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John Carroll, Dave Langley,
>> Teresa Walker,
>> Brian Cassidy, Leah Alexander,
>> David Marulier,
>> Samantha Register.
>> Thank you. That's why I didn't start
with you since you were chewing. I was
still chewing. Um, so Anton's traveling
and so is Alberto and Holly can't join
us. So, um, we'll get started. The We
now have been asked um by Todd to start
all our agendas with this public
comment. They've asked all the boards
and commissions in town to do that. So,
I'll check with uh Gwennneth. Is there
anyone there on Zoom or that has a
comment for us?
>> Nope.
>> Thank you. And um we have a late
addition to our agenda that John, you
want to address that now?
>> Okay, fine. the [clears throat] um
lighting as you may know the yellow
lights which are much more desirable
than white lights. Um the u group that
has assembled to put all this together
John Gian 40 director of UNH observatory
and professor of astronomy at UNH Mike
Carter James Bubar M Friedrich for the
town council and Diana Carroll are
active um with this. The purpose is um
outdoor lighting that is non-disruptive
to nature plus darker skies. So the
yellow lights are very desirable from
the point of view of of those two
things. U they're giving out more free
outdoor light bulbs. It was very
successful last year. Over $500 worth of
bulbs were given to residents who
committed to install plus provided
education to um bulb receiving recipient
recipients. Almost all recipients um
were surprised to find out that flying
insects who are obsessed with white
light do not see the color yellow as
they are not impacted by yellow light
bulbs. The ad hoc lighting group is
currently working with the planning
board to re-evaluate the u outdoor uh
lighting situation. Uh the conservation
commission has given its support already
and the group would like to come to farm
day to distribute light light bulbs this
year and a couple of other town events
in September.
But uh that's the update on the light
bulbs. They have the money and they're
putting it into purchasing more uh
bulbs. They should have those available
by early August.
>> Great. Thank you, John.
>> I love that.
>> I got my yellow light bulbs at farm day
last year.
>> Yep. same.
>> Good.
>> Um, so they will join us at farm day. I
let them know that if they want to be
over at rays with their information and
their bulbs, they can do that.
>> That's what they're planning.
>> Yep.
>> Did anyone have any questions on that?
No. Sounds like we all got it. They did
ask us in the M asked us in the email
they're looking for funding to buy the
bulbs if we had any discretionary
funding and I said no, we do not.
>> But they have gotten the funding.
>> They have gotten the funding. Yeah. Um,
next on our agenda is the minutes of the
May meeting.
So I'll entertain a motion on those.
>> I read them and I'll uh move that we
accept the minutes as obligated.
>> Is there seconded?
>> Thank you. All those in favor of
approving our minutes from the May
meeting.
>> I do you abstain? I think right you
weren't.
>> No, this one I was at the last
>> Oh, you were the last. Okay. Sorry.
>> I'm okay. Um anybody opposed?
>> Okay. Motion approves. Thank you.
The next uh correspondence, the only
correspondence we had was from M
regarding the um yellow lights and then
I've had a lot of emails back and forth
with the many groups that are joining us
for farm day. So, um, I shared, let's
just jump into that planning because we
have a few minutes to spend figuring out
our final schedule and it's changed
since I sent it to you last week with
the agenda just a little bit. Um,
in that I was able to add some
information. So, Dave M, I'm going to
start with you. We need to pick a time
for the food fermentation
[clears throat]
workup workshop at Freedom Cafe.
>> So, Samantha has graciously agreed to
help me run that. Um we are thinking
just 10 to uh 10 to 12.
>> Okay. 10 to 12.
>> Yeah. It'll just be ongoing depending on
how many people are there and we can
just
>> Okay. Yep. So ongoing. So just drop off
drop in.
>> So we can we can just give the
fermentation spiel and quick demo as
many times as need be.
>> Okay.
>> Um just depend.
>> So I'll just say drop in between
>> between 10 and 12.
>> Okay. So we don't need people to
pre-register do anything like that.
Perfect.
>> No, we figured that's the easiest way to
do it.
>> So I'll just start at the top. So at
Rays, you saw that list. Do we want to
do the learn to use and sharpen a sythe
at 130?
>> Looking at my sythe men,
>> are you on the first page?
>> Yes. Under lash farm.
>> Teresa, I apologize. I was not at that
meeting in May. I was doing a sleep
study.
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> I wish I had been asleep, but I couldn't
I couldn't do it.
>> It was a short meeting.
>> We could have helped you. [laughter] You
>> Yeah. I couldn't have used it cuz I
didn't sleep.
>> Oh no.
