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GLEANINGS: n.
1. That which has been acquired by gleaning. 2. The monthly eNewsletter
of CT NOFA. [Glean:v. 1. to gather relevant information or material by
patient effort, bit by bit; to find out. 2. to gather grain or other
produce (often: left by reapers); to harvest.]
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From the Executive Director
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"Organic
agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances
biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal
use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance
ecological harmony."
That
is the USDA's definition of organic agriculture.
It is wonderful and important. Last
year a team of 28 leading Earth scientists got together to identify nine
planetary life-support systems that are vital for human survival, make
estimates of the safe zones or boundaries for those systems and determine where
we are now in relation to those boundaries. (www.newscientist.com/special/ocean-to-ozone-earths-nine-life-support-systems)
Read more>
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Upcoming CT NOFA & NOFA Events |
Bill Duesing's Upcoming Talks:
*May 6, 2010 - Organic Gardening Talk, 5:00-6:30 pm, at New Morning in Woodbury, CT
*May 8, 2010 - Organic gardening and compost talk and demonstration at Northwest
Park, Windsor.
10-11:30. Details>
*May 19, 2010 -Success
with Organic and Sustainable Gardening, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Westmoor Park in West Hartford, CT.
Common Ground Seedling Sale & Farm Festival
Saturday, May 22, 10:00 to 3:00 - CT NOFA will be tabling with "Ask the Organic Gardener" - join us!
Growing Healthy Tomatoes
May 23, 2010, 1:00-2:00 pm
Knox Parks Community Garden, Hartford
Presenter: Bettylou Sandy
Free; part of an afternoon of events at Knox Parks
Free Tomato plants for first 20 attendees
Coventry Farmers' Market - CT NOFA & a market tour; June 13, 2010.
CT NOFA City Farm & Garden Tour - August 7, 2010, New Haven, CT.
If you have or know of a city garden that could be featured, please let us know. Advertising and sponsorship opportunities also available. Email for more information.
NOFA Summer Conference - August 13 to 15, 2010, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. Check out the site for exhibit/advertising opportunities and complete workshop listings and other details.
Taste! Organic Connecticut - September 19, 2010, Manchester Community College, Manchester, CT
10th Anniversary - join us for the best celebration ever!
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Other local and regional events are now maintained on our website. If you have an event you'd like to add, send it along to the office.
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Legislative Update
| A straightforward article on what's happening at the state legislature with the school pesticide ban.
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| Community Board | Internship wanted - Future farmer looking for summer internship that includes room and board, as well as wifi internet access. I'm available July 1 through most of September as I am preparing to study at the Farm School in MA. I've been a teacher for 20 years so can be useful in education programs. I'd like to work on an organic farm, but would consider other places as well. Prefer Western Mass or CT, but would consider southern NH and VT as well. 860-803-9219 or mlsmith1260@yahoo.com
Grower Wanted - Seeking local farmer willing to grow corn to be dried and turned into masa. We prefer organically grown. Looking to yield at least 400lbs. masa. Will help with costs. Boxcar Cantina, Greenwich. Contact Nancy Roper by email.
Internship - Diversified eco-farm in Highgate, Vermont (3 miles from Canada) seeks
three interns for the 2010 season. Please contact Hannah Noel by phone (802) 868-5083 or email: maplewoodorganics@yahoo.com. More>
Gardener Wanted - We are looking for someone to (PT / FT seasonal position) maintain a 3 - 4 acre organic garden. This could run approximately (7)
months - April through October. Contact Lois at 860-354-0047 or email.
Frostfire Farm Notices: Wanted to buy - small tractor with bucket. CSA Workshare available now at Goshen, CT, farm; small CSA program. Contact E. Frost, 860-491-2272 for particulars.
Looking for goats - Mad Mares Farm is looking for goats (4 max.) to graze on our hillside
this summer. Please contact us at goutremont@snet.net.
CT Folk Fest and Green Expo Seeks Local Farmers - seeking local food from farmers and other growers who would like to expose their
products and services to other like-minded individuals who will be attending the event this
year. More>
For Sale - Olde English Babydoll Southdown Sheep. 3 lambs total, 2 wethers and one
Registered ram with good bloodlines. These sheep have wonderful fleece for spinning. If interested contact Tim and Dawn Sotir @ 203-881-1986.
