New year, same vibrant food system!
Read on for a round up of food system events, news, and other nifty resources from New Hampshire and beyond. Don't see your event or resource listed below? Email us to have it added! Want our round-up delivered to your inbox each month? Sign up to receive our newsletter and more HERE
Looking for job and grant postings? Head over to our NH Food System Jobs & Grants board HERE
SAVE THE DATE + REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Save the Date for NH Food Alliance's annual NH Food System Statewide Gathering, happening on May 13, 2022 at The Barn on the Pemi in Plymouth, NH! Time together (in person) has never felt more valuable: help us figure out the best way to spend it. Is there a conversation you'd like to facilitate? A group you'd like to network with? A success story you think others in the state would benefit from? We’re requesting proposals from food system professionals, farmers, and food producers, for breakout sessions connected to the Statewide Gathering’s theme of collaborating across food system sectors and impact areas to foster sustainable change and growth. Submissions are due January 31, 2022. LEARN MORE & SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
Cheshire County Conservation District Announces Community Solar for Farms Crowdfunding Campaign, Feb 1-Mar 3
Farmers in NH face significant energy expenses to run their business. CCCD's initiative aims to help to stabilize and lower costs of electricity for participating farms through the CSS framework and in turn, increase the viability of those farms. CCCD is working with the Local Crowd Monadnock to run a crowdfunding campaign from February 1, 2022 through March 3, 2022, in which they aim to raise $13,500 to support the program and offset share costs for farmers. Stay tuned for more information.
FSNE Collaborates for Food, Farming, Forestry, Fishery Policy
FSNE is partnering with Wildlands & Woodlands, Harvard Forest, and the Highstead Foundation to build a regional cross-cutting policy network that integrates food, farming, forestry and fisheries into a regional “whole landscape” (and seascape) approach to policy. Get in touch with FSNE if you’d like to be involved in this effort.
Sustainability Institute’s Thomas W. Haas Professor Karen Spiller, Receives AASHE Campus Sustainability Research Award
Karen and co-authors were honored at the 16th annual AASHE Sustainability Awards on December 9, for their published research, "Towards an equity competency model for sustainable food systems education programs". The AASHE awards celebrate achievements, collaborations and research in higher education sustainability.
FSNE Welcomes Karen Nordstrom as Policy Network Manager
Food Solutions New England (FSNE) is excited to announce that Karen Nordstrom has joined the UNH Sustainability Institute as FSNE’s Policy Network Manager. In this position, Karen will be serving as a key liaison to a cross-cutting regional policy initiative that integrates and coordinates activities, insights, strategies, and tactics across the issue areas of food, farms, forests, fisheries, and communities. LEARN MORE
JAN 7, 12-1PM
NH Farm and Food Policy Roundup, part of the NH Food Alliance's 2022 Network Cafe Series REGISTER HERE
JAN 6-MAR 17
Join NOFA-NH and Seacoast Permaculture on Thursdays for a 6-part Zoom book discussion of A Small Farm Future: Making the Case for a Society Built Around Local Economies, Self-Provisioning, Agricultural Diversity and a Shared Earth by Chris Smaje. REGISTER HERE
JAN 9, 6-7PM
NOFA-NH's Vandana Shiva Film & Panel REGISTER HERE
JAN 10, 3-6PM
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association's and the National Agriculture Apprenticeship Learning Network's Farm Mentor Training Series: Centering Workers on Farms, a Keynote by Not our Farm REGISTER HERE
JAN 11, 10-11:30AM
UNH Extensions's Agritourism Essentials: Strategies to Avoid Community Conflicts REGISTER HERE
JAN 11, 3-4:30PM
NCAT's AgriSolar Program's Agri-voltaics – Combining Productive Farmland with Solar REGISTER HERE
JAN 12, 6:30-8:30PM
Standing Up to Racism at the Portsmouth Public Library REGISTER HERE
JAN 17-FEB 11
New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility's Workplace Racial Equity Learning Challenge REGISTER HERE
JAN 18, 7PM
The Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook – Abenaki People
present Exploring Connections Webinar: “Care Takers” of N’dakinna #NHAudubon REGISTER HERE
JAN 19
UNH Blue Economy Sandpit REGISTER HERE
JAN 20-APR 21
