Farmers Fare RSS Feed http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:08:55 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=153&Itemid=18   Here's a list of some of the local, organic produce recently delivered to Farmers Fare...delicious!! Thank you Village Farm!! SWEET CORN: Organic from Village Farm 70c an ear CANTELOPE: Organic from Village Farm $1.25lb SUMMER SQUASH: Organic from Village Farm $2.65lb ARUGULA: Organic from Village Farm $13.00lb SALAD MIX: Organic from Village Farm $14.00lb SPINACH: Organic from Village Farm $12.00lb CILANTRO: Organic from Village Farm $3 a bunch SAGE: Organic from Village Farm $2.95 a bunch THYME: Organic from Village Farm $2.75 a bunch     (Rockport, ME)     Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:59:27 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152&Itemid=18 Delicious Maine Grown Tomatoes!! Come on along to Farmers Fare tomorrow, Saturday August 14th noon to 2:30pm ish, for a sample tasting of our delicious locally grown Maine tomatoes....we have a variety of Heirlooms and Regular Beefsteaks, Paste and Cherry. Please join us to taste the difference in the varieties. We will have an item on the Cafe Menu featuring some of these tomatoes too.....YUM!!! Thanks the Farm Team Noon to about 2:30pm (Rockport, ME) Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:59:09 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=151&Itemid=18 ...and earn a discount on your Fare Please consider becoming a Community Friend of Farmers Fare and help us continue to keep the community spirit alive and thriving with your pre-pay Community Friend account. At this moment Farmers Fare is selling produce and products from over 200 local Farmers and Food Artisans. By pre-paying for your Farmers FARE you will enable the Farm Team to help promote and encourage various community events and activities such as the donation of wonderful local food to local food pantries and events such as the Maine Farmland Trust screening of Meet Your Farmer at Waterfall Arts on July 27th, also the hosting and promotion of Green Drinks Rockport to help eco-minded people network and have a place to meet monthly and Educational Programs such as the Star Program organized by the Five Towns Communities That Care (http://www.fivetownctc.org/) While actively supporting YOUR community in this way you will in return recieve a worthwhile discount on your Farmers FARE : SEED: $500 - $999 = 4% discount SPROUT: $1,000 - $1,499 = 6% discount SAPLING: $1,500 - $1,999 = 8% discount TREE: $2,000 above = 10% discount We think this is a great idea for individuals and families as well as organizations and businesses so that we can all help support OUR community as we shop for good local food from good local people. You can download the Application Form from THIS PAGE (http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/open-letter-farmers-fare) of our website, and drop it by Farmers Fare with your payment and to recieve your Community Friend card. THANKS!! LOCAL FARMER to LOCAL MARKET to LOCAL CUSTOMER (Rockport, ME) Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:20:24 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=18 Sunday August 1st 1pm to 4pm Eco-networking with: 2pm Talk about Permaculture with Jesse Watson Jesse Watson of Midcoast Permaculture Design will present an introduction to the concept of permaculture design. Permaculture is a multi-disciplinary design science whose goal is the engineering of sustainable human settlements that produce more energy, water, nutrients and soil than they consume. Permaculture, in a concrete sense, is a form of landscape design and is useful to everyone from home gardeners to civil engineers. However it is also a practice of land stewardship and much more, and we will talk about some of the ethics, principles, strategies and techniques. We will discuss the importance and potential of permaculture’s design-based solutions in today’s world of economic, energy and environmental uncertainties. Midcoast Permaculture Design (http://www.midcoastpermaculture.com) is a certified permaculture design studio based in Rockland serving residential, business and institutional clients. We will also be having a solar oven demo, weather permitting. Everyone welcome. Every month please join us to socialize, network and discuss your thoughts and ideas about the environment and bring along ideas, information, enthusiasm and a smile. Check out the Green Drinks website (http://www.greendrinks.org/) for more info on this fun new way to connect with like minded people in your neighbourhood!! These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GIVING A TALK OR DEMONSTRATION AT ONE OF OUR GREEN DRINKS ROCKPORT PLEASE CONTACT: Patricia at patricia@farmersfare.com (Rockport, ME) Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:17:37 