Northshire Grown: Direct Update

by Liz Ruffa, Advancement Director

Merck Forest’s working lands Covid response initiative, Northshire Grown: Direct, continues to pack a punch in our region. In 2020, 20 markets took place in Dorset - in April and May at JK Adams Farmstand and since June at the Dorset Playhouse.

NG:D bundles local agricultural food items into themed “boxes”, which feature and “move” product for up to 40 different producers at a time. This service to area farmers has helped to replace lost markets for farmers due to the shuttering of so many businesses and institutions due to Covid last spring. Farmers and producers rely on schools, hospitals, restaurants and local markets’ purchasing power, especially in the winter/spring–their post harvest, summer planning period.

This direct-to-consumer local purchasing platform offers seasonal produce, meats, dairy items, kitchen and pantry essentials and specialty value-added products, all from local/VT farms and businesses to an ever-growing cadre of customers from all over Bennington and Rutland Counties (customer list now at 550). Learn more at www.northshiregrown.com - sign up for order forms and newsletters there!

The quietest yet most powerful aspect of this work has been through the Northshire Neighbors in Need work that four community connectors–the Dorset Church, the Mettowee Community School, Rupert Food Pantry and new in 2021 the Peru Congregational Church –have steadlfastly assisted with. NG:D, thanks in large part to customer generated philanthropy, raised $20,000 in 2020, allowing us to order pack and distribute 450 boxes to food insecure households in the area.

A few numbers to show the impact of this initiate to our local farmers, customers and community members:

By The Numbers

# of regional farms and producers participating in program 50+

# of orders April 1-December 15, 2020: 2,000+ income generated from 20 markets: $150,000+

% $$ directly back into local food economy: $125,000+

# of Neighbor boxes distributed: 450+ income generated through Neighbors: $20,000+

# of community connectors: 4+

# of amazing volunteers 2020: 20+

What is the + ?

It is the social capital that this project is creating for the farm and food community, for area residents and through community connectivity of neighbor supporting neighbor. Merck Forest has stepped up into supplying a structure for meaningful mutual aid to farmers, makers and community, has tested and is amplifying the power of #buylocal.

MFFC would like to acknowledge the amazing Herculean efforts of Mara Hearst, Heidi Lynn and Maria Reade, whose special talents have been the secret sauce to NG:D’s success. They have worked tirelessly to advance this project, constantly creating efficiencies and offering their creative ideas and boundless energy to the task. Total rockstars!

MFFC also thanks the following community members for their volunteerism: Marilyn Brockway, James Chandler, Janet Chandler, Montana Drummond, Katy Crumley, Michelle Flett, Karin Karol, Marcia Key, Jamie Lombardo, Katherine Page, Susan Romano, Will Ruffa, Declan Saint-Onge, Jenny Strecker, Jennifer Taylor and Kristen Zens. Thanks also to Sara Donegan Armstrong from Trillium Hill Farm and Annie Harlow from VT Farm to Plate Network for their support. Finally, this project would not be what it is without the generosity of JK Adams, Dorset Players and Town of Dorset.