tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20743069413705691442024-03-08T13:06:47.352-08:00Dexter Community Farm ProjectDexter Community Farm Project & Fossa General Store was created by DRDC to work with local community farmers within a 35+/- mile radius of Dexter.
The store will be selling locally grown, locally produced vegetables, dairy, meats, baked goods and more.
We are working on creating a new agricultural economy both on Main Street and at the farm level.
Dexter Regional Development Corporation is helping build our local economy and community with our local people, farmers and markets.Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-9272384401345490322014-07-25T13:09:00.003-07:002014-07-25T13:09:23.068-07:00Open Farm Day is July 27th <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Open Farm Day is an annual family adventure in which farms throughout
all 16 counties open their gates to offer the public an opportunity to
learn about the business of agriculture. Open Farm Day gives families
the chance to visit local farms throughout the state.<br />
<br />
Farms around the state participate to commit to ensuring the
sustainability of agriculture. Maine’s farming industry has given back
to their communities by providing a forum for education and learning in a
fun atmosphere. Many farms will have demonstrations, displays,
farm-raised products for sale and animals and crops to experience.
Activities include barn and field tours, milking, hay rides, petting
zoos, nature trails, beautiful scenery, samples for tasting and
refreshments.<br />
<br />
For a list of this year’s participating farms, visit <a href="http://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b35927eb208f15c94f450691d&id=1ff6e81877&e=10424c77dd" style="color: #336699;">www.getrealmaine.com</a> and search for Open Farm Day Participants by clicking <a href="http://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b35927eb208f15c94f450691d&id=1c0a273416&e=10424c77dd" style="color: #336699;">Find a Farm</a> and selecting Open Farm Day from the Agritourism activities search options.<br />
<br />
Interested farm participants should contact Jessica Nixon at <a href="mailto:Jessica.L.Nixon@maine.gov" style="color: #336699;">Jessica.L.Nixon@maine.gov</a> or at 207-287-3494.</span>Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-57439758637115023102014-03-04T11:05:00.001-08:002014-03-04T11:05:10.565-08:00Managing Livestock on Pasture Workshop to be hosted by the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Effective livestock management can be influenced by many
factors, which differ depending upon the type of livestock. Whether you are
managing beef or dairy cows, goats, sheep, horses or other animals, or
interested in doing so, please join us on Saturday, April 5</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> from
9:00AM to noon at the Sangerville Community Room for a</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Managing Livestock on Pasture Workshop, where you can learn about
how to harvest more high quality forage through livestock grazing, how to
identify and manage weeds and other related topics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> How USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service programs can assist you with effective livestock management will also
be discussed. This workshop is being hosted by the Piscataquis County Soil and
Water Conservation District (PCSWCD), in partnership with the University of
Maine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis County office, and sponsored by the
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Donna
Coffin, the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">University
of Maine Cooperative Extension Educator in Piscataquis County for over 30 years</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> will be
a featured presenter at the Managing Livestock on Pasture Workshop. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Her areas
of expertise include sustainable agriculture and home horticulture for
Piscataquis and Penobscot counties. She also plans statewide programs for the
beef and horse industry. She received her Master of Science degree from the
University of Maine in Animal Science in the area of animal nutrition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">USDA-NRCS
Financial and Technical Assistance Programs that are available for livestock
producers will be discussed by Lance Gorham, USDA-NRCS Resource
Conservationist. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Gorham received his Bachelors of Science in Forestry from
the University of Missouri. He later received a Master of Studies in
Environmental Law and a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School. He worked throughout
the Southeast with the United States Geological Survey-National Wetlands
Research Center before moving to New England in 2000. In his work as a USDA-NRCS
Resource Conservationist, Gorham applies his lifelong passion of natural
resource management to help landowners in Maine. He also works with land trusts
to ensure farm and forestlands are preserved for future generations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Workshop participants will have the opportunity to ask
questions about effective livestock management. Informational handouts will be
provided to support the topics discussed during the workshop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Although there is no cost for the Managing Livestock on
Pasture Workshop, pre-registration is required by Monday, March 31<sup>st</sup>.
For more information and to pre-register, please stop by our office at the USDA
Service Center, located at the Pine Crest Business Park at 42 Engdahl Drive in
Dover-Foxcroft. You may also pre-register by emailing the PCSWCD at </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="mailto:info@piscataquisswcd.org"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">info@piscataquisswcd.org</span></a> or by calling 564 – 2321, Extension
3. If you need special accommodations to attend this workshop, please notify
the PCSWCD by March 28<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-66684413251270702032014-02-19T10:20:00.000-08:002014-02-19T10:20:01.819-08:00Tree and Plant Sale at the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Even
though the snow keeps falling, we are starting to see and hear the signs of
springtime! Now is the time to plan ahead for your orchards, gardens and
natural landscape. The Piscataquis
County Soil and Water Conservation District Tree and Plant Sale pre-order
deadline is Wednesday, March 12<sup>th</sup>, with pickup dates from April 21st
through 25<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This year we are pleased to offer a variety of bare
root stock trees and shrubs for landscaping, whether your passion is for
flowering trees, rose bushes, native berry bushes or nuts! We also offer an abundance
of orchard trees, including apples, plums, crabapples, and cherries, as well as
companion plants to help your orchard thrive. We have strawberry bundles,
blueberries, grape vines and even asparagus. Some plants provide both food and
habitat for birds, mammals, butterflies and also bees, which are necessary for
pollination. We have ferns, lily of the valleys, giant Solomon’s seal and other
plants to enhance the shady areas in your yard as well as garden and tree peonies
to add real show and fragrance to your sunny garden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We also offer some medicinal plants such as Canadian
wild ginger, lavender, and arnica, as well as plants that add winter interest
like red osier dogwood and witch hazel. We are offering hard-cider apple
collections, as well as a hybrid plum collection, to help get your new orchard
started. We have also added hops to our offerings for those of you who like to
brew your own beer! Special this year, we have a limited supply of locally
grown chestnut seedlings, both American as well as hybrid, to help repopulate
the chestnut trees that were taken by blight 100 years ago. As Piscataquis
County is on the outer edges of the chestnut trees original region, successful re-establishment of these stately trees is
currently underway in our region, and landowners are encouraged to get involved
in this effort. Most of our offerings are hardy to zone 4 so they should be
