Sunday, December 5, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Busy week
It is a busy week for speaking engagements for me this week.
On Tuesday, I am the guest speaker at the American Legions dinner saluting the Boys State & Girls State participants being held at the Tri County Vocational Center. I have asked Fred Sherburne to come along and help explain our project.
On Wednesday night I am traveling over to Hartland for a potluck dinner for a the Hartland Couples Club members. Brenda Seekins from the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce contacted me and thought that the members would be interested in our project. She mention that most of the members are of senior citizen age, and they will remember doing business at the Fossa Store in the early days. I am hoping Dave Pearson is going to accompany me to that shindig. He may have another commitment, so if any other Farm member would like to come, let me know... POT LUCK dinnner.... yummmm
I went down and took some pictures at the store Saturday (between showers) and here is the link...
Construction link
I have also gotten a few other invitations to speak at groups... I wish we had more visual aids to show & tell, but have been told by the architects that it will cost more $$$ to have a composite picture. Oh well...
as always, call if you have any questions, concerns and best of all IDEAS and or want to join our group.
Judy
On Tuesday, I am the guest speaker at the American Legions dinner saluting the Boys State & Girls State participants being held at the Tri County Vocational Center. I have asked Fred Sherburne to come along and help explain our project.
On Wednesday night I am traveling over to Hartland for a potluck dinner for a the Hartland Couples Club members. Brenda Seekins from the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce contacted me and thought that the members would be interested in our project. She mention that most of the members are of senior citizen age, and they will remember doing business at the Fossa Store in the early days. I am hoping Dave Pearson is going to accompany me to that shindig. He may have another commitment, so if any other Farm member would like to come, let me know... POT LUCK dinnner.... yummmm
I went down and took some pictures at the store Saturday (between showers) and here is the link...
Construction link
I have also gotten a few other invitations to speak at groups... I wish we had more visual aids to show & tell, but have been told by the architects that it will cost more $$$ to have a composite picture. Oh well...
as always, call if you have any questions, concerns and best of all IDEAS and or want to join our group.
Judy
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monthly Meeting tonight: Agenda
NEW BUSINESS:
1) Jason Bird: needs your help to work on USDA Grant
2) Sue Watson: grants and applications & about pertinent upcoming farm workshops
OLD BUSINESS:
1) Building / Construction update
2) Interview with Channel 2 last week
2) Volunteers… need DRDC members & Farm input (invite friends, family & neighbors)
3) whats next? Idea and suggestions!
7) General Discussion AND Q & A
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
news on one of our farm family's
Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District Honors the 2010 Agriculture Cooperator of the Year
On August 5, 2010 Chris and Wendy Russell, owners of Widdershins, were honored by PCSWCD for the low impact practices they use on their farm.
Rotational grazing, use of animal trails to reduce runoff, nutrient management, and manure storage facilities are just some of the practices they successfully manage. Many family members, friends, and interested public came to the event.
Felix Blinn, Acting Chairperson of PCSWCD, talked about the PCSWCD and its role in conservation and then introduced the Russell's. Wendy and Chris talked about the history of the farm and their vision for it.
Alice Begin, Resource Conservationist for Natural Resources Conservation Service, talked about grasses and the importance of rotational grazing to prevent overuse of the pastures. During a walk around the Russell’s pastures Alice showed how to use a pasture stick to calculate the amount of useable grasses in a field in order to rotate your animals before overuse occurs.
After the walking tour the participants were treated to a barbecue lunch of hamburgers that were made from Widdershins grass-fed beef, potato salad, pasta salad, and dinner rolls followed by a blueberry cream pie.
Following lunch Cathy Elliott, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, discussed sustainable living using a thought provoking handout to initiate questions. Wendy treated the group to her homemade goat’s milk gelato, which is frozen custard. The presentation of a new farm sign and an achievement award was then carried out.
 |
| Felix Blinn, Acting Chairperson, and Shelia Richard, Executive Director of PCSWCD, present Chris and Wendy Russell with a new farm sign and their achievement award. |
Rotational grazing, use of animal trails to reduce runoff, nutrient management, and manure storage facilities are just some of the practices they successfully manage. Many family members, friends, and interested public came to the event.
Felix Blinn, Acting Chairperson of PCSWCD, talked about the PCSWCD and its role in conservation and then introduced the Russell's. Wendy and Chris talked about the history of the farm and their vision for it.
Alice Begin, Resource Conservationist for Natural Resources Conservation Service, talked about grasses and the importance of rotational grazing to prevent overuse of the pastures. During a walk around the Russell’s pastures Alice showed how to use a pasture stick to calculate the amount of useable grasses in a field in order to rotate your animals before overuse occurs.
After the walking tour the participants were treated to a barbecue lunch of hamburgers that were made from Widdershins grass-fed beef, potato salad, pasta salad, and dinner rolls followed by a blueberry cream pie.
Following lunch Cathy Elliott, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, discussed sustainable living using a thought provoking handout to initiate questions. Wendy treated the group to her homemade goat’s milk gelato, which is frozen custard. The presentation of a new farm sign and an achievement award was then carried out.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
TV interview today
HI Farmers and Friends,
I just wanted to let you know Fred Sherburne and I were interviewed by NBC's WLBZ Channel 2 news today about Dexter's Community Farm Project. It is going to be aired tonight at 5 PM and 6 PM John the camera guy told me.
