MOFFA Stands in Solidarity with Ukraine

Here are a few ways you can help:

Ukraine Humanitarian Fund: A GoFundMe site set up to receive and distribute funds to various organizations. All donations raised will be distributed to verified nonprofit organizations supporting vulnerable communities to obtain access to shelter, food, medical services, education, and psychosocial support, as well as other people impacted.

Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is working to set up emergency response activities in the country and dispatching teams to Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. Teams are also ready to respond in Russia and Belarus.

World Central Kitchen: WCK is serving thousands of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as those who remain in the country.

Voices of Children: The Voices of Children Foundation has been helping children affected by the war since 2015. Today, during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, we are providing non-stop assistance to affected children and families from all over the country, providing emergency psychological assistance, and assisting in the evacuation process.

Save the Children: Donations can help provide children and families with immediate aid, such as food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support and cash assistance.

UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund): Emergency interventions in Ukraine include:

prepositioning health, hygiene and emergency education supplies as close as possible to communities near the line of contact
trucking safe water to conflict-affected areas
supporting mobile child protection teams providing psychosocial care to children traumatized by chronic insecurity, responding to cases of violence and abuse against children and assisting children separated from family
working with municipalities to ensure there is immediate help for children and families in need

Sunflower of Peace: Sunflower of Peace has officially started a fundraiser to prepare first aid medical tactical backpacks for paramedics and doctors on the front lines. Each backpack is designed for groups of 5 to ten people and includes an array of first aid supplies such as bandages, anti-hemorrhagic medicine and medical instruments.

COVID-19

We are all keenly aware of the obstacles and challenges the Coronavirus Pandemic poses. In response to CDC guidelines, MOFFA is postponing the two Summer Social tours of rural and urban farms until such time as it is safe for in-person meetings. Safety information related to Covid- 19 for farmers and food workers that has been compiled by Future Harvest, the Maryland Farmers Market Association, and Historic Lewes Farmers Market can be found by following this link: COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Food Distribution and Purchases

Agri-business meat suppliers like Smithfield are having problems operating because food processing plant workers are experiencing a high rate of virus infection. There are shortages of chicken and pork on supermarket shelves, and there are other items in our food supply that are difficult to come by. So the need for a robust regional food system that puts safe, local, healthy food directly in the hands of area consumers has never been more apparent. Local CSA’s are experiencing an uptick in sales as consumers search for clean, healthy food sources that are only handled by a few people. How are we as farmers and food policy organizations ramping up to meet this challenge and this opportunity? How can we be sure that organic is a substantial part of the response? In the upcoming weeks, look for links on our website and posts on our Facebook page (MOFFA) that bring some of this into focus.

Claudia Raskin

MOFFA Board

Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association to Hold Winter Meeting in Annapolis

MOFFA, the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association, announces its 28th Annual Winter Meeting on Saturday February 23, 2019 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Building, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway in Annapolis. The meeting is open to the public. (Snow date: March 2)

Join farmers, consumers, advocates, and researchers at this public meeting and potluck lunch. MOFFA Vice Chair, Claudia Raskin said:

“We have the news you can use! Presentation, panels, and workshops for farmers and gardeners looking for new ideas, techniques, and inspiration, as well as networking opportunities for consumers and distributors looking for good sources of local, organic food.”

Keynote Speaker: CAROLINE TAYLOR

Exec. Director, Montgomery County Alliance

The Future of Farming on Metro’s Edge: Collaborating & Raising Voices Together

Panels

Growing Hemp in Maryland
New Paths & Perspectives: Next Gen Visions Sophia Maravell & Blain Snipsal
Farm Bill Update
Organic Update with Deanna Baldwin, MDA

Learn about the latest science and research

Dennis VanEngelsdorp, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, Organic Bee Health, Managing Honey Bees Organically

Rohan Tikehar, Assistant Professor UMD, Nutrition and Food Science Department, Preventing Food Borne Illnesses in Organically Farmed Produce

Alina Avanesyan, Research Associate UMD, Information and update on the spotted lanternfly

Veronica Yurchak, Graduate Research Assistant UMD, The importance of integrated weed managment (IWM) for organic vegetable producers

Galen Dively, Professor Emeritus and IPM Consultant UMD, Organic Insecticides: What Works and What Doesn’t

Paul Goeringer, Legal Specialist, UMD Extension, Status of Agrotorism in MD

Homegrown ‘Eat Local’ Potluck Lunch

Silent Auction

Half Price New Book Sale

Display Tables

Only $5 for members and $20 for non-members

MOFFA Winter Meeting will be February 11, 2017

MOFFA WINTER MEETING 2018

moffa-winter-meeting-2017

The Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association Winter Meeting 2018 Will be held on February 17, 2018 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. The Snow Date is February 24.