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=18   Saturday July 31st Noon to 2:30pm We will celebrating the lovely low bush Maine Blueberry on Jul 31st from Noon to 2:30pm. From Blueberry Lemonade made in-house to samples of Blueberry Cheesecake, Blueberry Bread Pudding, and Lemon Blueberry Poundcake. Blueberry Muffins and Baby Blueberry Pies will be for sale that day to enjoy in the Cafe or take home for later, to a delicious Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Blueberry BBQ Sauce on the Cafe Menu. It'll be a fun day to come on over to Farmers Fare and turn your tongue blue...well actually it turns purple but that doesn't sound like it makes sense!! In Ireland this is the time of year they honor Fraughan Sunday...their celebration of Blueberries which are known  variously as Fraughans, Whimberries, Whinberries, Bilberries, Hurts, Hurtleberries.....a Blueberry by any other name would taste as sweet, me thinks!! We look forward to seeing you there, the Farm Team!! (Rockport, ME) Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:50:40 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=148&Itemid=18 Good for you, delicious and beautiful!! Pictured here are wild foraged Maine mushrooms and Savoy Cabbage...YUM!!!! Here is a small selection of the local fruit and vegetables we have at Farmers Fare right now: Wild Foraged, Maine Lobster and Chanterelle Mushrooms....$25lb Savoy Cabbage Certified Organic from Broken Acres Farm.....2.69lb Frisee and Escarole Organic from Village Farm...$2.75 each Radicchio from Whitefoot Farm.....$3.85lb Broccolini Organic from Fail Better Farm...$3.49lb Certified Organic Broken Acres Cauliflower....$3.49lb New Potatoes, non-spray from Spear Farm........$2.49lb Raspberries from Bob Hamelienen......$5.50 pint Wild Maine Blueberries from Spruce Mountain Farm........$6.99 quart. Yummy, full of vitamins, grown in Maine saving food miles Come 'n get 'em......The Farm Team!! (Rockport, ME) Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:55:39 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=147&Itemid=18   Delivery date: Thursday July 22nd Call in now to place a pre-order for Milky Way Farm All-natural Milk Fed Veal from Farmers Fare 236 3273 Available cuts: Chuck: Blade Chops $7.99lb             Roast $7.99lb   Round Bone: Shoulder Chops $7.99lb   Rack: Frenched Rib Chops $13.95lb   Loin: Tenderloin $15.99lb Bone in chops $11.99lb Boneless Chops $12.99lb Strip Loin Roast $10.99lb   Round: Boneless Cutlets $14.99lb              Boneless Rump Roast $7.99lb              Sirloin Tip Roast $7.99lb   Plate: Veal Breast $6.59lb           Veal Brisket $7.99lb           Ground Veal $7.99lb           Flank Steaks $7.99lb           Osso Buco $7.99lb Milky Way Farm, Levant, Maine is a certified organic vegetable farm owned by Joan and Brian Gibson (pictured above) also selling natural eggs, aged cow manure, landscaping stones, timber products and Holiday evergreen boughs. "Our family farm is on 800 contiguous acres of valley, pasture, hayland and forest. Family owned and operated since 1837 with 140 head of dairy cattle."     (Rockport, ME) Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:43:38 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=145&Itemid=18   Bay Chamber Thursday evening concert goers, do we have a treat for you!! If you attend the Thursday evening Bay Chamber concerts at the Rockport Opera House please consider coming to Farmers Fare prior to the concert for a light evening dinner. We will be serving soups and salads, charcuterie and cheese plates, wine, beer and soft beverages and also coffee and desserts. You may then leave your car at Farmers Fare and take advantage of the FREE shuttle to the Opera House which leaves in time for the pre-concert lecture at 7pm and then the concert itself at 8pm. After the concert you take the FREE shuttle back to your car at Farmers Fare. NO MORE WORRIES ABOUT PARKING IN DOWNTOWN ROCKPORT!!   (Rockport, ME)     Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:04:16 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=144&Itemid=18   A wonderfully successful event at the Strand Theater June 25th 2010!!   A huge heart felt and big proud thank you to everyone involved in last night’s hugely successful and most enjoyable Maine Farmland Trust event at the Strand Theater in Rockland, the premiere screening of eight documentaries by Cecily Pingree and Jason Mann profiling eight Maine farms from Aroostock to York Counties.   