Seen on BBC online (here):

Benn unveils plan to boost UK food and 'grow your own'

'We need to get emissions down from agriculture'
Plans to boost food production in Britain and reduce its impact on the environment have been unveiled.

The government's 20-year food strategy includes making land available for people to grow their own food and more healthy cooking courses.

While we're reeling from the side effects of economic collapse, it's great to see some folks thinking about the benefits of local food. An article by a Michigan professor highlights what she feels to be the three main benefits of local food from an economic point of view. read on!

Opportunity knocks when it comes to a local food economy

by Olga Bonfiglio

Community-based agriculture has the potential for creating jobs, developing small business entrepreneurship and keeping precious dollars in the community.

As you may have heard, the farm stand of Verrill Farm burned to the ground about a week ago. Here's a note from Steve Verrill...

A Note From Steve Verrill of Verrill Farm, Concord:

At Saturday's Boxborough Ag Fair I met Jennifer Taylor in the new Ag Commission's booth. Jennifer is trying to establish a farmer's market for Acton and Boxborough. Anyone who is interested might want to attend their upcoming meeting to be held on Tuesday, October 7, at 7:00 pm at the Citizens Library in West Acton. This is the same group mentioned in a brief note in last week's Beacon.

For more information, contact Jennifer Taylor at 978-877-1657 or actonfarmersmarket@hotmail.com.

This from the Bolton local paper:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/bolton/news/x1218084151/Agricultural-Commissi...

Bolton -

The Department of Agricultural Resources recently granted the Bolton Agricultural Commission $6,800 for their project: From apples to zinnias: promoting agriculture in Bolton.

The project: Production of an education brochure about Bolton’s agricultural heritage and current activities, create an Agricultural Commission Web site, promotions at the Bolton Fair, held a “Holiday Sale” for local businesses and agriculture.