Local Foods News from

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

Spring 2014

In This Issue

School Garden Soiree

Community Food Councils

Gardiner Area High School Orchard

Gardiner Co-op

Maranacook Area Farmers' Market

K12 ELF

What's Renee Reading?

Upcoming Events

School Garden Support Soiree

May 16, 2014 4:00-7:00 PM

Gardiner Area High School

Information Sharing & Fundraiser

FMI: Renee Page rpage@mcd.org or 207.446.9444

Local Farmers' Markets

Kennebec County

Augusta

Farmers' Market at Mill Park

1 North Water Street, the old Edwards Mill site

May-November

Tuesdays 2-6pm

December-April

Tuesdays 12:30-2:00pm

EBT, WIC, Credit & Debit Accepted

www.farmersmarketmillpark.org

Augusta Farmers' Market

Turnpike Mall, Western Ave/Whitten Road

May-October

Wednesdays and Saturdays

10:00am-1:00pm

Viles Arboretum Farmers' Market

153 Hospital Street

May-November

Fridays 12:00-5:00pm

Belgrade

Belgrade Lakes Farmers' Market

Main Street, Belgrade Lakes Village

May-October

Sundays 8:00am-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-6:00pm

www.belgradelakesfarmersmarket.org

East Vassalboro

East Vassalboro Farmers' Market

357 Main Street, Vassalboro Grange

Fridays 3:00-5:30pm

Gardiner

Gardiners Farmers' Market

Route 201 Brunswick Avenue, On the Common

May-October

Wednesdays & Saturdays 3-6pm

EBT & WIC Accepted

Hallowell

Hallowell Market Day

Water Street (Route 201) at the foot of Winthrop Street

May-October

Tuesdays 4:00pm-8:00pm

Manchester

Mayflower Farmers' Market

Route 17, next to Post office at the big red barn

May-November

Wednesdays 3:00-6:00pm

Saturdays 10:00am-2:00pm

Oakland

Oakland Community Farmers' Market

895 Kennedy Memorial Drive

Fridays 2:00-6:00pm

Waterville

Downtown Waterville Farmers' Market

Appleton Street & Maine Street at the Concourse

April-November

Thursdays 2-6PM

Wayne

Wayne Farmers' Market

Main Street, Village Center Green next to Post Office

May-September

Saturdays 9:00am-12:00pm (noon)

EBT Accepted

Winthrop

Winthrop Farmers' Market

Main Street

May-September

Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm

Other Options:

Crown o' Maine Organic Cooperative, for worksites looking to create their own mini farmers' market, buying clubs may be just what you need. To learn more visit www.crownofmainecoop.com

KLFI Online Marketplace, an online ordering system that allows shoppers to purchase a large variety of foods from Maine producers, in cooperation with the Gardiner Farmers' Market, Crown O' Maine Organic Cooperative, and local vendors. To get a username and password, please call 207.712.9734 or email klfi@gardinerfarmersmarket.org. To learn more visit www.klfi.buyingclubsoftware.org or klfi.org.

Maranacook Area Farmers' Market, an online farmers' market that allows buyers to place orders online from local growers. Visit http://harvesttomarket.com/farmers-market/Maranacook-Area-Farmers-Market

Somerset County

Canaan

Canaan Farmers' Market

Route 2, downtown Canaan in restaurant parking lot (formerly known as Purple Cow)

May-October

Saturdays 10am-2pm

canaanmefarmersmarket.webs.com/

Fairfield

Fairfield Farmers' Market

Main Street (Route 201) Nazarene Church parking lot

June-October

Wednesdays 2:00-6:00pm & Saturdays 9:30am-1:30pm

WIC Accepted

Pittsfield

Pittsfield Farmers' Market

Corner of Hathorn Park at Park Street & Forest Street, across from the Church of the Nazarene

May-October

Mondays & Thursdays 2:00-6:00pm

Senior Farm Share & WIC Accepted

www.pittsfieldfarmersmarket.org

Skowhegan

Skowhegan Farmers' Market

Somerset Grist Mill

May-October

Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm

June-October

Wednesdays 3:00pm-6:00pm

Saturdays 9:00am-1:00pm

November-April

1st & 3rd Saturdays 10:00am-1:00pm

EBT, WIC, Debit & Credit Accepted

www.skowheganfarmersmarket.com

Links to Useful Resources

National Farm to School Network
F2SN enables every child to have access to nutritious food while simultaneously benefiting communities and local farmers.
FMI & Resources: farmtoschool.org

Maine Ag in the Classroom
MAITC provides information about agricultural concepts to teachers, students, and interested citizens.
FMI & Resources:
www.agclassroom.org/me

Maine School Garden Network

MSGN promotes and supports educational gardens for youth and encourages school programs that teach healthy eating and environmental stewardship.