The following Farmers gave very generously of their bounty which was lovingly used to create delicious hors d’oeuvres by our talented chefs, Adam and Claire. Aldermere Farms: Beef Appleton Creamery: Cheese Sonnental Cheese: A variety of cheeses O’Meara Farms: Milk, cheese and yoghurt White Foot Farm: Herbs and produce Maine Water Buffalo Company: Water Buffalo Meat Broken Acres Farm: Kale and Chard Green Arrow Farms: Tomatoes Bevridge Farm: Lettuce and Beet Greens Townhouse Farm: Lamb Kufta Tide Mill Farm: Chicken - whole and wings, ricotta and milk. Maine Harvest Link   The event was skillfully womanned by Cortney and excellently arranged and managed by Megan with the invaluable help of Sarah. Our appreciation also goes to Maine Farmland Trust and especially Anna Abaldo.   THANKS EVERYONE! And YEA!!! for all local farmers and their incredible work to provide us with fresh wholesome produce!!  (Rockport, ME) Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:00:46 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=143&Itemid=18   Pocket Hollow Farm, Newburgh, Maine Proprietors: Cindy, David and Margo Kenyon   This coming Saturday, June 26th, from 10am to 2pm David, Cindy and Margo from Pocket Hollow Farm, Newburgh, will have a table at Farmers Fare selling oriental lillies, vintage stock, orange globe beets, parsnips, early carrots and strawberries along with a couple of surprises.   Pocket Hollow is a 9 acre, organic farm with 4 various beds of produce, cut flowers, and raspberries located in a valley in Newburgh, Me., a ½ hour from Belfast on the coast and 12 miles from Bangor.   Dave and Cindy have always gardened, they have both worked at Johnny’s Selected Seeds and have been members of MOFGA for many years. Dave’s sister Karen chuckles as she fondly recalls a time when Dave took such pride in the heat generated from his compost pile when he was just 17 yrs. old.   The charmingly named Pocket Hollow Farm was christened by Margo, the 7 year old daughter of Cindy and David, and the now VPres of the company. It is from one of her favorite children’s books , Toot & Puddle (written by Holly Hobbie). It is a series of stories of 2 adorable pigs that live in the fictitious Pocket Hollow in Vt. One is an adventurous pig, a world traveler. The other is more content to stay at home to run the farm and is thankful for the simpler pleasures of life. I see a little of both in myself these days.   “Pocket Hollow” is also very fitting as it is situated in a valley, a pocket if you will, and has a micro climate of it's own. Dvaid and Cindy attempt to extend the growing season by using row covers and high tunnels ( one layer of plastic, in affect, is comparable to moving your garden 500 miles south)and are thus able to harvest mixed greens, head lettuce and kale in March that was planted last fall by utilizing this method. Pocket Hollow will be joining us each Saturday at the same time with produce and flowers from their farm. We will post, on our Facbeook fanpage and Village Soup, a couple of days before what they will be bringing each Saturday.  (Rockport, ME) Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:40:27 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=18   Join us for a sample tasting centered around local Strawberries and Cream!! Yummmm!   Please join us for a sample tasting of local Strawberries, Strawberry Lemonade, local creams, Strawberry White Chocolate Mousse samples and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, all of which will be for sale in the market for your July 4th celebration. We will also have Make Your Own Strawberry Shortcake and Fresh Strawberry Muffins for your delectation. See you there, the Farm Team!   (Rockport, ME) Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:56:43 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=141&Itemid=18   Please join us for our monthly eco-networking and socialising event. This month we will be having 2 separate presentations: 1:30pm The Sunrise Guide (http://www.thesunriseguide.com), Patty Montana will tell us about their mission: a resource for learning about, supporting and living in a healthy and sustainable way. 2:00pm ReVision Energy (http://www.revisionenergy.com) will lead a focused discussion about solar energy and will bring some real examples of solar equipment for your perusal. Please join us to socialize, network and discuss your thoughts and ideas about the environment and bring along ideas, information, enthusiasm and a smile. Check out the Green Drinks website (http://www.greendrinks.org) for more info on this fun new way to connect with like minded people in your neighbourhood!! These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. We will also be having a solar oven demo, weather permitting. (Rockport, ME)   Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:36:22 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=140&Itemid=18   Saturday June 12th from 11am to 3pm In honor of National Dairy Month a Cow and Calf from Leary Farm in Saco will visit Farmers Fare! YEA!! Please join us at Farmers Fare to meet a Holstein Cow and it's Calf from Leary Farm. Alison Leary and Lucas Patry, from Kate's Butter, will be milking