The Native American Agriculture Fund's Webinar Series: Building Native Agriculture, Sowing the Seeds of Growth Through Capacity Building REGISTER HERE
JAN 20, 3:30-4:30PM
Farm to School 101, part of the NH Farm to School and the NH School & Youth Garden Networks' 2022 Webinar Series REGISTER HERE
JAN 21, 12-1PM
NOFA's Local Food for Local Schools Reimbursement Program Information Session and Live Q & A with State Legislators REGISTER HERE
JAN 24, 6-7:15PM
UNH Extension and UMaine Extension's Hydroponics at Home Webinar REGISTER HERE
JAN 31-MAR 28
Building a Food Safety Plan from Soil to Sale: a FREE 8-Part Group GAP training with Chesapeake Harvest REGISTER HERE
JAN 31, 1:30-2:45PM
Cultivating Roots: Basic Classroom Hydroponics, part of the NH Farm to School and the NH School & Youth Garden Networks' 2022 Webinar Series REGISTER HERE
SAVE THE DATE
FEB 4-5
University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, the NH Division of Forests & Lands and the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food to host the New Hampshire Farm, Forest, & Garden Expo REGISTER HERE
FEB 4-25, 10AM-2:30PM
Food Solutions New England's 2022 Winter Series LEARN MORE
FEB 6-MAR 13
Black Heritage Trail NH's Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks 2022 "Courageous Conversations: Leaning in for Change" REGISTER HERE
FEB 6-12
NOFA-NH's 20th Annual Winter Conference, Collaboration & Self-Reliance: Building a Stronger NH Food System REGISTER HERE
FEB 10, 17, 24, 4-6PM
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture's Winter Workshops: Taking your farm financial management to the next level REGISTER HERE
ALL MONTH LONG
UNH Extension's Agriculture & Horticulture events and workshops Learn more and register
UNH Extension's Home, Yard, & Garden events and workshops Learn more and register
Monadnock Food Co-op's events and workshops LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
Co-op Food Store's events and workshops LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
National Center for Appropriate Technology's ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program events calendar LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
Farm to Institution New England's Fall Webinar Series LEARN MORE & REGISTER
Applications for the NH Farm Future Fund are OPEN!
DUE FEB 15
The mission of the NH Farm Future Fund is to provide funding for farm viability planning in concert with the conservation of important agricultural soils. Funding available to NH Land Trusts for: (1) Financial assistance to offset costs associated with farmland conservation projects (2) Technical assistance to support farm business viability and succession planning. This program will leverage the singular opportunity of putting a conservation easement on farmland to also invest in the future viability of the farm business. The goal of this fund is to ensure that farmland is conserved, productive, and available for future generations. The NH Association of Conservation Districts, in partnership with the Cheshire County Conservation District, requests proposals from land trusts who seek funding to work with NH farms to conserve their land and improve the viability of their farm business. LEARN MORE AND APPLY
Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund
DUE FEB 1
This year, the Farm Fund will award up to $30,000 to help farms in Cheshire County and abutting New Hampshire towns develop or expand their production for wholesale markets, including selling to the Monadnock Food Co-op and Food Connects. Farmers may apply for grants ranging from $500 to $10,000. Funds can be used to support a range of projects, including the purchase of equipment and infrastructure, packaging and labeling design needs, and technical assistance. LEARN MORE AND APPLY
"Engaging Landowners in Conservation: A Complete Guide to Designing Programs and Communications" via Tools for Engaging Landowners Effectively (TELE) READ MORE
NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food's Agriculture Directories Registration
SUBMIT BY JAN 10
New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food is in the process of redesigning and updating their online agriculture directories. They are also planning a new Ornamental Horticulture Directory. In order for your farm to be listed, or continue to be listed, in the directories of your choice, please complete the farm directory registration form and submit it by January 10, 2022. They must have a completed registration form from you to include your farm in any of their publications. To view the current directories, click here.
