The Root Seller is Growing & Meet Bent Fork Farm

healthy food ~ healthy environment ~ healthy community

A Note from our Executive Director

Wow...My apologies. It seems that our last newsletter was sent in early June, and here we are with Labor Day right around the corner. Certainly no lack of news for our newsletter...just apparently a lack of time. But what a summer it has been! Our young organization has experienced many milestones over the last couple of months. Our gleaning program is really taking off, we hosted our first nature-based summer camp, we received a grant to expand the Root Seller (see below), and we are working with a Permaculture Designer to create a design for the community garden.

Being at the beginning of something is comforting to me. I like the chaos, the planning, the dreaming, and the uncertainty of it all. But mostly I like working toward a larger vision, seeing and being part of the daily unfolding. Beginnings can be scary. But there is so much excitement and anticipation.

However, for those not directly involved, the beginning stages of a project, a new organization or business may look messy, confusing, lacking clarity, or not fruitful for many years afterwards. And this is true with Taproot. Some people have inquired as to the connection between a children's nature-based summer camp and selling fresh, local produce. I'm a systems thinker and tend to look at the big picture. And for me Taproot has always been about, in the simplest of terms, nurturing care for the earth. A caring steward of the land reaches far beyond going for a hike in the White Mountain National Forest or refusing a receipt or plastic bag at the grocery store. Spending time in nature is certainly an important factor. However, being a mindful consumer is just as important. When we are connected to what we eat - when we eat fruits and vegetables that are local and in season and choose meat raised locally and ethically using regenerative agricultural practices - we are also connecting with the earth.

Taproot is a very young organization. Despite what may seem chaotic and disjointed from the outside, every day we are working toward making our larger vision a reality, which is creating a learning center whose campus is an educational homestead comprised of a working biodynamic farm and whose programs and services are living systems rooted in the land and in community. Our work is guided by our mission, which is nurturing care for the environment by educating, inspiring, and connecting communities to the land, to their food, and to each other in a holistic manner. We hope that you will continue on this journey with us.

In community, Melissa

Root Seller Marketplace Hours:

Monday-Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 9-4
Sunday: 9-3

Know the Sellers Rooted in Our Community!
Bridget McKee and Ben Prikki, Bent Fork Farm, Groveton, NH

Lost Nation is the quiet, peaceful valley consisting of the towns of Lancaster and Northumberland on the western side of the Pilot Range. Despite bordering the White Mountain National Forest, Lost Nation has only two trailheads (both on private land), limiting non-local traffic to sightseers taking the long way from Lancaster to Groveton (or vice versa). But where the area lacks in bustling mountain activity, it is rich in history: it is the home of St. Timothy’s Chapel, the former Lost Nation Cider Mill, and the first site of the Sunnybrook Montessori School, the little yellow schoolhouse at the 90-degree turn adjacent to Cummings Brook. And it is in this little yellow schoolhouse where Bridget McKee and her partner Ben Prikki dreamed, planned, and then sowed the first seeds to their micro-farm, Bent Fork Farm.

Bridget’s love for farming came after graduating from college while volunteering on an organic farm: “I got my first taste of farming…while waiting for my Peace Corps application to go through. I fell in love with the growing process and put my Peace Corps dream on hold to farm for a full season.” She and Ben met in Austin at the South by Southwest Music Festival. But they parted ways as life sent them on different paths.

Her love of farming grew, and one season turned into many at different farms in different states; after awhile, she and Ben reunited on the east coast. They were lured to New Hampshire’s north country by the maple sugaring industry, specifically by Biff Wyman, owner of Mount Cabot Maple. Biff and Bridget met while Bridget was working at Fishkill Farms in New York. After one shot of his maple syrup Bridget instantly knew she wanted to be part of his enterprise. So she and Ben headed north, found their way to the little yellow schoolhouse on Lost Nation, started their family, and decided to jump into their own farm venture. When asked what her favorite part about farming is, she replied, “witnessing the evolution of the season; there's something incredible about the transformation of a box full of seeds into a whole field of bounty. I also love that as a farmer, my work is to collaborate with nature. It’s always humbling to recognize that despite the countless hours spent in the field tending and nurturing, it was plants themselves that did the growing. I also don't mind an obscenely large armful of dahlias in early September!”

She and Ben still work at Mount Cabot Maple in the winter, and during the shoulder season you can find her making cocktails at J.L. Sullivan’s. Of course, her mind is never too far from the farm, always making plans for the plethora of veggies they grow: “We grow the full spectrum of fresh market produce, but specialize in heirloom vegetable varieties and triple washed, ready to eat salad greens. Our cut flower garden is full of unique color palettes, unusual textures and hard to ship varieties that can only be found in local markets.” Bridget and Ben are not certified organic. However, they grow everything without chemicals, keeping their two young daughters in mind when they are out in the field. And the care they put forth onto their crops doesn’t fall short when it comes to their flowers. I’m in awe over Bridget’s aesthetic sense when creating her bouquets.