the cow and making butter in an old fashioned churn. Our Cafe will have special items on the menu made with fresh Maine dairy products including Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Lemon Buttermilk Pond Cake, Buttermilk Oatmeal Muffins and Buttermilk Chocolate Coconut Bars (all the baked goods will be available for sample tasting too!!) and there will be tastings of Kate's Butter and Buttermilk. We will also be sample tasting milk from Keene Dairy in Belfast, yogurt from Townhouse Farm and cheese from Sonnental Dairy and Sunset Acres. Above is a picture of Alison Leary with a calf called Buffalo! (Rockport, ME) Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:19:49 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=139&Itemid=18   Saturday June 5th is National Doughnut Day!! 9am is the ETA!! In honor of National Doughnut Day Farmers Fare will be serving doughnuts made by Tracey Bakery of Belfast. Good old fashioned handmade doughtnuts!! Plain Buttermilk Doughnuts Raised Glazed Doughnuts Jam Filled Doughtnuts Cream Filled Doughnuts....YUMMMM!!!! Plus Anne, our fabulous in-house baker extraordinaire, is making "Doughnut Muffins", thanks Anne! Be there or risk being without doughnuts on Doughnut Day!   (Rockport, ME) Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:25:27 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=18   Sunday June 6th from 1pm to 4pm. Farmers Fare Monthly Eco-networking Get-Together!! Please join us to socialize, network and discuss your thoughts, ideas, concerns about the environment and bring along ideas, information, enthusiasm and a smile. Check out the Green Drinks website (http://www.greendrinks.org) for more info on this fun new way to connect with like minded people in your neighbourhood!! These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. We will be having a solar oven demo, weather permitting and a........................................... "Transition Town" presentation at 2pm Several members of the recent Transition Town Initiative (http://www.transitionus.org) in the Midcoast will be at Green Drinks to offer a short presentation about Transition Towns. Transition Towns, piloted by permaculturist Rob Hopkins, started in the UK as a grassroots response to the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change. In the past 4 years, initiatives all over the globe have sprung up, following the Transition Towns blueprint for local energy descent as a way to create local resilience: "let's create a future we want, rather than wait for it to happen to us." The Midcoast has an inspired, active group of people who will be glad to talk to you about what they are doing and how you can get involved. Please let your friends know about this event...if you'd like to be in touch before the event send an e-mail (mailto:patricia@farmersfare.com?subject=Green%20Drinks%20June%206th) anytime. Thanks, the Farm Team. (Rockport, ME)   Mon, 31 May 2010 22:36:51 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=18   **CHANGE OF VENUE...NOW AT THE SNOW BOWL!!*** Same time, same day different place: Friday August 6th from 8pm Sweet Chariot Music Festival Dance Party at The Snow Bowl... not for the faint of heart. Bring your voice, your moxie and, most importantly, your mojo. The festivities for this year's Sweet Chariot Music Festival (http://www.sweetchariotmusicfestival.com) kick off at The Snow Bowl with an Evening of Traditional Dance and Music featuring the Toughcats & the Sweet Chariot String Band with Dance Master, Frederick Park. Sounds like FUN!!! Tickets are $15 in advance, available at Farmers Fare, and $20 at the door.   "The Sweet Chariot Music Festival is a "secret" gathering of musicians, singers, song writers – performers all, of the highest order – from the far reaches of America and beyond gathering in August each year on Swan's Island in the North Atlantic of coastal Maine. Joined mostly by those whose lives are touched by the sea, attendees come together in celebration of song, melody, harmony, theater and dance too sometimes in a location that rivals the pristine beauty of coastal "anywhere" North. One day at a time, memories are created that span the course of lives. Recently we've expanded to include performances on the mainland like this fun filled event at The Snow Bowl...yippee!" (Rockport, ME)       Sun, 30 May 2010 19:59:58 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=136&Itemid=18   Monday May 24th 3pm YOU'RE INVITED!! **TIME HAS CHANGED TO 3PM** "Impromptu Open Forum with Russell Libby" Of especial interest to Restaurateurs and Farmers Russell Libby, Executive Director of MOFGA, and the team at Farmers Fare invite you to participate in a brainstorm and educational event that is sure to inspire!!   