"Plaid" by Peter Welch, on display in the For the Love of Food exhibit at the Children's Museum of NH's Gallery 6 through Spetember 5, 2010.

The Children’s Museum of NH is putting fresh food in focus with For the Love of Food, an art exhibit featuring images of nutritious foods—especially fruits and vegetables—depicted in attractive ways. This collection of paintings, photos, and illustrations by more than a dozen acclaimed New Hampshire artists is accompanied by nutritional information, recipes, and helpful suggestions designed to support caregivers in encouraging kids to make wise food choices.

For the Love of Food will be on display in the museum’s Gallery 6 during regular business hours (Tuesday–Saturday, 10 am–5 pm, Sunday 12 noon–5 pm, and Mondays 10-5 during July & August) through September 5. No admission fee is required to view the gallery only; regular museum admission is required to explore the rest of the museum.

In conjunction with the exhibit, Eileen Behan, RD, will present a 1-hour interactive workshop entitled Exploring Fruits and Vegetables on Tuesday, July 13, at 11 am. Families with children of all ages are invited to explore the amazing world of fresh foods and participate in a fun, food-related scavenger hunt. This family workshop is included with regular museum admission, and advance registration is not required.

The Children’s Museum of NH is located at 6 Washington Street, Dover, NH. For more information about the museum, the exhibit, the workshop, and other special events, please visit the museum’s website.

Via Seacoast Eat Local:

The 3rd annual Barrington Farm Tour Day is tomorrow, June 27, 2010. Eight farms will be open to visitors from  10am to 4pm. Visit the Seacoast Eat Local blog to see who’s participating and download a map.

All aflutter at Yellow House Farm, Barrington, NH

In the Seacoast and beyond—wherever you find yourself this summer—make a point of finding good, clean, and fair food for yourself and your family. The 2010 Summer Markets page has been updated with all kinds of resources to help you do just that! Farmers’ markets are bigger than ever, in more locations than ever, which is great news for consumers and producers alike. (Local economies reap the benefits, too.)

Rob Gibson and Joe Marquette of Yellow House Farm tell it like it is at the 2009 Slow Food Seacoast Down-on-the-Farm Picnic.

A list of markets managed by the Seacoast Growers Association (SGA) follows, then some other NH markets in the Seacoast area, and finally some resources for finding farmers’ markets in Maine.

Many farmers’ markets (and farmers) have websites, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts, so look for your favorites online! And even if they don’t have their own individual sites or accounts, many farm and market locations are available in online listings. For markets within the broadly defined Seacoast region (encompassing Rockingham, Strafford, and York Counties in New Hampshire and Maine), search the easy-to-use online version of Seacoast Harvest: A Local Food Guide by location, product, or farm name. (Note: Very soon, you will be able to get your own printed copy of new-and-improved 2010 edition of this go-to resource for eating local in the Seacoast at local farmers’ markets and other events.)

If you’re planning to vacation in another region, look up good, clean, and fair food options at your destination by searching Local Harvest, which lists farms and markets nationwide (mostly along the U.S. East Coast). So before you travel this summer, use one of these online tools or do an Internet search on “<town> farmers market” (replacing <town> with your destination) to find the freshest food while you’re on the road or just getting some R&R. Have fun!

Who’s your farmer?

Seacoast SGA Markets Are Open

info via Seacoast Growers Association

All the Seacoast-area farmers’ markets managed by the Seacoast Growers Association (SGA) will be open by the first full week of June.  (Click on location names to read market details on the SGA website.)

In-season update (June 3): asparagus, rhubarb, lettuces, greens, greenhouse cukes and tomatoes (limited), eggs, honey, maple syrup, meats, milk & yogurt, seafood, teas, wine, gourmet prepared foods, and plants of all kinds! (annuals, perennials, hanging flower baskets, herbs, and all kinds of veggie transplants)

Strawberries! (photo courtesy Wake Robin Farm)

Durham

Mondays, 2:15–5:30 pm
7 Mill Road / Durham Marketplace NEW LOCATION!

