Summer Nights at White Barn Farm August 29th: Gather to meet and greet with the Metacomet Land Trust

Fresh produce, fresh flowers, and Friendly Faces at White Barn Farm

View this email in your browser Please Save the Date and Come Out to Meet Us at White Barn Farm!   Metacomet Land Trust at White Barn Farm in Wrentham Thursday August 29, 2024 Come and join the Metacomet Land Trust at "Summer Nights at White Barn Farm" on Thursday, August 29th. We will be at the farmstand from 4:30 to 8:00 and invite you to enjoy the scene at White Barn Farm, a beautiful local farm in on South Street (Route 1A) in Wrentham. This summer-long series of early evening gathering is a wonderful way to support a local farm! The farmstand will be open and there will be live music as well as pick-your-own flowers, pizza and local brews available to purchase. Please come out to say hello to MLT members and supporters as we enjoy a summer night in a beautiful setting. Feel free to bring a lawn chair and hang out in our "land trust lounge" area by the farmstand.   Summer Nights at White Barn Farm | Facebook   Membership Donations, Gifts of Land or Conservation Restrictions, or donations of items to be auctioned are now deductible on both Federal and Massachusetts tax returns! Our Federal Tax-Exempt ID is: 04-3020897.  We Love Where We Live -- And We Know You Do, Too! Copyright © 2024 Metacomet Land Trust, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Metacomet Land Trust P.O. Box 231 Franklin, MA 02038 Telephone: (508) 271-7131

Night Owl Farm: Farm Stand New Hours

Farm Stand Pop-up We will not be in attendance at the Franklin Market today (9/29), so instead, we are offering a self-serve farm stand option! The farm stand will be open 1:00-7:00 with produce, honey, maple syrup, and other fabulous finds! Octob...

Night Owl Farm October Hours Mondays ………………………….…... CLOSED Tuesdays ……………………… 1:00pm-7:00pm Wednesdays …………………………. CLOSED Thursdays …………………………….. CLOSED Fridays ………. Franklin Market (not this week) Saturdays ……………………. 10:00am-4:00pm Sundays ……………………………….. CLOSED Our LAST DAY of the season will be on October 28th. We will be doing our annual Thanksgiving pop up on 11/21, including pies! Pie pre-orders coming soon. What We're Harvesting Beets Celeriac (Celery Root) Eggplant Eggplant, Fairytale Garlic Husk/Ground Cherries Kale Lettuce, Head Onions, Red Onions, Yellow Parsley Peppers, Green Peppers, Hot Peppers, Shishito Rutabaga Scallions Tomatoes. Heirloom Tomatoes, Slicers We will also have some fresh flowers available! Coming Soon… Arugula Broccoli Lettuce Mix Spinach Night Owl Farm 49 Prospect Street, Franklin, MA, 02038 Farm Stand Pop-up! (& New Hours) was sent to you on 2023-09-29 12:45:28 UTC by Night Owl Farm

                                                           

Conservation B(l)og 3 - Landowner Webinar Series and Stormwater Utility Fee Program

Happy New Year Franklinites,

The Franklin Conservation Department hopes everyone had a warm end to the year 2022 and a happy beginning to 2023.

Landowner Webinar Series

MassWoods from UMass – Amherst is hosting a FREE six-part webinar series for landowners interested in planning the future of their land. The MassWoods webinar series is designed to help you, the landowner, determine the future of your land and take steps to formalize a plan to achieve your personal and financial goals. Topics for this series include, “Deciding Your Land’s Future”, “Reducing Your Property Taxes and Stewarding Your Land”, and “Choosing a Conservation Tool”.

To express interest in an estate planning workshop in Town or how this relates to the 2023 Open Space and Recreation Plan update process, contact Breeka Li Goodlander via email at bgoodlander@franklinma.gov or via phone at 508-520-4847.

To register for this webinar series, click here -> 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQF1PwUgE0QxCIxEUl0Eg7u-R4Nm7A4nZYCKbx7jCBxv0mOA/viewform

Stormwater Utility Fee Program

In case you missed it, the Town of Franklin DPW is implementing a new Stormwater Utility Fee Program. More information regarding this Program can be found here -> (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/utility_flyer_extended_version_reduced_size_0.pdf). Any questions about the Program can be directed to Derek Adams via email at dadams@franklinma.gov or via phone at 508-553-5545.