Russell will be discussing the “gap” that exists between the food industry and the farmers of Maine. He will briefly discuss his vision of the partnership and the importance of restaurants joining together to bridge that gap. Bring your thoughts and concerns – and willingness to interact and network throughout the event. Teri Thompson-Christie, owner Farmers Fare, and Russell Libby, Executive Director of MOFGA on the deck of Farmers Fare   Please R.S.V.P. to: megan@farmersfare.com (mailto:megan@farmersfare.com?subject=Russell%20Libby%20OPEN%20FORUM) With Joy…the Farm Team   (Rockport, ME) Sun, 23 May 2010 13:52:48 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=135&Itemid=18   Newsflash! Epic paradigm shift in feeding the children in our schools – starts, and continues, right here in Maine! The latest update from Farmers Fare on our locavore extraordinaire project providing local beef to local schools continues to grow one school at a time. Originally Camden Rockport Elementary School piloted this program and now we are proud to announce that Lincolnville Central School is joining suit, helping push forward a greener, leaner and more local economy for Midcoast Maine. This will help support the growing national trend of promoting and eating the food whose origin can be quickly and easily traced back to its source. The burgers, made from the meat of select local farms and turned into hamburger patties by the on-site butchers at Farmers Fare, will be served regularly at both schools. Quoted from the Lincolnville School Newsletter “Where’s the Beef? Concerns with the quality of beef we have received lately from the government commodities program have caused us to change our supplier for the school lunch program. With some help from our friends at Farmers Fare in Rockport we are now using locally grown organic beef in the cafeteria. We are very happy with the change.” If these two pilot projects are as successful as Farmers Fare suspects they will be other schools in the area are slated to quickly follow suit and help push forward a greener, leaner and more local economy for Midcoast Maine. Farmers Fare is hoping to promote more local programs like this which will encourage all the citizens of Maine to eat more locally produced foods, with the hope that it will help spread the locavore message nationwide. Russell Libby, executive director of MOFGA, estimates that if every family in Maine spent only $10 a week on locally sourced food the economy of Maine would benefit by over $270 million dollars per year! The time is here for us to support our local farmers whilst at the same time feeding our children healthy, sustainable food which advances the growth of the local economy!!! This is the epitome of a locavore economy and it’s all about starting with the BEEF!" Yea from the Farm Team!! (Rockport, ME)       Sat, 22 May 2010 16:39:22 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=134&Itemid=18   Adam's recent kitchen alchemy! Adam Bishop, our ever creative Chef at Farmers Fare, recently realized we had an abundance of delicious local milk and decided in his most sensible and frugal manner to change some of this milk to fresh house made yogurt - see picutre left, draining the whey away! THEN to add to this delight Adam made granola worthy of the Gods...this should be called "Ambrosia"...toasted nuts and grains, ginger, raisins and more! The combination of the two is sublime and now it is a staple on our daily breakfast menu. Bravo Adam!! who is now figuring a 'way' to use the 'whey' in other recipes...full of protein it is good in breads and as an addition to soup stocks. Go Adam GO!! (Rockport, ME)   Wed, 19 May 2010 14:52:40 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=133&Itemid=18   CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES - will be rescheduled to the Fall, please check back for the date. Our apologies, the Farm Team.   Learn about Vermicomposting from Mark Follansbee at Farmers Fare Friday June 18th at 10:30am $10 fee Register online, pay on the day! Click HERE (mailto:patricia@farmersfare.com?subject=Vermicomposting%20Registration) to register Give your garden a boost and reduce your trash?! Composting builds soil and conserves resources. Do you compost in the summer and want to continue during the cold Maine winters, which to say the least can be a challenge, then why not consider indoor composting with worms… a practice known as vermicomposting. Indoor composting with worms is a great solution. Are you new to composting and want to give vermicomposting a try? Learn how to build a worm bin for less than $15 and keep your worm bin trouble-free. We’ll discuss feeding and monitoring your bin; harvesting and using vermicompost as a soil amendment; and making vermicompost tea. There will be time to answer questions and address rumors and myths about vermicomposting. Mark Follansbee is a PhD toxicologist and environmental scientist. He has been