It will be held at Maryland Dept. of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

We will have information for farmers and gardeners in search of new ideas, techniques, & inspiration, as well as networking opportunities for consumers and distributors looking for good sources of local, organic food.

Presentations, Panels and Workshops Including the latest research by University Of Maryland Extension and scientists.

Homegrown ‘Eat Local’ Potluck Lunch One of the highlights of the meeting!Bring a dish to share at the best local lunch around!

Silent Auction

Display Tables

Only $5 for members and $20 for non-members

To make a secure payment through PayPal, please click the donate link:

More information coming soon!

Representing Organics Not Always Easy

Nick Maravell's Role On National Organic Board Phasing Out — Nick’s Role On National
Organic Board Phasing Out

MOFFA founding member, Nick Maravell recently attended his last official meeting as a member of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in Stowe, Vermont, as his five-year term comes to an end. Originally appointed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Nick was one of four “farmers/growers” on the 15-member board, which serves as a federal-level advisory body to the National Organic Program (NOP). Technically, he remains in his seat until January 2016.

Over the years, Nick has attempted to represent the interests of organic family farmers. But his job has not always been easy, and many in the organic community have been frustrated by the influence of larger corporate organic interests on the body’s decision-making. Two of the four “farmer/growers” are corporate employees.

At the most recent meeting in Vermont, local farmers demonstrated in favor of the NOSB’s recent policy not to allow the organic label on soilless hydroponics. The USDA has not endorsed this policy and does appear to not prohibit labeling hydroponic food as organic at this time.

In addition, the Board reviewed over 100 “sunset” materials that are exceptions to the normal ban on using synthetics in organic food and farming. About 11 materials were successfully removed from the so-called “National List,” while Nick voted unsuccessfully to remove even more of these synthetics. USDA changed the rules for removing synthetics from the National List while Nick served on the Board. The new rules make it more difficult to remove synthetics. Had the original rules stayed in effect, more synthetics would have been removed at the recent board meeting.

Nick has enjoyed his opportunity to serve the organic community, and he looks forward to devoting his time back to the farm and to continuing his public advocacy for organic food and agriculture.

MOFFA Summer Social Farm Tour & Potluck Supper

Sunday, August 24
2:00 – 6:00 PM
Summer Creek Farm
15209 Mud College Road
Thurmont, Maryland 21788

Rick Hood, of Summer Creek Farm in Thurmont, has graciously offered to host this year’s Summer Social.

Rick established Summer Creek Farm in 1992 and currently has 34 acres in organic production. Summer Creek Farm grows vegetables, grains, and raises poultry.

Rick has been active in the agricultural community for many years serving as president of MOFFA (Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association), MCOGC (Maryland Certified Organic Growers Cooperative), and the Frederick Farmers Market, as well as being a Future Harvest/ CASA board member.

Come join us for a fun and informative afternoon!

Please bring a dish to share for a fantastic potluck supper.

For more information call or email: 301-785-2936 hcole77@aol.com

Please RSVP by August 18th on Facebook or to hcole77@aol.com

American Chestnut Land Trust is hiring a Farm Manager for the Double Oak Farm CSA

American Chestnut Land Trust Double Oak Farm CSA …Connecting people with the land — American Chestnut Land Trust
Double Oak Farm CSA
…Connecting people with the land

The American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program: ACLT operates a sustainable agriculture program that provides fresh, locally grown produce for up to 25 paid shareholders and 5 work shareholders over a 25-week growing season. The produce is grown using approved organic methods, however, ACLT’s program is not certified under the National Organic Program. Farm improvements include a one-acre fenced area with available drip irrigation, a 70’ x 30’ hoop house, and a 30’ x 30’ timber frame barn for equipment storage. Available equipment includes a vintage Gravely A10 commercial walk behind tractor with 30″ tiller, rotary plow and bush hog attachments; a Troy Bilt 14″ tiller; a Mini Honda tiller; an Agra-Fab 48″ spreader; a Solo broadcast seeder; a Jang Precision Seeder as well as miscellaneous hand tools.