That's all for now!

Conservation B(l)og 3 - Landowner Webinar Series and Stormwater Utility Fee Program

Community Preservation Coalition: CPA funds can be used to buy a Christmas tree farm

Community Preservation Coalition (@CPA_Coalition) tweeted on Fri, Dec 24, 2021:

Who knew the #CommunityPreservationAct could be used to buy a Christmas tree farm? The Town @DuxburyGov did exactly that, forever preserving the Jaycox Christmas Tree Farm. 

Shared from Twitter => https://t.co/yMbcWjpBrc

More about the required membership of the Community Preservation Committee

https://www.communitypreservation.org/CPCs

Community Preservation Coalition: CPA funds can be used to buy a Christmas tree farm

Via CommonWealth Magazine: Franklin farm ready to benefit on one change, MetroWest commuters on another

"Rule change paves way for smokeable hemp" and Franklin farm ready to benefit

"FOR THE LAST four years, Linda Noel has planted and cultivated hemp, but the Franklin farmer has never been able to sell it because of strict regulations governing how her crop can be used. 

Now that’s about to change, as the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources published a new rule Monday night allowing the state’s hemp farmers to sell the flower of the plant to legal marijuana dispensaries, which can package it into smoking products. It opens a vast new market for hemp farmers by legalizing the sale of the most profitable product to come out of the hemp plant – smokeable flower. 

Hemp is a kind of cannabis plant, but unlike marijuana, it cannot get a person high. Hemp tends to be rich in CBD, which is thought to have therapeutic qualities, but does not have a significant amount of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/rule-change-paves-way-for-smokeable-hemp/

Visit Terrapin Farm on the web at -> https://terrapin.farm/

David Kashuba and KP Owens work harvesting hemp at Terrapin Farm in Franklin. (Courtesy Linda Noel)

"Spilka scores victory on I-90 Allston project" and MetroWest commuters can benefit

"SENATE PRESIDENT Karen Spilka took a tour several weeks ago of the aging transportation infrastructure the state is looking to replace in the Allston area.

She walked underneath the badly deteriorated elevated section of the Massachusetts Turnpike. She inspected the commuter rail tracks and Soldiers Field Road and got a sense of how much stuff the state was trying to cram into a narrow section of land between Boston University and the Charles River that has come to be known as the throat.

“You see firsthand how tight it is,” Spilka said.

At the time of the tour, hosted by Transportation Secretary Jamey Tesler, the Baker administration had not made any decision about how to replace all those roads and tracks. At the conclusion of the tour, Spilka remembers being a bit agnostic on what repair approach should be adopted. “I’m not an engineer,” she said."

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/spilka-scores-victory-on-i-90-allston-project/

Direct link to the MassDOT Alston project -> https://www.mass.gov/allston-multimodal-project

Picture shows elevated Massachusetts Turnpike between BU and Charles River with Soldiers Field Road at grade. (via Commonwealth Magazine)

The Guardian: "Small farms vanish every day in America’s dairyland: ‘There ain’t no future in dairy’"

“Look at that sweet heifer, high, tight udder, in her first lactation, idn’t she sweet?” auctioneer Tom Bidlingmaier shouts as his son Cory plods and slips and pushes the cow around a pen.

Watching it all are about 65 people, mostly men, mostly other small farmers in rubber boots, standing in mud and manure as they murmur their bids. Ron Wallenhorst, the farmer auctioning off his herd of 64 milking cows, is pacing and tapping an empty water bottle against his thigh. He has milked cows in his barn twice a day, every day, after taking over the farm from his father 32 years ago. By the afternoon, all the cows will be gone.

“This is our 401k,” said Ron, 55 years old, his tall frame still hearty though he’s 15 pounds lighter from stress."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/21/small-farms-vanish-every-day-in-americas-dairyland-there-aint-no-future-in-dairy

photo by Greg Kahn/The Guardian

In the News: Wenger's Farm closing; Twitter bans political ads; Rail Trail expands in Ashland

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

Wenger's Farm closing

"A family-owned farm and farmers market is closing after more than 26 years in business and is leasing out its properties – including the family house – while family members embark on a series of mission trips.