well adapted to our area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Creative and functional landscaping not only can prevent or
eliminate problem areas on your land or adjacent water, but also can enhance
the value of your home. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Erosion control plants may be necessary for steeper
areas of your property, areas adjacent to water bodies for prevention of runoff,
and any area where there are no existing plants to help keep the soil in place.</span><span style="color: #003300; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Our selection
of native Maine plants can also be used to create beautiful rain gardens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Rain gardens are designed to utilize water from
roofs, driveways and other hard areas to control runoff problems and to protect
water quality. They are not only functional, but are also attractive additions
for a welcoming landscape. Our landscape helpers include Plantskydd Organic
Animal Repellent, Recycled Rain Barrels, Kitchen Pails and Garden Composters as
well as Biodegradable Mesh Tree Protector Sleeves. Plantskydd is effective
against deer, rabbits, voles, moose, chipmunks, and squirrels. It offers over-winter
plant protection </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">for up to 6
months! No other repellent lasts as long. Plantskydd is ORGANIC - the first animal repellent to be OMRI listed by the
Organic Materials Review Institute for organic food production. It is made in
the USA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">For more information about the wide variety of
plants and products available through this fundraiser that supports our
educational programs, please contact the district office at 564 - 2321,
extension 3, email us at </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="mailto:info@piscataquisswcd.org">info@piscataquisswcd.org</a> or stop by the United States Department of
Agriculture Service Center in the Pine Crest Business Park at 42 Engdahl Drive,
Dover – Foxcroft, Monday through Friday, 8am until 4:30pm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-40900276760259900192013-12-30T07:51:00.001-08:002013-12-30T07:51:37.150-08:00Workshops for New Farmers to be Held at Agricultural Trade Show<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bangor, ME – December 27, 2013 -- Are you a new
farmer? Do you need help navigating the various programs and services
available to help you succeed in your new farming enterprise?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Beginning Farmer Resource Network (BFRN)…a
coalition of farm service providers supporting the whole farm community
including agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry…will be conducting
workshops on various topics for new farmers at the
Agricultural Trade Show to be held at the Augusta Civic Center on
January 7-9, 2014.
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The schedule, topics and locations for these
workshops can be found in the Agricultural Trade Show program brochure,
which can be found at the Get Real Get Maine website at
<a href="http://www.getrealmaine.com/">www.getrealmaine.com</a> . The workshops will be held from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8<sup>th</sup> and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, January 9<sup>th</sup>.
There will also be a networking room where you can
come and talk to a representative of BFRN about your farm. The
networking room, which will be in the Knox Room, will be open
Tuesday-Thursday during the hours of the Trade Show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">BFRN is a group of federal, state and local farm
service providers who have joined together to assist aspiring,
beginning, and transitioning farmers…providing information and
assistance on everything from the soil to your wallet. They
are dedicated to helping farmers succeed, as well as ensuring that
agriculture stays prosperous in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Go to BFRN’s website at <a href="http://www.umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network/">
www.umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network/</a>…the one stop
website for new farmers...for a “toolbox” of information on important
issues/concerns that farmers should think about when starting their
business. </span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-21198351780892821842013-09-23T06:22:00.002-07:002013-09-23T06:22:29.375-07:00Approaching 3 months open<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's fall! Can you
believe it? Fossa's General Store has
been open for 3 months come Friday the 27th and it has zoomed by. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We now work with almost 65 LOCAL farmers & producers;
some with only berries seasonally and others that make 1 or 2 deliveries a
week! <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We use only 3 'traditional' vendors; Maine Distributors for
our Maine Root soda, Dennis Paper for our paper goods, dishes and other kitchen
supplies and Pepsi who provides 3 types of soda only but quality juices, water
etc. Pepsi also generously provides
coolers for our store front.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fossa's Kitchen is cookin' up more and more food made with
as many local ingredients as we can!
...and we are coming up with more recipes as the cooler weather
approaches... Our pizza is selling better and better and people are becoming
more adventurous in choosing their combination of toppings :)<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can now find our Homemade Pizza Dough for sale in our
storefront freezer. It is my own recipe
and made fresh, bagged and frozen and will keep for a long time in your freezer.<br />
<br />
We are adding more and more items to our bakery display case both from our
producers and from our own kitchen.<br />
We are becoming a “Bread Headquarters” with our own homemade bread &
biscuits to producers providing their own unique breads.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We just got word from the Dept. of Ag that we can have 4
tables in the storefront (no waiting on you though, that is another kind of
license), so that during the cold months you can buy a pizza or other food /
drink and sit and watch the traffic on Main Street :)<br />
That will be coming in the near future.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the holidays approach and veggies are less abundant,
Fossa's will carry more gifts and decorating items. We are getting a new line of jewelry in this
week (turquoise, beads & stones), we have awesome stick ponies, walking
sticks, ice fishing traps, soaps, wreaths, Indian corn, pumpkins... so much
more; we are a true General Store!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Open Tuesday thru Saturday 10 am to 7 pm<br />
Sundays 11 am to 4 pm<br />
Closed on Mondays...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks to all that are supporting your LOCAL farmers &
producers and Fossa's General Store.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-82020920852425467122013-09-01T10:46:00.004-07:002013-09-01T10:53:25.700-07:002nd Month down and lots of growing...Fossa's General Store on 4 Main Street in Dexter has just finished it's 2nd month in business and we are please to say it is growing in leaps and bounds!<br />
We now represent over 60 LOCAL Farmers and Producers within the store and still growing.<br />Fossa's is truely a "General" Store carrying everything from produce & pickles, milk &d Maine Soda, meats & coffee, note paper, greeting cards, fish flies & ice fishing supplies to gifts and decorating the home items<br />
<br />
Our kitchen is growing daily as we come up with new ideas with an old fashion 'comfort food' twist.<br />
We boast our Wood Fired Brick Oven that we cook designer pizzas, Fossa's Hand Pies and so much more. We will be doing artisan breads in the near future.<br /><br />
Fossa's Hours are:<br />Tuesday thru Saturday 10 am to 7 pm<br />Sundays 11 am to 4<br />Closed on Mondays<br />
<br />
We do daily posts to our Facebook page of specials, products and new daily items...<br />
<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FossasGeneralStore">https://www.facebook.com/FossasGeneralStore</a>Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-44752504088671186122013-09-01T09:53:00.001-07:002013-09-01T09:53:44.127-07:00University of Maine Cooperative Extension Event at Rogers Farm<div class="BasicParagraph" style="line-height: 110%;">
