Energy Services And Technology on Food

Use the following resources to help you make environmentally sound food choices:

 

FOOD

Agriculture stands as one of the few human activities that can produce more energy than it consumes. Yet people who study the food systems tell us each calorie of food energy most Americans eat spends about 11 fossil fuel calories before it ends up at the working end of a fork.

The average bite of food travels 1500 miles to reach that fork. The information resources assembled here will raise your awareness and help you find ways to reduce that mileage and fossil fuel consumption.

Permaculture
Permaculture principles focus on thoughtful, labor-efficient designs for sustainable living which rely primarily on biological resources instead of fossil fuels, emphasize stress ecological connections and closed energy and material loops. Each component in a system performs multiple functions, and each function is supported by many elements. This site introduces the core ideas of permaculture

Eat/buy/grow local
With a click of the mouse, find CSAs (community-supported agriculture venterprises), farmers markets, food cooperatives in our area.
 
Vermont/New Hampshire Localvore Project
Localvore: Projects encouraging eating close to home
 
The 100-mile diet
Vancouveites spread the word about eating local.
 
NH Farmers’ markets
From June until October, you’ll find one or more nearby markets open. Products include vegetables, fruits, honey and maple syrup, cider, cheese, meat, poultry, eggs, cut flowers and more, depending on the market.
 

NH Livestock producers
Locally grown beef, buffalo, poultry, dairy products and live animals.

 
Locally produced specialty foods
Breads, jams, jellies, relishes and sundry other products
 
Harvest your own
Pick your own locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers and Christmas trees and have a rural experience in the process.
 
Find a Community Supported Agriculture farm (CSA) near you

What’s a CSA? Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, coffee, or any sort of different farm products. A CSA (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food-buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season. A CSA season typically runs from late spring through early fall. The number of CSAs in the United States was estimated at 50 in 1990, and has since grown to over 1000.

 

Local Foods Plymouth: Connecting farmers, growers and local buyers
A virtual marketplace where area residents can order online for local pickup.

 
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The Home Producer Grow Your Own
National Gardening Association’s guides for growing many types of vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
 
Producing your Own Eggs
 
Turkeys
 
Raising Pigs at Home
 
Edible Landscaping Why not?
 
Harvesting and using wild greens
Maine Extension bulletin features dandelions, fiddleheads, lamb’s quarters, purslane, and more.
 
Edible flowers
Dine on your blooms! Fact sheet from North Carolina Extension; most flowers mentioned also grow in New Hampshire. Read carefully and follow rules for safety.
 
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

What is ATTRA?
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service. It provides information and other technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States.

 
Seeds of Change
A resource for certified organic seeds, etc.
 
Buildings Food
Landscaping Transportation
Financial Incentives Renewables

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