>> Um so it rays uh the he asked me to take
out the maple sugar shack tours cuz he
doesn't have anyone for that. So um we
need to pick a time for our sthing demo
and then I will add information about
the lighting the yellow lighting there.
Good. Um so in addition to the um ad hoc
group, ad hoc lighting group, um
Baronique will be there for the
conservation commission with um
information on habitat management for
pollinators and wildlife and the I
natural n the naturalist project. The
historic association will be there with
their map.
>> Um
>> and where is this going to be?
>> At Lash Farm. That's kind of been the
hub, Jay, for a bit because he's he's
got a lot of space for parking and like
an a way to aggregate a lot of things
going on over there.
>> So, we need to Are we doing honey
sampling there, too? Ray would
>> What? Ray might.
>> Ray might. I'll check with him cuz
you're at Emory,
>> right?
>> Yep. Let me check with Ray. I think he
did last year, right?
>> It's kind of up to his daughter and then
>> and
>> he's got his antique tractor display.
He's already started pulling everything
out. He's already done uh one cut. His
first cuts down, so I don't know if he's
going to do hang and plowing. I'll check
with him about that. Um
>> yeah, I don't think he's done the second
cut tree. So,
>> no, he just finished first. Yeah, he
just got first in. Everybody's just
getting first in. Um
so 1:30 for the siding.
>> Can you be there, too? Are you going to
be there, too?
>> I'm on a building.
>> Okay, so you're not there. Okay, no
problem.
>> 1:30. Okay. Um, so that's raised at the
Kingman farm. Um, I've talked with
Anton. They're going to have touch a
tractor there, including the new, um,
gas natural gas power tractor they just
had donated. And then they'll be leading
the tour of the agroforestry research.
So that's touch a tractor 10 to noon,
agroforestry 12:30. So that kind of
conflicts with fermentation a little
bit.
>> Oh, no. Well,
>> not really. I guess you could drop in at
10 and then go over. If you do touch a
tractor, you probably have young kids
and you're probably now coming
>> coming to fermentation. Okay. [laughter]
>> Agree though.
>> I'm happy because it means I get to go
to Anton
>> finish up fermentation building.
>> Yeah, exactly.
>> Zip over there. Okay. So, is the
description for the fermentation I kind
of
>> So, there's one cooler piece that that
Brian's going to have be running some
specials from.
>> Yeah, we are looking for a contact
information for any of our
>> farm partners. Y
>> uh because Brian would like to run
>> some locally sourced food,
you know, I would suggest he drop by the
market
>> on Mondays and he could talk with um the
Hollisters. They're there with you know
all their greens and fruits and stuff
like that. But I think I gave you Emry
um Holly's contact. You can contact
Holly and then Sarah at I don't have
contact for Sarah Ti, but I think that's
the other person if you wanted to serve
some corn cuz she I saw her Instagram
post two weeks ago is that they're going
to have corn. They're hoping by the end
of July
>> this year. It's early. Yeah. So,
>> last year we weren't even sure if we'd
have it by farm day.
>> I remember.
>> So, do you want me to add in there that
they'll be serving food that day from
local farms?
eat.
No,
>> we'll we'll figure that out.
>> I I assume he'll just advertise that on
like a sandwich board.
>> Sandwich board. Excellent.
>> Teresa, you mentioned a corn uh TC farm
as well, right?
>> Yeah. And I just don't have Sarah's. I
was able to give them Holly's
information, how to contact Holly. I
just don't have
>> Sarah at TC Farm.
>> Yeah. I don't have Sarah's. Yeah.
>> They'll have corn by that time.
>> That was her post. Was that maybe the
end of July?
>> Wow.
>> I know.
>> I hope so. Yeah,
>> but everything's early this year.
>> Everything is Yeah. Look, it's sure
looking
>> really, but
>> we're talking August here is farm day,
right?
>> August 15th. Yeah.
>> Should have it by then. Yeah.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Yeah. Except for last year they were
because of the drought they were we were
>> they were
>> Yeah, it came last end of July last
year, I think.
>> Yeah. But this year should we should
have corn easily by the 16th.
>> Yeah. Lots of local like um um they have
it up at they have it at Barkers already
I saw in Stratam and so some people do
have it.
>> Oh some place
>> I mean every farm is getting local corn
already.
>> Tuttles Tuttles.
>> Tuttles.
>> Tuttles has got it. Yeah. Well, what
used to be Tuttles. Whatever it is now.
>> Well, it's
>> tender crop.
>> Tender crop.
