Thursday, May 26, 2011
Volunteer @ the Farmers Market
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Corn, Carrots and Community
It’s a sunny Saturday morning in June and you just caught up with a friend who youhaven’t seen in a while, had a delicious lunch alfresco, bought fresh, local ingredients
for your dinner, and left feeling more connected with the community than when you first
arrived. Where were you? At the Braintree Farmer’s Market, of course!
Entering it’s third year, the Farmer’s Market has become a local favorite for one stop
shopping on Saturday mornings from June through October. We have local produce,
cheese, breads and baked goods, cookies, pies, meat, fish, eggs, sauces, prepared
foods to enjoy at our cafe, equal exchange coffee and tea, natural body products, and
much, much more. However, we have something that no store could ever provide
- community! The farmer’s market is a place for everyone, young and old, of all
backgrounds and experiences to come together once a week to shop, socialize and
connect.
The most concrete representation of community at the market is our Community
Table. This is a place for market-goers to learn about what others are doing FOR
our community IN our community. The Community Table is staffed each week by
a different non-profit local organization and manned by volunteers. The purpose
of the table is to offer local groups the opportunity to educate the public about their
mission, and our hope is that our shoppers feel more connected with the community
as a result. In the past we’ve had the Braintree Food Pantry collecting nonperishable
food donations, the Friends of the Thayer Public Library collecting used books for their
ongoing book sale (recycling!), and South Shore Habitat for Humanity showcasing their
latest project and recruiting volunteers. There is always plenty of information at the
table about what the group has done, as well as a friendly volunteer willing to fill you in
on the latest initiative.
Our Sustainable Braintree tent which doubles as the Market Manager tent, is also in the
market weekly and is staffed by volunteers ready to help you with any market related
questions. The table is stocked with information about Sustainable Braintree’s four
task forces (Farmer’s Market, Community Garden, Energy and Recycling), and it is
here that you can sign up to volunteer at the market, become a member of Sustainable
Braintree, or buy this year’s newly designed Braintree Farmer’s Market T-Shirt or
shopping bag (you are going to love the new design!). In past years we have had a
lightbulb exchange program for Braintree residents as well. Each household was able
to trade up to 5 working incandescent bulbs for 5 brand new compact florescent light
bulbs (CFLs) for free!
So next time you’re shopping at the Farmer’s Market, stop by the Community Table
and the Sustainable Braintree tent and learn about what others are doing to make our
community a better place. You may find an organization that you believe in and want to
help in some way, or even to volunteer. But whatever the result, you’ll be going home
with a lot more than just fresh produce.
We are currently scheduling groups to staff the Community Table during the 2011
season. If you know of a non-profit organization that would like participate, please e-
mail angelac@sustainablebraintree.org.
Angela Cavanaugh is a member of the Braintree Farmer's Market Committee and the Community Table coordinator.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Braintree Farmers Market-2011 CSA offerings
The long cold winter is finally behind us and the warm breezes of spring have us thinking about the upcoming Braintree Famers Market hosted by Sustainable Braintree. The farmers' market committee has been busily working on making this season the best that it can be. The market begins a couple of weeks earlier
this year and will start on June 11th. We're looking forward to hosting a Strawberry Festival on June 18th filled with locally grown, fragrant, fresh picked strawberries for your enjoyment. Our location will remain at the Braintree Town Hall Mall at One JFK Memorial Drive and will operate from 9 to 1 every Saturday rain or shine. During inclement weather days we will be inside the Braintree Town Hall.
This is a good time to plan your support for the market by signing up for a CSA membership. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) began in the 1960s in Switzerland and Japan and has blossomed in popularity in this country in the last decade. It began from the need for consumers to have access to safe and healthy foods and the desire for farmers to have a stable market for their farming efforts. In fact the first CSA program in the United States started right here in Western Massachusetts. The Braintree Farmers Market is pleased to offer two CSA programs this season.
The Farmers Garden initiated the program last year and will continue again this season. CSA members pay at the beginning of the season for a share of the farm's harvest. Members will receive a half bushel or box filled weekly with a variety of hand selected, best of the season produce, just for you! Your produce will be delivered to the Braintree Farmers Market for convenient pick up.
PRODUCE SHARES
20 Week CSA $550 June 11- Oct 22, 2011
10 Week CSA $275 June 11 - Aug 13, 2011 / Aug 20 - Oct 22, 2011
10 Week Egg share
1 Dozen $37.50
Half Dozen $22.50
Payment in full must be received by June 1, 2011. Save $25 if your payment is received by April 15, 2011. Ask about their GREEN REWARDS program. Receive 20% bonus credit towards future purchases. For more information on our CSA or GREEN REWARDS FARM CREDIT please contact Tammy Noons 508-889-7632 or email her at noons140@comcast.net. Membership fills quickly. Please send $100 deposit to hold your spot. Include your Name, Address, Phone, Email and Location of pickup and/or type of share. Send to:
Tammy Noons
The Farmers Garden
140 Davis Street
Rehoboth, MA 02769
The Braintree Farmers Market is pleased to announce that Adam Tedeschi from Second Nature Farm will be joining us for the 2011 season! They are a small, certified naturally grown, farm hailing from Norton, MA. Adam focusses mainly on growing artisanal and heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables. His enthusiasm is contagious and we're thrilled to have Second Nature Farm join our lineup of high-quality farmers and vendors.
Second Nature Farm's CSA runs for the duration of the Braintree Farmers' Market - every Saturday beginning June 11th and running through October 29th. In their efforts to satisfy the different needs and tastes of their CSA members, they will allow individuals to choose a portion of their share. Each week there are 2-4 "core" items that all CSA members receive, and 4-7 "you choose" items that members select from their farmers' market booth (the number of CSA items varies each week due to seasonal availability - shares are largest in late summer when we harvest the most produce). A Second Nature Farm CSA costs $500. For more information about their CSA as well as a Commitment Form, visit www.secondnaturefarm.com
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