FMI & Resources: www.msgn.org

Join Our List

Spring 2014

You are receiving this newsletter because you have been identified as a leader in your school or community around local foods efforts.

I welcome any and all feedback on this newsletter's format and content and encourage others to submit local foods articles, news, resources, and success stories that may be of interest or useful to others.

Please forward this newsletter to others as appropriate and encourage them to subscribe. You may unsubscribe at any time you feel this newsletter is not germane to your work or interests.

Again, welcome. I hope you enjoy!

Renee Page,
Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative

School Garden Support Soiree May 16th 4:00-7:00 at Gardiner Area High School

Please Join Us at the Gardiner Area High School Garden Support Soiree

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area supports FoodCorps implementation in Augusta and Gardiner Schools. Many of you have come to know Laura Budde, Lily Joslin, and Andrea Snow as they have worked in your schools over the past three years to:

Build and Tend School Gardens
Teach Agricultural Based Nutrition Education
Help Source Fresh Local Foods for School Meals

HCCA must provide a program match to FoodCorps and provide materials and supplies for FoodCorps related projects and must fundraise to do so. Please drop by Friday, May 16 from 4:00-7:00 at Gardiner Area High School to learn more about what is happening with FoodCorps in Gardiner Schools. The soiree will feature:

Fresh, locally sourced hors d'oeuvres prepared by School Nutrition Director, Chef Mike Flynn and served by students
Live music by Twisted Strings
Newly planted fruit tree orchard at the high school courtesy of ReTreeUS
Highlights of FoodCorps programming in Gardiner Schools including plans for a new greenhouse at the high school
Opportunities to meet local farmers
50/50 and other raffles
...and more!

This event is happening simultaneously with the student art show and prior to the school play also happening that evening. Plan to stop by the soiree and support FoodCorps. Suggested donations $10 adult, $5 child. Click here to view event flyer.

Questions or FMI: Contact Renee Page rpage@mcd.org or 207.446.9444

Community Food Councils

Two New Community Food Councils Emerge

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area conducted a local foods scan in 2013 to identify access points and gaps in access to local foods across southern Kennebec County. Four local forums were held to determine level of interest among community members to form Community Food Councils to begin the process of assessing and influencing the local food system. The greater Winthrop and Gardiner areas emerged as communities ready and interested in forming Community Food Councils. Each group is developing and working on a variety of goals: community engagement, support for farmers and producers, group mission and vision, and more.

Community Food Councils work to influence the local food system and can prioritize a range of activities from policy development to food security issues to specific food related projects. Once a need is identified, the group works collectively to address it. If you are interested in joining either of these groups or forming a Community Food Council in your area, please contact Renee Page at rpage@mcd.org or 207.446.9444.

New Orchard at Gardiner Area High School

Students, Staff, FoodCorps, and Community Members Come Together

On May 13th several students, staff, and community members came together to plant the first fruit tree orchard at Gardiner Area High School. This Educational Orchard grew from an opportunity sought by FoodCorps Service Member Andrea Snow from ReTreeUS. ReTreeUs plants orchards in schools and provides educational programs that empower people to be healthy environmental stewards. Students, staff, and community members will enjoy the orchard for years to come. You can come see the orchard yourself Friday, May 16th from 4:00-7:00 during the School Garden Soiree!

Gardiner Co-Op & Community Cafe

Gardiner Co-Op Development Underway

Earlier this spring, Kennebec Local Food Initiative gave birth to a new entity: The Gardiner Food Co-op & Cafe. The storefront is not yet open but plans for the brick and mortar are well underway and reflect the original intention of KLFI. The Co-op will be in downtown Gardiner and will offer a full line of local, sustainable and bulk foods as well as a cafe space where people can gather. In the meantime, anyone wishing to get their hands (and mouths) on the types of products that will be available at the Co-op can sign up to use the Online Marketplace that has been run by KLFI for the past two years. For more info on KLFI, the Co-op and how you can become a member, please visit klfi.org.