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: AGaramond-Regular; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Join the University of Maine Cooperative
Extension at Rogers Farm on September 10th at 6:00pm for Dividing Perennial
Plants with a special focus on Iris.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: AGaramond-Regular; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Fall is a great time to divide perennial
plants. Mary Betts will demonstrate how
to divide different types of iris while Kate Garland offer tips and show how to
divide other perennial plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: AGaramond-Regular; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">No reservation is needed and the event will
be held rain or shine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: AGaramond-Regular; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Rogers Farm in located on the Bennoch Road
in Stillwater. From I-95 take exit 193. Turn right onto Stillwater Ave, at the
third traffic light take a left onto Bennoch Road. Travel 1.5 miles. Rogers
Farm will be on your right across from the University Research Farm. You will
see the farm buildings on your left. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For more information or to request a disability accommodation (please
allow two weeks for a disability request), </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">call 207.942.7396</span><span style="font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Geneva; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">About University of
Maine Cooperative Extension:</span><span style="color: red; font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">As a trusted
resource for almost 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has
supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by
conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine
county. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: AGaramond; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">UMaine
Extension helps support, sustain and grow the food-based economy. It
is the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the
Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing,
commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and
interrelated. UMaine Extension also conducts the most successful
out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-59298480107152198892013-06-22T05:53:00.000-07:002013-06-22T05:53:25.094-07:00Fossa's announces "Soft Opening" Thursday, June 27th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_uev3z_o8I/UcTLdhYtwQI/AAAAAAAADUc/_yUNkLgBsqo/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_uev3z_o8I/UcTLdhYtwQI/AAAAAAAADUc/_yUNkLgBsqo/s320/IMG_0304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fossa's General Store will be having a "Soft
Opening" this Thursday, June 27th at 10 am after 3 1/2 years of starting
and stopping and starting and stopping on the construction due to forces
outside of our control. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But we sure do have control now and very excited to show you
all what marvelous work our local contractors and volunteer have transformed
our place into! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I like to call it "Farmer Chic" which is fitting
for highlighting Local Farmers & Local Producers food & wares.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We will not have all items in place on Thursday because as
you know many items planted just are not ready yet but will be in another month
or so. So, we are planning a big ole'
Grand Opening in August with all the bells and whistles.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We are featuring “Locally Grown, Locally Produced” products
and are pleased to be supporting locally agriculture primarily in a 35+ mile
radius of Dexter, but for products not available we will have other Maine
goods.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please join us next week, but in the meantime join our
Facebook page for all the latest news, photos, specials and farm spotlights
& highlights.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Much Happiness,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Judy~<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fossa’s General Store Facebook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FossasGeneralStore">https://www.facebook.com/FossasGeneralStore</a><o:p></o:p></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-58958890336754324862013-04-16T08:03:00.004-07:002013-04-16T08:03:30.447-07:00Before Spring Planting, “Dig a little. Learn a lot.”<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Maine – April 16, 2013 -- “As spring
temperatures go up, it’s an excellent time for farmers and gardeners to
focus their attention down to the soil below them,” says Alice Begin,
Resource Conservationist with USDA’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maine. “A spring check-up of your
soil’s health gives clues of your ground’s ability to feed plants, hold
water, capture carbon and more.” No fancy equipment is required. Just
grab a spade or shovel and prepare your senses
to <i>dig a little and learn a lot</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It doesn’t matter what kind of landowner you are;
small farmers, large farmers, organic farmers and even home gardeners
can all benefit from this simple discovery project of one of their most
important resources. And in the process you
can reap big rewards for your crops and the environment around you.<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With your shovel, nose, eyes and hands ready, Begin suggests the following steps to investigate soil health:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>LOOK</b> – first at the soil surface which
should be covered with plant residue, providing organic matter and
preventing erosion. Dig into the soil and observe the color and
structure. It should be dark, crumbly, and porous—rather
like chocolate cake. Healthy soil is full of air holes and live roots,
and of course, you should see earthworms—our wonderful soil engineers!
Poorer soils are lighter in color, compacted or unstructured, and lack
living roots and critters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>SMELL</b> – Healthy soil should have a sweet earthy smell, indicating the presence of
<i>geosmin</i>, a byproduct of soil microbes called <i>actinomycetes</i>.
These microbes decompose the tough plant and animal residues in and on
the soil and bring nitrogen from the air into the soil to feed plants.
An unhealthy, out-of-balance soil smells
sour or metallic, or like kitchen cleanser.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>TOUCH</b> – Soil should be loose and crumble
easily indicating a porous texture. This holds water better making it
available for plants and stemming flooding and runoff. In healthy soil,
roots can grow straight and deep, allowing plants
to reach nutrients and water they need to produce the food we love to
eat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maine is fortunate to have productive soils. It is
up to gardeners, landowners, and land managers to preserve and even
build their productive capacity. Basic principles to improve or maintain
soil health apply to small gardens, large agricultural
fields, and even pastures. They include:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Minimize soil disturbance. </b>The less a soil
is tilled, and the more shallowly it is tilled, the better the
all-important organisms in the soil do. Many farmers and gardeners are
turning to reduced tillage and no-till systems to save
energy and improve soil health.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Reduce or eliminate bare soil</b>. In nature,
healthy soil is covered by something, be it living plants or dead
organic matter. Bare soil erodes easily. Rainfall runs off bare soil
rather than sinking in. And bare soil temperatures can
rise high enough to be detrimental or even deadly to soil organisms.
Utilize cover crops and mulches in gardens and fields where crops are
grown. If you have livestock, manage grazing with rotations to allow
grasses and clovers to regrow before being re-grazed.