>> Tender. Tender crops. That's
>> wish it was tunnels but
>> um so continuing with our agenda for
that day. Um my farmer will be open from
10 to 3 so people can learn about sheep
management and meet the sheep. And um
I'm going to have a bunch of friends
there doing spinning and weaving
demonstrations. And then um my friend
Dylan Brady who's making uh wool pellets
for soil amendment will be there with
that product too showing people how to
do that. So, we'll be busy you there.
Garden tour at the Langley Farm family
home 11 to noon. Still good.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. I
>> think so.
>> Um, and is the description okay?
>> Um,
let's see. I think
>> is it bigger than 4,500 ft now?
>> No.
>> Oh,
>> is this going to go on the Friday
updates?
>> Yes, it was. We'll make I I have to
finalize this and then we make a
brochure, a big flyer that goes up and
then it's
>> I want to make sure it is.
>> Oh, yes, absolutely. Yep.
>> Um so we've already had a couple save
the dates and Friday update to remind
people of the date.
>> Um Emory Farm. So, this is um the
updated information from Holly
>> because they'll have pick your own
flowers from 8:00 to 11:00, which is a
new thing they're going to be doing on
Saturdays. Jameson's offering that honey
testing from 10 to 2.
>> 10 to 2.
>> And so that's the and updated their
hours from 8 to not 10 to 6 from So now
they're 8 to 6. The community gardens at
Wagen Hill Farm I did confirm and there
all that information is correct. Ti is
correct. Coffee House is doing joining
us. Hickory Nut Farm is joining us.
Misty Meadows is back this year. They
missed they couldn't do last year, but
they're back with us. And you can
they're doing um a tour of the
production herb gardens, 150 species of
medicinal and culinary plants. They're
going to do a guided plant and ID walk
through their forest trails. They're
going to do uh learn how to harvest, how
their harvest is processed and prepared
for sale for medicine. Um and then
they're going to be also um doing tours
of what they call their beauty garden
and providing some chilled lavender
lemonade. So they've got a full day
going there. Um Fat Peach Farm is back
with us again too um in Madbury and
they're going to be doing a kind of uh
you can see their no till permanent
raised bed system and make a dried
flower arrangement to bring home. So now
we have three uh two Madbury because the
uh Kingman farm obviously Madbury 2 and
so the only other one I'm waiting on is
the Meadows Community Garden. So I've
been talking with Christina Felix. She's
gone. Um she'd like to have the garden
be open but she needs to find another
member to man it. Um so that's our last
>> Getting back to Henry part. Did you talk
to Laura Brown on Fox Point Oysters?
I didn't. But there was um Holly didn't
say to take her out.
>> Yeah. No, I
>> I can I can text her. I can ask her.
>> Uh no, I u I think Laura and her husband
Steve will be there.
>> But I just double check and that's all.
>> I'll double check.
>> Okay. It wasn't it wasn't removed from
the edit that Holly sent me. So I
assumed that they were that they were
there. So, um, the only thing that's
outstanding now is the Meadows Community
Garden. Everything else I think we got
set. So, we've got a lot to offer. So,
um, at our August meeting, I'll bring
the farm sign, farm day site signs for
us to take back to wherever we're going
to be. And, um, but before then, I'll
send an email to everybody cuz I will,
uh, make have finalize the brochure and
make tons of copies so we can get them
out. And so the same usual places I
guess wherever you're going the library
here. Um last year we had some across
the way. Um
we'll have the QR code on it so people
can just go to the adcom's web page. But
anywhere you're traveling like I bring
it to the grain store or just all the
libraries everybody everywhere we can
get it out is great um [clears throat]
to spread the word.
>> Is it displayed at the Durham Farmers
Market?
>> Yep. I bring it out to the market and
leave it with all the vendors. Okay.
>> So, we have Durham Day before that. So,
that's another thing. I didn't sign us
up to do anything cuz we're already
committed to this event, but I don't
know if someone I don't Are you Who's
going to be at far Durham Day? I'm
looking at my council member here. Are
you at the farm day, Jay?
when when is
>> it? August 6th.
>> I can't remember if it's the fourth or
the 6th. I think it's the sixth.
>> Uh, no. We're going to be up in Candid.
>> Okay. So, I just need It would be great
if maybe I'll give them to Verinique.
Well, speaking of Durham Day, Ray and I,
Ray Rash and I did it two years ago,
three years, whatever it was.
>> You did it several times. I feel like
>> we did.
>> Uh, it's really not something that
I mean, we were there, but there really
wasn't anything we had to share with
them other than just
>> I think we had the Yeah, we had the bee
friendly bookmarks or something.
