Green Eats

On a recent field with my class we visited NCSU’s Meat Goat Research Farm in Raleigh. Lucky for us they were in the middle of kidding, so there lots of baby goats to entertain us. They actually time their goat pregnancies so that all the kids are born within the same few weeks, so by the end of this month they could have upwards of 150 kids! But before I get ahead of myself, here (according to NCSU) is what their facility is all about:

Interest in meat goat production in North Carolina has increased steadily during the past ten years because of the increased demand for goat meat by ethnic groups who prefer goat meat in their diet. USDA statistics indicate that 3,363 metric tons of goat meat were imported in the USA in 1999, for a total value of $7.85 million. In the year 2000, It is estimated that a total of over 180,000 goats were sold for meat in NC, representing receipts of over $7.5 million. In addition, it is estimated that the NC meat goat breeding stock inventory totals 122,000 animals for a total of 3,000 farms, or an average of 39 goats per farm. The above breeding stock inventory represents a capital of over $12 million.

The South African Boer goat has provided great incentive to the development of the NC meat goat industry, resulting in the founding of the North Carolina Meat Goat Association in November 1993. Since then, membership has been steadily increasing to approximately 575 members. In addition, the successful establishment of meat goat shows at the Mountain and the NC State Fairs in 1996, the implementation of graded goat sales in certain areas of the state to supplement weekly auction market sales, and the opening in 2001 of a meat goat farmers’ cooperative for direct sale of fresh goat meat to restaurants and retail stores all attest to the rapid growth of the industry. (Source)

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For more information visit the Farm to Fork website.

I was so excited to see some green at the South Estes Farmers’ Market yesterday! While the vendors’ tables aren’t overflowing with lettuce and spinach just yet, Dancing Pines Farm did have a sizeable selection of spinach, kale, beets, romaine, and beet greens. I think the sight of all that green whipped the customers into a frenzy, because within 20 minutes of the market being open Dancing Pines had completely sold out! I was lucky enough to snag some spinach, kale, and beets, and I can’t wait to see what new greenery awaits me next week!

This upcoming Sunday, March 27th from 2pm-5pm Durham Central Market will team up with Elodie Farms and Benjamin Vineyards for a Family Farm Day at Elodie Farms in Rougemont. Bring the kids, a picnic lunch, and try out some of Elodie’s goat cheese and sip on wine while you tour the farm and play with the goats. Locopops and Dolly Mama Chocolates will be on hand to sell some tasty treats, and there will be games for the kids. The cost is $10 for those 21+, $5 for under 21, and children 3 and under are free.

For more information and directions to Elodie Farms check out the Facebook page for the event.

Please take a moment and fill out the survey for the Piedmont Local Food Community Visioning Process – at stake is upwards of $30,000 to invest in our local food community and the greater sustainable agriculture movement in the area! You have until March 10th to take the survey, and I’ll be sure to post the results when they are published.

One April 24 and 25 the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association will host its 15th annual Piedmont Farm Tour. A great way to meet your local farmers and see how they work, CFSA’s Farm Tour has grown over the years to become the largest farm tour in the nation. They even created a Google map of farms on this year’s tour! Check out the CFSA website for more information and to buy tickets. See you on the farm!

Alex & Betsy Hitt of Peregrine Farm profiled on UNCTV

Follow the link for a video that provides great insight into the sort of farmers, businesses, and consumers that have made the Triangle a national leader in the local and sustainable food movement.

Learn more about the people and places featured in this video:

• Peregrine Farm, Alex & Betsy Hitt
• Castlemaine Farm, Joann & Brian Gallagher
• Magnolia Grill, Ben & Karen Barker
• Carrboro Farmers’ Market, Carrboro, NC

A Dorking hen - an ALBC threatened species

Central Carolina Community College, where I am currently enrolled in the Sustainable Agriculture program, has a student farm on it’s Pittsboro Campus that serves as a hands-on learning tool for the Sustainable Agriculture students. Monday my Sustainable Livestock Management class went out for little lesson chickens. We learned some basics about breeds, housing, feed, and also got to clip their flight feathers after their recent yearly molt.

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Photo by David La Spina for the New York Times

The Triangle’s very own band of agriculturally-minded brothers (and sisters!) were featured in this past Sunday’s New York Times Magazine. Check out the article, Field Report: Plow Shares and learn more about how you can mob with the best of ‘em at the Crop Mob website. Also check out Dee Reid’s account of cooking for Sunday’s Mob on her blog, Sustainable Grub.

This afternoon I attended the annual meeting of the Farmers of Orange, which run the South Estes Farmers’ Market where I shop almost weekly. I was there along with another member of the Friends of SEFM to let the vendors know what our group was doing and how we envision our role in helping the market grow and prosper.

The board has a seat reserved for a community member, and I am proud to say that I was elected to that seat today. I chose to serve a one year term as opposed to a traditional two-year term as the Friends group and the community seat on the Board are new – I’d like to take this year to see what role I can play with the Board and how I can help the market.  I am so excited to have this opportunity to make a difference for an organization about which I am fiercely passionate.

On a final note, I want to be clear that I will not use this blog to promote South Estes Farmers Market above other markets, or to denigrate other markets or organizations to SEFM’s advantage. I will make every effort to be completely transparent about my position and avoid anything that might be construed as a conflict of interest. I am hoping that my involvement with SEFM will only serve to make me a better proponent of local and sustainable agriculture across the board.