Maintain a minimum height of 3-4 inches on pasture at all times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In addition to the vital production values of soil
health to the individual farmer or gardener, Begin explains that healthy
soil has clear impacts on many of the larger agricultural and
environmental issues of our day, from sustainable
food production to water quality to mitigating climate change. Healthy
soil holds, filters and regulates water, mitigates drought and
flooding, reduces runoff and erosion, cycles nutrients, sequesters
carbon and suppresses weeds and pests. For all these
reasons NRCS has recently launched a nationwide effort to “Unlock the
Secrets of the Soil.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Simply put, healthy soils are productive soils and they are important to every one of us. Visit the Soil Health website at
<a href="http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils/health/">http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils/health/</a>. </span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-73854286456814594872013-03-07T12:26:00.002-08:002013-03-07T12:26:05.242-08:00Applications for Two Major Conservation Initiatives due April 19<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bangor,
ME – February 25, 2013, 2012 – USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Juan Hernandez has announced a
second ranking period for the Organic Initiative
and the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative. Interested producers should
contact their local NRCS office soon to find out if they are eligible
for either of these programs. Applications for the second ranking
period of 2013 are due at the NRCS offices by close
of business on April 19, 2013. Both initiatives are funded through the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program and offer technical and
financial assistance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Through
the Organic Initiative NRCS helps certified organic growers and
producers working to achieve organic certification install conservation
practices for organic production. Funding
is available to help producers plan and implement conservation
practices that address natural resource concerns in ways that are
consistent with organic production. “Practices will help the selected
applicants meet many requirements of their USDA Organic
System Plans and stay in compliance with USDA’s National Organic
Program,” said Hernandez.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Through
the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative, NRCS helps producers plan and
implement high tunnels – steel-framed, polyethylene-covered structures
that extend growing seasons in an environmentally
safe manner. High tunnel benefits include better plant and soil
quality, fewer nutrients and pesticides in the environment, and better
air quality due to fewer vehicles being needed to transport crops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For more information go to
<a href="http://www.me.nrcs.usda.gov/">www.me.nrcs.usda.gov</a> or contact your nearest USDA Service Center, listed online at
<a href="http://offices.usda.gov/">http://offices.usda.gov</a> or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department.
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Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-10077983181492977632013-03-07T12:14:00.002-08:002013-03-07T12:14:28.166-08:00Coalition Providing Assistance to New Farmers<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bangor, ME –
February 26, 2013 -- Are you a new farmer? Do you need help navigating
the various programs and services available to help you succeed in your
new farming enterprise?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A group of federal,
state and local farm service providers have joined together to assist
aspiring, beginning, and transitioning farmers to succeed…providing
information and assistance on everything from the
soil to your wallet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Known as the
Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine (BFRN), this coalition of
farm service providers supports the whole farm community including
agriculture, aquaculture, and forestry. They are dedicated
to helping farmers succeed, as well as ensuring that agriculture stays
prosperous in the future.
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">BFRN has created a
website that will hopefully serve as a resource for beginning farmers.
It offers a “toolbox” of information on important issues/concerns that
farmers should think about when starting their
business. It provides resources and contacts on such issues as
acquiring land, how to farm, conserving natural resources, planning and
managing your business, financing, regulations, marketing, and much
more. It also provides information on events and workshops
that may be of interest. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Finding what you need to start farming shouldn’t be like finding a shear pin in a haystack. Go to
<a href="http://www.umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network/">www.umaine.edu/beginning-farmer-resource-network/</a>…the one stop website for new farmers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Elaine Tremble<br />
Public Affairs Specialist<br />
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service<br />
967 Illinois Avenue, Suite #3<br />
Bangor, ME 04401<br />
Tel: 207-990-9569<br />
Fax: 207-990-9599</span></span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-52661364679438815012013-03-06T16:43:00.002-08:002013-03-06T16:46:54.267-08:00We want to talk to you!<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fossa's General Store seeks Producers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After years of delays and setbacks the Dexter Farm Project is pleased to announce that we expect to open the Fossa's General Store on the corner of Main street and Route 7 in Dexter soon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We will be offering food products produced primarily within 35+ miles of Dexter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We hope to be able to offer a wide variety of items ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables to meats, dairy products, baked goods, and value-added items. We aim to offer the consumer the widest variety of products that we can, weather that be certified organic or not. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are currently seeking products that will be available for our opening in April.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Interested producers are welcome to contact either Ernest Rollins at 717-7057 or by email ewrollins@ymail.com , or Judy Wilbur Craig at 270.1240 or by email judy@DexterFarmProject.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Click here for the <a href="http://www.downtowndexter.com/fossa's%20producer%20guidelines%202013.pdf" target="_blank">Guidelines for Producers</a> – adopted 03.05.2013 by DRDC Board of Directors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> For folks on Facebook we post nearly daily updates on our construction progress at <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/dexterfarmproject">https://www.facebook.com/groups/dexterfarmproject</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Judy Wilbur Craig
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dexter Community Farm Project Coordinator<br /><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Website: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.dexterfarmproject.com/">www.DexterFarmProject.com</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo album: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://picasaweb.google.com/fossageneralstore">http://picasaweb.google.com/fossageneralstore</a><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blog: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://dexterfarmproject.blogspot.com/">http://DexterFarmProject.blogspot.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Facebook: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/dexterfarmproject">https://www.facebook.com/groups/dexterfarmproject</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fossa General Store: 207.924.DEXTer (924.3398) </span><br />
<br />Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-45366543244361026212013-02-06T14:34:00.005-08:002013-02-06T14:34:58.203-08:00Maine Senior FarmShare Program Preparing for New Season<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">AUGUSTA
– Maine’s Senior FarmShare program is gearing up for another season.
Eligible seniors will once again be able to get free fruit, vegetables
and herbs from local Maine farmers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last
year, more than 19,000 seniors and 130 farmers took part in the
program, which provides $50 worth of produce to each participant.
Qualifying seniors contract directly with local farmers
for pickup or delivery. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and
administered in Maine by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and
Forestry (DACF). Last year, Maine received just
over $1 million to operate the program. The allocation for this year
has not been finalized, but USDA anticipates receiving about $20 million
to run the program nationwide, the same as in 2012.
