Whether it's what you choose to eat, where you choose to shop, how much (or how little) you choose to recycle, all of your decisions each day affect the environment where you live. Here are a few ways to get more involved, meet people who are already involved, and feel a little better about all those choices we have to face each day.
photo courtesy of: http://www.meepi.org/will/cgcf04/cgcf04.htmlThe Common Ground Fair, September 25, 26, & 27, 2009
This hugely successful fair takes place in Unity, Maine, once a year and is put on by MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association). According to the fair's website, "Hundreds of vendors, exhibitors and demonstrators, more than 1,000 volunteers, and tens of thousands of fairgoers will gather to: share knowledge about sustainable living; eat delicious, organic, Maine-grown food; buy and sell beautiful Maine crafts and useful agricultural products; compete in various activities; dance; sing and have a great time."
Sounds good to me! Unity is a little less than two hours away from Portland and it's a beautiful time of year for a drive. Better yet, check out camping options here and bring your bike. You'll save $2 on your admission if you bike to the fair! Tickets are $10 and you can buy them at Whole Foods in Portland. You can also buy them at the fair the lines are rumored to be long.
This will be my first year attending the fair and one of the items on my agenda is to pick up some Maine-grown hardy garlic to plant in our raised beds over the winter. I've already scoped my preferred vendor off the list on the site. Check out all the info here. Hope to see you there!
USM Public Interest Resource Group General Interest Meeting / Kick-Off Party Wednesday, 9/23 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Student Government Office, Woodbury Campus Center, Portland
or
Thursday, 9/24 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Lower level, Brooks Student Center, Gorham
USM PIRG is an activist student organization that works on issues important to the USM student body and the members of the group.
Come to our General Interest Meeting to find out more about what we do!
FMI, email Karl Rawstron at karlemail1@gmail.com
photo from "the City as Food Collective", http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/dining/16chefs.html
Saturday Farmer's Market, Deering Oaks Park, Portland, 8-12p
These weekly markets put other farmer's markets that i have seen to shame... and they run until Thanksgiving! Now that is something to be thankful for. The farmers themselves usually harvest their crops just hours before making the drive into Portland to sell their produce. Farmer's markets are the best ways to support local growers since much more of the profits go directly to the farmer instead of to a distributor or a retail store.
This is the best place to get your nutrients since everything is fresh and many things are organic. Pick up a handful of beets. The roots you can use to make an easy, filling borscht (beet soup), the greens you can saute with onions until soft, toss in some pine nuts and top with a poached egg. There are local eggs and onions available at the farmer's market as well. Yum!
Get out there and be a part of all Maine has to offer!
Grow on,
Your Onion Organizer
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