Zucchini 500
Pinewood Derby Times Volume 12, Issue 3, October 31, 2012
“Truro, MA – You’ve heard of the Indy 500 over Memorial Day, but what about Truro’s Zucchini 500 over Labor Day? Billed as The Greatest Spectacle in Vegetable Racing, the event took place on Sunday, September 2 at Sustainable CAPE’s Truro Agricultural Fair in Truro Center.”
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Children’s Community Garden Blog
Keep up with all the latest news about our Truro Children’s Community Garden Blog!
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Truro Students Growing a Taste for Healthy Food
By Gwenn Friss, Cape Cod Times, September 22, 2012
“This week, Truro Central School had extra eggplant from a local farm, so the cafeteria staff made baba ghanoush and served it in little cups with a triangle of pita bread sticking out.
School officials are hoping the preschool through sixth-grade students who tried the healthful Mediterranean dip for the first time will ask for it at home as well.
“Last year, the sixth-graders came up with a squash pie recipe that they really liked,” said Helen Grimm, school nurse and coordinator for her school’s Farm to School program.”
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The Karagoz Oyunlari hit the Truro Agricultural Fair
Slowly-by-Slowly, September 15, 2012
“…It was, you see, time to walk the dog with M. and head over to the Truro Agricultural Fair – a once a year event where the best in flora and fauna produced on the Cape Tip are displayed with pride – before all groove to the sounds of Grateful-Dead-inspired bands of yore in the late summer sunshine. The puppets were particularly excited that day, you see, as there was rumor that the “Sultan of Chickens” was present at the fair that day – and was considered to be the best bet for “best in show” at the Ag fair.”
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Celebrate Massachusetts Agriculture Fairs
Commissioner Gregory C. Watson, Department of Agricultural Resources, September 15, 2012
“I also recently visited the Truro Agricultural Fair to partake in the “Zuchinni500” 2012 Race.
I consider state agricultural fairs a great Massachusetts tradition because, according to Massachusetts Agricultural Fairs Association, the first agricultural fair in the U.S. was held in Pittsfield in 1814. Today Massachusetts hosts 40 annual agricultural fairs. They fall into one of five categories: major fairs, community fairs, youth fairs, livestock shows and grange fairs. I wish I could visit each one every year! Each is unique but all are bound together by the common thread of the Commonwealth’s rich and proud agrarian heritage.”
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Animals & Veggies: Truro Agricultural Fair 2012
Style Carrot, September 9, 2012
“It’s official. Stopping by the Truro Ag Fair on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend is our last Cape hurrah before heading home to Boston at the end of each summer. I seem to have skipped posting about it in 2010, but in 2009 I admired the bunnies, and 2011 was all about alpacas. This year I oohed and ahed over the pigs.”
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2012 Truro Agricultural Fair named “Place to Be” by Boston Globe
By Mark Shanahan and Meredith Goldstein, Boston Globe Sept. 5, 2012
“The Truro Agricultural Fair was the place to be over the weekend. Actress Lili Taylor of “Mystic Pizza” (and, more recently, “Six Feet Under”) fame was watching the pie-eating contest while writer/editor Daniel Okrent was spied carrying around a large plant. We didn’t see Dan Winslow, but the former chief legal counsel to Governor Mitt Romney was there because he tweeted about watching the fair’s newest feature — the Zucchini 500…”
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Day 152: 2012 Truro Agricultural Fair
365 Things to do in Cape Cod: September 2, 2012
“The Harvest Market tables offer a wide variety of the fresh, local goods available. All farmers and harvesters aim not only to sell directly to the fairgoer, but to offer knowledge & expertise as well. Come buy fantastic food just harvested from the land or sea – and learn how you can help sustain our community’s health and environment!”
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Cornucopia of offerings at this year’s Agricultural Fair in Truro
By Katy Ward, Wicket Local Truro, August 31, 2012
“TRURO —It’s that time of the year again — time to celebrate farm animals, organic produce, flowers and honey bees, as well as the local residents who continue to keep Lower Cape farming a thriving business.”
