced ingredients and baking seasonally, whenever possible, that got my attention.

Since opening the bakery in June 2012, Bush, who is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, has been actively trying to coordinate with local farms to purchase her ingredients, everything from butter and cream to apples and peaches. But she's quickly discovered that her demanding schedule and her business's size and new-kid-on-the-block status make that a challange.

She's coordinated with distributors that have connected her with fresh ingredients from around New England—blueberries from Maine and bacon and sausage from New Hampshire—but she'd also like to source ingredients from farms, orchards, dairy farms that are closer to Newburyport.

I talked to Bush, a New York native who now lives in Greenland, NH, last week about the challenges and obstacles involved in sourcing ingredients locally.

NSL: How does a small, locally owned/operated bakery without a long, established history go about connecting with local growers?

AB: Slowly. (She laughs) Honestly, the biggest challenge for us has been getting in touch with the farms. We're tiny and I spend a lot of time working—I do a lot of the baking. I'm an owner/operator and I have one part-time employee. My husband helps out on weekends but he's got his own work Monday through Friday, so that's tough for him.

If I get a call into somebody and don't hear back—the constant contact, if you will—it becomes hard to do both. So we have relied on distributors. They go in, and they have the direct connection with the farm and they sell to us even though our quantities are fairly low because we're small. We're not even finished with our first year yet, so to be able to get in contact with a distributor—who has the sales force, the people, and the time to have that direct connection—that's a huge help.

NSL: What's your ultimate goal when it comes to sourcing your ingredients locally?

AB: Ultimately, what I'd love to do, as we grow and evolve, is I'd love to grow our own stuff. Wouldn't that be something? I mean, obviously, not all of it, we're limited a bit. But I'd love to outgrow our little retail space here and maybe move into a place that has some land and maybe grow our own produce, on a small scale, of course. And at the same time maintain our relationships with the other farms. We're obviously not going to grow an apple orchard overnight.

NSL: When you work with distributors, can you pick and choose which farms you'll get which ingredients from?

AB: It depends on the quantities we're using. What's happened for us is that I've gone down to the Newburyport Farmers Market to see who's down there and who's selling what. And maybe we only need 20 pounds of something, and I can afford to pay the retail price for that.

But they're small too, so it's a little bit tough to ask for a wholesale price when it's not like I can take on 900 pounds of [a particular ingredient]. And for [a vendor] to cut their price for maybe just 50 pounds of something—that's hard to ask somebody to do.

I mean, we're all kinda in the same boat, coming from the same place. I don't want to cut into somebody else's profit when, if they can sell everything they've got at retail, why would they want to slash the price for a wholesale sale?

It's a constant battle. They're small. We're small. The profit margins are tight for everybody. I have to respect that. But at the same time, I'd really, really, really much rather buy something from a neighbor, as opposed to something grown out in California and shipped across the country and maybe picked two months ago.

What I'd love to have is a community where everybody is supporting everybody. That's really important to me. We should be keeping jobs here. It doesn't make sense to buy our blueberries from New Jersey when Maine is right in our backyard.

NSL: Do customers seem to appreciate your efforts to bake with locally sourced ingredients and understand why some of your desserts with seasonal ingredients aren't always available?

AB: I think there is growing interest on everyone's part—restaurant owners, on the farms, and with consumers. The consumers seem so interested in where we are getting our food. People are just more educated now.

It's hard sometimes to get people to understand that I don't necessarily want to make strawberry-rhubarb pie in December. And then, at the same time, it's hard as a business owner because they want to buy it. They want to give me money for a product that I could make. I just don't want to because [strawberries] are not available here then. And its getting them to understand that and me sucking it up and standing my ground. This is us trying to educate the consumer, but being a business for profit at the same time. There's that constant struggle.

NSL: What ingredients are you currently sourcing locally?

We get our dairy (cream and milk) from Hatchland Farms (North Haverhill, NH). Blueberries from Maine, which are IQF (a culinary term for "individually quick frozen") right now because the growing season has past. We get our bacon and sausage North Country Smokehouse (North Conway, NH).

We've really tried to restrict it to New England. There are other things I'd like to source locally. Next, would definitely be eggs. That would be great. Also, this fall I would love to build a relationship with one of the local apple orchards. Cider Hill Farm (in Amesbury), for instance, who is probably large enough that they would understand and be willing and able to wholesale to somebody smaller. This past season we worked through a distributor to get our apples from Lavoies Farm (Hollis, NH).

I would just like to get them closer to home because it's apples— everybody's got apples around here! It just came down to time and getting in touch with the appropriate person to set that up. It's also hard, I guess, to get taken seriously in the beginning. Because [they'll say,] "What's your quantity going to be?" And we'll say, "We don't know we don't really have a history to go off of." So, now that we have that we have that on our end it's easier to have an intelligent conversation with somebody.

Apparently, it is getting easier. Bush emailed me this week to let me know she was able to make a connection with Cider Hill Farm, which seems willing to work with Buttermilk—smallish quantities and shortish buying history and all.