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“Our
local farmers are the bread and butter of Maine’s agricultural
community,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “This funding will be used to
leverage support to promote and support our farmers
while helping our most vulnerable citizens.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Application
letters are now going out to farmers who took part in the program in
the past. “We’re hoping for another strong participation level, so we
can serve people all over the state,”
said Julie Waller, the FarmShare program manager at DACF. “The people
in the program, especially folks on fixed incomes, really appreciate the
wholesome food the farmers provide.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A
survey of last summer’s participants turned up dozens of glowing
reviews about the quality of both the food and the service. “The produce
sure helps me get by,” wrote one senior.” I have
only 42 percent of my heart, so picking berries is out of the question,
but I can go to the farmer and get them.” Another wrote, “The farm
stand where I shopped was very neat and clean. The people were friendly
and helpful. I look forward to the next growing
season. There is nothing more delicious than a red-ripe tomato from a
local farm.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To
qualify for a Senior FarmShare, a participant must be a Maine resident,
at least 60 years old and with a household income of not more than 185
percent of the federal poverty income guidelines.
Last year’s thresholds were $20,665 for singles and $27,991 for a
two-person household.
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">DACF
Commissioner Walt Whitcomb said the program has proven to be an asset
for farmers and seniors. “Under our innovative approach, farmers receive
the $50 per customer in the spring so the
program provides them with working capital for the summer growing
season,” he said. “And it helps ensure that Maine seniors have access to
healthy, nourishing food.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Participating
farmers offer a variety of methods for providing produce. Seniors pick
it up at a specific farmers’ market, or at the farm or farm stand. Some
farmers offer home delivery. Eligible
produce includes fresh, unprocessed fruit, vegetables and herbs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Seniors
may contract the Area Agency on Aging at 877-353-3771 to find
participating farmers once the list is complete, probably by mid-March.
The list also will be available at
</span><a href="http://www.getrealmaine.com/"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">www.getrealmaine.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. </span></span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-49577410895018731232013-02-04T08:49:00.003-08:002013-02-04T08:49:34.089-08:00Facebook updatesIf you are on Facebook, I do almost daily updates there....<br />
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dexterfarmproject/Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-2456222565142048552013-02-04T07:47:00.004-08:002013-02-04T07:47:35.866-08:00GrowME Sprouts and Spurts!<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Local collaboration will provide classroom activities</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dover
Foxcroft -- While it might be difficult to think about gardening and
farming in February, a group of area volunteers are doing just that as
they plan this year’s GrowME program being offered to K-3 teachers and
schools in the Piscataquis County area. The program is the result of
collaboration between Valley Grange, PCSWCD (Piscataquis County Soil and
Water Conservation District) and UMaine Piscataquis County Extension.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
program aims to utilize local volunteers who will work with teachers to
schedule an agricultural activity in their classrooms during Maine
Agriculture Week (March 18-33). Joanna Tarrazi, Executive Director of
PCSWCD is particularly excited over the “hands on” aspect of the
activities. “Thanks to our rural nature in Piscataquis County, we don’t
have the ‘nature deficit’ that some more urban areas experience,” she
said. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be offering our kids an
opportunity to involve all their senses and get some hands on learning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Walter
Boomsma, program director for Valley Grange agrees. His favorite part
is visiting second graders at PCES to make butter. “We have fun and the
kids almost don’t realize they are learning--some have even asked for
instructions and then made butter at home as a family activity.”
Volunteers will also offer seed planting activities and create animal
graphs. “We also spend some time just talking with the kids—many have
chickens and gardens and it’s fun to share experiences.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Boomsma
notes that the program is expanding this year to include schools in
Dexter, but there should be no shortage of volunteers and resources
thanks to the collaboration. “We’ve got master gardeners and farmers
available through Extension Programs and PCSWCD includes partners and
resources that are committed to good stewardship. Our goal is to keep
this informal, local, and a true partnership between our schools,
teachers, and volunteers. It’s not so much that we have a program to
offer—it’s more about working together to make good use of our
resources.<span lang="EN">
Our volunteers will have the sort of agricultural experience and
background to be especially relevant to students while providing insight
into the importance of agriculture in </span>our area.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those interested in volunteering are invited to a meeting on February 19<sup>th</sup> at 3 PM at PCSWCD in Dover Foxcroft where guidelines for volunteers and activity materials will be reviewed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This
year’s offer to local schools is for a GrowME volunteer to visit for
about 20 minutes and work with students on a simple, grade appropriate
activity. Teachers and administrators who are interested need only
furnish contact information: teacher’s name-email address and grade.
Interested teachers and volunteers may email <a href="mailto:grange@boomsmaonline.com"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">grange@boomsmaonline.com</span></a> or call Joanna Tarrazi at PCSWCD, 564-2321. Additional information is also available at <a href="http://growmehelp.wordpress.com/">http://growmehelp.wordpress.com</a>. </span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-49351035719186719092013-02-04T07:45:00.002-08:002013-02-04T07:45:21.222-08:00Applications for On-Farm Energy Initiative due March 15<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bangor, ME – February 1, 2013 – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Juan Hernandez has announced a second signup period for the On-Farm Energy Initiative, funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Potential applicants should contact their local NRCS office soon to find out if they are eligible for this Initiative. Applications for the second ranking period of 2013 are due at the NRCS offices by close of business on March 15, 2013. This Initiative offers technical and financial assistance.<br /><br />Through the On-Farm Energy Initiative, NRCS and producers develop Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP), or farm energy audits, that assess energy consumption on an operation. There are two separate AgEMP options: (1) for a landscape component, that assesses equipment and farming processes, and (2) a farm headquarters component, that assesses power usage and efficiencies in livestock buildings, maple syrup operations, and similar facilities to support the farm operation.<br /><br />NRCS then uses audit data to develop energy conservation practice recommendations. Clients may apply for financial assistance through the On-Farm Energy Initiative to implement the recommended practices.<br /><br />For more information go to <a href="http://www.me.nrcs.usda.gov/">www.me.nrcs.usda.gov</a> or contact your nearest USDA Service Center, listed online at <a href="http://offices.usda.gov/">http://offices.usda.gov</a> or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department.</span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-8105355104259485862013-01-03T15:05:00.001-08:002013-01-03T15:10:15.625-08:00this week's updates<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This weeks updates:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hi all,
<br />I was planning on a meeting tonight, but between the extreme cold and
Board members with the flu, Roger and I decided that it should wait.