Description of Skills and Duties:
ACLT is seeking a farm manager for the 2014 season. The position requires knowledge of and willingness to perform the following duties: supervise volunteers and work shareholders; coordinate work schedules; follow an existing plan for growing sufficient crops in progression and rotation to assure delivery of a weekly share (adequate for a family of four) of a variety of fresh produce to a maximum of 30 shareholders; carry out application of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides as well as manual control of insects, pests and weeds in accordance with approved organic gardening standards; maintain and operate irrigation system and farm equipment.

The position is flexible, part-time and seasonal (May – October). The farm manager should expect to spend part of every day, Monday – Friday, at the farm supervising volunteers and work shareholders. The number of hours per week will depend on conditions, but is expected to average approximately 30 hours per week over the course of the season. Position pays an hourly wage, depending on experience, and is a temporary position, not eligible for benefits.

A cover letter and description of experience should be sent to:

Karen Edgecombe, Executive Director
American Chestnut Land Trust
P.O. Box 2363
Prince Frederick, MD 20678

(410)414-3400

Or email to: Karen Edgecombe

A Call for Food Transparency

Mike Tabor of Licking Creek Bend Farm, asks Marylanders to contact their legislators to support bills SB0778 and HB1191, before March 2014 in support of GMO labeling. — MOFFA Member, Mike Tabor of Licking Creek Bend Farm, asks Marylanders to contact their legislators to support bills SB0778 and HB1191. Please call or email before March 11, 2014 in support of GMO labeling.

Regarding the March 11^th hearings on GMO labeling legislation, Marylanders should contact their legislators to support bills SB0778 and HB1191. As a farmer and consumer, I believe we should have the right to know if genetically modified organisms are in our food, just as we do with the amount of calories, preservatives and food coloring that consumers fought to have on food labels. We’re intelligent enough to read, research and choose, if we have the information. Thus, we need to have GMO foods labeled.

Regarding the FDA’S role in protection of the public, FDA does no independent testing of GMOs. They rely on short term tests conducted by the bio-tech industry! And FDA’s Chief of Food Safety, Michael Taylor, has been a Monsanto Vice President. Are these tests and individuals impartial? You can’t blame the public for being skeptical.

On the argument of selective breeding of seeds, I do want the most disease and pest resistant varieties of seeds when I farm. But, genetic engineering is a hit or miss, new and risky process of splicing genes from one species (usually animal) into the DNA of another (vegetable). This is not “natural” and not what is meant by the age old practice of “selective breeding” within the same species. GMOs are not an extension of “natural breeding”, but rather ultimately meant for company profit because bio-tech companies have received patents on these new life forms.

Monsanto, Syngenta and other bio-tech companies want control of what seeds farmers use. They have bought up the majority of the smaller seed companies in this country. The purchase of their GMO seeds mandates the use of their exclusive chemicals such as Roundup (glyphosate) and Atrazine, which have created super weeds that their chemicals can no longer kill. These chemicals flow into our drinking water. Syngenta recently lost a $100 million class action suit against many states and municipalities to clean the Atrazine out of the drinking water. Maryland has one of the nation’s highest amounts of Atrazine in its drinking water, but for some unknown reason it was not part of the suit and did not receive any money for the cleanup.

The issues of GMO health dangers have raised enough questions that 64 countries, including the European Union, require labeling. The bio-tech industry cannot prove to them that GM foods are safe. In fact, we, the American public, never had that choice – and in the end we are really the bio-tech industry’s guinea pigs.