vermicomposting since 2000 and has been teaching others to vermicompost successfully since 2005 as WormMainea. Fee for the talk is $10 pre-pay PLEASE REGISTER by either calling 236 3273 or e-mailing HERE (mailto:info@farmersfare.com?subject=Vermicomposting%20Class%20June%2018th)so we know how many people to expect, thanks. You can pre-order a vermicomposting starter kit (Bin plus 1lb of worms) for $35 or 1lb of worms for $20 prior to the class and Mark will bring the items to the class with him. Please pre-pay so Mark knows how many to bring with him. Call 236 3273 to pre-order. (Rockport, ME)     Mon, 17 May 2010 23:23:35 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=132&Itemid=18   RESCHEDULED UNTIL THE FALL...please check back for details. An evening cooking class with Chef Michael Salmon of the Hartstone Inn, Camden Farmers Fare will be hosting a cooking class by our friend and excellent Chef, Michael Salmon of the Hartstone Inn in downtown Camden. Michael has been working in professional kitchens for over 25 years. He was named "Caribbean Chef of the Year" for 1996—1997, while working for the Sonesta Beach Resort Hotel and Casino on the island of Aruba. Michael also was featured in a special section of the USA Today on November 8, 1996. Michael is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and also has a bachelor's degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Resort Management. Michael has been a Chef at many four- and five-star hotels and resorts, including eight years with Hyatt Resort Hotels (Orlando, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and Greenwich), Caesar's Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and three years in Aruba as Executive Chef for the two Sonesta Resort Hotels. In May of 1998, Michael and his wife Mary Jo (a former Food & Beverage director at the same resorts) purchased the Hartstone Inn and realized their long desired dream of owning and operating their own Inn.   The class will be informative, fun and filled with delicious, local food sourced directly from Farmers Fare.   (Rockport, ME) Sun, 09 May 2010 22:27:20 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131&Itemid=18   The seedlings are in the building, well, actually just outside!! The following are available: ALL ORGANIC MOFGA certified from Polly Shyka and Prentice Grassi of Village Farm: Kale Brussels Sprouts Cauliflower Arugula Lettuce Broccoli Chard Onions and Chives Oregano, Sage, Thyme ....and for Mother's Day, Viola's   (Rockport, ME)     Thu, 06 May 2010 19:29:49 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130&Itemid=18   Gardening news from Emily, our resident green thumb! I have started a "Very Small Kitchen Garden" up by the chicken coop. It’s 4’ x 4’, and it’s currently got peas, broccoli, radicchio, lettuce, leeks, and cabbages. I will add radishes, scallions, more lettuce, cukes, beans and herbs All varieties are “dwarf” or compact—bred to take up little space. The cucumbers and beans can climb. Next to the fence up by the chickens are nine varieties of greens: Tom Thumb Baby Bibb Lettuce Quarantina Raab Really Red Deer Tongue Lettuce Arugula Catalogna Radichetta Sylvetta Arugula Michelle Batavian Lettuce Lollo di Vino Lettuce Speckled Amish Bibb Lettuce In the fields, several perennial crops are growing: asparagus, three strawberry beds, sunchokes, and garlic planted last fall (five varieties). In addition, three varieties of peas (if they survive the continuous chicken onslaught), two varieties of spinach, fava beans, parsley (flat and curly), two kinds of Brussels sprouts, two kinds of broccoli, two kinds of cabbages. The brassica are all under floating row cover. I am going to weed the greenhouse next week and I also have things ready to go in at the beginning of next week: Belgian endive, radicchio, leeks, and onions. The children from CHRHS Spectrum Program and the CRMS Prism Program planted two potato varieties last Friday morning and on May 14th Hope School third graders will plant the same. We are also aiming for the children of the Star Program to get planting out there too.   (Rockport, ME)   Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:49:06 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=18   Teri and Russell Libby (Executive Director of MOFGA) enjoying lunch on the deck at Farmers Fare. "*please feel the JOY to pass this on!