<br />BUT if anyone wants to stop in or call me for updates and decisions
please please call me!!!!
<br />
<br />If you are on Facebook I have consistently been adding updates and
pictures plus adding picture to our online photo album. All the links
are below!
<br />
<br />- Furnace work is going well now and may be going as soon as this Friday
for parts of the building. Mike from MAG is very thorough and likes to
do things the 'right' way, not just the easy way. He really wants to be
able to put heat upstairs and said it will be about an extra $1000, but
in the meantime is putting in the thermostat wire and piping upstairs so
it can go in later. It is pretty cold up there and not much heat comes
up from downstairs, and will be even less when the fire doors go in.
<br />
<br />- Electrical is coming along, but CMP has not come yet to switch over to
the new panel so many things are not working yet or only partly
working. Greg has bugged them and they are supposed to be here this
week (maybe even today).
<br />
<br />- Drywall is mostly done, taped and mudded and primed. Painting on
those walls will begin very soon. I am happy with how well Marie and
her company has done on the joints and finishing off the drywall. She
has had a heck of a time to get it dry in between because the torpedo
heat puts off so much moisture. Jonathan keeps the torpedo heater going
24-7 and goes in at night and weekends filling it. It has a thermostat
on it, so it works fairly well even in this cold (downstairs)
<br />
<br />- Hardwood for floors is in the kiln and should be ready in a few more
weeks. John from Yoders stopped in the other day to check on the
building and talked with Jonathan. The cedar we got there for the refrigeration wall is nice. Jonathan does have to apply a fire protective coat; so I hope it doesn't change color much</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- I heard back from John of Alpha Omega Masonry and his quote is below
any others. He met with me on Christmas Eve and Jonathan made himself
available for any questions that John might have. I am waiting on some
pictures of more work similar to what our project is, but I liked him.
I also asked for some customer testimonials and telephone numbers to
call and ask what they thought. This is too big of a project to go
with, without pictures and testimonials. This is the 3rd quote I needed for the Grant and it is the best one.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<br />- Fred, Pat and I went to Tillsons yesterday and choose paint colors for
the kitchen, sink room, ice cream room and upstairs hallway. I have the
chips at the office if you want to see them. Darlene and I choose the
first colors online, but when I went from one computer monitor to
another they changed a lot. So I took the floor tile and matched 'em up
in person.
<br />
<br />- Internet and telephone are both working now in the office. I have a
telephone set I took in for now and although we haven't published the
number, there were a couple dozen phone messages that were
telemarketers. WHAT THE HECK? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />- Tentative Meeting with Keith and Jonathan tomorrow
<br />
<br />- Thats is it for now, please call anytime or drop by!!! We will shoot
for a meeting next week when it warms up a little bit. I know I forgot
a lot, but you have to stop by and see all the work completed! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />judy
<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="moz-txt-sig">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="moz-txt-tag">-- </span>Judy Wilbur Craig
<br />Dexter Community Farm Project Coordinator
<br />website: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.dexterfarmproject.com/">www.DexterFarmProject.com</a>
<br />photo album: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://picasaweb.google.com/fossageneralstore">http://picasaweb.google.com/fossageneralstore</a>
<br />Blog: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://dexterfarmproject.blogspot.com/">http://DexterFarmProject.blogspot.com</a>
<br />Facebook: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/dexterfarmproject">https://www.facebook.com/groups/dexterfarmproject</a>
<br />Fossa General Store: 207.924.DEXTer (924.3398)
</span><br />
<br />
Photos from our photo album on picasa<br />
<br />
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Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-64089387109237994172012-12-16T11:58:00.003-08:002012-12-16T11:58:48.295-08:00Friday updates:<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMkYRpTiumg/UM4mOADdftI/AAAAAAAACGM/GYUc5L40nMY/s1600/IMG_3408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMkYRpTiumg/UM4mOADdftI/AAAAAAAACGM/GYUc5L40nMY/s200/IMG_3408.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">upstairs is cleaned!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">If you were wondering, dinner today for the Charleston crew and us, was Pizza Hut Pizza that Rich went and got in Newport.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Today is the last day that the crew is working for awhile and 3 guys came today in addition to Ron the Supervisor... </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">They got a lot of odds and ends done that needed to be done. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">-- Scraped all the studs that had foam insulation on them upstairs. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">-- Moved and organized all the wood upstairs we had left from various projects and will use for other things, but now we know what we have.</span><br />
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-- Swept all the floors; clean all the garage and bagged it ready for the dump<br />-- Carried a bunch of heavy blackboards from 1st floor to 2nd floor<br />-- helped <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1601270179" href="https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.wilbur.10" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: initial;">Jonathan Wilbur</a> downstairs<br />-- cleaned the sidewalk of ice, the best it could be..... All in 4 hours!!! They do a GREAT job!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10xTyO-IF_o/UM4mq8clqOI/AAAAAAAACGU/grx6irxrJSg/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10xTyO-IF_o/UM4mq8clqOI/AAAAAAAACGU/grx6irxrJSg/s200/IMG_3405.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10xTyO-IF_o/UM4mq8clqOI/AAAAAAAACGU/grx6irxrJSg/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10xTyO-IF_o/UM4mq8clqOI/AAAAAAAACGU/grx6irxrJSg/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">I HAVE INTERNET AT THE STORE!!!!!</a></span></div>
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Thanks Sam at Fairpoint for the great!</div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; display: inline !important; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10xTyO-IF_o/UM4mq8clqOI/AAAAAAAACGU/grx6irxrJSg/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Yippe Doodle!</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Before purchasing new, I thought I would check with our FB friends, looking for kitchen equipment for the Fossa General Store. We are NOT going to be a restaurant, but we will be cooking/baking to sell in the store as well as hold classes for all ages. We will also be renting the Certified Commercial Kitchen out to farmers who don't want or can't invest in a $30+ kitchen.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Some of the needs:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Kitchen Aide mixer (doesn't have to be new, but working)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">commercial pots and pans & racks... </span><br />