“I can’t say for sure whether or not it’s the end of an era at Wenger’s Farm or not,” said the Wengers’ Realtor, Brian Garvey of Keller Williams Realty/NH. The owner, Omar Wenger, purchased the property at 1048 South Main St. in 2011 and “ideally, he’d like it to be used as it is now.”

The farm will close on Saturday and has been offering closeout sales, according to a laminated sign posted outside the Wengers’ community country store. The family is leasing both its store and lower level space on-site, along with the family home next door at 1040 South Main St., according to listings published earlier this month on the New England Commercial Property Exchange (NECPE).

“God has been faithful in giving seed time and bountiful harvests,” reads the sign posted outside the door, with owners Omar and Barbara Wenger thanking their “faithful customers.” “Regretfully, this is our last season for operating Wenger’s Farm Store. We have consented to go to a mission in Africa beginning 2020.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191030/wengers-farm-in-bellingham-closing-leasing-properties


Twitter bans political ads

"Twitter is banning all political advertising from its service, saying social media companies give advertisers an unfair advantage in proliferating highly targeted, misleading messages.

“While internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics, where it can be used to influence votes to affect the lives of millions,” Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted Wednesday in a series of tweets announcing the new policy.

Facebook has taken fire since it disclosed earlier in October that it will not fact-check ads by politicians or their campaigns, which could allow them to lie freely. CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Congress last week that politicians have the right to free speech on Facebook."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191030/twitter-bans-all-political-advertisements

Rail Trail expands in Ashland

"Cyndi Sumner took a different route than usual to walk her chocolate Labradoodle on Monday afternoon.

While she usually goes to Ashland State Park, Sumner was intrigued by a new bridge spanning Mill Pond. With her home just a short walk away on Raymond Marchetti Street, she decided to explore the bridge instead of driving to the state park.

The only problem was that the Mill Pond entrance was blocked off for construction. Luckily, Sumner was able to find an alternative way there by walking through the Riverwalk Trail, a wooded pathway less than a mile long that runs alongside the Sudbury River and the north side of Mill Pond.

“I didn’t even know this path was here,” Sumner told the Daily News after trekking through the short trail."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191030/work-advances-on-ashlands-riverwalk-trail

Harvest Festival FUNdraiser - August 25

From Pour Richard's email newsletter:

"In the depths of winter, when I'm fantasizing about summer, those fantasies break down into 2 broad categories: the beach and late-summer vegetables. The beach because that's where I wish I was, the vegetables because I wish that's what I was eating. August is when gardens and farm stands explode with deliciousness faster than you can consume it.

If you've never had cause to appreciate your 5 senses, August at a farmer's market will change all that, with sights, sounds, and-especially-smells certain to have you drooling in anticipation. Zucchini, fresh herbs, garlic, eggplant. Beans. Radishes. And best of all: sweet corn and tomatoes.

Very little can compete with a freshly picked and cooked ear of corn on the cob. Or a tomato straight from the garden, still warm from the afternoon sun. But if you're getting bored with the minimalist vibe, grill your corn and top it with cotijo cheese and hot sauce for a take on Mexican street food.

Bake the tomatoes into a tart, or stir them into olive oil, garlic, and salt for a quick pasta sauce. Make a frittata. Bruschetta. Or toss the corn and tomatoes with olive oil, basil, and a touch of hot pepper for a salad that's basically August in a bowl.

Of course, we have some definite opinions on what you should drink with all that, starting with some ripe, rich Cali Chardonnays. The Neyers Carneros is a classic, but don't overlook Fulcrum's Durell Vineyard or Byron Kosuge's Sonoma Coast Chard. Seeing red instead?

Pick up the black cherry-laden Villain & Vixen Grenache or our new favorite Avalon Cabernet. Or split the difference and go pink: Bedrock's Ode to Lulu gives you the gutsy quality of a big red with the slithery coolness of a white, all in one bottle.

And if you really like your tomatoes and corn (and zucchini and herbs and local beer, cheese, meat, bourbon, etc), then mark your calendars for our Harvest Festival FUNdraiser for the Norfolk County Farm Bureau.