Hampton

Tuesdays, 3–6 pm
289 Lafayette Road / Route 1, Sacred Heart Church School

Dover

Wednesdays, 2:15–6pm
550 Central Ave. / Dover Chamber of Commerce parking lot NEW LOCATION!

Exeter

Thursdays, 2:15–6pm
Swasey Parkway, off Water Street

Portsmouth

Saturdays, 8 am–1 pm
1 Junkins Ave., City Hall

More NH Markets: A Great Statewide Resource

info courtesy of the NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Division of Agricultural Development, via NH Farmer’s Markets Association

The NH Farmer’s Markets Association has posted an extensive list of farmers’ markets across New Hampshire! Check out the list below for markets near your home or work, and go to the full list to find the market days in towns you’ll be visiting this summer. Celebrate local farms and food producers across the state, all summer long.

Heritage-breed pigs (photo courtesy New Roots Farm)

Barrington Farmers’ Market

Rt. 9 & 125, across from Calef’s Country Store
Sat., May-Oct., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Rain or shine.
Vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, maple, baked goods, meat.
603-749-0377

Farmington Farmers’ Market

Central & Main Sts.
May 1-Oct., Sat., 8:30a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Vegetables, plants, homemade goods, pies, jams, handmade quilts, pillows, hats, mittens, soaps, jewelry, pot holders.
603-859-2551
barrons@worldpath.net

Farmington-Puddledock’s Farmers’ Market

203 NH Rt. 11, Farmington
Sat., June-Sept., 10 a.m.-2 p.m., rain or shine.
Vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, dairy, maple, baked goods, crafts.
603-335-2252
fromtheheart@metrocast.net

Lee Farmers’ Market

Old Fire Station, Rt. 155
May-Sept., 3-6pm, Thurs.
Vegetables,fruits, flowers & plants, maple, bakery, meat, fish, crafts. Rain or shine.
659-9329
tubadirt@comcast.net

Newmarket Farmers’ Market

The Stone Church, 5 Granite St.
Sat. June 19-Oct. 9, 9a.m.- 1 p.m.; 3rd Sat. of month, Nov.-Mar., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, flowers, dairy, eggs, preserves, baked goods, coffee, honey, wine, maple syrup, meat, seafood, crafts, music.
603-659-5900

Northwood Farmers’ Market

Jct. Rtes. 4, 43, & 202
May-Nov., 3-6:30p.m., Thurs.
Vegetables, fruits, flowers & plants, dairy, maple, bakery, meat, body care products, goats milk products, jams, jellies, wine,
herbs, honey, eggs, dog treats. Rain or shine.
603-942-8313
northwoodfarmersmarket@yahoo.com

Nottingham Farmers’ Market

Blaisdell Memorial Library
May-Oct., 1-4pm, Sun.
Vegetables, fruit, flowers & plants, dairy, maple, meat, crafts, honey, sauces & salsa. Rain or shine.
603-679-5392
brieghangardner@aol.com

Ossipee Farmers’ Market

Ossipee Main St. Park, Moultonville Rd., Center Ossipee
Sun., June-Sept., 10 a.m.-1 p.m., rain or shine.
Vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, dairy, maple, baked goods, meat, fish, crafts.
Craft demonstrations, food contest, bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving contest and more.
603-539-7200
director@ossipeemainstreet.org
http://www.ossipeemainstreet.org

Rochester-Downtown Farmers’ Market

Foster’s Daily Democrat parking lot, 90 North Main St.
June-Oct. 28, 3-6 p.m., Tues. & Thurs., rain or shine.
Vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, baked goods,crafts.
603-332-1765

Rochester-4 Corners Farmers’ Market

4 Corners Antique Shop parking lot, Jct. 202A, Estes Rd. & Meaderboro Rd.
May 8-Oct. 11, Sat. 10am-2pm.
Vegetables, fruit, flowers & plants, bakery, jams, jellies.
603-859-6979
squires@metrocast.net

