Brunswick Barter Market, Coordinated by Merrymeeting Permaculture and Transition
May 12th, Saturday, 3:00PM
Please join us for our new, monthly Brunswick Barter Market swap event! Barter Markets are free and open to all, and anything can be brought to trade: preserved and fresh food, handmade items, seeds and plants, books, tools, your time or skills — whatever it is you’d like to share with others and exchange for things you need or want! Inspired by the Portland Trading Post events facilitated by Portland Maine Permaculture, the guidelines are the same, namely:
- No cash changes hands
- Don’t start the swapping until everyone’s there and has a chance to look around at what’s on offer.
- You can swap with someone or simply “gift” things to each other without taking a return item. Your choice.
- Make sure you’ve found a home for all your stuff before you leave (or take home what hasn’t been gifted).
- If you bring a food item with multiple ingredients, please label.
The idea is to create a space that exists outside the cash economy, practice non-monetized exchange, circulate surplus within our community, and have a gosh-darned good time doing it. Even if you think you have nothing to offer, feel free to come and check it out! The more people, the better! Keep your eyes out for more details on the Merrymeeting Permaculture and Transition Meetup site.
Wolfe’s Neck Farm Spring Festival and Annual Plant Sale
May 19th, Saturday, 10:00AM-2:00PM
We’ll be exhibiting at this awesome local event, sharing some compost knowledge and enjoying the activities. Wolfe’s Neck Farm describes their Spring Festival this way: Enjoy the warming weather by attending our family-friendly Spring Celebration. We invite local farms and other organizations to participate in our celebration and provide activities, crafts, games, and demonstrations. In past years, activities have included seed planting, felting, a scavenger hunt, nature weaving, crafts, and more. The Spring Celebration offers food, music, education and fun! The Spring Celebration costs $5 per person or $20 for a family, with a 50% discount for members!
How Your Understanding of Nutrition Affects Land Conservation
May 24th, Thursday, 7:00PM
(Offered in conjunction with Anaskimin)
Many people are aware that preserving land benefits the local communities, and while some benefits are obvious (e.g., protecting the watershed, preventing soil erosion), others can be difficult to quantify in terms of value to human health (e.g., pleasing scenery, relaxing sit spots). One crucial value that is rarely discussed centers on wild food. Examination of isolated populations and numerous independent studies have shown that wild, nutrient-dense foods are necessary for a life free of chronic disease. In fact, many people living in the United States unknowingly bear facial deformities that are the result of poor diet experienced by the mother prior to conception of the fetus and during pregnancy. Our current food production systems (including organic agriculture) are not viable substitutes for wild food. This lecture takes a provocative look at agriculture (particularly small-scale) and its effects on the environment and human health. Understanding the anatomical and genetic changes that have occurred in the past century will help illuminate deficiencies in our diet. Appreciating the critical need humans have for wild food provides another powerful argument for the protection of land from uses that drastically alter its ecological function. This lecture is supported (in part) byAnaskimin. It will last approximately an hour and time for questions will be provided. Registration appreciated but not required (info@shiftofmaine.com or 729-4050).
