We’re back for Part 2 of the NH Eats Local blog series. Head here for Part 1 where we explore our origins, community, and ways we create access to local food for all neighbors here at the Kearsarge Food Hub (KFH).
August is NH Eats Local Month and we’re taking a moment to celebrate our local food system and the people that make it possible. It’s also an important opportunity to note some of the challenges we’re experiencing this year in particular like extreme weather patterns, which is all the more reason to learn about our food system and support the folks growing, making, and distributing food in the community. It is, after all, an essential service!
In this edition, we’ll dig into how work at KFH contributes to the local economy, supports educational programs, and relies on a team of dedicated staff to carry out operations day in and day out.
Economy.
Shopping locally when we can boosts the local economy in significant ways. In 2022, shoppers at Sweet Beet Market + Café helped send $350k directly back to nearly 150 local farmers and producers.
This year, it is more important than ever to invest in our local farms through purchasing their goods when we can. The extreme weather has caused significant damage and loss for many local and regional farmers, affecting their bottom line and, inevitably, morale in an already challenging profession.
Farm Manager Pierre and Food Access Manager Cassie here at the Kearsarge Food Hub and Sweet Beet explain more about what’s been going on for farmers and what we can expect as shoppers in this 2.5 minute video.
Programming: Farm Education for all!
Abenaki seeds passed off to a 3rd grader at Baby Beet Farm, where they were planted into three sisters gardens. These gardens will be harvested by the kiddos as 4th graders in the fall, and then the project is passed on to the incoming 3rd graders!
For us here at KFH, and we know for many other organizations working in local and regional food systems, it’s critically important to sew seeds in the youth to grow the next generation of farmers and responsible stewards of our lands and waters.
One way this comes to life is through farm-based educational programs that reach kids in first grade through college age, providing hands-on learning experience on the farm. This not only supports our local kids and students with connection to food, farming, nature, and community, but it is also fulfilling a longer term vision of climate resiliency and food security for our community.
These programs take place on our own Sweet Beet Farm, a space that thrives on organic, regenerative practices that nurture the land. In 2022, we had over 200 unique learners join us on Sweet Beet Farm. Learn more about the wide array of farm-based education offerings here at KFH here.
Team.
The KFH team on Sweet Beet Farm at a staff gathering in late July, 2023 (missing some folks!)
This NH Eats Local Month, we would be remiss not to take a moment to shine a light on all the dedicated teammates on the ground level here at KFH doing the work day in and day out.
The food system, like many sectors, is struggling to find enough folks to carry out the work, causing a lot of strain on food system workers from the farm to the kitchen. We’re very grateful for this team (and are always looking for new teammates to join us!)
What better way to show our gratitude than through poetry?!
The KFH Poem
If you don’t know, you should know ‘em
The peeps who bring you Sweet Beet
The ones running food donations
The folks up on the farm
Or in admin or communications
On the board and volunteering
Making moves and engineering
Chatting up a customer
Or packing up carrots
Crafting a meal
Or building out budgets
It’s a labor of love
This thing that we do
Sometimes asking too much
Of me and of you
So we learn to take breaths
To prioritize, subdue
But the heart is there
And the mission is true.
Do you remember why
We do what we do?
To care for each other
To center this land
To heal our aching planet
And the loneliness at hand
To feed not just bodies
But minds, hearts and souls
To give it our best
And pursue deeper goals
Beyond just this moment,
For generations to come
That joy be restored
And resilience reborn
In a new kind of way
That’s also old and well-worn
We share a vision
That’s coming to be
Making change happen
For self and community
Bringing us closer
Grounding our feet
Trellising tomatoes
Dropping a beet
We get the job done
From start to finish
Here at KFH
It’s just something in us
We care, we learn, we build, we grow
And yes we have a long way to go
But look where we’re at
Look what we can do
When we’re in it together
Me plus you
These things take time
But one thing we know
We’re riding the waves
And learning as we grow!