03/08/2014

Diversity is a very favorite word for our generation, unlike for the generations of the past. They were amazed by standardization and by one-size fits all principles. Any customer could have a car painted any color that he wanted so long as it was black. That sure was efficient and efficiency was the principle upon which a civilization of industrialization was based. In that era, the fittest survived. But is this the principle by which we should move forward? If calculated efficiency is what we are…

24/03/2014

What is your name? Josee Malenfant   Where are you from? Canada   What is your occupation? Interpreter   Which are your favorite products from farmhopping? The jarred beef from the Wild Farm and the trout from the Monastery - it’s very fresh!   Why did you choose farmhopping? Because it gives me the opportunity to connect with the people who make the products. I like the idea that I can show them how important they are. The farmers…

18/03/2013

Titled “Spring Into Your Local Farmers’ Markets”, the infographic explores the increasing popularity of farmers’ markets in the US over the last 15 years. Key highlights of the infographic include:     A look into the number of farmers markets since the mid-1990's     The environmental impact of buying local     Profile of farmers markets consumers – who they are, frequency of visits and amount they spend     Overview of the Farmers Market Nutritional Program Infographic credits: Farmers…

04/03/2013

The happy farm in Rhodopa Mountain produces biohumus and red Californian worms. It is located near to Gornoslav village, on protected by Natura 2000 territories. It was created in April 2012 by us – Ruslana, Dimiter, Ivan. I, Ruslana, used to be an IT, Dimiter was a journalist and Ivan – an engineer. We all gathered around the idea of living close to nature by starting a farm. The last few years we spent abroad and came back to Bulgaria convinced in what we have always known – going back to nature…

27/02/2013

We are a 90-acre family-run alpaca and mohair farm. We - shear, spin and card, knit and crochet and felt - our own animals for fiber. We milk our goats and hand-raise some kids so we can make cheeses. We also breed Muscovy ducks for eggs and meat. The ducks help the chickens keep the insect populations down to a maintainable level. We compost all our manure for use on pastures and for sale. We are working hard to improve our pastures, using Yeoman's' techniques, and sustainable practices at all…

18/02/2013

Communigrow is a social enterprise working in Kent, to create a community growing project for the benefit of young people and families interested in growing their own produce affordably and sustainably. There is one line that sums up the idea, "We are never going to be able to afford local, organic, sustainably raised food without doing it for ourselves" Inspired by the ever increasing interest in good local food with a desire to exhibit best community engagement it is essential to promote…

06/02/2013

Image credit: shutterstock Guest blog post by Victor Me and my girlfriend sprang down the front steps of our co-op apartment building bound for the three-block jaunt to the local market.  It was the beginning of the week and, as always, we knew the market’s displays would be jam-packed with lots of fresh products and high-quality vegetables and fruits, including two of our weekly favorites – oranges and honey. We discovered the locally-owned market a few weeks after we moved into the city.…

04/02/2013

At the most magical, east part of Rhodopa Mountain we found farm Ecoagrobio. Behind the complicated name is something very simple – one man’s dream. Living up in the mountain in a natural rhythm and surrounded by pristine beauty is what Georgi has wished for ever since he can remember. And here he is today, proud owner of a farm in the village of Chernichino. In 2007 Georgi decided to take care of an endangered species, Rhodopa short-horned ox, the oldest aboriginal breed in Europe. For a…