Click here to visit the SEMAP website_
The Vine - July 2019
Page DIvider
Volunteer with SEMAP
SEMAP is often at community events and we could use your help connecting consumers with farms and our programs! With 75 towns in our region, there's sure to be an event near you. Tabling is one of the best ways for SEMAP to connect with our community, and we can work around your schedule. No commitment necessary.

Page DIvider
Webinar: Troubleshooting Your Farm's Quickbooks
Having trouble with Quickbooks for your farm business? Work 1:1 with Julia Shanks to solve your problems.

Aug 27th at 6:00 PM

While the concepts of QuickBooks may be clear, the implementation can get tricky; especially since each farm has its own unique systems. In this session, we will go over common challenges (and solutions), and provide an open forum to ask questions specific to your business.

Page DIvider
SEMAP Technical Assistance Deadlines Approaching
Use SEMAP's funding for business & technical assistance before it runs out!
 
The USDA has provided funding for SEMAP to help beginning farmers and direct marketing farmers by finding experts to assist with topics including social media, marketing, grant writing, food safety, web design, QuickBooks, management training, and more.

Beginning farmers: reach out to Dawn Dufault by August 1st to take advantage of funding which needs to be spent by August 14. 

Farmers that sell direct to consumers: reach out to Dawn Dufault by September 1st as these funds must be spent by September 29. 

Email SEMAP's Program Coordinator Dawn Dufualt, at ddufault@semaponline.org
Page DIvider

Request a box of our free Local Food Guides here.
Page DIvider
Sign-Up Your Restaurant for Eat Local Month
August is Massachusetts Eat Local Month! 

SEMAP and our statewide Buy Local partners will be celebrating and promoting restaurants that purchase from our local farmers throughout the month of August!

Restaurants: if you are having a special event or want to highlight one or more locally sourced menu items, getting extra promotion for your business during August is as simple as filling out this application

SEMAP has Eat Local Month posters available for your restaurant to let your customers know that August is Eat Local Month!

Learn more here and contact Jon at jgray@semaponline.org with any questions.
Page DIvider
Bid Deadline Extended on Farmland in Dartmouth
Apponagansett Bay Farm Bids Extended to August 9th

The 28-acre working farm contains a four bedroom, two bath historic farmhouse residence (currently set up as two apartments), a separate garage, two large barn buildings and a storage shed, in addition to 20 acres of agricultural fields.

Learn more.
Page DIvider
Soule Homestead Farm-to-Table Dinner, August 3rd
This Saturday, August 3rd 2019,  4-8pm join the Soule Homestead for their annual farm-to-table dinner where a ll the ingredients are sourced from the Soule Homestead and local Middleborough farms. The evening is rounded out with local beer from Mayflower Brewery and Simpson Springs soda and water. Wine will be served, too. The best part is that all money raised goes back to support the Soule Homestead programs.

Page DIvider
Tour of Urban Farming Institute's Headquarters, August 15th
Come learn how Urban Farming Institute is using the recently restored Historic Fowler Clark Epstein Farm to create healthy places and healthy people through training, education, research, and development in the Boston area. Event starts with networking at 5:30pm and after the tour, a tasting selection will follow with produce grown directly from the farm.

Page DIvider
DNRT Barn Bash, August 24th
The Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust is hosting their 
14th Annual Barn Bash. With ten food and drink vendors, a bluegrass band, and a silent auction, this is a great opportunity to support land conservation efforts in Dartmouth. Held August 24th from 5:30-9:30pm at the Sylvan Nursery Barn in Dartmouth.
Page DIvider
Edible South Shore & South Coast Summer Edition
Edible South Shore & South Coast announces the arrival of their summer 2019 edition. This issue's theme is "From the Sea." Whether it's a local fish market investing in expanding its global reach, scientists explaining the effect of climate change on our waters, clam shacks or an oyster business hitting stride and building on its successes, we explore a wide array of local entities and topics-everything aquatic!

Pick up a copy at an advertisers location or read it online today.
Page DIvider
Save the Date for Young Farmer Nights
The Young Farmer Network of Southern New England's Young Farmer Night tours start at 6pm (5:30 in the late season) and are followed by a potluck dinner. In partnership with Land For Good, this year's YFNs are land access themed, and each farms land situation (intergenerational, leasing from a land trust, private landowner lease, cooperative land use, private purchase, etc.) will be explored. 

The rest of the YFN schedule for this year includes:
Aug 5, Mon. - Earth Care Farm, Charlestown, RI
Aug 21, Wed. - Sweet Berry Farm, Middletown, RI
Aug 26, Mon. - Wild Harmony Farm, Exeter RI
Sept 18, Wed. - Revive the Roots, Smithfield, RI
Sept 30, Mon. - The Compost Plant at Buxton Hollow, North Smithfield, RI
Oct 16, Wed. - Big Train Farm, N. Scituate, RI
.

Learn more.
Page DIvider
Healthy Food Business Funding Still Available Through Mass Food Trust
If you run a healthy food business and could use some financial support, you may qualify for financial assistance from the Mass Food Trust Program (MFTP). 

The Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP) provides loans, grants, and business assistance for increasing access to healthy, affordable food in low-income, underserved areas. Applicants may be for-profit, nonprofit, or cooperative entities. Financing may be used for the development, renovation, or expansion of an eligible business.

Learn more.
Page DIvider
Proposed Changes to MDAR Composting Regulation
MDAR is proposing changes to the Agricultural Composting Regulation, 330 CMR 25. These regulations will be applicable to all MDAR-registered agricultural composting operations. Comments may be presented orally or in writing at the hearing below, or by mail or email.

Public Hearing:
Wednesday, August 14, 2019: 5:30 P.M. Middleborough Public Library, 102 North Main Street, Middleborough, MA 02346
Page DIvider
Marshfield Farmers Market Seeking Prepared Food Vendors
The Marshfield Farmers' Market is seeking a bread vendor, prepared foods, and preserves.  Their Summer markets are Fridays 1-5pm, and Winter markets are Saturdays 10-2pm on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Interested vendors should check out their website and contact the manager at  manager@marshfieldfarmersmarket.org.
Page DIvider
Upcoming Events
8/3 -- Soule Homestead Farm-to-Table Dinner, Middleborough, MA

8/4 - 8/10 -- Farmers Market Week, Nationwide

8/5 -- Young Farmer Night at Earth Care Farm, Charlestown, RI


8/8 - 8/11 -- Rochester Country Fair, Rochester, MA

8/9 - 8/11 -- 45th Annual NOFA Summer Conference, Amherst, MA


8/16 - 825 -- Marshfield Fair, Marshfield, MA

8/24 -- DNRT Barn Bash, Dartmouth, MA


8/31 - 9/1 --  East Middleborough 4H Fair, Middleborough, MA

9/15 -- Boston Local Food Festival, Boston, MA


Contact Us

Executive Director

Outreach Coordinator

Program Coordinator



Page DIvider

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Contribute to the Vine
Have an event, job posting, or article to share in our next Vine Newsletter?
Want your farm or business highlighted in a SEMAP Spotlight?
Become a SEMAP Member today to post your news!
SEMAP Business Membership starts at just $75/year.