stonesoup sundays @ the farm
September 12, 2011
125 acres of American farmland is lost every hour to development and rising fuel prices. It’s a scary thought when 91% of the country’s fruit and 78% of its vegetables are grown on farms near urban areas! So why does buying local matter? The farms that supply our local markets are the ones most threatened by development. When you buy local, you’re helping nearby farmers to remain productive.
Did you know that the number of farmers’ markets in Massachusetts has nearly doubled in the last decade? This tremendous demand for locally grown products illustrates the vital importance of securing the farmland necessary to produce food locally. Even Governor Patrick has recognized the farmers’ markets across the Commonwealth as “essential to the vitality of Massachusetts farms.”
As a Massachusetts farm, Thayer Nursery is working to protect farmland. We direct urban sprawl away from agricultural resources, help to provide healthy, local food to the public, and aid communities like Milton in sustaining local farms and farming.
Every day, people search for farm-fresh food. Meeting this demand requires more farmers and more farmland. A farmers’ market is a vital link between farmers and the community. By hosting a farmers’ market, we are helping to make sustainable, locally-produced food a reality for everyone. This can only be accomplished by keeping land available for farming, supporting conservation practices, and encouraging the next generation of farmers.
There are some things that cannot be learned in a classroom, like how it feels to have a goat lick your fingers or grow your own cherry tree, or what a farm smells like! We work hard at the Nursery so that your children, like ours, are able to experience something natural and exciting as part of their daily routine. Thank you for your continued support!