This is Bent Fork Farm’s second year selling their products out of the Root Seller, and we are grateful they do: “We have loved working with the Root Seller! It’s been a great outlet to reach more customers outside the farmer's market and has been a wonderful source of community among local farmers and crafters.”

Bent Fork Farm is currently operating on borrowed and rented land – the old cider mill is being used as their farm stand. I love how the old is helping to usher in the new. But Bridget and Ben make no secret that they are looking for a permanent home for their farm and family to grow and flourish so they can continue to feed this very appreciative community.

Just for fun...
Where did you grow up? I grew up near Ventura, Ca, land of long boards and million acre strawberry fields.
Lake or ocean? California ocean, New England lake.
Have you ever been fly fishing? Nope!
What was the last band you saw live and where? Hurray for the Riff Raff in Burlington
Where is the furthest you have ever traveled? Guatemala
What was your dream job as a child? Archaeologist
Name a dish you love to make/bake/cook? Guacamole
How many states have you lived in? 5
What was the last book you read? The Oregon Trail, Rinker Buck
What is your favorite flavor ice cream? Peppermint stick

*Photos Courtesy of Bent Fork Farm

New & Featured Products at the Root Seller

*Milk and cream, Hatchland Creamery (Haverhill, NH)
*Sour cream and cottage cheese, Cabot Creamery (Cabot, VT)
*Creamed honey, White Mountain Apiary (Littleton, NH)
*Maple candy, cream and other goodies, Lost Nation Maple (Groveton, NH)
*Yogurt in assorted flavors, Sweet Cow Yogurt (West Newbury, VT)
*Crowlers, Coos Brewing (Colebrook, NH)
*Glebe Mountain Swiss Cheese, West River Creamery (Londonderry, VT)

A reminder to those community members who have SNAP benefits, the Root Seller is part of the Double Up Bucks NH program. Now through the end of the year anyone who uses their SNAP/EBT card at the Root Seller will receive 50% off their fresh fruits and vegetables!!

NH Gleans North Country

Our Gleaning Coordinator, Zeanny Egea, has been busy this summer making sure that fresh food doesn't end up in a landfill and instead fills bellies of our most at-risk community members. So far this year Zeanny, with the help of her best volunteer gleaner, her daughter Maria (pictured above), has captured 1,118 pounds of fresh produce and distributed it to local food pantries, senior housing, soup kitchens, and local schools in Coos County. We still have lots of gleaning left this season. So if you are a backyard gardener who may have planted a little too much of something and wish it not to go to waste, are a farmer that may have seconds of a crop, or want to help Zeanny on a glean as a volunteer, please reach out to her by emailing gleaning@taprootnh.org.

Summer Fun at Taproot's First Nature-Based
Summer Camp!

Our first nature-based summer camp was held on the grounds of the White Mountains Regional High School (WMRHS) earlier this month. Gracie and Melissa had so much fun exploring the property with the children each day - building forts, catching insects, picking blueberries, singing songs, making sun tea, listening to stories, and loads of other activities. We are beyond thankful to everyone at the WMRHS for accommodating us - Stephanie Glidden, Rob Scott, Jenn Scarinza, Janine Elliot, Sue Chancey, and the entire custodial staff. Our apologies if we forgot anyone. Being able to start offering our education programming before we have found a permanent home has been beyond amazing. Many thanks to all of the families who helped make the two weeks of camp fabulous. We look forward to 2019 when we hope to offer more weeks.

The Root Seller is Growing!

We are thrilled to announce that Taproot has been awarded a grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) in the amount of a $156,260 to expand the Root Seller Marketplace! Established by Congress in 2008, the NBRC is a partnership between the federal government and the States of Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The mission of the NBRC is to fund economic development and infrastructure projects throughout designated counties in its four state service area. The governance of the NBRC is based on the Appalachian Regional Commission model created in the 1960s; and is part of a group of newer regional commissions created by Congress within the last decade.

The location for the new store will be announced next month once the partners purchasing the property have closed on the sale. Even though it does seem to be the worst kept secret around town, we are honoring the wishes of the buyers in keeping the location confidential until the sale is final.

We are ecstatic about this next step in the life of our organization. We love our farmers and our community and we look at this grant as a win for everyone. There is a rumor around town (that I'm pretty sure Melissa started) that the Polish Princess will take over our current space once we move out. However, the lovely Magdalena may need some more convincing on this.

Stay Rooted!