Discover Local Compost!

From Monadnock Food Co-op’s Website:

Our Discover Local Promotion gives us the opportunity to bite into different parts of our Monadnock Food System, and learn some of the juicy details about each component — from the soil that gives rise to the delectable fruits and vegetables we seek, to the not-so-delectable (but essential) spoiled and discarded food scraps that become compost and are then returned to the soil.  This month, we’re starting at the ground, with a Seeds & Soil theme.   

First let’s look at compost and its role in enriching our soils. Compost closes the loop in our community’s food system: plants grow from the soil, we consume what the plants yield, we throw scraps into our compost pile and then return the finished compost to the soil.

Hopefully you’re already turning your kitchen scraps into compost and adding it to your garden.  If you’re like me, however, your compost bin has a hard time keeping up with your compost needs.  There are a few local suppliers of compost to choose from and support.  Please be sure to call ahead!

  • Ideal Compost, Peterborough
    Mike Lombard makes Ideal Compost from horse letter, cow and chicken manure, spoiled grain, grass, straw, silage and leaves.  They test their compost after months of “cooking” the materials to make sure the compost has decayed enough and ready for your garden and farm beds.  You can purchase their compost in bulk or bagged, and they can deliver to your yard (for an extra fee).
  • Stonewall Farm, Keene
    Starting the end March or early April, Stonewall Farm will sell their compost, made from the farm’s own animal manure. Compost in bags and in bulk will be sold.
  • Tracie’s Community Farm, Fitzwilliam
    Bagged Ideal Compost sold at Tracie’s Community Farm‘s farmstand.
  • Walpole Valley Farms, Walpole
    Bulk compost made from Walpole Valley Farms pasture-raised animals available by the pickup load.

Learn about the second half of our February Discover Local Theme: SEEDS

Walpole Valley Farms Awarded 2011 NH Farm of Distinction

By Caitlin Caserta, Walpole Valley Farms

Chris Caserta of Walpole Valley Farms stands in front of his farm which was just recognized by the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture.(Zachary P. Stephens/Brattleboro Reformer)

Walpole Valley Farms was awarded the New Hampshire Farm of Distinction award on February 4th at the annual Farm and Forest Expo in Manchester, NH. The New Hampshire Farm of Distinction program was started in 1997 as a way to recognize New Hampshire farms that go above and beyond when it comes to aesthetics and cleanliness. The three other Farm of Distinction winners for 2011 were Alyson’s Orchard also of Walpole, Stoneridge Farm of Bradford, and Zorvino Vineyards and Winery of Sandown.

Walpole Valley Farms is a thriving diversified, multi-generational, family farm with a focus on sustainability and agritourism. Innkeeper Jacqueline Caserta tends extensive vegetable, herb and edible flower gardens on the inn grounds which provide much of the ingredients for the decadent three-course candlelight breakfast served daily to inn guests. Gardens on the farm are all maintained following organic and no-till gardening practices. At the heart of Walpole Valley Farms mission is sustainability, education and a healthy connection to the land. The farm has really taken off in the past two years and has been selling its own 100% grass-fed and finished beef, pastured chicken and turkey, eggs from pastured hens, pastured pork and vegetables from the inn gardens. The farm sells its products at Burdick’s Restaurant, Walpole Grocery, Blueberry Fields in Keene, and directly at the farm.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit the farm make a point to this year. Or visit www.innatvalleyfarms.com or www.walpolevalleyfarms.com for more information anytime.

Walpole Valley Farms
663 Wentworth Road
Walpole, NH 03608
(603) 756-2805