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The American Way of Eating
âFood is one of the only base human needs where the American government… -
Boost Your Mood with Local Food
"People should be focusing on brain foods and mood-promoting fats to best… -
CSA Day at the Winter Farmers’ Market, February 25
CSA Day at the Winter Farmers' Market in Rollinsford on Saturday, February…
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Food For Thought…
- "In my view, homeland security derives from having enough potatoes."
- - Barbara Kingsolver,
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
About
What We Do | Why We Do It | Who We Are | In The News
Mission
Seacoast Eat Local connects people with sources of locally grown foods and advocates eating locally for the health of our environment, community, culture and economy. Through advocacy, organizing and education, we work toward a sustainable local food system that meets the needs of both producers and consumers. We organize winter farmers’ markets, co-produce Seacoast Harvest, sponsor workshops and events, and provide information through our email newsletter, blog and website, www.seacoasteatlocal.org
What We Do
In 2011, we are expanding our programs and launching a new one. The Winter Market season has been amazing and we appreciate all of the consumers and farmers who have come and purchased or sold goods this winter. The variety and quantity of foods available for eating locally year round continues to grow, contributing to our community’s health and well being in many ways. The expansion by other market organizations into the winter season is a welcome area of growth in the greater Seacoast area – more options for everyone!
From finding pick your own farms for strawberries in June to farm stands that offers meats year round, Seacoast Harvest enables customers to find the foods they are looking for. The resource is updated annually, and lists over 175 farms. The listings are no cost to farmers but many generously sponsor each year to make this publication possible. We’ll publish 8,000 copies of Seacoast Harvest when it goes to print in May, which we will then distribute all over our region, providing customers with an important tool for connecting with farmers.
Seacoast Eat Local’s new initiative for 2011 will be bringing SNAP, or food stamp, access to area farmers’ markets, beginning with Dover this summer. Currently, 1 in 8 Americans receive food stamps, but are not able to use them at area farmers’ markets because the markets lack the equipment and staff to support access. Folks of all income levels want access to the delicious, wholesome foods grown by our area farmers, and the health and economic benefits of having more people eating these foods benefit our whole community. We welcome collaboration and support of all kinds for this project; it will take the community’s support to be successful!
Support the SNAP initiative, and local food and agriculture in the Seacoast region with a donation to Seacoast Eat Local, a 501c3 non-profit organization. Tax-deductible donations can be made through our website or by mailing a check to: Seacoast Eat Local, 67 Airport Rd, Newington, NH 03801. Email us at info@seacoasteatlocal.org with any questions or ideas.
To learn more about Seacoast Eat Local, sign up for our email newsletter, subscribe to our blog, and follow us on Facebook where we share information about farmers’ markets, farm specials, events and activities, workshops, recipes and much more!
Email newsletter archives
Why eat local?
adapted from “10 Reasons to Eat Local Food” Jennifer Maiser, Eat Local Challenge
Who We Are
Sara Zoë Patterson, Coordinator/Board Chair
Sara Zoë is an elementary school librarian and technology integrator for the Portsmouth School District. She holds a Masters in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University and a BA in American Studies from Franklin Pierce University. Involved in social justice advocacy in varying forms for the last 15 years, she now volunteers for several area organic farms in the summer months. In 2009 she was awarded the Andrew L. Felker Memorial Award for leadership in promoting the growth and prosperity of New Hampshire agriculture and named one of the Union Leader’s “40 under 40” young leaders of New Hampshire.
Email: sarazoe@seacoasteatlocal.org
Brendan Cornwell
Brendan Cornwell is a beekeeper with hives at organic farms and suitable honeybee habitat throughout the Seacoast. Brendan focuses on sustainable beekeeping techniques, including top bar, limited foundation, and Warré hives as well as keeping the honeybees chemical free. Brendan is an accomplished artist and earned a BFA from Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts. Brendan’s first book, Aesop in Goudy, was published in 2007.