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2 bay, 3 bay sinks, hand sink, utility sink and even a toilet...<br />-- or if you have something you think we might need, let me know.<br /><br />I have priced out new for all of the these, but maybe someone has a deal and we can buy local or even donations are accepted :)<br /><br />All the money saved on these types of items, means more buying power for the big items.</div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-87820247115415460842012-12-13T19:54:00.000-08:002012-12-13T19:54:00.693-08:00Thursday update and thanks to volunteers<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thursday update: 1st Corn beef & Cabbage 'full on dinner' was awesome! Wow Richard Frank, you out did yourself on this one!!! The Charleston crew, Darlene, Rich and I all sat down for a huge dinner and no one really wanted to go back to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today: 2 trips to Dexter Lumber for insulation today, a couple trips to Tillson True Value. The crew put insulation up on the 1st floor and Contractor J. Wilbur was going right behind them hanging drywall!!! Kitchen area is going fast. With only 2 crew members & supervisor Rob and Jonathan they have gotten so much done today!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The crew also cleaned off the deck of ice and tried to de-ice the sidewalk. I enjoy working with the Charleston crew very much, as do other DRDC board members.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For those of you who don't know, <a href="http://www.maine.gov/corrections/facilities/ccf/index.htm" target="_blank">Charleston Correctional Facility</a> is a minimum security prison and they provide free labor to many non-profit organizations and municipalities in Central Maine. The crew members come with a supervisor and range from 1 or 2 to a crew, to up to 5 (as we have had) or big jobs even 2 crews. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since we started our project just over 2 1/2 years ago, the Charleston crews have volunteered hundreds of hours helping us to create our store. They started when the old building needed heavy duty gutting on all 3 floors and 2 crews came and I was there long enough to get them started and then left.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last winter a crew of an average of 4 plus supervisor came to tear out layers of the floor on the 2nd story and then laid subfloor and then a beautiful hardwood floor using both new wood donated by a farmer Brown and recycled flooring from the building. From then on, I have worked along with them personally and have enjoyed earning trust & respect for one another and become a sorta mother figure for some of the younger guys. They tell me their stories, in their own time, and say how stupid it was and in some cases I have even said “yup, that was stupid”! … and we laugh in a knowing way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week, (a new crew) came and have been insulating, helping with dry wall and tomorrow a lot of different tasks and already they want to bring their families back when the store is open. We, DRDC & I are very grateful for all they help that they give, but also for the respect we give one another and getting to know their stories and how they feel good about 'giving back' by working in the community and helping nonprofits. I enjoy each day working with these men and knowing that we all are helping one another, and HOPEFULLY it will be a turning point in their lives. But we must remember when judging and not knowing the whole story, "there but for the grace of God, go I".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sorry I went on, but I felt it was worth mentioning….</span><br />
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Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-60913156326086620642012-12-07T09:52:00.002-08:002012-12-07T09:58:02.321-08:00Update: Thursday, December 6th<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Thursday update: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Finally got a date for our internet hookup at the Store. (they lost my order from Nov 20th) but found it again. ... and 3 phone calls later "Janet" gave me a date of December 13th for outside hookup.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XlwYwmNKB_s/UMIt6mc5ZEI/AAAAAAAACEc/VPoIfqTpG7U/s1600/IMG_3325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XlwYwmNKB_s/UMIt6mc5ZEI/AAAAAAAACEc/VPoIfqTpG7U/s320/IMG_3325.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey Macomber, Jonathan Wilbur, Greg Macomber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Cross your fingers, hold your breath and pray to the internet/phone gods that it comes to pass................. It is hard to work in an office without internet access ;)</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">BUT Fairpoint does have a great deal right now for businesses, $30.49 month for both phone & internet access for 2 years, IF you can get 'em to get it done...</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Installation date is now December 13th!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> Hardwood flooring, 5" ash is ordered from Yoders and the 1 x 8 ship lapped wall board is ordered, also from Yoders. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Tile from Harmony Decor is ready to be ordered and is all is on budget.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Door is installed in the office upstairs (by DRDC board director Tim Breen).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Was pleased to find (real) lights working upstairs when I got there today! We won't be running all those extension cords for lights in the very near future or fumbling around in the dark to get in and out of the upstairs~</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Thanks Seamans Electric!!! AND CMP is coming to make our new electric panel LIVE! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">More sheet rock is hung by our contractor, Jonathan Wilbur and he cleaned up the work site again which is a constant battle; they are doing a great job!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Heating system is being delivered tomorrow and more electrical tomorrow.</span><br />
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Kitchen ceiling sub contractor stopped by to access the situation is coming back tomorrow for measurements. Won't be installed for a few weeks.<br />
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Oh and got the printer/scanner that Fred Donovan donated hooked up and running. That is a BIG thing, I wont have to run home and do it and run back again :)</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Good day and very productive!!!</span>Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-53791695197442417552012-12-07T09:46:00.000-08:002012-12-07T09:46:10.623-08:00Update: Tuesday December 4th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Tuesday update: Earlier I was sitting in the Fossa Office (using someones wireless connection for a minute) and thinking what a difference a day makes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">I was waiting for DRDC's monthly meeting to begin at 6:30 and thought I would do an update.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">SprayFoam insulation is done! What a difference already!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br />
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Sheet rock is up in the stairway to the 2nd floor and on walls in the mercantile area & downstairs bathroom.<br /><br />I was wandering around the 1st floor a little while ago and actually visualizing where coolers are going and shelving will be built. In the kitchen, seeing where counters and<br />refrigerators will be for an efficient space. WHAT fun!<br /><br />The CnC Spray Foam guys did a great job, they are from Clinton, Seamans Electric, Gregory Macomber & Casey his son and of course Jonathan Wilbur of J. Wilbur Construction and his man.<br /><br />They are all working together well and the communication is something we hadn't experienced in the past.<br /><br />I gotta say, we are so happy to be working with local companies! We are trying to buy local and hire local!!!! 'Cause that is the kinda people we are :)l</div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-46354627931876963832012-12-07T09:42:00.002-08:002012-12-07T10:02:18.157-08:00Recent updates: December 1st<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Friday, December 1st update:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-- Furnace and all the stuff that goes with it being delivered Monday and should be done in a couple weeks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-- Spray Foam (if delivered to sprayer) going in Monday - all 3 floors where intended<br />
-- Insulation in Kitchen installing Monday Dec 10th (so electricians can finish 1st)<br />
-- spraying of open ceilings in the next week or so<br />