* Hi to All !! Upon hearing this, I HAD to share:): Re: Farmers Fare-Going and Growing!! I can't, and wouldn't, say anything regarding any of your past negative experiences with the "chosen industry" (FOOD), however, I do NOT think/feel it is appropriate, or fair, to view Farmers Fare as just: "another retail/food business" either!! So having said that, I would challenge any/all traditional, and historical, "data and opinions" surrounding any forecast, for future "FOOD commerce", accordingly!! It is the foundation and development of "Food Systems", and there is an ever-increasing amount of people-- ( aka- HUGE SHIFT), in wanting/NEEDING to know "WHERE our food comes from"???!!! What I DO know is that I/we/FF IS making a difference and as "tiny as that seems in your world", it's HUGE in the world I, and many others choose to live in re: "LOCAL sustainability"! All you need to do is open a newspaper, turn on your TV and/or look at all recent "Titles" of non-fiction, on every bookstore shelf, across the USA and beyond!!! In this case, I will refer to England... Last Thursday, I had the honor and pleasure of spending a couple of hours with a friend and happens to be the President of MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association), Russell Libby. who by anyone's "standards" is a genius in understanding "food systems", and how they are evolving! He shared some unbelievable "events", both by force of nature, or just a need to change!! This only further demonstrates "today's reality": we need to go back to our "LOCAL resources" on every level, with "food systems" being a NEED and no longer a "choice"!! Still not "feeling it"??? Well, then, read on...:) !!! Here is the best, and most current example: We are a world, smaller than 6 degrees of separation, especially where our "human needs/resources" are concerned!! The example: This recent act of Mother Nature, a volcano erupting, in Iceland, has practically paralyzed the entire "FOOD SYSTEM" of Great Britain....and WHY?? It was some years ago, when England, as a growing industrialized country, made the decision to increase their population with more people who then "crowded" land that HAD been utilized to grow food (aka- "local food"), and some "experts" with power in the food chain, determined that England would be better off, in more ways than just "economical", if they turned over the land for most ALL of their "natural agricultural resources" (aka- farmland), to another place where they could get the "same resource/food" from land that was available, accessible, and CHEAP: Kenya, Africa!! They then began importing all of these foods to England, thus utilizing their own massive land areas, to build industrial facilities, which would generate more MONEY, per square foot, per day, by less man-hours!! Brilliant, right???? NOT!!!!!! Now, many, too many, years later, as Mother Nature does what she does, at random..., a volcano erupts in Iceland...!!!! WHO CARES??? Well, the British DO!!! Furthermore, this predicament, or more accurately, CRISIS, is solely due to the inability to import/ transport (airplanes) the very FOODS they live and thrive on every day....but canNOT have due to pollution caused by a volcano erupting in a place that very few could even locate on a map!!!! So, unfortunately, a volcano, in "Never, Never land"- (aka- Iceland), has now experienced an "unexpected natural disaster" which has, literally, shaken-up the entire country's (England) food supply systems...... NO PLANES = NO FOOD!!! On top of that, is the absolute "shock and reality", that they,(British populous), didn't even KNOW that these foods, they consume every day, ARE NOT "LOCAL", in a BIG way!!!! That's all I will say for the moment as this speaks for itself!!!! Thank You for caring enough to read to this last word:)!! CHANGE is not a "bad thing"!!! :) I hope somebody cares enough to reply and/or pass this on!! I will be Thank you!!!" Teri Thompson-Christie Farmers Fare   (Rockport, ME)    Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:06:32 +0100 http://www.farmersfare.com/food-delivery-revolution/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=18   Third Green Drinks Rockport Sunday May 2nd 1pm to 4pm EVERYONE welcome!! Our first Green Drinks gatherings were fun and encouraging. Please join us for our next and bring your thoughts, information, ideas and a smile. We will have a solar oven demo on the deck, weather permitting. FYI if you are new to the concept of Green Drinks: No this isn't about green beer and St. Patty's, it's about meeting your like minded neighbors to socialize, discuss, network, express concern or delight about the environment and it's related issues. These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It's a force for the good and we'd like to help it spread to other cities. We at Farmers Fare are now the official GREEN DRINKS Rockport, the next nearest 'node' is in Portland. This is a monthly event please check back here for info on the next event if you aren't able to make this one...thanks!! For more info on Green Drinks worldwide click HERE (http://www.greendrinks.org) For more info on this event contact Patricia (mailto:patricia@farmersfare.com?subject=Green%20Drinks%20May%202nd) (Rockport, ME)   Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:31:34 +0100