Your $10 ticket is a 100% donation to the Farm Bureau and includes samples of delicious farm to table food, farm to glass cocktails, organic wines, and local beers. Sunday, August 25 from 1-4 PM. Don't miss it!"

Where: 

Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits 

(508) 520-9163 | www.pourrichardswine.com

14 Grove Street  Franklin, MA 02038

some produce from my own garden

Get your copy of "Our Family Farms"

The Franklin Agricultural Commission has created a nice one page listing of the farms along with a map of their location in Franklin. 

You can stop by the Agricultural Commission booth at the Strawberry Stroll to pick up a copy.

You can view and download a copy here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b6dnRFJmDRiy55ZC2rIuoXNsiLIcpkra/view?usp=sharing

Get your copy of "Our Family Farms" at the Strawberry Stroll

2nd Annual MA Farm Bureau FUNdraiser - Sep 8

"Once upon a time, we were a nation of farmers, pushing ever westward in wagons and trains in search of fertile farmland. Before that, we tried, with cussed determination, to coax crops from New England hillsides studded with boulders and woven through with trees. But no more. Today, only around 1% of the US population is actively engaged in farming. That 1% might not seem very important-until you realize that the other 99% of us eat what that 1% grows.

Full disclosure: I grew up on a North Dakota family farm, not unlike the one in the photo, above. So I'm hardly an impartial observer. But in my humble, biased opinion, farmers are over-worked, under-rewarded, and definitely underpaid. They deserve every ounce of support we can muster. All of which explains why we were so happy to host last year's MA Farm Bureau Norfolk County FUNdraiser, and why we're doubly happy to be hosting again this year.

We truly mean the FUN part of that name. Craft beer, courtesy of Jack's Abby/Springdale and Brewmaster Jack. Crescent Ridge Dairy ice cream. Cocktails made from Privateer Rum and Privateer Tiki Gin, featuring local produce. Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino, poured by winemaker Roberto Gianelli of Tuscany's San Filippo Estate. High Limb Cider. And food! Chef Daniele Baliani of Waltham's La Campania is combining local pork, vegetables, herbs, and fruit into a feast for all the senses. Grilled pizza, arrancini, insalata caprese...mmm!

Your $10 ticket gets you unlimited samples of all of the above AND is a 100% donation to the Norfolk County Farm Bureau, earmarked for their scholarship fund. You can also meet some of the farmers from Franklin and surrounding towns, and learn about what they're growing and raising.

In short: delicious food and drink and great people, supporting the next generation of farmers. I could not love this event more. We hope you can join us."

2nd Annual MA Farm Bureau FUNdraiser

Saturday, September 8,  1-4 PM

at Pour Richards, 14 Grove Street Franklin MA

Shared via Pour Richards webpage
https://pourrichardswine.com/content/1-feeding-other-99-2nd-annual-ma-farm-bureau-fundraiser-sept-8

2nd Annual MA Farm Bureau FUNdraiser - Sep 8

Save the Date: 2nd Annual Massachusetts Farm Bureau FUNdraiser - Sep 8

"A visit to the Farmer's Market in high summer is an exercise in flat-out hedonism. Mmm... fresh basil, that's smells amazing! The local tomatoes are starting to come in-I need some of those. Corn. I definitely need corn. Peaches! Do I have time to make peach cobbler? Or I could just bite into one right now....Blueberries! Can't forget those. Cucumbers. Snap peas. Fresh salad greens. Local cheese. I really should have brought more shopping bags.

These delights are brought to you courtesy of your local farmers, whose hard work produces delicious food which nourishes both body and spirit. And land devoted to farming preserves open space, a precious commodity when new condo developments are popping up all over town. Local farms are a wonderful asset to our town and region. Shopping at the Farmer's Market is an easy way to support them, but we could- and probably should-do more.

So when our fabulous customer Liz Smith approached us about holding a MA Farm Bureau event, we said, 'Absolutely! Count us in'. And the Pour Richard's Massachusetts Farm Bureau FUNdraiser was born.