>> Yeah, that's that was about it. So
>> I think farm day is a more meaningful
thing for most people than they wouldn't
they would never come to Durham Day just
for for our
>> BCOM booth.
>> But it is a way for us to get the
brochure out. So I'll ask if she could
have it at um Durham Day cuz that's a
good way to get
>> I do drop off uh the bookmarks at the
library.
>> Periodically they they say they you know
>> Yep. I've seen them people pick them
I'll pick them up and I'll put copies
there, too. So, in the past, like for
years, we did posters and all. That's
just not a efficient use of our res.
It's very scant resources to print that
stuff up and stick it. So, but the
brochure is good because we have them
beforehand and then we can have them in
each site and then um people can then
find where else to go like other stuff
that we're doing. So, I just I need help
getting those out more than anything
else. And um my friend Laura, who's done
the artwork for the 13 years, has done
an um she's just finishing it up now.
It's cute. It looks like Wagon Hill with
the community gardens in front of it. So
it has the wagon on the top of the hill.
So I think um that kind of will tell
people where we are,
>> where this is. So it's great that we
have Durham, Lee, and Madbury back
because that's something that we had
expanded to a few years ago. So it's
nice to have all three towns.
Is there anything else for Farm Day?
Thank you to everybody for all this
work.
>> Race, as usual, is in charge of weather,
so
>> it'll be nice.
>> You've done a good job the past few
years.
>> As long as it's not as hot as it will be
or has been.
>> I came I was in uh Fourth of July
weekend. I was in Timmonia, Maryland
with um my forage club for the
All-American Junior Sheep Show. So 3,000
sheep, 600 kids from across the country.
It's a cool event. It was 118°.
>> Oh. I've never been that hot.
>> 118
>> 118.
>> That's scary.
>> It was It was And he like like Maryland
118. So what's the with the humidity? It
was really
>> close to 100%.
>> I took I kept getting in my truck and
taking pictures of the thing because I
was like what? 105 what? 111.
>> Just a lot of sheep heat together too.
>> I know. Yep. Yep.
>> Right. There
>> it is. I know. We actually It was funny
because there people from all over. So
like the Arkansas, we were penned next
to people from Arkansas and they were
just like I don't know what all you
people are talking about. Like they just
[laughter] couldn't get it cuz that's
all we talked about for 5 days was the
temperature and they were just like
normal day for them I guess. So
>> a couple of days ago it was
>> they didn't work they didn't know where
New Hampshire was. So that was a self
that was a good educational
>> Billings or Boseman was hotter than
Phoenix.
>> By about degrees.
>> Yeah. All time record any day any year.
I saw that they issued a heat warning
for the like Grand Teton National Park.
>> Yeah. That's crazy.
>> It's kind of hard to imagine.
>> We're going to have to move underground
pretty soon.
>> Yes.
Um Okay.
So, that covers us for Farm Day. Um old
business just our usual list of things
that we're working on. Um,
we need to the one thing to follow up
there that I haven't is talking with the
heritage. Is it the heritage commission?
Is that what what we have? So, last
month Jay, they came Durham Historic
Association came and presented their
maps of the farms 1830. It's very cool
and very popular at farm day. So, we
talked about having a um just a joint
presentation in the fall with the Durham
Historic Association, the Agricultural
Commission
um and the Heritage Commission on
the history of farms in Durham.
So, that's something we can get to after
after Farm Day
and land stewardship subcommittee.
>> Nothing new. They're they continue to um
deal with the town properties, but uh
virtually no agricultural oriented
issues.
>> You want a quick update on
>> be friendly? Yeah.
>> Uh Brian and I are tag team. We uh uh
oversee about 25 hives in the greater
Durham area and what is it maybe eight
or 10 beekeepers.
Um things are a little slower this year
than past years. I think the heat has
been an issue. Um, but there could be
other factors as well. Um, don't seem to
be getting the honey production that we
normally would by now.
>> Well, it's been really hot.
>> It has been really hot and we'll be hot
tomorrow.
>> I think 97 high of 97 tomorrow.
>> I don't know. I just kept telling myself
after Maryland like it's all good now.
It's all going to feel fine to me. Um,
we talked about having like a beekeeper
meet up
>> at farm day.
>> That's right. I forgot about that. Oh,
well
>> no, we're like if
>> Yeah, we will be having up at Embry Farm
on the 29th of this month.
>> Uh,
Holly refers to as a farm talk, basics
of backyard beekeeping.
And, uh,
they'll be I'll put something sent in
something for the Friday update for Todd
>> uh, this week. Um,
ideally it'll be, you know, 10, 12, 14
people, which we can easily accommodate
in the in the market that's air
conditioned.
