Author: dgroberg

Speak Up for Agriculture Day

March 18th, 9:00 a.m. at the Capitol  Invitation to all friends of agriculture, including farmers, growers, gardeners, farmers’ market managers, chefs, agriculture land trusts, CSA members, students, agriculture experts, and consumers. Come to Hartford for “Speak Up for Agriculture Day!”

• 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Rally on the Capitol Steps10:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Attend press event to ‘Save the CIA’ (Community Investment Act), meet with legislators, and visit with producers during ‘Ag Day’ presentations

Speak Up For Agriculture…..or Watch it Disappear!  NO FARMS = NO FOOD

Is this a plan to get rid of Connecticut farms?

• STEP 1 – Eliminate sales tax exemptions on seeds, tools, feed, equipment, fuel, and all other inputs for farmers and growers.
• STEP 2 – Take away Community Investment Act funds used for staff and programs that protect farms, expand farm businesses, assist farm-friendly towns, and support farmers’ markets.
• STEP 3 – Turn your back on struggling dairy farmers.

JOIN US AND HELP KEEP AGRICULTURE IN CONNECTICUT!
Click here for flyer

Sponsored by CT Farm Bureau, Working Lands Alliance, Very Alive, CT NOFA, CitySeed, ConnecticutFarmland Trust, American Farmland Trust and Canaan Valley Agricultural Coop

Parking at the Capitol –

1. Come early in order to use the Legislative Office Building Parking Lot – Parking is available on the first floor of the Legislative Office Garage. If the first floor is full, check to see if there is a police officer directing cars to the roof parking in the lower basement level of the garage around the back of the building.
2. There is a paid public parking garage in the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) Building on Oak Street. Go south (NOT the driveway which goes west onto Broad Street) out of the Legislative Office Building driveway, turn left onto Capitol Avenue, then take the first right onto Oak Street. The first building on the right across from the side of the State Library, is the CEA Building. Pull into the garage driveway on the far side of the building.
3. There is often meter parking available on that first block of Oak Street, or go to the end of the block and take a left on Russ Street for more meter parking.

Join our CSA

Boulder Knoll Community Farm is an environmentally sustainable and pesticide-free farm that provides healthy local food to 30 community supported agriculture shareholders, as well as a number of local restaurant and food services clients. We also donate a portion of our crop to neighborhood food banks and charitable organizations.

For more information, or to sign up and join the CSA, please visit our website.

Dear ‘friends and ‘Friends’ of Boulder Knoll,

Thanks for all the wonderful support for the First Annual Winter Celebration for Friends of Boulder Knoll this past Saturday.

More than 70 people attended to hear the exciting news about the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm that is scheduled to start this summer. The attendees contributed 118 pounds of food to the Connecticut Food Bank and helped raise almost $1000 for our organization. Thanks to Jordan Caterers for providing food, to Greg Melville for offering his hospitality and to Bruce and Marie Dumas for their gift of 20% of the proceeds from the sale of art at the celebration.

For more information on our new CSA, please check out the CSA page on our website.

If you have not yet become a member of Friends of Boulder Knoll, please visit our membership page for more information. 

Finally, Bruce and Marie Dumas will honor the commitment of 20% of the proceeds from any further sales that come about from contacts @ Saturday’s events.  Feel free to passalong word of his work to your friends, etc…

Their email is Dumasartastudio (AT) aol (DOT) com.

I hope you will look forward to future news about the exciting events that are going to happen at Boulder Knoll Farm this summer.

FOBK minutes 2/26/2009

The meeting started with the issue filling the position of Secretary of FOBK.  Tim agreed to continue to take the minutes on a temporary basis.  Bob and Carol agreed to split up “thank you” notes to donors and new members.  The remaining tasks will be handled as needed.

CSA. The focus of the meeting is preparing for the Winter Welcome event at Greg’s house on Saturday February 28^th. The budget presented by the finance committee (Carol, Jeff and Tim) set the value of a CSA share at $400 for a 16 week season or $25/week).  This increase value over the original suggested price ($320) was to enable FOBK to cover the cost of Brenda’s employment.  The discussion then focused on how to handle Brenda’s employment status.  If she is an employee vs. a contractor, FOBK would have to cover the ~7.5% portion of the employers portion of FICA (Social Security, Medicare etc.).  Brenda’s salary would also increase if additional shares were added in the summer.

Sign up forms. To help cover start up costs the Finance committee also suggested to set up a “Seed Fund” where Guests on Saturday could fill out a charitable donation form and donate a suggested $30 to the fund.  The discussion then proceeded into the need to have forms made for Friday.  John offered to design a new FOBK membership form with different levels of giving (individual, family, patron, business…).  Tim volunteered to make a CSA packet with sign up form, modified explanation page and produce page.

Open House. The plan was to arrive by 1PM to help set up.  Jeff said the catering crew would arrive a little after noon.  Food and beverages seem to be set according to Greg.  Greg plans to call Jill for the FOBK Lawn signs.  Greg also described is vision of the general layout of the Saturday event including an artist showing and selling work. Tim’s Power Point presentation would be running downstairs on the big screen TV.

