Farmland Preservation In 2010 And Beyond

Houses are now bigger than barns used to store hay and house livestock. Fertile and potentially productive lands are going under housing, commercial buildings, roadways.

Those interested in land use, local food, and farmland preservation can mark Saturday, March 27 for a “Plowing Ahead: Farmland Preservation in 2010 and Beyond” conference, at Kroon Hall, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

Registration is $45 for the all-day event in New Haven, Connecticut.

Sponsored by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, this is part of the Working Lands Alliance, a project of American Farmland Trust.

See www.workinglandsalliance.org/conference for more information.

NOFA CT Organic Harvest Celebration

NOFA Connecticut's 2009 Organic Harvest Celebration and Annual Meeting is Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in New Haven, inside the Jones Auditorium at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. The public is invited to shop at the market (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and a potluck lunch and to learn more about NOFA CT.

Keynote speaker at 2 p.m. is Marydale DeBor, who will speak about the "Plow to Plate Program" at New Milford Hospital. This effort is to engage as many individuals and organizations as possible in improving the health of residents of the northwest corner of Connecticut. To learn more, visit www.ctnofa.org.

To minimize paper/plastic waste, bring your own plate, cup and utensil (and something to contribute to the lunch if you wish.)

At 1:30 there will be a half-hour annual meeting. The CT NOFA Member of the Year Award will be presented at 3 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call CT NOFA at (203) 888-5146. To participate in the Farmers’ Market, contact Deb Legge at (203) 888-5146.

Wayne Young of High Hill Orchards in Meriden, is a NOFA CT member.

CT NOFA is the Connecticut chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association, a non-profit educational, membership organization for everyone interested in organic food, gardening, farming or land care. For CSA details (winter) or more information about High Hill Farm and orchard, call Young at (203) 294-0276.

Abate's Apizza, New Haven, Connecticut

Wooster Square is a neighborhood in New Haven named for the American Revolutionary War hero, David Wooster (who was the mastermind behind the capture of Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain in1775, even though Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold got the credit.)

But the neighborhood is more famous for the food, especially the world's best apizza and other Italian delicacies.

Abate's piping hot pizza - oh my. Located at 129 Wooster St., Abate's Apizza & Seafood Restaurant, is a personal favorite. Yes, they deliver and also offer a full menu of good food.

(People may quibble about which pizza is best, but as with anything, it's a personal choice. Lines form outside of Frank Pepe Pizzeria and Sally's Apizza. Sunday, the latter was closed.)

Wooster Square even offers a farmer's market (CitySeed) in winter (held every other Saturday, until is gets a little warmer, so check the web site before heading over.)

The architecture of homes in the area is just inspiring. Drive or walk to notice the beauty in brownstone, brick, wrought iron details such as spires, turrets, decorative touches, and much more. There are many other restaurants and businesses along the way.

Trivia: During the Mayor Richard C. Lee administration (1954-1970) the Wooster Street/Square area was one of the first neighborhood federally funded urban renewal projects in the nation.

Nearby is Yale University, worth another whole day to explore solo or in a group (informative tours are offered). The New Haven Preservation Trust offers a richness of details about history in the city and region to explore even more.

Northfordy Farm, Wooster St. Market, CitySeed

Farm-fresh eggs produced by free-range chickens, Connecticut maple syrup, garlic - all naturally grown - plus sheep, lamb, and llama wool in earthy colors, were part of the products of the Northfordy Farm, owned by Peter and Judith Rothenberg.

The subtle color skeins of yarn were spun into yarn at Twist of Fate Spinnery in Portland, Conn., and are just some of the beautiful items available at the recent NOFA CT conference.

Peter Rothenberg noted that the Northfordy farm goods may be found at the Wooster Square farmer's market in New Haven, which is open year-round, every other Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In May, the market is open every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To see a calendar listing online, visit this CitySeed link.

There are four markets in New Haven, part of CitySeed - a local food system that "engages the community and promotes economic development, community development and sustainable agriculture."

To contact Northfordy Farm, call (203) 494-8408.