Fresh From the Farm

Annual Meeting of Friends of Boulder Knoll: October 23, 2008

Annual Meeting of Friends of Boulder Knoll
October 23, 2008

Kim Stoner, President
Jill Casertano, Secretary
Jonathan Parizier
Marlene McKenzie
Ron Gagliardi
Bob Giddings
Fellis Jordan
Deb Rapoport
Jeff Rapoport
Carol Goertz
Karen Prendergast
Tim McConnell, Kol Ami
Jill Casertano, Secretary
Greg Melville
Marg Bykowski

1. Review of Yearly Events/Accomplishments

• Lease signed with the town of Cheshire for use of two acres of land on Boulder Knoll Farm.
• We have planted some cold weather vegetables, planted some perennials, and begun growth of cover crops to improve the quality of the soil.
• 10 bushels (more or less) have been grown and harvested.
• An outdoor educational program was implemented, called Learn Today, Grow Tomorrow. The event was attended by approx. 15 people, despite weather confusion.  This event required all sorts of volunteers, collaboration, etc. Teenagers from the Cheshire High School Environmental Club came and worked registration, weeding, planted, etc.  UCONN Master Gardeners were also available with an information booth.
• We have had a lot of positive public attention and press coverage. Both local and regional news have reported on our efforts, and both the local garden clubs and the league of women’s voters, as well as others have reached out to express support/interest. We also participated at the fall festival .  ( Mary Rosi of Rotary Club has also asked us to speak at an upcoming meeting.) Bob participated in the Town Energy Forum, on behalf of FBK. We are developing a rep of being a knowledgeable organization worth following and collaborating and supporting.
• Financial Report: $25.00 filing fee for secretary of state,  $95. for Fall festival. Income- $301 from last treasurers report. Current balance: $310.08, CFNH $216.00. Total $526.08.  Cost due in 2007-2008: Insurance cost for this year:  $476.00, $237. 00 for compost , $137.15 for lime, $34.45 to US treasury (late fee). $36.00 for 6 months P.O. box. $25.00 for secretary of state; $250.00 to be a corporation to US Treasury. For tax exempt status as a farm we need to provide evidence of  $2500.00 of expenses and income, or average of $2500 per year for 2 years; need to demonstrate intent to farm for at least 2 years.

2. Holistic Goals and Planning:

• Kim provided a copy of a document created as a result of March 2008 review of current mission, purpose and goal.  Time allotted for people to review the document.
• Transition occurred this year, as we moved from planning and talking about doing things to actually doing things. However, we have lots of ideas of things we would like to do, and a rather small active membership to accomplish these goals. We need to prioritize and carve manageable steps. So, what are the next steps that we need to take now to accomplish our goals.
• Group brainstormed the following priorities (list does not reflect agreed upon priorities, simply a brainstorming session):
  • Renegotiate our lease: discuss length, water, shelter, fence, part time farmer, CSA
  • Extend our membership base for more participants
  • We need funds to become a sustainable organization
  • Create a guide of farm and agricultural resources available in town of Cheshire, create a data base for availability of resources to have it on our website. – While a valuable goal, this may be outside of the range of feasibility for this year, and not a present priority.
  • Build up connections with local farmers and agriculture resources.
  • Resolution of potable water situation (Kim noted that there was supposed to be drilling of a well in the capital budget- we need to explore what the specifics of this are)- We need to talk to the town about possibility applying for a farm viability grant now that agriculture is happening- explore drilling a well.
  • The barn: what is our position on the barn, what is the town’s plan? We have in the past encouraged the town to explore options ( tear down, salvage, rebuild) – But we do not have an official position: Discussion followed regarding the value of the barn- should be tear it town ( some agree) should it be saved ( some view the barn as a point to be rallied around within the town).
• Discussion continued about the feasibility of working toward the barn restoration and the farming- Do we have the resources (financial and human) to do both? Perhaps not. Shall we go back to a long to plan or focus on a short term plan? Shall we look at 10 years and work toward accomplishing what our original vision included or should we focus on two acres we currently have and what we can feasibly accomplish on those acres? Do we need to remember the rest of the land? The rest of the vision? Do we look for land elsewhere to pursue our vision?
• The conversation appeared to end with the following: We need to go directly the town, and see if they are planning to dig a well, and if not, can we get a donated well dug at the far.  If they say no, are we are done at that point? Group agreed that without a commitment to provide water from the town, we are unable to sustainably grow food.
• Decided that we would ask the town about their position on the Barn, ask about progress, but not make the barn our top priority.
• Search for a farmer and determine funds needed to hire the farmer. Find the farmer, find the funds.
• Clarification of Issues with Town:
  • Water
  • Flora/Fauna
  • Study of Barn
• What is our role educationally? Do we continue to advocate for the land? Is this something within our current ability? Do we remain the Friends of Boulder Knoll if we only focus on growing food and stop advocating for the land, or do we lose part of our mission? Group agreed that education continues to be a priority. How this will be implemented will be determined by conversations with the Town and the decisions about feasibility in the year ahead.

Friends of Boulder Knoll voted and approved the above listed goals for the year.

3. Election of Board Members:
All current board members have offered to stay as board members; Jeff would like to resign as Treasurer. Jonathan Parizer has asked to be on the board, as has Greg Melville.  Tim McConnell was also asked to be on the board, and he accepted. Carol offered to take on the responsibilities of treasurer.

Board Members:
Kim        Bob        Jill        Jeff        Greg
Ron        Jonathan    Fellis        Carol        Tim
Ben

Next Meeting: Thursday, November 20 at home of Greg Melville
Next  Work Date on the Farm:  November 2, 2008 details will follow.

