Rye launches farmers’ market

The Rye Farmers’ Market has begun its first season with about 10 local establishments offering fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods and seafood at the town parking lot near the Rye Congregational Church.
The market runs from 2:30 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Central and Washington roads every Wednesday through October.

The mission of the Rye Farmers’ Market is to provide one-stop shopping of local fare from vendors that include Applecrest Farms, Silvery Moon Cheese, Seaport Fish, Rye Harbor Lobster, Buzz Bomb World Spice Blends, Rye Ridge Nursery, Arbor Inn Bakery, White Heron Tea and Skip’s Cider Donuts. There’s also Hickory Nut Farm for goat cheese and goat milk soap, Sea View Farm with bison and chicken, and Yellow House Farm for poultry, plus growers who are forming cooperatives.

The Market Committee expects more vendors as the news spreads and will accept applications throughout the season.

professor finds wisdom in small farms

John Carroll, of the University of New Hampshire Department of Natural Resources, will host “The Wisdom of Small Farms and Local Food: Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic and Sustainable Agriculture” at the Chesley Memorial Library on Tuesday, July 14 at 7 p.m.

Carroll is a professor of environmental conservation. In three decades at UNH, he has taught and researched environmental policy, diplomacy, ethics and values as they pertain to sustainable agriculture and food systems.

“It is not meant for all of us to farm. But it is meant for all of us to eat. And we all have a right to nutritious food to keep us ‘healthy, wealthy and wise.’ To the greatest extent possible, this means local food,” Carroll says.

The book, “The Wisdom of Small Farms and Local Food,” explores the theoretical and practical underpinnings of the growing movement toward sustainable agriculture. It provides a vision for the land grant universities who are increasing attention to small-scale farming and local food, and gives hope to those who want to increase their own food security. It is available through the author at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information on this free event, contact the Chesley Memorial Library at 603-942-5472. The library is at 8 Mountain Ave., Northwood.

Slow Food Seacoast presents potluck picnic

Slow Food Seacoast invites the public to a potluck picnic to celebrate local agriculture and the bounties of summer on the Seacoast. On Sunday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Osprey Cove Organic Farm in Madbury will host “Down on the Farm,” Slow Food Seacoast’s third annual family-friendly farm picnic.

The certified organic farm, owned by Charlie Reid and Anne Dickerson, offers winding nature trails with pristine views of the Bellamy Reservoir, wild plants and animals. Like farms everywhere, it plays an important role in the ecosystem by keeping open space green and maintaining wildlife habitat along field margins and the waterfront.

This year’s picnic theme is “Birds & Bees,” with a focus on the farm’s winged wild creatures as natural pollinators for food crops.
Activities will include honey tasting, a wildlife walk headed by an educator from the UNH Cooperative Extension, a heritage poultry talk by Yellow House Farm of Barrington, a homemade pie contest and blueberry picking. Also, visitors can paddle canoes or kayaks in the Bellamy Reservoir.

Osprey Cove Organic Farm is located at 255 Littleworth Road (Route 9) in Madbury. The picnic site is a working farm, and all activities will be outdoors in the farm fields, woods and waterfront. Bring your own picnic gear.  

Slow Food Seacoast requests a suggested donation of $5 per person to help cover event costs. For more information, visit www.slowfoodseacoast.org.

Eastman’s offers local fish

Carolyn and Ed Eastman have opened Eastman’s Fish Market in Seabrook, where people can purchase fresh fish caught by local fishermen or sign up for a weekly share.

Ed is a commercial fisherman with about 25 years of experience on the East Coast. His wife, Carolyn, has a background in education and hopes to teach people about what’s happening to the fishing industry and how buying local helps.

Eastman’s Local Catch will offer 12-week shares of wild caught fish from local fishermen and picked up at the Exeter Farmers’ Market. Fish include haddock, cod, pollack, flounder, monkfish and ocean catfish. The owners are also considering home delivery in the fall.

Contact the Fish Market at 210 Ocean Boulevard, Seabrook Beach, 603-760-7422.