As the compost turns

listen to your farmers

July 15, 2008

it was very heartening to see the many plant and produce vendors at the Montpelier farmers market with posters declaring their support and use of our potting soils and composts on their farms. the rest of the community should take heed from these folks who are working to build our local food systems about the importance of the potting soil infrastructure condemned by the recent NRB order. these folks are our working professional food growers. they think hard about these issues and their opinions should carry weight commensurate to the level of commitment they bring to their work.

-Karl
 
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What else do we know about listen to your farmers?
Try these pages:
- Wholesale Order Information
- suicidal obsession?
- Quality Control

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So far there are 2 responses:
  1. 175 Days Ago sam buckley said:

    We are very concerned that compost operations are being targeted by state regulators. The Vermont Community Loan Fund, located in Montpelier, has provided loans to all three of the large composters in the state (Foster Brothers, Intervale and Vermont Compost Company).We feel they are an integral part of the infrastructure that supports Vermont’s working landscape. Not only do these compost operations provide economic development in the form of jobs but they also divert resources out of the landfill and back into the food chain.

    They also provide local farmers with much-needed nutrients to provide Vermont citizens with healthy, local, and sustainably grown produce. At the most recent Montpelier Farmers’ Market many of the farmers were distressed with the pending closure of VCC. These farmers rely on high quality compost from VCC.

    As a state, we need to encourage more composting initiatives - not shutting down existing operations and discouraging new composting businesses.

    During a time when we need to seek alternative resources for all our day-to-day needs and are looking to reduce our carbon footprint – why, then, would we be asking composting businesses to close their operations? Is that social responsibility?

    Will Belongia, Executive Director
    Sam Buckley, Director of Business Programs

    Vermont Community Loan Fund

  2. 175 Days Ago cathie brower said:

    when you enter an initiative like the one ahead for the vermont natural composters you must sense the envionment for change in the personal space of those involved since hammer is under suit it is important not to flood the initiative with repetitive stress but soundly allow the titles that are working in his favor to wall in. if the problem existed here{PA} there would be a lonley train before anything was described as “happening” // more general news of the area makes the cushion softer. regards Cb muscle therapy

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