News & Events
A few comments before our news:
It's with great sorrow, that I mark (belatedly) the passing last fall, of James (Jim) LeDue. Noted Portland, ME restauranteur; former owner of The Good Egg (now carried on in-spirit by his sister Mary, at The Pepperclub on Middle Street), Alberta's Cafe, and Bella Cucina a/k/a Zephyr Grill.
Like Jean-Charles Berruet (founder of Chanticleer on Nantucket - now in Islamorada,FL) Jim sought a direct connection between the food he served and the people and places it sourced from, and was an inspiration for this business.
Jim was one to get up 5 hours after going to bed to meet the fishermen, or to head out to a farm and SEE the ducks that would become dinner.
Or duck breast proscuitto (there's a story to that).
Unfortunately, just as I was getting into this venture, Jim's last restaurant - Bella Cucina - closed on Congress Street. His legacy can be seen on restaurant menus around town, and now around the nation - as he wasn't "crazy" - just inspired to bring the best local product to his patron's plates.
I can stop waiving to passing Volvo station wagons with kayaks on the roof... thinking it might be Jim, and that's too bad.
News:
Spring 2010 finds us back to growing the distinctive varieties of produce that made us newsworthy.
Working on land provided by Brad Christo and Hope Murphy, we're seeking to provide more and better
produce, working towards low-carbon impact, extended-season growing utilizing
Brad's expertise at Seacoast Solar Works, LLC. The assistance of Brad, Hope and their son Walker makes this farm possible - so give them a nod if you cross paths!
Our shared goal is to provide innovation and guidance for another generation of farmers and gardeners,
and will be exploring intern/apprenticeship opportunities, focusing on High School and College
students, while welcoming any interested parties regardless of age.
While tending seeds, and looking outside at what may have been the last 60F days for months (mid-March), I've been enrolled in the GAPs program at eCornell University. GAPs was touted as a "must have" for commercially viable local produce in the February 2010 NH Farm & Forest grower panel discussion. Both Hannaford Brothers and Stop & Shop have made it a priority this year, and mandatory in 2011 if memory serves me.
This concerns me as a farmer-grower-distributor, as the expenses mount, and some practices seem contrary to
organic farming methods, or at least mindset. There IS a problem with tainted food, globally and in the USA.
There IS a potential for local food to be tainted too, but "we" weren't the ones who sickened people in with eColi back in 2006.
Instead we put healthy local produce in the kitchens and on the tables that Columbus Day weekend.
Regardless, GAPs and several other certifications are "one-size, fits all". Half-acre or half-section (320 acres/130 ha) - it's the same program, just more port-a-pottys.
$60 here, $400 there, $1300 here, $700 there... the costs mount; and document-document-document - if it's not written, it never happened.
As a farmer, if you're not employing a full-time bookkeeper, you'd better hire one - or a farmer - as you will be a full-time bookkeeper right quick and in a hurry.
Computers, hand-held scanners and barcodes may be the only way past this, with "QR" codes holding the most potential.
Late May: hot and dry - which is so far so good, as we've finally upgraded irrigation with a spectacular little model SEH-25L pump from Koshin-America. It's not huge, but it pumps 400 feet at 1/3 throttle with little effort, and sure beats many trips with a watering can!
Welcome Jessica Morgan of South Berwick, who is assisting at the farm this season, giving Linda and I much needed help.
Pictured here with her son Skyler, after a hot afternoon of transplanting tomatoes and basil;
Jessica is also the new proprietor of the Early Bird Cafe, at 241 Main Street in SoBo.
July: still hot and dry - too dry. We survived the thursday weather event of June 24th, only losing some chard, three beds of arugula, and a single tomato plant. Speaking of tomatoes, they're coloring-up, though still few in number. Arugula is rebounding, and we're delivering basil and chard this week.
Events:
Stonewall Kitchen Cooking Classes: join Chef Pierre Gignac of 98 Provence as we put on our second Farm-to-Table event at Stonewall Kitchens on July 30th at midday. This is a lunchtime class. In October, we return with Chef Bill Boutwell of Bibo's Madd Apple Cafe, the exact date is TBD.
Cheesemaker Valerie Jarvis of Heart Song Farm
is featured in the
The
Atlas of American Artisan Cheese.
Find The Atlas of American Artisan Cheese and many other outstanding selections at Rabelais Books located between Hugo's and The Pepperclub on Middle Street in Portland, Maine.
You may also see her featured in Episode 7 of the National Public Television series:
The Endless Feast
Please check with your local Public Television station for airtimes. DVDs of the series are also available from the Producers. Contact us for details.
Think Global - Eat Local!
