Eat Maine Foods!

Darren Allen
  • Male
  • Strong, ME
  • United States
Share 
Twitter

Darren Allen's Friends

Darren Allen's Groups

Darren Allen's Discussions

Bringing Maine Home

Im interested in reading the material.

Replied Feb 3

How do you define a healthy food system?

One where it doesnt include .99 cent pork at Wal-mart

Replied Nov. 4, 2009

 

Darren Allen's Page

Latest Activity

Gregory Edwards and Darren Allen are now friends
5 hours ago
yesterday
Thanks Sue couldnt remember the phone#. Its a process is all Im saying
on Saturday
depends on what your selling as I understand it. Vegetables fruits etc doesnt need to have a license. Meat, jellies, maple syrup etc. you need a license. As far as insurance we got liability insurance on our business. thru farm Family. You can downl…
on Friday
Im interested in reading the material.
on Wednesday
Darren Allen added a blog post
The sub zero temperatures returned this week after a brief January thaw. Last week I felt like a truck driver delivering customer orders to Portland (twice) and Bangor. Many many thanks to those who ordered the pork and lamb. On m travels I stopped…
on Wednesday
Anyone attending?
on Wednesday
Darren Allen added an event
February 9, 2010 at 7am to February 10, 2010 at 7pm
2 day seminar on natural soil treatment
on Wednesday
Darren Allen updated their profile photo
on Wednesday
Food is a central activity of mankind and one of the single most significant trademarks of a culture
February 3
is thinking of doing CSAs.
February 2
Darren Allen added a blog post
Its nearing the end of January and I dont know where the month went. We have submitted our seed order to FEDCO and Johnny seeds and are planning to create more garden space this spring. I got really excited when ordering the seeds (wow seed ordering…
January 21
Darren Allen added 3 photos
January 12
Darren Allen added 6 photos to the album 'Farm'
January 9
Alright, thanks.
January 9
Darren Allen added a photo
January 5

Profile Information

Where in Maine do you live and eat?
Western Maine
What issues are you and/or your group interested or expert in?
farmland protection, health and nutrition, food justice, home gardens, food and faith, hunger and local foods access, farm to restaurant, farmers' markets, local foods marketing and distribution, food coops, GM-free seeds and genetics
Are you a food producer? If so, what types of food do you produce?
vegetables, berry fruit, maple syrup, beer, meats
If you produce foods of some sort, please choose one of the following:
I produce foods for sale to others
If you produce foods for sale, where or how can Mainers buy them?
website
Other info about Me (please mention any food, fishing, agriculture, or community groups you are affiliated with):
Raise pork and Katahdin Sheep as well as homemade preserves such as Jams, Jelly, relish.
Website (if any):
http://www.votervalefarm.com

Darren Allen's Photos

Loading…

Darren Allen's Blog

Darren Allen

The new website is here

The sub zero temperatures returned this week after a brief January thaw. Last week I felt like a truck driver delivering customer orders to Portland (twice) and Bangor. Many many thanks to those who ordered the pork and lamb. On my travels I stopped and saw some people I hadn't seen in a long time. Good to see people when I get out, which doesn't happen very often but usually happens in the winter because their isn't much to do outside after the animals are fed and the Central Boiler is filled w… Continue

Posted on February 3, 2010 at 11:00am —

Darren Allen

Jan.

Its nearing the end of January and I dont know where the month went. We have submitted our seed order to FEDCO and Johnny seeds and are planning to create more garden space this spring. I got really excited when ordering the seeds (wow seed ordering exciting? Never would have imagine huh?) thinking of planting in the warm sun with the family around us. Usually the boys are throwing clumps of dirt at each other and having fun. Maybe one day they will help, but I dont think so.
Recently we sent ou… Continue

Posted on January 21, 2010 at 6:29am —

Darren Allen

First significant snow.....

December 9 saw a storm dump around 7-12 inches of snow here in the Western Maine mountains. I was quickly trying to get things under cover and off from the lawn so the plow guy wouldn't hit them. (my father in law plows our driveway and does a tremendous job). The bad news with the storm came colder than normal temperatures and very high winds which caused some issues like the water freezing in the barn. I had thought I had made it freeze proof, but back to the drawing board. Yesterday we borrow… Continue

Posted on December 14, 2009 at 6:11am —

Darren Allen

Prepping the garden for next year and more

Well that is what I started out to do, prep the garden for next year. But alas my age old equipment didnt exactly work with me. I purchased a bag of winter rye which I use as a cover crop on the two parcels of garden area. The rye does two things, 1) is a green manure so when I roto till the garden in the spring it adds natural nutrients to the soil 2) covers the ground so the earthworms (yes worms) can do their magic just beneath the surface, earthworm activity is very helpful by adding natural… Continue

Posted on November 4, 2009 at 2:06pm —

Comment Wall (5 comments)

You need to be a member of Eat Maine Foods! to add comments!