-- LOTS more for me to do but I won't bore you with that<br />
.. for pictures taken today: (kinda boring but not to me :)</span></div>
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Darlene and I found the "perfect" tile for the kitchen tonight at Harmony Decor from Bonnie in Corinna!!! It was what was in my head, but have not found it yet. She pulled a sample out of a box while on the phone with the distributor and I kept saying that is the one, that is it!!!! AND it is on sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perfect! It is a rough surface 16" tile that is slate color, with hues of rust, creams, even subtle greens, but looks like a slice of a rock! Perfect!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last week, up on the recommendation of DRDC Board of Director Ernest Rollins, I took my camera and photographed all the electric wire, boxes, etc that has been run & installed BEFORE the spray foam insulation was done and walls put up! Brilliant!!! So I did all 3 floors and will have the record for the future if ever needed to know how to locate something....</span><br />
<br />Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-41409457662518230932012-12-07T09:20:00.001-08:002012-12-07T09:20:46.872-08:00$16 million purchase would boost industry and help federal food programs<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<b>BANGOR, ME</b> – Today, the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) announced that it intends to buy up to $16 million
worth of wild blueberries for federal food programs, a move that was
requested by the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission. Congressman
Mike Michaud weighed in with USDA and urged them to make a timely
decision on the request.</div>
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“Our wild blueberry growers and producers not only provide a
nutritious and quality product, but they are critical to the health of
our state’s economy,” said Michaud. “This USDA purchase is a win-win
that will help address the needs of the industry as
well as our nation’s food programs.”</div>
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According to the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission, the USDA purchase
request was made to help the industry address an oversupply situation
as a result of a large crop of Maine wild blueberries also impacted by a
growing supply of frozen cultivated blueberries.</div>
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According to the USDA, this purchase of wild blueberries will
support federal food nutrition assistance programs, including food
banks. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) purchases also help
to stabilize prices in agricultural commodity markets
by balancing supply and demand.</div>
</span>Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-14689742142541093592012-11-19T10:56:00.002-08:002012-11-19T10:56:13.952-08:00Wreath and Tree Shippers Should Be Aware of Out-of-State Plant Regulations<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br />Monday, November 19, 2012 <br />AUGUSTA, Maine - As part of its commitment to supporting the state's farm- and forest-based businesses, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) has established a website outlining other states' restrictions on importing cut trees and wreaths. Maine decorative-plant shippers who are sending Christmas trees and wreaths around the country for the holiday season can save money and lost products by noting important regulations enforced by other states.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">States such as California are impounding and destroying shipments to prevent infestation by invasive insects and the spread of plant diseases, said Ann Gibbs, Maine state horticulturist.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Import requirements for cut trees and wreaths with ornamental nuts and fruit arrangements exist to protect regional agriculture or other commodities from the risk of plant pests," Gibbs explained. "Unfortunately, some Maine shippers have learned about these regulations the hard way and have had shipments impounded and destroyed. We want to prevent any losses by getting the word out now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our best advice is to check out-of-state orders in advance, especially those headed to California, and to make sure they are free of scale on the needles."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Distributors also should identify their products clearly through labeling, beginning with the statement, "Grown in Maine," followed by the county of origin and the name and address of the shipper. Labels should indicate the contents of packages, including the different types of greenery, nuts, fruits and cones used to decorate wreaths.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"This information benefits the shipper by speeding along deliveries," Gibbs said. "That is very important in this time-sensitive industry."</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An informational sheet, "Know State Regulations When Shipping Wreaths and Trees," is available on the ACF website at www.maine.gov/agriculture/horticulture/ship.htm or by contacting Sarah Scally at (207)287-3891 or sarah.h.scally@maine.gov.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: http://www.maine.gov/acf</span></div>
Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074306941370569144.post-34393263200291071552012-11-08T06:59:00.002-08:002012-11-08T06:59:46.083-08:00Fossa General Store completion is underway<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dexter Regional Development Corporation is pleased to announce the contract with the General Contractor was signed on Wednesday, October 31st and construction is beginning immediately. The low bid General Contractor is J. Wilbur Construction of Dexter and he has enlisted several local subcontractors to help complete the Fossa General Store in about 3 months. DRDC & J. Wilbur Construction is working closely with Plymouth Engineering, Inc. of Plymouth, Maine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last week week <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Contracts were signed and there is </span>‘hammering of the nail’ now taking place, but you will be seeing more and more activity at 4 Main Street in Dexter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dexter Regional Development Corporation (DRDC) has been working on the Dexter Community Farm Project idea since June 2009. Along the way, they have received 2 CDBG Federal Grants to help in the rehab of the old Fossa Store, which was generously donated to DRDC from the Fossa Family in 2007 after running the Fossa Store for 3 generations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">DRDC has spent over $50,000 from their own coffers, as well as 100’s of hours of volunteer work from Dexter’s Aspire Volunteers & Workfare Program, the Charleston Correctional Facility, DRDC & community members.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">DRDC is developing the Fossa General Store that will support local farmers by creating a year round mercantile space, a commercial kitchen (for use by the store, to rent to farmers and for educational purposes) and to act as a wholesale agent for Farm to School, Farm to Institutions and Farm to Table.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">DRDC is creating a market for their products year round, creating jobs both in the store and on the farm; providing education to farmer, the consumer and to the education community.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week p<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">iles of paperwork has been scanned and emailed to appropriate people, dozen of phone calls coordinated, Maine Revenue & Maine Labor paperwork done, Contractor is framing inside the store, furnace is waiting to be installed, subcontractors notified, building materials delivered by Dexter Lumber, volunteers to be organized, grant to be finished... okay, it is a great week! FINALLY moving forward....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you would like more information on the Dexter Community Farm Project, email judy@DexterFarmProject.com.</span>Fossa General Storehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15162104803579781730noreply@blogger.com0