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Governor Deval Patrick Talks Ag in TruroProvincetown Banner, June 21, 2012
Governor Deval Patrick scheduled a tour of Truro Vineyards on Tuesday, June 12, where his office assembled a small group from across Cape Cod to discuss agriculture and local food. Artist and farming activist Francie Randolph of Sustainable CAPE focused on, “How can we best work together to simplify the process of growing and harvesting local food to feed our community?” She detailed a need for mobile processing units to lessen the barriers to small scale poultry and livestock farming, proposed decreasing the amount of acreage necessary to receive tax incentives as a producing farm (currently 5 acres), and illustrated the illogic of “Big Ag” legislation that makes the sale of local food more complicated than necessary (for instance for a farmer to sell eggs to the local school, the farmer must, by law, have over 3000 chickens). The Governor received a gift of the Truro Ag Fair’s “Till, baby, Till” t-shirt and Agricultured recycled tote, and pledged to follow up on the ideas generated at the lunch. Image provided by Doug Langeland, Edible Cape Cod
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The Historic Harvest Garden
National Park Service, June 2012
“In front of the Atlantic Research Center (ARC) Classroom you will find the Historic Harvest Garden, a project of Truro non-profit Sustainable CAPE (Center for Agricultural Preservation and Education) supported by NPS and AmeriCorps.
In 2011 Local and Native American youth were brought together to plant seeds sourced back to the 1600s in a raised garden bed. Planting the “three sisters” of corn, squash, and beans, showed the agricultural knowledge which was transferred from the Native Americans to the Pilgrims in 1620, enabling their later survival in Plymouth. ”
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David DeWitt gets Ag Commission on Truro Town Warrant
Gatehouse News Service, April 13, 2012
“Spearheading the push to establish the commission here is Dave DeWitt, owner of Rock Spray Nursery and a member of the board of directors at Sustainable CAPE (Center for Agricultural Preservation and Education). DeWitt said the support for the commission, which has its roots in last year’s agriculture fair, has been overwhelming from both farmers and non-farmers alike.”
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Truro’s Francie Randolph Honored as Local Hero
Provincetown Banner, February 18, 2012
If you live on the Outer Cape, chances are you have heard of, or have met, Francie Randolph. If you know her, or if you have read about her, then it’s probably not a surprise that the American Red Cross has awarded her with one of its Heroes of Cape Cod and Islands Award for 2011 in the Community Impact category.
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Children’s Garden Art goes on Display in Truro
Wicked Local Truro, February 3, 2012
“A new exhibit created by children in Sustainable CAPE’s garden programs will be on display at the Truro Public Library throughout the month of February. “The Art of Growing” includes watercolor paintings and a wet-felted banner of individual square plots, each square depicting a fanciful garden designed by one of the children.”
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Truro School seeks to Harvest Benefits from Partnership with Farmers
Wicked Local Provincetown, January 26, 2012
TRURO —
If you’re an oysterman with a lull in sales between October and Christmas, Truro Central School may be your off-season sales outlet. The same goes for year-round vegetable and animal farmers who have enough stock to sell. The school intends to put local foods on the cafeteria menu by spring.
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The Cape’s Community Gardens
Edible Cape Cod
“The popular year-old Community Children’s Garden is next to the Truro Library; it is the result of a partnership between Sustainable Cape, Truro Recreation and the Truro Library and consists of one big 16×16 garden. This garden is all about kids as it hosts an after-school program, a summer program and a 4-H program. The kids eat what they pick, using some of the produce to create snacks for the after-school program…”
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Truro Agricultural Fair is Sunday
Cape Cod Times, September 3, 2011
“There are about 15 families in Truro who grow and sell their agricultural harvest, often at roadside stands, fair co-founder Francie Randolph said. The fair will feature the harvest of some of those families in addition to aquaculture and fishing harvests, contests such as an animal beauty pageant, food and bake sales, fiddlers, events for children and more…”
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Best Bets for September 1-8
Cape Cod Times, September 1, 2011
“As the summer heat still clings, people look longingly at the next season. Fortunately, the Truro Agricultural Fair provides a taste of fall three weeks early, as it celebrates, among other things, the harvest. Under the umbrella of Sustainable CAPE (Center for Agricultural Preservation and Education), the Truro Agricultural Fair aims to imbue appreciation of local agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and farming…”
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From Farm to Table, the Truro Ag Fair Returns
Provincetown Magazine August 27, 2011
“Earlier this year, Truro was named one of just two Cape Cod towns that qualify as “Green Communities,” a designation that allows the town to apply for over $100,000 in funding from the Commonwealth. But Truro’s greenness goes beyond this particular designation. Truro has become a place where agriculture is making a comeback. And this weekend, the town celebrates its agricultural roots and farming future with the Third Annual Truro AgFair…”