Email: brendan@seacoasteatlocal.org
Jeff Donald, Secretary
Jeff has served on the board of Seacoast Eat Local since 2006. Much of his work with Seacoast Eat Local has focused on helping to publish Seacoast Harvest. He received his Master of Public Administration from UNH in 2008. He served along with his wife Kate as a farmer delegate at Slow Food’s international conference Terra Madre, in 2006. He lives on Stout Oak Farm with his wife and dog.
Email: jeff@seacoasteatlocal.org
Kate Donald, Winter Farmers’ Market Coordinator
Kate Donald is owner of Stout Oak Farm, an organic vegetable farm in Epping, NH. She has been farming for the past 10 years, and is an active member of the Seacoast Growers’ Association and NOFA-NH. Prior to farming, Kate spent 5 years in New York City, where she directed “The City Farms” urban agriculture program, and worked with Just Food, Green Guerillas, and The New York Botanical Garden to develop community gardens, school gardens, and garden-based education programs. She has a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Kate has been involved with Seacoast Eat Local since 2006. Her recent work includes coordinating the Winter Farmers’ Markets, developing a SARE-funded project to expand New England winter crop production, and contributing to Land For Good’s Land Access Project.
Email: kate@seacoasteatlocal.org
Erin Ehlers, Volunteer Coordinator and Winter Market Manager
Erin has been with Seacoast Eat Local since 2006. She has two years of experience in farmstead cheesemaking, and six years experience as a pastry chef. In addition to participating in the creation of an exciting and accessible local food community in the Seacoast, she has taught yoga for nearly ten years, and owns a studio in Kittery, ME.
Email: erin@seacoasteatlocal.org
Audrey Gerkin
Audrey Gerkin is currently an organic farmer at Pickpocket Farm, in Brentwood, NH. She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Rivier College and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech. She is dedicated to managing her CSA, serving 15 families in the seacoast area. Her goal is to develop a small community of people who are growing, sharing, educating, and eating fresh local organic food. She was a grant recipient for beginning farmers from National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in 2010. She lives at Pickpocket Farm with her husband and three girls.
Email: gerkin5@comcast.net
Josh Jennings, Treasurer
Josh Jennings has been owner of Meadow’s Mirth farm since 2004. He has managed the Exeter Farmers’ Market since 2006. Worked with Seacoast Eat Local since 2006. Been on the board of directors for Seacoast Growers Association since 2008. Appointed to USDA Farm Service Agency state committee in 2009. Appointed to the Seacoast Eat Local board of directors 2011. Volunteer for the Heirloom Harvest Project in 2011 which promotes farmer chef connections and investment in heirloom vegetable and meat production. Josh’s current work with Seacoast Eat Local focuses on winter farmers’ markets, farmer chef connections, building and expanding farmer networks.
Email: josh@seacoasteatlocal.org
Debra Kam
Debra Kam writes about local food and sustainable agriculture for Seacoast Eat Local, and at her blog, Diary of a Tomato. With a background in publishing and cooking professionally, Debra also develops and tests recipes, and teaches. She received a BA in Architecture & Urban Design from the University of California at Berkeley, a diploma in Studio Arts from the University of New Hampshire, and trained in the culinary arts at the New York Restaurant School. In 2000, she was awarded an Individual Artist Fellowship in Visual Arts from the New Hampshire State Council of the Arts. Debra has been involved with Seacoast Eat Local since 2008, and became a member of the board in 2011. When not in her studio or garden, or visiting a farm, Debra can usually be found in the kitchen.
Email: debra@seacoasteatlocal.org
Jean Pauly-Jennings
Jean began working on an organic vegetable farm in 2003, and co-founded Meadow’s Mirth farm in 2004. She is an active member of the Seacoast Growers Association, and is on the Winter Farmers’ Market committee for Seacoast Eat Local. A graduate of Houghton College with a B.A. in art, Jean is also a musician who specializes in growing cut flowers and heirloom beans.
Email: jean@meadowsmirth.com