COMPLETE THE FORM HERE
Legal Food Hub Launches in New Hampshire
Legal Food Hub (LFH) is a project by the Conservation Law Foundation dedicated to helping farmers, food entrepreneurs and nonprofits across New England by providing free legal services and educational resources. LFH launched services in New Hampshire this month. LEARN MORE
Legal Guide for New Hampshire Agricultural Producers via UNH Extension LEARN MORE
"The Growing Revolution: What will it take for an emerging patchwork of co-ops, food hubs, and farming collectives to challenge Big Ag?" via The Nation READ MORE
2022 National Young Farmer Survey LEARN MORE & SUBMIT
USDA Rural Development's Fiscal Year 2021 Newsletter READ MORE
"Recent Data Show Dominant Meat Processing Companies Are Taking Advantage of Market Power to Raise Prices and Grow Profit Margins" via The White House Briefing Room READ MORE
"Reflections on the Season of Gratitude and Giving: Thank you from the Kearsarge Food Hub" WATCH HERE
NH PBS's Communities and Consequences II, featuring Kearsarge Food Hub WATCH HERE
NH Harvest of the Month: Parsnips
Parsnips are a member of the carrot family, which comes as no surprise when you look at the resemblance in size and shape. Our northern climate in New Hampshire is great for producing parsnips! Here, they can grow to the size of large carrots and are enjoyed for their nutty, slightly sweet and spicy flavor. LEARN MORE & GET RECIPES
Pick up some parsnips and tag us @nheatslocal to share how you're enjoying the harvest. Find places to shop local through UNH Extension's Farm Product map or any of the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food's CSA, Farm stands and Farmers' Market directories.
Indigenous NH Harvest Calendar: Pebon (Winter)
Find out more about the Pebon (Winter) season, including foraging and cooking with wild onions and preserving foods for the long winter ahead. The Indigenous NH Harvest Calendar is an educational project by NH Farm to School in collaboration with the NH Indigenous Collaborative Collective and the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People.
LEARN MORE
Lakes Region Food Network
The next monthly meeting is JAN 10, 10AM
Want to join? Contact Lisa Morin to join
Northeast Monthly FoodComm Cafe
Hosted by Food Solutions New England, join communications professionals and other food system peers for a monthly discussion on various topics centered around local food communication strategies and other food system issues. The next monthly meeting is JAN 28, 10-11AM. Want to join? Contact Lisa Fernandes to join
NH Food Access Coalition (NHFAC)
View the December agenda HERE
The next monthly meeting is JAN 26, 10-11:30AM. Want to attend? CONTACT THE NHFAC
"Building healthy and equitable communities: Nutrition incentive resources for farmers markets, farm stands, and CSAs" via Farm Direct Incentives Guide & the National Farmers' Market Coalition READ MORE
Local Foods Plymouth's Farm to Community Food Sharing Program GET INVOLVED
Join the NH Food Access & Policy Research Network Listserv! LEARN MORE AND JOIN
NH Food Alliance's CLIMATE ACTION TEAM
View the December agenda HERE
The next monthly meeting is JAN 13, 11AM-12PM. Want to attend? Contact us
"New Fact Sheet Highlights Value of Solar Grazing" via Center for Rural Affairs READ MORE
"Federal-state work group launches on-farm compost research site for farmers and ranchers" via the United States Environmental Protection Agency READ MORE
"Food Waste: Facts and Solutions" via NOFA-NH's Education and Policy Committee member Gene Jonas, of Hungry Bear Farm READ MORE
"Agroforestry for Improved Soil Fertility" via NCAT ATTRA's blog READ MORE
Commentary: At global climate conference, international becomes local via New Hampshire Bulletin READ MORE
NH Food Alliance's RACIAL EQUITY TEAM
View the January agenda HERE
The next monthly meeting is FEB 2, 11AM-12PM. Want to attend? Contact us
Tulaine Montgomery: 2021 UNH Social Innovator of the Year
The co-CEO of New Profit, presents the keynote: Bridging the Resource Gap for Entrepreneurs to Transform America’s Most Inequitable System. WATCH HERE
NH Farm to School Network Meetings
North Country Farm to School Network
The next monthly meeting is JAN 13, 4-5PM
REGISTER HERE
NH Farm to School Network
The next monthly meeting is JAN 19, 1-2PM
Want to attend? Contact us
Lakes Region Farm to School Network
The next monthly meeting is JAN 27, 3:30PM
Want to attend? CONTACT US
Monadnock Farm to School Network
For more information about news and meetings, join the Facebook group HERE
2022 Webinar Series, presented by the NH Farm to School Network and the NH School & Youth Garden Network LEARN MORE
31,000 Pieces of Pizza and $1.8M
On December 9, 2021, New Hampshire state legislators, representatives from the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, and members of the media outlets joined the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH) and its fellow NH Farm to School Network members at Fresh Start Farms in Manchester for a luncheon highlighting forthcoming farm to school projects and legislation in New Hampshire, including Fresh Start Farms's Farm to School pizza pilot project and the Local Food for Local Schools Reimbursement Bill. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BILL