Town Interactions. Kim proceeded with a brief description of the negotiations with the Town.  At this point, Bob’s water is not an issue.  The maps provided were adequate for the proposed structures. Kim also talked with the Cooperative Extension about dealing with officials.  The suggestion was made that FOBK have a conversation with Rebecca Agar, Assistant Town Planner, who has a reputation in farmland preservation.  The meeting discussion continued on this front with the open question of also talking with Jerry Sitko, Economic Development Coordinator.  The discussion evolved into the desire to understand more about the water well system at the Farm.   Would the current well provide sufficient water for the plants. The question was raised whether Susan could find out more from Chespercott about the water well.  Kim also brought up that the town engineer (city works) had been very straightforward in discussions with FOBK and may provide helpful guidance with supplying power for a pump to the well.

Fundraising. Kim mentioned that Jill is continuing to talk with Whole Foods and will continue to pursue that fund raising avenue.  Kim and Greg will continue to refine the fund raising letter.  It was also mentioned that Paul Hammer would be present on Saturday and perhaps then we could find out more about his fundraising ideas.

In a Downturn, a Growth Opportunity?

The New York Times discusses how CSAs should be beneficial for both consumer and farmer during the economic downturn. After all, what’s better than supporting the local economy while putting healthy fresh produce on your table?

Eco-Friendly Valentines’ Day Gifts

Show your love this Valentines Day in an environmentally sustainable way with these green V-Day alternatives!

Join Friends of Boulder Knoll at our First Annual Winter Celebration!
FOOD  –  DRINK  –  DISCUSSION  –  BONHOMIE

Saturday, February 28, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
474 Maple Avenue, Cheshire, CT 06410

If you can join our celebration, please bring a nonperishable food item for the Connecticut Food Bank and

RSVP by February 21, 2009 to Greg Melville at 203-439-7003 or
gwmelville (at) earthlink.net

Note that parking is at Atwater Place directly across from 474 Maple Ave.

Agenda for Meeting of Board of Trustees
January 22, 2008

• Status of mailing of invitations to open house/general fundraising – mailing labels, invitation, FOBK brochure, other materials?
• What do we need for the open house event?
• Status of Whole Foods letter – letter, rest of package including CVs of Board, accomplishment list, other?
• Steps toward a flora/fauna survey
• Introduction of Brenda Caldwell and her list
• Introduction of Paul Hammer and his fundraising idea

Here is the text from an e-mail alert sent our way from the Working Lands Alliance. Help WLA ensure that farmland protection is not a victim of the latest round of budger cuts:

WLA LEGISATIVE ALERT

WLA needs you to remind legislative leaders about the importance of farmland protection as well as the Agriculture Viability Grants program.  PLEASE CONTACT STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS BEFORE JANUARY 2ND and urge them to maintain funding for farmland in 2009!!!  

FIND MY LEGISLATOR

Background:
Governor Rell’s recent budget mitigation proposal included a provision to redirect $10m in funds from the Community Investment Act Account.   This cut will directly impact the CT Farmland Preservation Program by eliminating at least $2.5m in funds that are used for program staff, appraisals, surveys, title searches, as well as the very popular and highly successful CT Agriculture Viability Grants program. 

Enacted in 2005, the Community Investment Act was heralded as a dramatic success, creating a dedicated revenue stream to protect and preserve the unique character of Connecticut for future generations.  Public willingness to accept this fee ($30 deed recording fee) was based on the promise that this revenue would be permanently directed to farmland, open space, historic preservation, and affordable housing.  Any raid on the Community Investment Account fund —even temporary—could potentially erode public confidence and willingness to continue paying this fee!!

In the past three years the state’s Farmland Preservation Program has been dramatically strengthened thanks to two separate funding mechanisms: 1) Community Investment Act funds (Public Act 05-228); and 2) Governor Rell’s commitment to lump sum bonding for farmland (Public Act 07-162).  Given the very serious state budget deficit, WLA supporters will need to fight hard in 2009 to maintain these two funding sources so farmland preservation can continue!!  The financial challenges facing the state are similar to those facing farm families who are looking to sell the development rights on their farmland to the state.  Right now there are over 50 farm applications representing almost 6,000 acres of farmland that the state may be able to protect over the next two years!! 

The Governor has called a special legislative session on Jan 2nd to take action on her budget mitigation package. 

Please contact leaders in the state legislature BEFORE JANUARY 2ND and urge them to oppose any effort to redirect Community Investment Act funds!!!

FIND MY LEGISLATOR
EMAIL SENATE PRESIDENT DON WILLIAMS
EMAIL HOUSE SPEAKER JIM AMANN

Review WLA’s Legislative Agenda for 2009
For more info about the CT Farmland Protection Program, call 860-713-2511.

Community Supported Kitchen

Click the link to read about a great concept built upon the Community Supported Agriculture model.