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Alpacas are Adorable
Style Carrot, September 11, 2011
“The 3rd annual Truro Agricultural Fair drew a huge crowd last weekend on the Outer Cape. From pie-eating contests and three-legged races, to the Barnyard Beauty Contest (you vote with locally grown beans) and the fiddlers on the bandstand, to the abundance of ripe tomatoes and an early crop of pumpkins, this country-like gathering was a rocking scene for this otherwise quiet beach town…”
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The 2011 Truro Agricultural Fair
3 Harbors Realty Blog, September 10, 2011
“This year’s fair was better than ever! All of us at 3Harbors had a terrific time. We saw old fiends and made new ones, saw the animals and veggies, saw cool art and ate wonderful food (deep fried lobster tail on a stick, anyone?)…”
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Cape Cod Photo Album – Truro Ag Fair
Classic photos of The Ag Fair, the primary images chosen to depict Truro
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12 Eggs
Diane Hanna, September 8, 2011
“This weekend, my friend David and I stopped by the Truro Agricultural Fair, a lively small-town celebration of cackling chickens, banjo players, local farmers, and sunburned families. We oohed and aahed at the fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, onions, flowers, pies, and jars of honey. We used our dried fava beans to vote for the most handsome rooster, the most comely hen. We smelled the tangy salt air, redolent with hay and manure and chicken coop and oregano…”
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Truro Ag Fair Celebrates Local Harvest
Wicked Local, September 3, 2011
“If you liked the scene in “Charlotte’s Web,” the one where Wilbur is voted as the number-one pig, then you might just want to head to the Truro Agricultural Fair on Sunday. Co- founded by Francie Randolph, Stephanie Rein and David DeWitt, it’s a place where local farmers and fishermen will sell their harvests all day long, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the town green at 7 Truro Center Rd.”
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Truro’s Agricultural Fair
3 Harbors Realty Blog, August 29, 2011
“Celebrate agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and farming on Cape Cod.’ This is the tag line for the fair and it’s an apt one. Folks on the Outer Cape are becoming more and more interested in farming and eating local. Walk up to the Blackfish restaurant and see how the menu is geared toward eating foods grown right here in town. Visit Mac’s Seafood and see how they are pushing the local catch…”
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County Extension Focuses on Doing
Cape & Islands News, August 24, 2011
“Amid chatter about regionalization, role of county government, and a newly appointed regional government review committee, the County Extension Service last week went the direct route and simply showed where the rubber meets the road. Its annual Summer Tour of Programs – this year focused on the Outer Cape area – proved that actual regional work delivers results.”
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Third Annual Truro Agricultural Fair
Forage, August 4, 2011
“Peppers, peaches, and sweet corn–oh my! The dog days of summer are well upon us, which means the third annual Truro Agricultural Fair is right around the corner. Scheduled for Sunday, September 4th this year in the heart of Truro (rain date is the following Sunday), the fair will again be a celebration of local food and agricultural tradition…”
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Agriculture, Activism & Art in Truro: One Woman’s Journey
Edible Cape Cod, Summer 2011
“Lucille Ball once said, ‘If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do.’ With most of us feeling so harried nowadays, it’s hard to find anyone willing and able to donate their time in the community. Truro resident Francie Randolph is one of these extraordinary people making a difference…”
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Francie Randolph Talks About the Power of Creating a Children’s Garden
The Motor Story, Summer 2011
“The Truro Children’s Community Garden really grew out of the Ag Fair. We had many children’s events at the fair to involve children in the festivities: Pie Eating Contest, crafts related to agriculture, old fashioned games like potato sack races. The activities brought the community together. When we started to talk about the possibility of a Children’s Garden, folks who participated in the fair donated supplies to build the garden…”
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Truro’s Greener Future – Truro Ag Commission Established
TRNTA, July 21, 2012
“In July, the BoS took another important step forward to solidify Truro’s Ag future, by establishing a Truro Agricultural Commission under its new Chair, Dave DeWitt. Many know Dave as an organic farmer in town and as part of the leadership of the Truro Ag Fair, along with Francie Randolph. In the Fall 2010 TNRTA newsletter, we urged the local community to think green and think Ag(riculture), and we began to “seed” an agricultural future as a serious part of the economy and the rural character of the Town. We have also supported efforts to move this forward by Truro groups such as Sustainable Cape and the Truro Ag Fair. By giving support to other like minds in the community who share this perspective – some who proceeded us and some who joined in recently – this common vision has gained momentum. Watch this space for ways that part- time residents can be involved hands-on in making Truro grow green!”
