June
6, 2013
RFP
Update
Thanks to
the scores of people who contributed in many ways
over the past two months, on
Monday, June 3rd,
LexFarm submitted its proposal to the Town of
Lexington in response to the RFP to lease the Busa
Farm land and operate a community farm. Special
thanks to LexFarm VP
Ken Karnofsky who did
a tremendous job leading the effort. Thanks also
to the 183 individuals and families who
strengthened our proposal by pledging over $25,000
to demonstrate community support and commitment to
LexFarm's vision. We do not yet have a timeline
from the Town regarding when they will make a
decision, but we will keep you updated!
We are starting to do more updates on
Facebook and
Twitter, so that's another
way to hear the news as it happens!
LexFarm Presents:
Genetic
Roulette:The
Gamble of Our
Lives Film
Screening
Monday,
June 10, Cary Library, 6:30pm, Free
A must-see film!
LexFarm and Nourish restaurant
will be holding its first film screening this
summer on the documentary that uncovers the
truth about GMOs (genetically modified
organisms), which will change the way you think
about food and how it grows.
Come join friends and neighbors for a night of
film and discussion. The film will start at
7pm; admission is free and refreshments will be
served beforehand. Jack Kittredge of
NOFA/Mass will lead a discussion afterwards.
To attend, please RSVP at
eve...@lexfarm.org
Goat
Yard Update:
Parent and
Youth
Volunteers
Needed!
The new
kids are growing fast and enjoying daily exercise
in the Goat Yard while the adults, including their
mother Naya, have pasture time.
LexFarm is looking for pairs of volunteers (parent
and youth 10 and up works well) to commit to
regular shifts at the Goat Yard over the next
month and throughout the summer to help pasture
the herd while watching and protecting the baby
triplets.
If you'd like to help and can commit to a regular
shift (1 - 2 hours/week), please contact
Josh
Vatsky:
jo...@lexfarm.org.
Please note: all volunteers must be LexFarm
members:
lexfarm.org/membership.
Welcome
New Board
Member Josh
Vatsky
At our May
21st meeting, LexFarm's Board of Directors
appointed
Josh Vatsky to the board to fill
a two-year term ending in 2015.
Josh is an electrical engineer who recently took a
year off to WWOOF (World-Wide Opportunities on
Organic Farms, or "Willing Weeders" On Organic
Farms). The majority of the WWOOF stays were in
New Zealand and included work at a permaculture
and micro-alternative-energy teaching facility; a
hydroponic salad greens business, a vineyard; and
in several "homestead"-type settings involving
various levels of food and energy
self-sufficiency. After returning, Josh was
thrilled and heartened to discover the LexFarm
endeavor and is very excited by the prospect of a
community farm coming to fruition on the Busa farm
land. In turn, the LexFarm board is thrilled to
have Josh on the board with his unique
perspective, skills and experience. Josh is
coordinating all volunteer activity at the LexFarm
Goat Yard, including weekly visiting hours. Thank
You and Welcome, Josh!
"Have
you seen the
LexFarm ABC
Book?
We want to
say a special thanks to Ms. Owens and her
Kindergarten class at
New
Covenant School Arlington. Over this past
school year, the class visited Busa Farm and the
LexFarm Goat Yard for three field trips, where
they observed what was growing on the farm in
different seasons. At the end of the year, the
class presented us with their
LexFarm ABC book,
with wonderful, drawings and photographs of what
they saw and experienced. It's funny (check out
"I" is for Ionia), heartwarming, and beautifully
drawn!
You can see an online version of the book at
slideshare.net/lexfarm
Membership Corner
Show
Your Support, Become a member
A donation of $20.00 for
an individual membership or $35.00
for a family membership will help us
meet our current expenses and plan for the
future. You can sign up online here or send a check payable to LexFarm
at P.O. Box 554, Lexington, MA 02420.
If you have any questions, contact Brenda
Netreba at membe...@lexfarm.org.
Wild
Edible Plant Series
This
series covers wild
edible plants
found in New
England as told in
Russ Cohen's book,
"Wild Plants I
Have Known... and
Eaten." If you
haven't had the
chance, take some
time to read this
delightfully
informative book
to find out more
on wild plants for
sustainable
eating.
Note: If you are unfamiliar
with harvesting wild edibles,
please consult a plant expert
before attempting to forage on
your own.
Part Seventeen: Lambs
Quarters (Chenopodium Album)
Lambs Quarters, a.k.a., White
Goosefoot, Pigweed, and Wild Spinach, are weeds
that can be found anywhere there is fertile
soil. They are often available for picking from
late May to early June, however, can be found
long after if they are persistent enough. The
leaves of Lambs Quarters are shaped like a goose
foot and often have a white dusting on the inner
leaves of each leaf cluster. The leaves and
stem are edible only when the plant is about 3
to 7 inches tall. They are mild in flavor, can
be substituted for spinach, and can be eaten raw
or cooked. The seeds, which resemble poppy
seeds, can be collected and made into a flour
similar to buckwheat.
Further Thinking
A public hearing on GMO Labeling Bills will be
held at the State House on June 11th from 10
am to 1 pm. Come join Jack Kittredge of
NOFA/Mass and other local farmers who support
consumer awareness on GMOs. Go here
to learn more.
We welcome your feedback
Please write us at newsl...@lexfarm.org
with your feedback regarding the Update or if
you have suggestions for area events that we can
announce.
Jeanne Lin and Allison
Moody