Bush is optimistic that Buttermilk Baking Company's desserts will be bursting with fresh fruits from Cider Hill later this year.

This post is the first in a series in which I'll profile locally owned and operated businesses on the North Shore that are committed to building connections with local food growers/producers. The incredibly hard-working people behind these businesses are sourcing ingredients locally, or at least regionally, whenever possible—but it isn't easy. You'll learn about their challenges, how they're overcoming those obstacles, and what the future looks like.

Photo sources: Courtesy of Buttermilk Baking Company; http://www.flickr.com/photos/birdseyeview/6173262209/;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjoro/6565315549; http://www.flickr.com/photos/northernrays/1428507498/John Gettingshttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459801126262815552.post-64424971405938804522013-03-19T14:00:00.000-04:002013-03-19T14:00:04.987-04:00Download My 2013 Summer CSA Preview Ebook and Choose the Best CSA for You and Your Family

Stop thinking about the snow and start thinking about your summer CSA share.

If you're already a member of a summer CSA, or community-supported agriculture, program on the North Shore, congratulations! You're only about 12 weeks away from your first pickup.

But if you know somebody else who's is thinking about buying a membership, or share, in a CSA farm, please forward this post to her or him.

Or, maybe you're thinking of trying a new program this summer and you aren't sure what options are available? Keep reading.

Make an Investment
Tomorrow is the first official day of spring, which means it's not too soon to be thinking about making an investment in your health and a commitment to your local farmer.

In fact, a few 2013 community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs on the North Shore have already sold out. (I'm looking at you Appleton Farms and Marini Farms!)

So, start your research right here with this free e-guidebook. Click on the image above or the link below to download your free copy:

 North Shore Locavore 2013 Summer CSA Preview.

One-Stop Research
This first-of-its-kind 35-page guide is perfect for someone who lives or works on the North Shore and who is interested in joining a CSA program but doesn't know where to start his or her research.

And you don't need an ereader to view the book. It can be downloaded to your PC or Mac, tablet, or mobile phone.

Inside the book, you'll find capsule previews of 23 North Shore CSA programs, representing nearly 20 cities/towns. Within each preview, you'll find:

pick-up sites, days, and times

prices

contact info

notes about special CSA-members-only events and promotions

links to online registration forms

and more!

And if you're completely green (ahem) to the CSA movement, and you aren't sure where the idea came from, what is involved, and how it works, there is a brief history/primer to the CSA concept that will get you up to speed.

And finally, get advice on choosing your first CSA program on the North Shore from current and longtime CSA members. You can read my "3 Steps for Choosing Your First CSA Membership," featuring tips from members at some of the region's best CSAs, such as Green Meadows Farm (S. Hamilton) and Herrick Farm (Rowley).

An Excerpt from the 2013 Summer CSA Preview:

The community-supported agriculture (CSA) movement continues to gather momentum on the North Shore, and I'm happy to report that this first annual edition of the North Shore CSA Preview includes profiles of 23 programs in 16 cities and towns.

I trust that if you've made it this far, you're familiar with the CSA concept. But if not, feel free to skip to page 27 and read the section "How Does a CSA Work?"

The Benefits and Risks
If you've ever thought about joining one, I'd really encourage you to give a CSA a try this summer. It's a unique opportunity to not only eat healthy, nutrient-dense produce, but also a chance to offer support to and build relationships with longtime family farmers and beginning farmers who live and work in your hometown.

It's not a small investment, I know. But by joining a CSA you're acknowledging that you're tired of being disappointed by the produce you've been buying in the big supermarket chains;You're disappointed with the quality, the taste, the price, the over use of chemicals often used to grow it, the exploited farm workers used to pick it, and the toll our country's industrial farms are taking on the soil and water that our future generations will depend on.

Keep in mind that there is significant risk to joining a CSA. Although last summer the Northeast enjoyed an excellent growing season—from crunchy greens in May through hearty root vegetables in October—that was not the case for three-quarters of the United States, which labored through a terrible drought.

It was a stark reminder that there is no guarantee that you will get a return on your initial investment. In other words, you won't get a refund if crops fall victim to blight or drought, insects or flooding. But rest easy knowing that your local farmers, some of whom have been at this for more than half a century, are constantly working to protect your food—sustainably and compassionately.

How This Guide Is Organized
This inaugural annual preview guide is your starting point for choosing a CSA on the North Shore. And I sincerely hope the research I've done makes your decision easier and more enjoyable.

Use this guide to find a CSA program that is the perfect fit for you and your family. Whether you are considering joining your first CSA or you are thinking about switching to another local CSA, there's something in this guide for you.

Convenience is one of the most important factors when deciding which CSA program is best for you and your family. So, I've listed the CSA programs according to the cities/towns in which the program's host farm is located.

If the CSA program has distribution sites in more than one North Shore city/town, the CSA is listed within each of those locations, with cross-references back to the program's capsule preview.
If you have any questions about the ebook, whether technical or content-specific, please don't hesitate to plant a post on the North Shore Locavore Facebook page, send me a tweet, or email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.

John Gettingshttps://firstname.lastname@example.com