Join this Ning Network

At 12:48pm on January 5, 2010, Laura Tirrell Grady said…
Hi there. Nice Tamworths. We had them when we farmed in New Hampshire, they were my favorite. Are those Katahdins? We have them and we are starting a Clun Forest flock. Happy New Year!
Laura Grady
At 9:22am on January 5, 2010, Mary Ellen & Austin Chadd said…
Most Portland restaurants are into purchasing from any Maine farmer, regardless of distance, based on quality. Sometimes you can get near retail pricing selling to restaurants (but you know more about selling meat than I do, since we have no animals, yet). Here is a new friend of mine in NH who is also doing pastured pork, but in the Portsmouth area: http://www.newrootsfarm.com/ He is working with some spice mixers to try to create specific blends for his froz. sausages. Gourmet-positioning.

From your website, it looks like you sell out. If you want to increase production, and market a meat CSA to urban areas -- there is a CSA fair organized in downtown portland every winter, make a brochure, and you'll likely have 20+ folks sign up, and you could ship to them, or they could pick up. Just a thought, if you want to get in on the urban direct market. I can't remember who organizes the CSA fair, which is for all farmers, fishermen all CSA's and not organic only, but you can email the marketing specialist at MOFGA, melissa@mofga.org she will tell you when it is. It's in the old colonial UU church in downtown Portland, next to city hall. There are also CSA fairs in Lewiston, Augusta (I think), based on farmers' interest each year -- maybe you know about it already, here's the post on Eat Maine Food! http://www.eatmainefoods.org/events/event/show?id=2003922:Event:11325

Talk to you later,

Mary Ellen
At 6:12pm on January 4, 2010, Mary Ellen & Austin Chadd said…
Nice web site; we're still workin' on ours. Glad to meet another market farmer. Wish we inherited a farm like yours. 'Gotta make NH Kielbasa and our potato oven chips. Nice to meet you!
At 9:22pm on January 1, 2010, Cassie Sears said…
Hi!
At 10:54am on September 27, 2009, Connie said…
Welcome! Hey, forget FaceBook, this is the place to be. Can't wait for bacon and lamb! I have you listed on my page. Best, Connie.
 
 

Latest Activity

Gregory Edwards added a discussion
I want to grow corn for the first time.  I live in Bangor with very acidic clay soil.  What seed would people recommend?  Can I find a seed that is similar to the maize that Native Americans once grew?  
5 hours ago
Gregory Edwards and Darren Allen are now friends
5 hours ago
Karen Harter added a discussion
We are looking for more vendors for the market in Windham.  Seafood, vegetable and soap.  We are having a meeting on Friday 2/12 at 6p at St. Josephs College. If you are intested and/or have questions, email karen@motherherbmaine.com .  You can also…
10 hours ago
Karen Harter We are looking for vendors for LRFM. www.lrfm.org. Seafood, vege, soap, etc. Meeting this Friday. Email karen@motherherbmaine.com.
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
Shannon O'Reilly, John Krasowski, Allen Gaddy and 3 more joined Eat Maine Foods!
11 hours ago
Laura Bowden added a blog post
12 hours ago
Amanda Beal added 2 events
14 hours ago
Penobscot East Shrimp CSF added a blog post
Check it out - Penobscot East's CSF made it on Channel 5 this weekend. Recognize anyone in the footage?
18 hours ago
Julie Harrison added an event
FRESH movie showing at Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church
February 26, 2010 from 6pm to 9pm
The movie FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Potluck, movie, discussion. Childcare available.
22 hours ago
Tom Roberts updated their profile
yesterday
Hi Cassie, For insurance, see your current agent and ask for a liability rider to cover you at farmers' markets. For permits, see the Maine Dept of Ag permits page for such things as processed foods. Links to a few [farmers' market aware] insurance…
yesterday
Thank you for the responses. They have been very helpful.
yesterday
yesterday
Jeff Oakes is now a member of Eat Maine Foods!
yesterday
Laura Bowden added a discussion
If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please get in contact with Laura Campbell at sweethollowsfarm@gmail.com   We hoped to be located in the AmVets parking lot/field, (across from Hodgeman's Frozen Custard) right on rt. 100.   Thank you!   La…
on Sunday
Are there any in the Oxford Hills area? or the Lewiston / Auburn area? I have cut flower bouquets (in season) and think a buying club is a great idea.
on Saturday
Share your experiences, thoughts and questions about consumer buying clubs.
on Saturday
Cassie, I agree with the below messages - go to the Dept of Ag website or call someone there and find out what you need for a license depending on what you sell. I sell perennials and it is a quick form and it comes back just as quick. I carry liabi…
on Saturday
Linda Kennedy updated their profile
on Saturday
 

© 2010   Created by Eat Local Foods Coalition of Maine

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service