Upcoming Events Around the State

Friends,

You may wish to attend the 2009 Community Farming Conference, which just announced a date a location:

Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the Jones Auditorium of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven

Please write this in your calendars now!  (And see the notes below for other upcoming events.)

Here are the ideas we brainstormed for this conference – a long list!  I would appreciate it if as many of you as possible could get back to me with your top five priorities from this list or from the needs of your own farm (and suggested speakers for your priority topics are always welcome!)

Topic list:
Panel of community farming groups in different stages of development telling their stories
Why Community Farms?
Business planning for community farms
Should we be a 501c3?  And issues for 501c3 organizations
Community Supported Agriculture – what is needed to make it work?
Other marketing options – farmstands, farmers’ markets, farm to chef, farm to school
Giving produce away – making the connections, finding funds to support this
Fundraising – how to do effective fundraising in your local community
Developing volunteers and a leadership base in your organization
Finding, working with, and supporting beginning farmers
Involving youth in working or volunteering on the farm
Educational programs pre-school – elementary kids

Thank you for helping us to make this a conference that will meet your needs and the needs of your community farm.

Here are some other events you may want to check out:

Sunday October 26, 2-4 pm, Tobacco Road Farm, Lebanon, CT On-Farm Workshop – Winter Growing –featuring Bryan O’Hara http://www.ctnofa.org/events/OnFarmWorkshops/2008_winter_growing_workshop.html

Saturday, November 1, 10 am – 3:30 pm.  CT Ag. Experiment Station, New Haven.  CT NOFA Harvest Celebration and Annual Meeting, with Farmers’ Market, Potluck Lunch, and featuring Claire Criscuolo
http://www.ctnofa.org/events/annual%20meeting/2008_annual_meeting.html

Wednesday, November 19, 12-1:30 pm.  Old Judiciary Room, the Capitol, Hartford.  Annual Meeting, Working Lands Alliance.  Featuring George Hindiger of Hindinger Farms in Hamden
http://www.workinglandsalliance.org/  Please RSVP if you are coming!

Saturday January 17, 2009, CT Ag. Experiment Station, New Haven.  Getting Started in Organic Farming Conference.  Specifics to be announced.

No. Branford keeping farm heritage alive

No. Branford keeping farm heritage alive
By Rachael Scarborough King
New Haven Register
October 9, 2008

NORTH BRANFORD — U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro took a tour of the past and future of local farming with several town officials Wednesday.

The group visited the former Augur Farm — which the town bought about three years ago and hopes to turn into an agriculture museum — as well as Town Council member Andrew Bozzuto’s organic farm in Northford.

“People just have no idea of the rich farm heritage the whole state has, particularly this area,” said DeLauro, D-3, the chairwoman of a House subcommittee on agriculture, rural development and the Food and Drug Administration.

Bozzuto, who is also co-owner of waste-hauling company John’s Refuse and Recycling, started the farm five years ago on what was then woodland. He now has a herd of about 20 organic beef cows as well as goats, swine and chickens.

Officials, including Bozzuto, council member Ashley Joiner, Mayor Michael Doody and Town Manager Richard Branigan, told DeLauro about their plans for the Augur Farm and town-owned land next door to the property on Forest Road. They are hoping to relocate the Wall baseball field and add more recreation facilities to the area, at a cost of more than $1 million.

The town has secured a $400,000 state grant for the project, but is still looking for additional funding. The relocation is necessary because the state Department of Transportation is planning to widen Route 80 at the field’s current location in the next few years, officials have said.

DeLauro said that, despite the current economic downturn, she thinks there will still be federal funding available for projects like these. She pointed to provisions in the most recent Farm Bill that could provide money for preserving open space and supporting local farms.

The bill, which Congress passed earlier this year, includes increased funding over the previous Farm Bill for conservation efforts nationwide and a program to assist local governments in buying development rights to preserve agricultural uses, according to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Branigan said that North Branford “has made a huge commitment to open space.” It also recently formed an Agricultural Commission, which has the goal of keeping farms in town.

DeLauro said she supports those efforts.

“It’s about good health; it’s about making farms productive. These are small farms and it’s been a difficult time,” she said. “We want to work with people to try to do these kinds of things. … This is a community that is about family farms.”

Bozzuto called his farm “a hobby that’s now evolving.” He is working on expanding his stock of cattle with “clean” animals that have been raised on organic farms, and he said he has never used synthetic fertilizers on his land.

“We’re out shopping and trying to bring different breeds to this area,” he said. “We do our research (and) we go far and wide for it.”

Branigan said Wednesday that the Augur Farm and Wall Field projects are not the most urgent the town is facing, but it is important to start the process of looking for funding. He noted that, with the negative economic climate, leaders from many towns are expecting a contraction in the amount of federal money available. “To think otherwise is unrealistic,” he said.

Learn Today, Grow Tomorrow is ON

Event Postponed

Agenda for Meeting: 9-26-08

Agenda for Meeting: 9-26-08 

Introduction of guests/visitors Review of Fall Festival booth and thanks to everyone who helped Planning for educational event: If we decide to move to the rain date (Sunday) - how do we notify people? (And will the weather be any better on Sunday?) Signage, e-mail, maybe a phone tree?

Other planning: safety, signage, parking, tents, tables, water, literature for distribution Work day? (The last forecast I saw said 100% chance of rain on Friday afternoon, so we had better plan around that.) Other work on-site: Harvesting, Planting to fill in spaces Next work day?

Distribution of produce: What to sell, what to give away for a donation, what to give to Food Pantry? Discouraging the deer Annual meeting Location? Recruiting new board members

Making decisions about our goals for the coming year - we keep trying to be everything to everyone. Need to go back to our holistic goal and decide what our priorities are. Planning for fall/winter projects: composting, fundraising, getting 501c3 status, building relationships with community groups