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Hancock Village CSA Shares Available For 2012
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Shareholders can stop in on Tuesdays and Saturdays to pick up vegetables, herbs and flowers, and share recipes.
Participants like grabbing the pre-packaged shares, said Bill Mangiardi, director of farm and facilities, but anyone with the yen to join in the harvesting as well is welcome to do so.
The working history museum was recently awarded a $1,550 grant from the Green Pastures Fund, a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, to improve the cold-storage capacity of the root cellars built by the Shakers in the 1910 barn complex.
"The upgrade to the root cellars gives us more time to pull together the harvest and keep everything in pristine condition on hot days," said Mangiardi.
Harvest distribution will runs about 20 weeks between mid-June and late October. This is the second year that the village has operated a CSA. It's designed to provide for up to 80 housholds; full shares for up to three to four people are $500, half shares for one to two people are $250. Reserve at www.hancockshakervillage.org or by calling 413-443-0188.
Cummington Creamery Co-op Finds Financing Support
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Thanks to the bank's commitment, just one more fundraising task remains before the Old Creamery Co-op can purchase the business. In a drive to raise a total of $285,000 in member-owner loans or additional gifts — the final financing component — three community members have challenged the greater co-op community by promising $25,000 if member-owners pledge an additional $75,000 by the end of the month.
If this challenge is met, the co-op will be able to purchase the business and proceed with renovations to the store and grounds, and finish the last of the fundraising during this year. Of the needed $285,000 in member-owner loans and gifts, $135,000 has been raised already.
"We are excited to be providing the financing support for the Old Creamery Cooperative project in Cummington," said John Heap, president of Florence Savings Bank. "We are also looking forward to serving our Hilltown customers with ATM service at the Creamery when the renovations are completed. The Creamery has been part of the Hilltown community for more than 100 years and we are happy to play a role in building the financial foundation for the next hundred."
Financing for the project, including acquisition, construction, and a capital credit line, is being provided by Florence Savings Bank.
"The vibrant cultural heart of the Hilltowns is the Old Creamery in Cummington," said Rachel Maddow, MSNBC host, author of the best seller "Drift," and a Hilltowns resident. "It is my favorite retail establishment in the entire universe."
The Creamery, in turn, has created a sandwich called the "The Spicy Maddow" to honor the well-known supporter of the co-op.
"The Old Creamery is one of the most values-based and community-oriented businesses I have ever known," said co-op member and longtime Creamery cook and baker Emmy Howard. "I feel very fortunate to be able to work and shop at a business that is able to hold service to the community and environmental awareness as guiding principles. Because the community, in turn, supports the Creamery, it is able to remain a viable business that continues to give back to the community. If this sounds circular, it is, and that is the beauty of the Old Creamery and its community."
To learn more about the creation of the Old Creamery Cooperative, visit www.OldCreamery.coop.
Submitted by Bill Latimer, communications coordinator for Old Creamery Cooperative
Local Chef In Supermarket Chef Showdown 2012
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Unfortunately, his Veggie Enchilada Casserole lost to an Italian Pie whipped up by Amber Pruett of Publix Super Markets Inc. Pruett will go on to compete against the winners of the Ethnic, Indulgent and Health Alternatives cagetories on Thursday.
Roach, of North Adams, was selected with four other chefs from hundreds who submitted recipes.
He introduced his enchilada dinner to the three judges by describing it as "a pudgy white guys version of Mexican when he's cooking in Dallas."
"The classic clean out the pantry dish" was presented as a hearty and wholesome offering with cilantro coleslaw on the side. He was the last of the five finalists to present his dish.
All the competitors received a gold medal for being finalists. Here's the feed recorded live from Ustream. ( It was having audio difficulties.)
| Video streaming by Ustream |
Wild Oats Chef Finalist In Food Institute Competition
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Roach was named as one of five finalists in the Family Meals Category for his winning Veggie Enchilada Casserole, designed as a healthy and delicious meal that's easy to prepare. The competition takes place at the institute's 2012 convention in Dallas from April 30 to May 3. The convention brings together some 25,000 industry professionals from 90 countries.
If he wins, Roach will compete for the title of "Grand Chef" in the Championship Challenge held on the last day of the convention. He represents Wild Oats Market against well-known national and regional supermarket chains like Publix, Roche Bros., Safeway and Wegmans. More than 350 recipes were submitted for the competition from 50 retail and wholesale companies across the country.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, from which he received the Roth Outstanding Student Performance Award and the President's Scholarship, Roach's career has included stints in the kitchens of Wolfgang Puck, Jimmy Schmidt and Charlie Trotter. He was chef at Helen's Place for four years before joining Wild Oats in 2007. Since then, he has introduced hot-foods and salad bars, expanded its "grab n' go deli" and bakery operation, and introduced catering services.
Wild Oats Market is a member-owned, cooperative-based whole foods market specializing in local and organic products. The co-op is located at 320 Main St.
Git Along Little Guru
On March 31, IS 183 will host their annual fundraising blow-out.
This year's extravaganza will be called Buckaroo Bollywood. Should you decide to go, you'll be served extravagant dishes of barbecue and Indian delicacies under colorful tents and later, after you've stuffed yourself on every possible delicacy eight local chefs can dream up, you'll boogie down Bollywood style under colorful chiffon tents, peacock lanterns, floating mirrors and cowgirl murals.
If you're thirsty, there will be a blue elephant dispensing beer through its trunk. Don't feel like dancing? Well, you can take a spin on an adult-sized hobby horse and maybe rope a filly or two.
iBerkshires visited the site while the decorations were still going up. Here are a few photos, the whole thing already looks like a rootin' tootin' good time! Dinner tickets are nearly sold out but dance tickets are available for $50 each with the proceeds going to IS 183's public school programs. So if you want to get your guru-groove on, get your chaps over to this fundraiser. How often are you going to get the chance to get a beer from a blue elephant - for real?
Decorator Joe Wheaton, ropes Seth (an IS 183 Board Member) while Caitlin looks on.
At your service. (And you don't have to be tipsy to see it.)
Stephanie Farrington of