Barbara Damrosch. English photo. By Barbara Damrosch, MOFGA president and keynote speaker, 2011 Common Ground Country Fair Since the theme of the Fair this year is climate change, we arranged for the weather to change every 20 minutes on Friday and Saturday and the temperature today to get up to 80, to illustrate the point.
When Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ross Gelbspan was researching global climate change for his book, The Heat Is On, he was hit by two revelations: First, he was bewildered by the lack of interest in the subject by the general public, even though we experience a “new, record-setting weather event virtually every week;” Second, he learned
Sarah Smith of Grassland Organic Farm told how people of all income levels can eat healthy foods, during her keynote speech at MOFGA’s Common Ground Country Fair. English photo. Sarah Smith and her husband, Garin, own and operate the MOFGA-certified Grassland Organic Farm in Skowhegan, where they milk 45 cows and raise 3 acres of mixed vegetables as well
Shannon Hayes talked about the division – and reuniting – of consumers and producers during her keynote speech at the Common Ground Country Fair. English photo. Blending storytelling, farm humor and a knack for stirring up trouble, Shannon Hayes examines the history of consumerism in America, how it played out in the household, its effects
Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides told Common Ground Fairgoers that organic is necessary to get off the pesticide treadmill. English photo. By Jay Feldman, Executive Director, Beyond Pesticides September 22, 2012 I am honored to be here and share this great occasion with you – in a state and with a people who have always
Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture for USDA, noted the advances the department has made in supporting organic agriculture under the current administration. English photo. Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of USDA, asked MOFGA’s executive director, Russell Libby, if she could come to the 2012 Common Ground Country Fair. “This is something that would not have
High school student Sam Levin, who started a student-run garden at his school, told Common Ground Fairgoers, “We can change the world. It’s just going to have to happen one plate of bomb tomatillo salsa at a time.” English photo. By Sam Levin A junior at Monument High School in Great Barrington, Mass., Sam Levin
In his Common Ground keynote speech, Mark Guzzi described the days and seasons on his Peacemeal Farm and his efforts not to feed the world, but “just” to feed his friends, family and community. English photo. By Mark Guzzi One of the region’s most successful young farmers, Mark Guzzi has been growing and direct marketing
Lynn Miller was accompanied by Jon Fishman of Phish on the vacuum cleaner at the start of his speech at the Common Ground Fair. Miller and others have started a Small Farms Conservancy to promote and protect family farming. English photo. Lynn Miller, editor of the Small Farmer’s Journal, gave a surprise speech – accompanied
Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides told Common Ground Fairgoers that organic is necessary to get off the pesticide treadmill. English photo. Common Ground Country Fair Keynote Speech By Jay Feldman, Executive Director, Beyond Pesticides September 22, 2012 I am honored to be here and share this great occasion with you – in a state and
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