Monthly Archives: July 2010

Maine in a nutshell…

Posted on July 31, 2010 | Comments Off

…or should that be a lobster shell? …

Coburn Park in Skowhegan, ME.

I have had a great stay in the Pine Tree State. And have learned a lot about farming and the people involved in the “local food movement” (I always put that in quotes because I think it is a silly name but an easy identifier)!

Well, first, let’s get a few things out in the open. Maine is apparently the only state in the US with a name only one syllable long. And it is also the easternmost state as well as the only state which only borders one other US state. If you know differently, let me know. Or take it up with Wikipedia.

I came up here to attend The Kneading Conference. I made a very quick decision to take the trip and there has been a lot about it that has been quite serendipitous. So, yay for spontaneity!

Skowhegan, ME

The conference itself was incredibly jammed full of information about growing wheat as well as the other stages necessary in getting it to your table. I have a lot to process (ha ha) and will be posting full coverage of the conference in the coming days.

When I first arrived in Maine I had gotten to talking to the lady at the front desk of my hotel. I mentioned that I am a journalist and write a blog on farming. So, yesterday morning she pulled me over to show me a story in a local paper about a lady farmer in a neighboring town – Mary Perry’s Winterberry farm in Belgrade, ME.

I love it when people tell me stories about farms – and it does happen quite a lot, which feels quite positive about the turning of the tide in favor of more farming.

The mighty Kennebec River.

Anyway, today I headed over to the Winterberry farm and found it to be a really nice farm. It is organic – which is the only way Mary knows how to farm. And, there is no tractor – everything is done with a literal horse power.

Oh, and Mary is originally from Connecticut!

I will be doing a separate blog entry on Mary and her farm.

Although, unfortunately, I realized some time later that while I had taken several pictures at the farm, there were none of Mary herself. I do have photos with her cute little four-year-old daughter, Sage. And lots of images of cute animals.

After visiting with them, I headed over to the staging grounds for the conference to take in the end of the artisan bread fair which was being held in connection with the conference. I spoke at some length with Wendy Hebb, a great lady and the conference organizer, and got some wise insights regarding the “local food movement.”

Coburn Park

Finally, I asked around for a tranquil, non-touristy spot to spend a little time. I ended up visiting a local Skowhegan park and getting a nice view of the mighty Kennebec River.

Stay tuned in the coming days for complete coverage … Hopefully, my Internet will be working when I get back home.

Oh, finally, it has been suggested that I start a mailing list to notify people of new blog posts. If you are interested, please send me a message at info@aspetuckmedia.com and I will put you on the list.

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Posted in 2010 Kneading Conference, Our food system, Small Farms

Maine goes with the grain…

Posted on July 29, 2010 | Comments Off

Here I am in Maine on the eve of the start of the 4th annual Kneading Conference in Skowhegan. Tomorrow will begin a series of lectures, demonstrations and meals of wholesome local food including an array of artisan breads.

According to their website, “the Kneading Conference began with a group of Skowhegan residents, oven builders, millers and bakers who were motivated by the critical need to address wheat production in light of a growing local food movement.”

One of the things that really make me excited to be here is how spur-of-the-moment it was. Well, on my part that is, not the organizers.

Last Thursday, I was at the Westport, CT farmers market and Jeff Borofsky of Chef Jeff and Skinny Pines, LLC mentioned he would not be at the farmers market this week. That he was going to a conference in Maine.

Naturally, I was curious. In part because I have been looking for an excuse to come to Maine. And sure enough it turned out to be a conference I thought sounded really interesting.

Organic wheat production has been an interest of mine for a while now. This past spring I spent some time looking around for opportunities to learn from someone doing research or outreach who might need an assistant.

One of the people I stumbled across was Ellen Mallory, a Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, doing research at the University of Maine. She and I exchanged a few emails but regrettably she did not have any positions available.

Well, when I was checking out the website for the Kneading Conference I noticed that she was on a panel last year and I saw it as a sign. Turns out she will be speaking here again tomorrow and I look forward to meeting her.

I contacted the organizer of the conference and she was extremely nice and helpful and couldn’t have been more encouraging for me to come.

So, less than a week later, here I sit. I spoke with Jeff earlier tonight. He is in town with his brick oven and I expect to meet up with him tomorrow.

I am looking forward to the conference. And, naturally, you will be privy to my observations.