When Did the Maranacook Area Farmers' Market Begin...and what is it?

The Maranacook Area Farmers' Market is an online market established in Spring 2014

Maranacook Area Farmers Market

Know Your Farmer * Buy Local * Make the Connection

The founding vendors set up an online farmers market in Spring 2014 to serve the network of former Maranacook Local Foods Buying Club (MLFBC) customers. This new online market is overseen by vendors. It does not have a customer membership fee or required volunteer hours.

The Maranacook Area Farmers Market aims to support this community and network in the greater Maranacook Lake Area. Their sales goals are 20 customers per order, purchasing $30 of local groceries directly from the farmers and bakers who grow and make the food.

Anyone can create an account to purchase products. Delivery is two times a month on the second and fourth Thursdays. The order cycle opens on Thursday and closes on Monday before delivery week. "This online market model complements the interest of customers to buy items like dairy, meat, and produce in one place from people they know. We are a farm-direct source for community members, and that matters if folks want to buy local," says vendor Anne Trenholm of Wholesome Holmstead.

Trenholm encourages people to visit the order website, sign up for an account, and provide feedback for the young market. "Our success in year-round sales will happen when everyone is involved to make a sustainable year-round farm direct market for the greater Maranacook Lake area."

If you would like to help grow this market, and you are not already registered, here's how, in five steps:

1. Go to the following link:

http://harvesttomarket.com/farmers-market/Maranacook-Area-Farmers-Market

2. Create an account by clicking the register button.

**NOTE: Make sure you setup your primary market by selecting "Maine" as the state and "Maranacook Area Farmers Market" as the market.

3. Tell a friend

4. Place an order

5. Repeat!

That's it! You can read more about the market at the link above, and sign up for market newsletters. You do not need an account to browse, but you do need one to place your order.

The goal for 2014 is $14,000 in gross sales. That's 20 customers buying $30 of local groceries each of the 24 cycles this year. Thanks for your support and patience!

Sincerely, the founding vendors,

Wholesome Holmstead, A Small Town Bakery, Snafu Acres, Farmer Kev's Organics, and Emery Farm

K12 ELF at Pittston Consolidated School

K12 Eating Local Foods

Check out this 3 minute video of a daylong physical activity and nutrition event at Pittston Consolidated School in MSAD 11 in March. The event was primarily supported by the school's Fuel Up to Play 60 grant and convened several partners working on HCCA's USDA Farm to School grant. Featured are Jacqui Wainoris, SNAP-Ed Coordinator and Andrea Snow, FoodCorps Service Member, both from Healthy Communities of the Capital Area. Also featured are School Nutrition Directors Mike Flynn (MSAD 11) and Jeff Bridges (RSU 38). Several other partners, including Cooperative Extension, participated as well. The video was created using Community Transformation Grant resources. Enjoy!

http://animoto.com/play/7IlGUGOV3rnOCIfsVh0gag

What's Renee Reading?

Food Policy in the United States

Food Policy in the United States by Parke Wilde

This in-depth look at Food Policy in the United States provides a broad look at how US food policy affects health, the environment, the economy, and more. Readers learn how advocates, lobbyists, and grass roots efforts all work to shape federal legislation like the Farm Bill and the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. Though the book reads like a text, it is a comprehensive overview of how food policy is shaped in the United States.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about local foods happenings in southern Kennebec County. Please contact me if you are interested in learning more or becoming involved.

In Health,

Renee Page,
Assistant Director, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) is a coalition of local people who work locally to improve the health and quality of life in our communities. HCCA hosts the Central District Maine Farm to School Network Representative and a FoodCorps Service Member.

HCCA's mission is to convene people, organizations, and communities to collaborate on quality of life and public health issues.

HCCA serves the southern Kennebec County towns of Augusta, Chelsea, Farmingdale, Fayette, Gardiner, Hallowell, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Mount Vernon, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Vienna, West Gardiner, Wayne, Windsor, Winthrop, and Richmond in Sagadahoc County.