Rollinsford-Wentworth Greenhouses Farmers’ Market

141 Rollinsford Rd., Rollinsford
June 26-Oct.30, 10am-2pm, Sat.
Vegetables, fruits, flowers & plants, dairy, maple, bakery, meat, fish, crafts, special craft & cooking demonstrations, gardening lectures, workshops.
603-749-4919
kokolis@comcast.net
http://www.wentworthgreenhouses.com

Rye Farmers’ Market

580 Washington Rd.
June-Oct., 2-5p.m., Wed.
Vegetables, fruit, flowers & plants, dairy, maple, bakery, meat, fish, apple pie contest, sandwich contest, seafood throwdown. Rain or shine.
603-379-2007
trit30@comcast.net

Wakefield Farmers’ Market

Corner of Rt. 16 & Wakefield Rd.
May 29-Oct. 9, 9am-3pm, Sat.
Local vegetables, fruits, baked goods, flowers, honey, eggs, meat, plants, wood crafts, fiber goods, jewelry and more!
Demonstrations last Sat. of month. Rain or shine.
603-473-8762
http://www.wakefieldmarketplace.homestead.com

But Wait, There’s More … in Maine

Maine offers its share of farmers’ markets this year, too. The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets (MFFM) has posted a list of farmers’ markets from the York “Gateway” market to Kennebunk, North Berwick, Portland, Augusta, and beyond! Find your closest market (or where you’ll be on vacation) in the full list of Maine markets online. And here’s what might be a late addition that didn’t make the last website update:

Sanford Farmers’ Market

Gowen Park, Main Street/US Route 109, next to the Sanford Junior High School
Saturdays, 8 am–12 noon
http://www.sanfordfarmersmarket.org/

Resources

• 2010 Summer Markets (Slow Food Seacoast’s guide to opening dates for Seacoast farmers’ markets)
• Seacoast Harvest: A Local Food Guide (a seachable guide to producers in Rockingham, Strafford, and York Counties)
• NH farmers’ markets (NH Dept. of Agriculture list)
• Seacoast Growers Association (Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hampton, and Portsmouth summer markets)
• Maine farmers’ markets
• Local Harvest (nationwide)
• Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets (MFFM)
  
• NH Farmer’s Markets Association

We had such a great time at the Blue Moon Market & Café (8 Clifford St., Exeter, NH) last spring that we are happy to be heading there once again. This year, participants can sign up for a special cooking class (preregistration and fee required) before the potluck. The potluck will feature dishes prepared during the class, and the meeting will feature some thoughts from Kathy about growing, preparing, and eating greens.

4:00 pm Class: Cook Your Greens and Eat Them, Too! with Blue Moon Chef/Owner Kathy Gallant. You must register in advance for this class by sending an email to Alison. A few spots are still available; $15 per person. Read about this event on the Slow Food Seacoast website.

5:30 pm Potluck Dinner: The theme is … greens! (What else?) Please remember to bring your own dining kits … read About Our Potlucks on the Slow Food Seacoast website.

6:30 pm Meeting: We’ll quickly announce upcoming events (like the 4th Annual Slow Food Seacoast Down-on-the-Farm Picnic on August 1—details to come!), and Kathy will share some thoughts about growing, preparing, and eating greens.

Via Seacoast Local and RiverRun Bookstore:

Seacoast Local and RiverRun Bookstore present Ron and Arnie Koss, authors of The Earth’s Best Story: A Bittersweet Tale of Twin Brothers Who Sparked an Organic Revolution, in the next lecture of the Making the Connection speaker series on Tuesday, May 18.

The Koss brothers founded Earth’s Best Baby Foods, the first nationally distributed organic foods company, 25 years ago. They describe their book as a how-to of entrepreneurship lessons. At the event, they will talk about ideas, reality, and success in the context of creating a bright and sustainable future.