>> This will be like the fourth or fifth
one we've held in the past three or four
>> Excellent.
farmers market. I did not get there this
afternoon. Was anyone there? First one I
missed. Well, I went to pick up help my
wife
close up. She said it's been a good
market. I mean, there aren't very many
things there, but as long as they have
the veggies.
>> Yeah. As long as
>> And they have the bread.
>> As long as Hollisters is there.
>> Hollister is there. And says she does
very well because the bread's right next
to her.
>> That I've noticed that. That is good.
Yeah.
>> She says it's not a big
>> She needs like a peanut butter vendor on
the other side.
>> It's just kind of a continuous people
coming throughout the whole time.
>> So, she's been very pleased with it. I I
was there at the opening. Again, very
few people when you look around, but all
the farmers seem to be satisfied that
they're getting enough business.
>> Usually at opening, it's just the people
waiting to open like at Hollisters, so
they can grab,
>> you know, the greens. Yeah.
>> Teresa, there is an interesting uh
Jameson Small, a farmer at Emer Farm,
has his own, it's called Locabberry.
>> Locabberry. Yeah.
>> And uh what do you call it? The food
>> CSA.
>> CFA. Community support. CSA.
>> CSA. Yeah.
>> Community support.
>> Community share in agriculture.
>> Uh he's got now 55 people, which is
double from last year.
>> Last year. Yep.
>> I'm Elaine and I are one of them. And uh
>> me I'm one too.
>> Yeah. It's pretty good.
>> It's very good. He does a great job
promoting on Instagram. He's very good.
I love his
>> emails. Yeah. His emails are
>> That's a good reminder. Thank you. Is
there any other business
for us to attend to? This could be a
record for the shortest meeting,
>> which is not a bad thing. Any other
business? None.
>> Dave, anything to add? How's your
garden?
>> David has 8 foot corn.
>> How's your garden?
>> Good. Doing okay.
>> Yeah. David has what?
>> 8 foot corn in his backyard.
>> It's outrageous.
>> and beautiful.
>> Did you have sheep compost in there? Is
that why? Yes. I tell you, my sheep
compost,
>> it is the bed that had
>> Yep. Let me show you.
>> I'm telling you. So, the wool pellet
fertilizer is fascinating because so we
uh they all it is is just fleece that we
don't send to the spinning mill. It's
what we call belly wool. It's too short
for the mill. Anything that comes off
their head or legs, which is too short.
And it just gets it looks like they put
it in a giant quezin art and then it
just goes into a little crusher and it
comes out like a little pill. But it
increases moisture retention by 45%.
>> Amazing.
>> And it's just slow release nitrogen,
right? Wool is just nitrogen, right?
It's just [snorts] slow release into
your soil.
>> So there's the compost is doing the same
thing. There's a lot of wool in there
cuz I'll we'll throw belly
[clears throat] wool into the compost
pile, too. So So for
>> [snorts]
>> um not so much this year, but the last
couple years with drought,
>> mix that into your
>> you know, anything you're potting up and
you will have to water a lot less when
you think about it cuz it just expands,
right? It's hydro. It's pretty wild to
watch. Anyway,
>> I'll show you the picture.
>> It is all the rage.
>> Where do you get these or where can you
>> um
there's a bunch of farms that I know
that are the the equipment to make the
pellet must not be very expensive
because a lot of people I know who raise
sheep are now making their own and
selling it.
>> that is the results of your sheep
compost.
>> Oh, nice and green.
>> Explosive.
>> Okay. But if if John Q public would like
to
>> Yes, I will send you I'll send you out
the link for it. So, there's a couple of
farms right around here that are making
them. Yeah. And they just basically um
like I say, they just take handfuls of
fleece, right? You know, like we've
shorn it off the sheep. They put it into
a tumbler. It chops it up and makes it
um just kind of breaks it apart so it's
fluffy. It looks like just fluffy wool.
And then it goes, that part is hidden
from the camera. It just goes into
something that pelletizes it. I just
picture like a pillow machine. It's just
compressing and chopping. It's heated to
175 to kill off any [clears throat]
>> any um germs.
>> Germs is the wrong word, but you know
what I mean. Anything any pathogens.
Yeah, pathogens is much better word. And
then it chops it into these little
pellets that you can just mix into the
soil. So, it's very cool. It's a great
use for
>> for fiber. So, um I will get you some.
Um Okay. All those in favor of
adjourning, please say I. Hi.
>> Any opposed?
>> Thank you. Thank you, Gwennneth. Nice
>> Nice work, team.