Last year's event featured local produce, local cheese, local ice cream, local craft beer, organic wines, and a whole pig(!). Chef Daniele Baliani, of Waltham's La Campania, created an incredible feast, and a rollicking good time was had by all. We immediately started planning a sequel.

This year's MA Farm Bureau FUNdraiser will take place on Saturday, September 8, from 1-5 PM. Chef Daniele will be back. So will the ice cream, the beer, and the killer produce. Another pig is on the menu. And this year, we're featuring winemaker Roberto Gianelli, from Tuscany's San Filippo Estate, pouring his lovely organic Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Farm Bureau's scholarship fund. We will also donate a percentage of our sales.

Save the date, and definitely save up your appetite. Help us support our local farms. Because no farms= no food."

This was shared from the Pour Richard's page
http://pourrichardswine.com/content/no-farms-no-food

No farms, no food

2nd Annual Massachusetts Farm Bureau FUNdraiser - Sep 8

In the News: blueberry picking time; former Dean AD recognized

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"From afar, the several acres of 8-foot-tall bushes look like just that - bushes. But a closer look reveals thousands of blueberries ripening in the July heat, most deep-blue and the size of a nickel. 

Blueberry season is here, and Gianetti’s U-Pick-Blueberries Farm is ripe for the picking on Fridays and Saturdays until late August. 

A trip to the produce department, said part owner Pam Gianetti, pales in comparison to visiting a plantation. For $3.95 a pound at Gianetti’s, families can spend hours combing the five-acre property for the perfect pick. 

“The taste is better,” said Gianetti. “I’ve been eating these blueberries since I was 4. We have six different varieties and I can tell which variety I like best. They all have a slightly different taste.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180709/franklin-time-is-ripe-for-blueberries

the blueberry sign on Union St at Gianetti's

"Former Dean College director of athletics John Jackson joined two other athletic administrators being inducted into the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators Hall of Fame recently. 

Jackson, who was named the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year on three separate occasions (2002, 2010 and 2014), will be inducted alongside Ron Case, the former athletic director at Rowan College-Gloucester County and Mary Ellen Leicht, the former CEO of the National Junior College Athletic Association. 

The honor for Jackson comes after he spent 37 years in various roles at Dean College — including 27 as the director of athletics. His tenure with the Bulldogs began in 1980 when he took over the men’s basketball program and guided them to 120 wins in ten seasons — the most in the history of the program."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180709/strongformer-dean-college-director-of-athletics-recognizedstrong

In the News: Y opens farm in Bellingham; Change your Twitter password

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Organic, community-harvested tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and other vegetables will be ripe for picking come fall, thanks to the Hockomock Area YMCA’s newest volunteer farm in Bellingham. 

Officials held their ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the developing garden at 200 Center St. on Thursday afternoon, where a crowd gathered to witness the event and tour the new garden area. 

Marykate Bergen, a member of the Health Innovation Team at the YMCA, said the focus is the provide healthier options for children and families. 

“It’s a great way to get people access to healthy, locally-grown food in their own community,” she said. “Also, the volunteer opportunities allow people to get out and be more connected to the future of eating.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180503/bellingham-hockomock-area-ymca-unveils-garden

"Twitter is advising all users to change their passwords. 

The company said Thursday that it recently discovered a bug that stored passwords in an internal log in an unprotected form. 

Twitter says there’s no indication that there was a breach or that any of the passwords were misused. But as a precaution, Twitter recommends users consider changing the passwords they use to log onto Twitter. They should also change that password if they used it for any other services."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20180503/twitter-finds-security-bug-advises-changing-passwords

Follow Franklin Matters on Twitter @franklinmatters

Growing Herbs Inside All Year Round - May 10

May 10 Workshop - Register Today

Lifelong Community Learning presents Growing Herbs Inside All Year Round Download Flyer REGISTER $40 Thursday, May 10 6:30 to 8:30 pm Grateful Farm 49 Prospect Street, Franklin Let's grow herbs! Even if you don't have outdoor gardening space, there are plenty of herbs that you can grow indoors successfully on a sunny windowsill. Fresh herbs invigorate every meal and just make everything taste good.  www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com LCL@franklinps.net     508-613-1480

FPS- Lifelong Community Learning, 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try it free today