European Nitrogen Assessment

The European Nitrogen Assessment (ENA) recently concluded that farmers should be reducing their use of fertilizers.  ENA was developed (with the help of 200 experts from 21 countries and 89 organizations) from research by the European Science Foundation’s NinE (or Nitrogen in European) program.  The NinE program addresses the 9 interacting problems affecting excess nitrogen in the environment – check out the photo below and read up on this issue at http://www.nine-esf.org/node/17

Dr. Mark Sutton, lead editor of the ENA, concluded: “Nearly half the world’s population depends on synthetic, nitrogen-based fertilizer for food but measures are needed to reduce the impacts of nitrogen pollution”.  The study reports nitrogen causes hundreds of billions of dollars of damage in Europe every year, or roughly $1,000 for each (yes, each!) person in Europe!

So what can you do?  Grow organically, demand local and organic produce, and treat your lawns with strictly organic practices.  Want to find an organic landscaper?  You can search for NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals here - http://www.organiclandcare.net/aolcp-search

            To find out more about the ENA and to read the assessment, visit http://www.nine-esf.org/node/204

            Be sure to watch this short video – it helps explain the problem and provides some suggestions on how we can all reduce nitrogen pollution.

Local Farmer Goes to DC

 Steve Munno, Farm Manager of Massaro Farm in Woodbridge, CT, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional leaders to support small farm and sustainable agriculture federal programs.  Currently, many of these programs face cuts and even complete elimination.  Many small farms, including beginning and minority farmers depend on these programs, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), SARE and ATTRA (see http://ctnofa1982.blogspot.com/2010/11/are-you-involved-in-or-interested-in.html) to keep their farms running...including Steve who was awarded funding through EQIP.  But Steve was not alone – more than 30 farmers, ranchers and conservations from across the country joined the cause, organized by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is “an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources and rural communities.  For over 20 years, this coalition has been fighting for sustainable food practices.  Their accomplishments include initiatives and programs that deal with Promoting Conservation, Fostering Family Farm Agriculture, Building New Markets and Developing Sustainable Research, Education and Extension.  They are a wealth of knowledge so be sure to check out their website at http://sustainableagriculture.net/

To read the full article on Steve’s trip, what he was able to accomplish, and to see a list of all of the activists, 

http://environmentalheadlines.com/ct/2011/04/12/farmer-steve-munno-from-massaro-farm-fights-for-small-farms-and-sustainable-agriculture-in-d-c/

We applaud Steve for his efforts.  For more on Massaro Farm visit http://www.massarofarm.org/wp/ and http://www.massarofarmcsa.org/wp/

Fundraiser for CT NOFA

  

CT NOFA is proud to announce Peonies, Wine & Jazz, a fundraiser for CT NOFA on Friday, May 20^th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.  It will be held at Cricket Hill Garden in Thomaston, CT.  So what does Peonies, Wine and Jazz mean?

Peonies – Cricket Hill Garden is home to some of the most beautiful peonies in the country.  They sell over 40 different types of tree peonies all over the country!

Wine – Sample some of the finest wines from local vineyards, along with some seasonal appetizers.

Jazz – While touring Cricket Hill’s panoramic seven acre display gardens, we’ll have live Jazz music for your listening pleasures.

Space is very limited for this event, so please be sure to get your tickets soon!  As always, our dedicated CT NOFA members will receive a discount when they purchase their tickets.

Details:

Peonies, Jazz and Wine –a fundraiser for CT NOFA

Friday, May 20^th, 2011

Cricket Hill Gardens

670 Walunt Hill Road

Thomaston, CT 06787

6:00pm – 8:00pm

$50 for CT NOFA members

$65 for not-yet members

To register:

            Call the office:  203-888-5146

            Print and mail: this form

You can find more information about the fundraiser here.

Thank you to Cricket Hill Gardens for these beautiful pictures.  To find out more information about Cricket Hill Gardens, including ordering your peonies, please visit http://www.treepeony.com/

A Garden Of Possibilities

While we are very thankful for each of you that read our blog, we love to share other blogs that deserve some attention!  We would like to help spread the word about a blog called A Garden of Possibilities.  It is written by Debbie Roberts, owner of Roberts & Roberts – a landscape and garden design company located in Stamford, CT.  Debbie is also a recent graduate of NOFA’s 5-Day Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care. 

Debbie writes with such ease.  Her entries are easy to understand and she offers some great advice.  She even features a “Wordless Wednesday” post each week with some really nice pictures.  Between writing her blog, writing articles for the Stamford Patch and other local magazines and articles (see http://gardenofpossibilities.com/articles/), and running her business, she is a woman on a mission -  “to expose readers to lots of new possibilities…new plants, new garden products, new knowledge, new ideas.”  

You can start following her blog at http://gardenofpossibilities.com/

Strolling of the Heifers 2011

We usually stick to events in Connecticut, but this one was too good to pass up!  Strolling of the Heifers Weekend is a three-day event in Brattleboro, VT on June 3-5, 2011. It is a three day celebration of connecting people to the farmers and producers who provide healthy and local foods.  Now in its 10^th year, the theme for the weekend is: “It takes a community to support our farmers!”

      The highlight of the weekend is the parade on Saturday morning, which features up to 100 heifer calves led by future farmers.  They are followed by “cows, bulls, horses, goats, poultry, floats, tractors, bands, clowns, and much, much more!”  The weekend will also include an Ultimate New England Sandwich Competition and a Farm, Food and Fiber Tour. 

      To kick off the weekend, the Slow Living Summit will be held June 1-3, 2011.  Scheduled speakers include Bill McKibben (co-founder of 350.org), Josh Viertel (Slow Food USA President), Gary Hirshberg (President/CEO of Stonyfield Farm) and Majora Carter (founder of Sustainable South Bronx).  The summit is a gathering of diverse followers interested in local and regional sustainability in New England.  It will explain “ways to build healthy, thriving local economies while encouraging, mentoring and supporting a new generation of activists, entrepreneurs and engaged citizens”.

To get all of the information for these events and more, please visit http://www.strollingoftheheifers.com/home