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Truro Agricultural Fair – Truro, Massachusetts
Travel New England, June 7, 2011
“The Truro Agricultural Fair is a fair to celebrate agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, and farming on Cape Cod. This old fashioned country fair started in 2009 and has been held every year since in the late summer…”
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Children’s Garden Inspires Art Exhibit in Truro
Wicked Local Truro, February 10, 2011
“The public library will be awash in veggies, blooms and smiles beginning Saturday, when kids from the Outer Cape towns show off framed watercolors and sculptures inspired by the Truro Children’s Community Garden. The exhibition, which opens with a reception on Saturday from 4 to 5:30 p.m., will run through the end of the month.
The Children’s Garden, located on the grounds just outside the library, is a collaboration between the library, the recreation program and the Truro Agricultural Fair. It supplied fruits and veggies, which the kids took home in garden goody bags. Right now they are growing spinach and mache under a hoop house in one of the raised beds.
The artwork ranges from paintings of elegant blooms to diagrams of tomato worms and honeybees…”
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Bearing Fruit: Artwork from the Truro Children’s Community Garden
Discover Wellfleet, February 2011
“The Children’s Garden, a collaboration between the Truro Public Library, the Truro Recreation Program and the Truro Agricultural Fair, supplies fruits and vegetables grown by children for children which are taken home in popular “ garden goody bags”. Based upon Eliot Coleman’s Four Season Harvest and Winter Harvest models, one of the raised beds is currently growing spinach and mache under an inexpensive hoop house. In addition, the Garden inspired all manner of artwork ranging from elegant blooms to diagrams of tomato worms and honeybees…”
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Historic Harvest Garden
National Parks Service
“Driving along Old Dewline Road, Highlands Center visitors can now see stalks of corn growing tall in front of the Atlantic Research Center (ARC) Classroom. This Historic Harvest Garden is a project of the newly formed Truro non-profit Sustainable CAPE (Center for Agricultural Preservation and Education). Local and Native American youth are brought together to plant seeds sourced back to the 1600s in a raised garden bed. Planting the “three sisters” of corn, squash, and beans, shows the agricultural knowledge which was
transferred from the Native Americans to the Pilgrims in 1620, enabling their later survival in Plymouth…”
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Community Children’s Garden Becomes a Goal in Truro
Wicked Local, November 19, 2010
“The off-season is the time to make plans and dream dreams, hopefully ones that can come to fruition when summer rolls around again. In Truro, the dream that has hatched is for a community garden.
Town Administrator Pam Nolan met recently with Francie Randolph, who was instrumental in organizing both the Truro Agricultural Fair and the children’s garden behind the Truro Public Library, and Dave DeWitt, Rock Spray Nursery owner and another mover and shaker, to talk about creating a gardening space open to the public. Both Provincetown and Wellfleet started community gardens in the past year, and they were big hits…”
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Photo Gallery: Truro Ag Fair
Wicked Local Wellfleet, September 9, 2010
“Based on last year’s overwhelming turnout, expectations were high for Sunday’s second annual Truro Agricultural Fair and, once again, the reality was even better than imagined. There was more of everything — more growers selling their produce and products, more restaurants slinging dishes based on the local harvests, more fun and games and entertainment…”
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Spotlight on Local Produce at Truro Agricultural Fair
Wicked Local Wellfleet, August 30, 2010
“We’re really focused on local growing and harvesting,” said Francie Randolph, president and founder of the Ag Fair. The harvest market is the event’s centerpiece. So far 15 commercial growers have tables and there will be plenty of room at the two 72-foot long tables for individuals, where anybody can sell anything they’ve harvested – from a kid with a handful of tomatoes to those who want to make their excess harvest available. The recreation program and 4-H kids will put on a display of the fruits of their labors…”
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Flowers and Food: Truro Agricultural Fair
Style Carrot, September 12, 2009
“Last weekend, the last of summer 09, was also the first for the Truro Agricultural Fair. Truro is a tiny town on the Outer Cape. “Town” consists of a general market, a post office and a fish shop. Oh, and the Green, where there’s a bandstand for Thursday night concerts and a croquet set for spirited games between older folk…”
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Truro Ag Fair Draws Happy Crowds
Wicked Local, September 10, 2009
“There’s nothing like a good beginning, and the turnout for Truro’s first agricultural fair, held Sunday on the town green, exceeded all expectations and showed that Truro’s deep agricultural roots are not a thing of the past.
‘I was blown away by the response,’ said Francie Randolph, whose comment at a cocktail party that Truro should have a county fair planted the seed for what everyone expects will be a hearty perennial. ‘It was a team effort. I had a fun idea and everybody hopped on board — and we pulled it off,’ she said, with amazement…”