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Posted in 2010 Kneading Conference, Local Food

Litchfield Hills Farmers Market – Saturday, July 17

Posted on July 18, 2010 | Comments Off

Okay, so I’ve now been called a Slacker for my lack of attention to my blog this summer. But, really, am I the only one out there having a tough time sitting down at a computer during the simmering summertime?

I know, I know, no excuse. But here I am enjoying my time exploring the goodies that summer has to offer in the Northeast of the US and I really should be sharing. I want to! So, allow me to take you along on my journey to the Litchfield Hills Farmers Market in Litchfield, CT today.

It was a beautiful summer day for a drive up scenic Rt. 8. ..

I was really pleased to see a good amount of organic offerings at the market. There was live music, ceramics, soaps – and organic, free trade coffee and tea from coffee-tea-etc. in Goshen, CT. I plan to do a blog on this fascinating gentleman!

… and I finally met Facebook friend Alicia Damia Ghio in-person, as well as her husband, Renato (who is now also a Facebook friend.) She was giving a cooking demo. And, of course, many of us have seen her on thenaturalprincess.com!

So, here is a look at the Litchfield Hills farmers market in beautiful Litchfield, CT

Welcome to the Litchfield Hills Farmers Market ...

Alicia of thenaturalprincess.com

Zucchini/raspberry salsa - yum!

Naren, the coffee-tea-etc. guy - his story coming soon...

The lazy, hazy days of summer...

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Posted in Farmers Markets, Local Food

Alicia’s labor of love …

Posted on July 2, 2010 | 1 Comment

Alicia Damia Ghio, a resident of Danbury, CT, is giving a boost to the local food community at-large with videos she produces and stars in for her website thenaturalprincess.com – and I happen to be a big fan.

Alicia in the kitchen (photo used with permission).

The other day we had a really great phone chat. You know how it feels when you connect with someone who feels passionate about the same thing(s) as you? When there is a natural flow to your connection?

Well, that is what happened. And I was not surprised. Since I met her through a mutual friend I have enjoyed getting to know her. And I think her videos are great!

In the videos she will typically profile a local farm and focus on the preparation of one particular food from that farm.

Old meets new

One of the things I enjoy about her videos – and her philosophy – is the alchemy of old ways of living being conveyed through the relatively new technology of videos online.

Connecting to the roots of how we source food is a connection to our roots as a people. There is something really carnal about the impulse to eat food that is produced in our immediate environment.

And it is not really a new way of eating. It is very, very old.

The story of food

Alicia not only visits farms for local food stories, she is a local food story herself, producing vegetables in her garden at home.

“I need to reconnect with nature,” she said.

The disconnect, she believes, happened over time without us knowing. While we were sleeping to a degree.

She said that she feels a “certain pride” in growing food – and being self-sufficient – and she thinks there are real advantages to the slower pace that people are embracing more and more these days.

Alicia feels there has been a “wake-up call” with a collective realization of “wait, food’s not supposed to come from a can.”

And she wants to help people see that it is very much possible to reinvigorate a lifestyle that brings people back to their neighborhoods – and backyards – for more nutritious and tasty food.

Alicia interviews Kay Carroll at Brookside Farm II (photo used with permission).

The labor of love

The Natural Princess videos began two years ago and are a labor of love for Alicia and her husband, Renato, who have run a video production business – RMediA – together for the past 10 years.

They have been in business together for longer than they have been married. And while people thought it was dangerous to start a business while they were just dating they have proven to be incredibly stable and successful. In both their business and personal lives.

“We’re best friends,” Alicia says of her husband and partner. “We trust each other.”

For the Natural Princess food videos Alicia produces and is on-screen talent while Renato shoots and edits. And I can attest to the high production values!

The basic structure for the interviews, according to Alicia, is an “on the fly” approach with a general list of questions.

“I’ll hit a few points,” she said, “then let them talk.”

Her background as a newspaper reporter and editor undoubtedly gave her the experience she clearly represents in putting people at ease and extrapolating candid and informative responses.

Coming soon…

The next story coming up soon will highlight raspberries from a U-pick farm in Katonah, New York. I could not get her to divulge her recipe for the raspberries. So, I guess we will all just have to tune in to her site to find out.

In the meantime, I highly urge you to check out all the “back issues” – her amazing catalogue of local food videos at thenaturalprincess.com – which is also replete with recipes and all sorts of great information!

Oh, and The Natural Princess has a page on Facebook which you can “like” and have updates delivered directly to your feed…oops, there I go again with old and new converging.

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Posted in Flirting with nature, Local Food