WHAT: Ron and Arnie Koss talk about The Earth’s Best Story: A Bittersweet Tale of Twin Brothers Who Sparked an Organic Revolution at RiverRun Bookstore

WHEN: Tuesday, May 18, at 7 pm

WHERE: RiverRun Bookstore, 20 Congress St., Portsmouth, NH (603-431-2100) and webcast LIVE at www.riverrunbookstore.com!

MORE INFO: Visit the RiverRun website for details about the event. Learn more about the book on the Chelsea Green website.

Seacoast Local’s  Making the Connection series, co-produced by RiverRun Bookstore, serves as a catalyst for continuing education, community connections, and sustainable change for Seacoast residents.

Via Seacoast Eat Local:

Your Organic Vegetable Garden: Managing Pests & Diseases

Many home and community gardeners have taken up growing vegetables in recent years. This rewarding pursuit comes with its own set of challenges. Those vegetables we find so delicious can be equally attractive to a wide range of insects. Understanding the difference between beneficial insects and destructive pests is often difficult. In Your Organic Vegetable Garden: Managing Pests & Diseases, Eric Sideman, Organic Crop Specialist for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), will cover the identification of pests and diseases common to growing vegetables. He also will discuss organic methods of prevention and management, with a special focus on identifying and preventing Late Blight.

This event is free and open to the public. It is a collaboration of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), Seacoast Eat Local, and Seacoast Community Garden Network.

Space is limited. To RSVP or for more information, please email Debra Kam.

WHO: Eric Sideman, Organic Crop Specialist, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)

WHERE: Portsmouth Public Library, Hilton Room, 175 Parrott Ave, Portsmouth, NH

WHEN: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 6–7:30 pm

Some of you may already know Eric Sideman through his informative Pest Reports for MOFGA. Eric earned a B.S. in agriculture from Cornell University, an M.S. in biology from Northeastern University, and a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of New Hampshire. He moved to Maine in 1982 to teach biology and ecology at Bates College. In 1986 he moved on to MOFGA to become what some call “the nation’s first Organic Extension Agent.” He provides technical support for farmers and gardeners, serves as staff scientist for MOFGA, plans and produces educational events for MOFGA and Cooperative Extension, and serves on various agricultural committees for the Maine Department of Agriculture and the University of Maine. From 1997 to 2002 Eric served a term on the National Organic Standards Board, an advisory board to the USDA National Organic Program. Eric has recently moved to New Hampshire, just over the border from Maine, and now MOFGA has a great opportunity to give support to farmers and gardeners a long way from Unity.

Slow Food Seacoast’s next event is the May potluck, which will be held in conjunction with members of UNH Slow Food (campus chapter) and the Great Bay Agricultural Resource Network, a group of producers who are making connections within their community to share equipment and resources.

As always, please bring a potluck dish to share and your own dining kit and beverage, but please note: No alcohol is allowed in UNH buildings. Please read About Our Potlucks if this will be your first Slow Food potluck.

The event summary is below; click through to the May 2 Potluck page for details galore!

Sunday, May 2: Slow Food Seacoast–UNH Slow Food Potluck & Meeting in Durham

DATE: Sunday, May 2

TIME: 4 pm optional FREE workshop, Herbs for Food and Medicine with John Forti, 5:30–7 pm potluck dinner, with members from UNH Slow Food and Great Bay Agricultural Resource Network

PLACE: Barton Hall, Thompson School, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

THEME: spring herbs

DIRECTIONS and DETAILS: May 2 Potluck

The first summer farmers’ markets of the season usually feature early spring greens and locally grown plants to decorate your flower beds, create a vegetable garden, and add color to your life after a long winter. Other food and nonfood products will be available, too. Come see what they have to offer.