Ram available - Gulf Coast Ram available immediately. This breed is resistant to hoof
rot and parasites. Ideal for an organic farm. He's virile and handsome.
Used last year as a donor for heritage breed preservation. Inquiries
and offers to westfieldacresfarm@msn.com
Position available - Common Ground is seeking an Environmental Educator and Program Manager
for our School Field Trip Program and science-based after school program for miIddle school students. More>
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| New Business Member Profile | |
TJB-INC.
in Hamden, CT is a premier Landscape Contractor servicing the South Central New
England area,
specializing in dynamic customized plans uniquely suited to enhance your
property. They provide a full range of services including:
·
Outdoor
Living Spaces
·
Custom
Water Features
·
Synthetic
Putting Greens
·
Turf
& Ornamental Programs
·
Interlocking
Concrete Pavers
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Retaining
Wall Systems
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Drainage
Systems & Repairs
·
Plant
Installations
·
On-Site
Consultations
·
Seasonal
Maintenance
When asked about the changing impact of organic land care, President and CEO Ted Griener said:
"Over the 34 years in the landscaping business, TJB-INC has noticed a
definite trend in consumers looking to get away from the traditional 4-step pesticide
& fertilizer lawn treatment programs. Customers are more often requesting an organic
based program that is environmentally sound and good for the earth. We are glad that people
are becoming more aware that treating the soil creates better plants. We credit
organizations like CT NOFA in getting the word out to the public. Our organic fertilizers are
either turkey litter or sea-weed based to stimulate the micobial organisims to grow healthier
plants for our customers."
If you are in the area, stop by & visit us and discover new ideas for your property by wandering through our display gardens. We have hundreds of plants, thousands of flowers, eleven waterfalls in our display ponds, many styles of installed brick walks/patios, and seven different retaining wall styles to choose from. We are also a stop on the Connecticut Garden & Landscape Trail.
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Help support our business
members!
If you'd like add logos, pictures or additional text to your listings, send them along to the office. |
Guest Columnist - Bettylou Sandy
| 
It's
May!
Traditionally
May marks the beginning of the wonderful gift of springtime excitement and
color. Spring fever is in the air, each
warm day, when everything seems to be brighter and more beautiful than we
remember in previous years.
The
trees, shrubs and flowers are each taking their turns to "show their
stuff". Many vegetables are ready for
harvesting and others are ready to be planted.
The lawns and meadow paths need to be cut and the birds are busily
singing to their mates.
Until
recently, when I mention gardening, most people thought of flowers and
shrubs. These days most people seem to
think of a vegetable garden, of some sort.
More and more people are eager to plant their own vegetables this
year. With the economy and the need to
get back to some sort of self-sufficiency, classes and programs related to
growing food have been very popular this year. This is the time of year for the gardening
enthusiasm to germinate!
Read more>
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| Other Items of Interest |
The Union of Concerned Scientists has a new Guide to Climate-Friendly Gardening [pdf]
Schedule of food preservation workshops, sponsored by UConn Cooperative Extension, taught by Diane Hirsch, Food Safety Educator.
Urban Flower Power: Gardens Turn Blighted Burton Street Area Into
Oasis Of ColorAmerican Farmland Trust hopes that you will join us for the second annual America's Favorite Farmers Markets contest. More>
Environmental Working Groups 2010 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides
SARE Outreach announces the release of its newly updated Small Dairy Resource Book
EPA Encourages States to Use Portal for Reporting Ecological Incidents - includes possible adverse pesticide spraying of bees. More>
We had a call recently about fertilizers containing sewage sludge and came across this site with product listings.
We also had a call inquiring about the health effects of a mixture of
fertilizer and three herbicides that was applied to lawns and sidewalks at a senior
living facility in Cheshire and recommended this site www.pesticideinfo.org
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Let us know what you think of the expanded format. We'd like to add additional member profiles and other news of interest. If you have any stories, articles, notices or suggestions for this newsletter, please send them along.
Many thanks,
Deb
203-888-5146
ctnofa@ctnofa.org
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