Help Protect Maine Soil and Water From PFAS
As Maine public officials work to address the widespread challenges of PFAS contamination on Maine farms, we are encouraged by action from the Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, which has voted in support of two more PFAS bills:
LD 1911 - An Act To Prohibit the Contamination of Clean Soils with So-called Forever Chemicals, which seeks to ban land application of sludge and close policy loopholes that currently allow PFAS-contaminated sludge to be mixed (diluted) with clean soil or commercial composting materials for use on farmland and home gardens; and
Introducing Graze
Graze farm and company owner, Kate Hall, made her way back to her home state in late 2009 after twelve years spent in the fashion design world in New York City, Boston and San Francisco. Her self-curated path into micro farming was derived from an inherent love of color, texture, art, Maine outdoors and need for nutritional supplementation. In 2018 Graze cold pressed juice was created to fill a nutritional deficiency affecting Kate's immune system. Today the farm grows and produces microgreens, edible flowers, organic seasonal produce and wheatgrass which is harvested and pressed onsite at the farms bottle plant processing kitchen to offer these blended juices at farmers markets and wholesale/retail stores around the state.
Graze has collaborated with Daybreak Growers Alliance by purchasing "seconds" a term used by produce farmers that describes veggies that are harvested and don't make the "first" place cut for front and center stage at farmers markets, grocery stores and farm stands due to size, shape or color, but still host the same nutrient dense vitamins, minerals and flavor. The "Daybreaker" juice is a Maine farmed root juice blend made from carrots, beets, apples and ginger. A rich combination that boosts immunity and brain function, improves eye health, energy, stamina and blood flow. This combination of organic superfoods helps to protect your body from stress and damage to your DNA.
"I've always been impressed by the work ethic, improvisation and dedication Maine farmers share for land preservation, soil continuity and the consistent quality of organic produce farmed. Growing food demands your physical and mental presence, 12-16 hours per day, every day, year round, especially in Maine. The pandemic has been extremely challenging, but I feel farmers have had a unique advantage. Nothing in farming is the same from year to year. Farmers and their crops have been plagued by pest nuisances, weather drought and damage, crop failure and financial set backs with devastating consequences for years. This livelihood forces farmers to raise their threshold for unexpected change, adapt, apply fixes and solve problems without the help of "google" and do so with impressive resourcefulness. I'm not saying its a fair advantage, but the farmers I have met and worked with really love what they do and have grown a lot over the past couple of years." -Kate Hall
Thank you, Daybreak Growers Alliance, for connecting farmers with food producers to offer farm fresh products to our Maine communities!
