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Minutes of January 7, 2016

Submitted by jbd on Sun, 01/10/2016 - 21:50

Loudon Agriculture Commission Meeting Minutes
January 7 2015

Members:
Chris D Koufos – 2016 President
Doug Towle – 2018 Vice President
Carole Soule – 2017 Secretary
Cindy Shea – 2016 Member
Bruce Dawson – 2017 - Member

Attendees:
Chris D. Koufos, Doug Towle, Cindy Shea, Bruce Dawson, Carole Soule

Meeting called to order at 7PM

Old Business

  1. Minutes from the December 3, 2015 meeting were accepted with changes.
  2. Kay Doyon and Steve Doyon were present to discuss a “Hands On Chicken Processing Workshop.” They would like to work with the Ag Commission to present a workshop for 12 participants who would learn how to process a chicken. The workshop would be open to the public with preference given to Loudon residents. Workshop fee will be $50 and each participant can leave with a processed chicken. Participants will have to bring their own knives, ziplock bags, ice and a cooler. Proposed date is the beginning of June. The board will apply for a matching grant from the NH Dept of Agriculture to help pay for the workshop.
  3. LeaAnn Childress and Barbara Burr from the Recycling Committee were present to discuss joint activities with the Commission. Possible workshops were: a) composting and b) gardening. A master gardener presenter from the UNH Cooperative Extension Service will cost between $25 -$100. Funding was discussed as well as possible grant funding for a joint workshop.
  4. There were no website updates.
  5. Final invoices and bill from the Commission were submitted to the NH Mini-Grant. We are waiting for payment from the NH Dept of Ag.
  6. Master Plan discussion was tabled until the February 2016 meeting
  7. Cindy will prepare a Loudon Ledger piece which will include a survey about what workshops Town residents are interested in. Some suggestions include:
    • Solar Power
    • Maple Syrup
    • Backyard Gardening
    • Fruit Trees (how to prune)
    • Food Waste
    • Cooking
    • How to raise laying chickens
    • Canning
  8. Agritourism was discussed. The Commission would like direction from the State Ag Commission about possible wording for our Master Plan.
  9. The Commission will request to have a “booth” at the March Town Meeting. We will provide a “Text” number so that residents can sign up on our email list. We will bring Town Farm map flyers and a newly designed questionaire. Chris will approve the Year End review that was published in the Loudon Ledger for inclusion in the Town Report.
  10. Help for Loudon farmers is available from the NH Extension Service. Interested residents should contact the Ag Commission for help in locating these services.
  11. Cindy and Carole will meet to work on possible grant opportunities and fund raising activities.

New Business

  1. Farm and Forest Expo is Jan 22 and 23. Board members were encouraged to attend.
  2. An Old Home Day joint float with the Recycling Commission was discussed.
  3. A Survey listing potential workshops will be created and sent via Survey Monkey to the Ag Commission email list. Results will be discussed at the Feb meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:16pm.