I am always saddened by the fact our governor, and our senate president, and most members of the
General Assembly turn to the MD Dept of Ag for guidance on these issues. Its head, Buddy Hance, was the former president of the MD Farm Bureau. The farming sector, which represents only 2% of the Maryland GNP, controls public policy when it comes to the health and safety of 100% of its citizenry, the environment, and health of the Chesapeake Bay. The Farm Bureau, although composed of family farmers like myself, mostly represents the interests of large corporate farming including the multi-billion dollar profits of the biotechnology chemical companies. They pour millions of dollars into state campaigns against the labeling of GMO foods because they believe it will cut down on company profits. Our health and well-being are not a concern of theirs.

So, we, the citizens of Maryland, have the right to know, so we can make informed choices, which is the backbone of a democratic society. We need to pass a GMO labeling law for ourselves, our children and the future. Call your state delegates and let them know that!

Michael Tabor is a farmer, consumer and Maryland resident. For more information, visit needtoknowmaryland.org.

Mike Tabor

Takoma Park, MD

esiegel2@igc.org

240-505-6282 cell

Who Is Making Our Farming Choices?

Many farmers in Maryland and across the country are using genetically modified organisms—also know as GMOs. Most of the corn and soybeans, growth hormones and vaccines sold by Monsanto, Elanco, Syngenta, Dow, Dupont, Bayer and BASF are produced with gene altering biotechnology.

This technology allows the creation of life forms that would never occur in nature because genes from one species are being transferred into a totally different species. In addition, these new life forms are patented so farmers cannot legally save and reproduce them.

In the mid-1990’s the promise from the bio-tech companies was that these novel products would help cows produce more milk, control or eliminate weeds, repel insects and diseases, and create heat and drought tolerance.

The idea was that us farmers would make more money, our yields would go up, our pesticide use would go down (good for sustaining the environment), and we would be on our way to ending world hunger. Sounded pretty good. So how do these promises stack up after 20 years?

Well, I do not know if you are feeling any richer, but most farmers I know have not noticed the difference. On the other hand, the bio-tech companies have done pretty well for themselves, and they had enough money to buy up most of the small regional seed companies. Genetically engineered seeds are more expensive, and now it is hard to even find locally adapted non-GMO seeds. Interestingly, some mid-West farmers are returning to older corn varieties because they feel they are losing yield and profits with the bio-tech seeds.

Dairy farmers found cows treated with rBST hormone get more udder infections. Most dairies have abandoned rBST, and consumers welcomed that change. We ignored the predictions from some university weed scientists, and our fields are now plagued with about two dozen superweeds that can’t be killed by RoundUp.

But don’t worry, the bio-tech companies are trying to license new seed that resists other stronger herbicides such as 2,4D. Without the benefit of sophisticated technology, nature’s weeds began to out smart bio-tech in a mere half a dozen years.

And pesticide use has not gone down. And insects? You guessed it, they are attacking the Bt crops that are supposed to repel them. Drought and heat resistance, well they are still working on that one. And world hunger? Don’t ask.

If bio-tech were a “silver bullet,” we would all know it by now. Instead, consumers across the nation are demanding GMO labeling laws. They want to know what they are eating. They want a choice. Just as farmers want a choice to buy non-GMO seeds and vaccines.

Our rights as farmers and consumers to know and chose is in danger of being lost. As federal Judge Jeffrey White warned in a recent case involving RoundUp ready sugar beets, genetic engineering could mean the “potential elimination of farmer’s choice to grow non-genetically engineered crops, or a consumer’s choice to eat non-genetically engineered food.”

Who is making the choice of how you farm or what you eat? If you want the right to choose, support bills HB1191/SB0778 now in the Maryland legislature that would require GMO labeling for produce and most packaged food.

Once consumers know what they’re eating, their choices will expand and so will ours. Get involved, go to NeedToKnowMaryland.org.

Nick Maravell,
organic farmer, Montgomery and Frederick Counties, MD
member, National Organic Standards Board

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Keynote Speaker: CAROLINE TAYLOR

Exec. Director, Montgomery County Alliance

The Future of Farming on Metro’s Edge: Collaborating & Raising Voices Together

Panels

Share this:

Like this:

Join us for a Farm Tour and Potluck Lunch at Clagett Farm August 5, 2018

10:30 AM-1:30 PM

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Join us for a Farm Tour and Potluck Lunch at Clagett Farm

August 5, 2018