October
25, 2012
Help a
Small Farm in a Big Way!
Meet  Nina Booth and Laura
Sackton� - farmers at First Root Farm,
self-described as "a small vegetable farm with a
big heart." Laura and Nina farm on 1.5 acres of
historic farmland in Minute Man National
Historical Park in Concord, MA, part of Battle
Road Farms, an educational non-profit committed
to supporting and advocating sustainable
agriculture in the Greater Boston area.
First
Root Farm has just finished its third year with
borrowed equipment, and is hoping to have their
very own "BCS," a walk-behind tractor that is
perfect for small farms like theirs. They have
created a great video that tells you all about
it as they try to raise $9000 through
Kickstarter.com. They are almost there, but have
only a few more weeks to take them over the top.
We would love to know that our readers helped
make their dream come true. Donate to their Kickstarter
campaign and then tell us that you
did by clicking this
link.
Community Farm
RFP Update
Since the
last RFP update, there has been no recent news
regarding the Request for Proposal (RFP) that
the Town of Lexington will be issuing for an
organization to run a community farm on the Busa
Farm property. We expect the Selectmen will
finalize the RFP early in 2013. Until then, the
property is being leased back to farmer Dennis Busa
for another growing season. We are continuing
our work so that we can respond to the RFP when
it is issued - with our best plan for a
community farm for the Lexington and Arlington
area. If you would like to know more, have
suggestions, or would like to help LexFarm's
effort, please contact LexFarm's board
vice-president Ken Karnofsky.
Earlier
Visiting Hours Starting in November
 It's hard to believe it's been a
year since we opened the LexFarm
Goat Yard as a small example of a
community farm...a place to visit, learn and
volunteer. Have you met the goats and had a tour
yet? If not, now's a great time: We are open for
public visiting hours every Sunday,
weather and volunteers permitting! This Sunday,
October 28th, we'll be open from 3 -
5 pm.
With shorter days and daylight savings time
starting, we'll be having earlier visiting hours
from 1 - 3 pm starting in November. $2 per
person/$5 family. LexFarm
Members and Goat
Adopters, free.
Wild
Edible Plant Series, Part Two: Ground
Cherries
This
series will cover 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.
 Ground
cherries ( physalis pruinosa), also known as
husk or strawberry tomatoes, are smaller cousins
of the tomato, which you can distinguish from
similar-looking fruits by their papery,
tan-colored husks.� They are sweet and juicy and
resemble miniature pale yellow tomatoes.�
Similar to tomatoes, the ground cherry plant
doesn't grow until after frost ends and fruits
throughout the summer. After falling off the
plant, they become ripe and ready to eat around
autumn.� Though uncommon to find, ground
cherries are usually located on the edges of
pastures, meadows, and cultivated fields.� Best
eaten freshly picked (husk removed) or in jams
or pies.�
Membership
Corner
New
Update Header for the Fall
Did you notice the new fall header above? Once
again we'd like to thank our graphic designer and
Founding Member Mark Gabrenya for
providing us with a seasonal header for our
newsletter as we settle into Fall. Are you a
member yet? Or have you been meaning to renew but
keep forgetting? Please help us by becoming a
member or renewing your membership today!
Everyone counts! Thank You!
p.s. In case you were wondering: the photo used in
the header was taken by Janet Kern at the Waltham
Street Farm conservation area where Dennis
Busa grows his corn sold at the Busa Farm
stand.
Further
Thinking
Researchers
at the USDA have found "integrated pest
management" to be an effective way in reducing
herbicide and pesticide use in large-scale
agriculture.� Read more about it in this
recent Wired article here.
We
welcome your feedback
Please
write us at newsl...@lexfarm.org
with all feedback regarding the Update or if
you have suggestions for area events that we
can announce.
Jeanne Lin and Allison Moody
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Membership Corner
Further Thinking
Area Events
Note:
Member prices refer to membership in the
organization hosting the event.
October 26, Newton Community Farm,
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Halloween
on the Farm
Bring your children to our haunted barn for an
afternoon of spooky stories, bobbing for
apples, pressing cider in our bike-powered
apple press, and Halloween inspired
activities.� For kids in preschool-grade 3.
$5 per family
October 27, Concord Museum, 2 pm
From
Scuffle Hoes to Barking Spuds
Join Concord Museum Curator David Wood and
Guest Curator John Ott in the Wallace Kane
Gallery and learn more about Concord�s
fascinating agricultural history. Reservations
requested.
Free with Museum admission
October 27, Somerville, 1 - 5 pm or 6 -
10 pm
Harvest
Fest
Harvest Fest is Somerville Local First�s
annual fall fundraiser and celebration.� This
festival brings together local beer, wine,
music, art and restaurants for one of the best
tasting events of the year.�
$30/per person
October 27, Waltham Fields Community
Farm, 2 - 5 pm
Farming
in Community: Four Farmers, Two Farms, and
One Mission
WFCF operates a 500-share CSA as a
revenue-generating part of a nonprofit
community farm. We'll talk about farming as a
management team, our collaboration with
Picadilly Farm, and how our mix-and-match CSA
improves our food access work. We'll focus on
finances, crop planning, and managing harvests
for maximum shareholder flexibility.
$30 non-member, $25 NOFA member
October 28, Groton- Dunstable Regional
High School, Groton, 2:30 - 5:30 pm
The
Future's in the Dirt
Meet Ben Hewitt, farmer and
author of "The Town that Food Saved" at
Groton Dunstable Regional High School. Ben
will share how a community used farming and
food to revitalize a town around sustainable
agriculture.
Free
November 3, Gaining
Ground, Concord, 9 am - 12 noon
Hands-On
with Gaining Ground
Tour Gaining Ground�s fields and greenhouse,
and help plant the last crop of the season,
garlic! Learn more about this group�s mission
of growing food for hunger relief with the
help of volunteers of all ages and abilities.
Sponsored by the Concord Museum.
Free
November 3, Drumlin Farm, 1 - 4 pm
Beginning
Charcuterie - Sausages and Home Meat
Grinding
Sausage was developed by the Romans over 2000
years ago as a delicious solution to the issue
of preservation and has been popular ever
since. While many different cultures have gone
on to develop varieties of sausage this class
will cover the techniques, meat choices, and
spicing for you to start making your own
delicious sausage. We will also cover the
basics of grinding your own meats and serve
safe practices.
$67 non-member, $55 member
November 3, Waltham Fields Community
Farm, 1 - 4 pm
The
Crusha
Take a turn on the bike-powered apple cider
press. Join WFCF Board Members and fellow
local farmers Meryl LaTronica and Chris Yoder
for this wonderful event. Bring your own
take-home container or a mug for drinking
fresh from the press. Donations appreciated
based on your discretion/consumption!
November 7 and 14, Newton Community
Farm, 7 - 9 pm
Beer
Brewing
Make your first batch of beer, and be totally
surprised at how great it tastes. The
two-session course will include hands-on
instruction from our seasoned home brewer.
$60 non-member, $54 member
November 10, Drumlin Farm, 12 noon - 4
pm
Simple
Cheesemaking
Cheese is delicious and fun! You can easily
make tasty cheeses from milk - both cow and
goat - or cream. During this workshop, we will
make and sample several different cheeses,
including yogurt cheeses, paneer, mozzarella,
and fresh goat.
$67 non-member, $55 member
Board
Members
Janet Kern, President
Ken Karnofsky, Vice-President
Derek Moody, Treasurer
Ellen Frye
Jay Luker
Brenda Netreba
Charlie Radoslovich
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