Farmer Dave's carrots, courtesy Seacoast Eat Local

• May 1 - Portsmouth Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 8 am–1  pm, 1 Junkins Ave., Portsmouth
• May 2 - Newburyport Farmers’ Market, Sundays, 9 am–1 pm, Tannery Marketplace, Newburyport, Mass.
• May 6 - Exeter Farmers’ Market, Thursdays, 2:30–6 pm, Swazey Parkway, Exeter
• May 15 - Newmarket Plant Sale & Farmers’ Market - 9 am to 1 pm, 5 Granite Street (Stone Church), Newmarket
• May 22 - Newmarket Plant Sale & Farmers’ Market - 9 am to 1 pm, 5 Granite Street (Stone Church), Newmarket
• May 27 - Northwood Farmers’ Market, Thursdays, 3–6:30 pm, Junction of Route 4 & Route 202A & 43, Northwood
• June 7 - Durham Farmers’ Market, Mondays, 2:15–5:30 pm, Pettee Brook Lane (Pettee Brook parking lot), Durham
• June 8 - Hampton Farmers’ Market, Tuesdays, 3–6 pm, 289 Lafayette Rd/Route 1 (Sacred Heart Church parking lot), Hampton, NH
• June 9 - Dover Farmers’ Market, Wednesdays, 2:15–6:00 pm, corner of Central Ave. and Sixth St. (parking lot of the new Dover Chamber of Commerce), Dover
• June 26 - Wentworth Greenhouses Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 10 am–2 pm, 141 Rollins Road, Rollinsford (parking lot)

For More Information

Meadow's Mirth turnips, courtesy Seacoast Eat Local

Want to know which vendors are scheduled to be at the market, check a venue address, or get directions? Go straight to the source!

• Newburyport Farmers’ Market
• Newmarket Farmers’ Markets at Stone Church
• Northwood Farmers’ Market
• Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers’ Markets
• Wentworth Greenhouses Farmers’ Markets (Rollinsford)
• Rye Farmers’ Markets
• Seacoast Growers Association (Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hampton, and Portsmouth)

Follow Slow Food Seacoast on Twitter

Via York Goes Green:

Second Annual York Energy & Climate Fair

WHAT: Learn about energy efficiency, new power sources, energy audits, composting, “green” building technologies, and new products for sustainable and efficient living. Other features include a farmers’ market and an array of food, agriculture, and transportation resources.

WHEN: May 1, 2010, 9 am–2 pm

WHERE: York Middle School, 30 Organug Road, York Village, ME

COST: FREE!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: See the York Goes Green website

WHAT: Spring Farmers’ Market

WHEN: Saturday April 24, 10 am–2 pm

WHERE: Heron Pond Farm, 299 Main Ave, South Hampton (Google Maps is recommended for directions.)

You don’t have to wait for the farmers’ markets to open in May and June!  Heron Pond Farm will be hosting a spring farmers’ market featuring a wide variety of locally grown and made foods on April 24.  You’ll find fresh greens and other spring vegetables, plants for your garden, farm-raised meat and eggs, honey, maple syrup and delicious prepared foods and baked goods!  The market will be held outside the Heron Pond Farm farmstand, which is now open on weekends.  Come check it out!

Vendors

Heron Pond Farm: The farm stand will be open with lots of spring vegetables—fresh greens, cilantro, potatoes, carrots, and parsnips!

Yellow House Farm: Chicken and duck eggs, farm photo cards, feathers.

Moriarty’s Greenhouse: Potted perennials, herbs and houseplants.

Forty-Five Market Street Bakery & Café: Cookies, scones, bread, muffins, pies.

White Heron Tea: Organic tea beverages, organic + fair trade packaged teas, ready-to-eat breakfast and lunch foods.

Kellie Brook Farm: Farm-raised pork, beef, veal, turkey, and chicken; prepared meals made with their own meats.

Harrison’s Poultry: Eggs, maple syrup, honey, chicken and guinea fowl meat, garden baskets, feathers and maple candy.

The Soup Guy: Gluten-free, all-natural soups and chili made with locally grown ingredients.

Eastman’s Local Catch: Sign up for a local fish share! Carolyn Eastman will be there with information about Eastman’s community-supported fishery (CSF).

New Roots Farm: Scallions, greens, and pasture-raised pork, including bacon.