I hope I did okay for ya...
On another note, remember we have a meeting next Tuesday, October 5th at 7 pm in the Town Council Chambers. We need YOUR input for a grant Jason is writing. Sue has also found a bunch of grants that we are looking into such as EBT & others.
We have a lot to talk about, a lot to pick your brains about, so please try to attend next week.
Feel free to call me anytime with questions and concerns.
Judy
I just wanted to let you know Fred Sherburne and I were interviewed by NBC's WLBZ Channel 2 news today about Dexter's Community Farm Project. It is going to be aired tonight at 5 PM and 6 PM John the camera guy told me.
I hope I did okay for ya...
On another note, remember we have a meeting next Tuesday, October 5th at 7 pm in the Town Council Chambers. We need YOUR input for a grant Jason is writing. Sue has also found a bunch of grants that we are looking into such as EBT & others.
We have a lot to talk about, a lot to pick your brains about, so please try to attend next week.
Feel free to call me anytime with questions and concerns.
Judy
Monday, September 20, 2010
Construction continues at a good pace
The construction of the Fossa General Store is moving right along.
The drain pipe that was discovered under the building when digging out for the foundation was replaced by the town and the footings were put in.
Today the forms were being put up by Edgar Construction of Blanchard and it looked like they were digging by hand in the cellar under the front of the store.
I didn't want to bother the workers asking too many questions, but I did take pictures.
pictures for today!
The drain pipe that was discovered under the building when digging out for the foundation was replaced by the town and the footings were put in.
Today the forms were being put up by Edgar Construction of Blanchard and it looked like they were digging by hand in the cellar under the front of the store.
I didn't want to bother the workers asking too many questions, but I did take pictures.
pictures for today!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Bangor Daily News Story
Building project begins in Dexter
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
By Diana Bowley of the BDN Staff: DEXTER, Maine — The first phase of a renovation project to convert the former Fossa General Store into a farmers market and general store officially has begun in downtown Dexter.
S.J. Wood Construction Co. of Winthrop, which bid $244,979 for the project, was awarded a contract this month to renovate the building.
Dexter Regional Development Corp., through the town of Dexter, received a nonprofit Community Development Block Grant of $230,000 for the work.
All of the bids submitted were higher than anticipated, so the work plan had to be scaled back to fit the lowest of the bids, according to Judy Craig, a member of the corporation and executive director of the farm project, both of which are unpaid positions.
Despite that setback, Craig said this week, “We’re very excited about the work starting.”
The corporation also is pleased that the general contractor plans to hire local subcontractors to complete the project, she added.
That project will cover primarily the foundation costs, the renovation of the addition in the back of the building and the exterior walls, and installation of new windows.
Craig said the corporation and town officials are working to secure additional grants to complete the project.
Backers of the project, which include many regional farmers, are working not only for a farm store, but also a demonstration kitchen, a warehouse to store the farm produce and a creamery where milk and milk products can be processed in public view.
The latter would provide residents in the region with fresher milk since some milk is trucked to Vermont where it is bottled and then returned to Maine for sale.
Farmers say the project would help maintain the open space and farmland now being used, and quite possibly open up more land for farming while keeping dollars local.
“We should be more sustainable in our own area,” farmer Fred Sherburne said.
The store would sell products made at the creamery, as well as products grown or raised within a 50-mile radius.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Wednesday, September 15, 2010 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
By Diana Bowley of the BDN Staff: DEXTER, Maine — The first phase of a renovation project to convert the former Fossa General Store into a farmers market and general store officially has begun in downtown Dexter.
S.J. Wood Construction Co. of Winthrop, which bid $244,979 for the project, was awarded a contract this month to renovate the building.
Dexter Regional Development Corp., through the town of Dexter, received a nonprofit Community Development Block Grant of $230,000 for the work.
All of the bids submitted were higher than anticipated, so the work plan had to be scaled back to fit the lowest of the bids, according to Judy Craig, a member of the corporation and executive director of the farm project, both of which are unpaid positions.
Despite that setback, Craig said this week, “We’re very excited about the work starting.”
The corporation also is pleased that the general contractor plans to hire local subcontractors to complete the project, she added.
That project will cover primarily the foundation costs, the renovation of the addition in the back of the building and the exterior walls, and installation of new windows.
Craig said the corporation and town officials are working to secure additional grants to complete the project.
Backers of the project, which include many regional farmers, are working not only for a farm store, but also a demonstration kitchen, a warehouse to store the farm produce and a creamery where milk and milk products can be processed in public view.
The latter would provide residents in the region with fresher milk since some milk is trucked to Vermont where it is bottled and then returned to Maine for sale.
Farmers say the project would help maintain the open space and farmland now being used, and quite possibly open up more land for farming while keeping dollars local.
“We should be more sustainable in our own area,” farmer Fred Sherburne said.
The store would sell products made at the creamery, as well as products grown or raised within a 50-mile radius.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Wednesday, September 15, 2010 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."
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