Bits & Bytes: Food for the homeless, Farm Games, and an Autumn Social

Fresh Food for the Homeless

Pittsfield — Berkshire residents have come up with all sorts of ways of sending fresh produce to soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Now a group of Pittsfield residents have come up with yet another. Eddie O’Toole and the Social Responsibility Committee from the Unitarian Universalist Church gathered up Pittsfield Farmer’s Market bounty and delivered it to homeless shelters in the area.

“We set up a table at the Farmers Market in Pittsfield,” O’Toole said, “with a full place setting and a sign that simply says ‘support our farmers while caring for our homeless — buy something today and leave it on this table.’ ”

The amount of donated produce grew weekly during the Market season, until the Committee had collected over 75 pounds of fresh produce.

“We were able to share thank you notes from the shelters we visited, with the people that donate on a regular basis, and after reading the notes, others decided it was a good idea and proceeded to buy something and leave it on the table.”

The last farmers market of the season is this weekend, and O’Toole hopes people will turn out one more time to support the project. He also hopes this success will encourage similar projects at other farmers markets in future.

Eddie O’Toole can be reached at 413-645-2003

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Let the Farm Games begin

Great Barrington — Rollin’ Round Bales, Farmers Carry, Stackin’ Bales, Gathrin’ Gourds…sound familiar?

If you’re a farmer it will. But you need not be a farmer to join the fun. You can pretend to be with these games and more at the 2^nd Annual Greenager Farmer Olympics on Sunday, October 26, at Route 7 Grill, from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Good fun, delicious food and great company — participants and guests of all ages are welcome.

The event is free, though donations are gladly accepted in support of Greenagers, an environmental stewardship and vocational program, and a Berkshire United Way Funded Partner. The program employs teens and young adults in agricultural and natural resource management jobs in the Southern Berkshires and Columbia County. This year, Greenagers’ summer work program employed 48 teens and young adults; year-round programs engage local students with environmental stewardship, outings and farm apprenticeships.

This year’s Farm Games coincides with Greenagers’ Annual Appeal, which supports the organization’s programs in farming, agriculture and trails management.

Registration from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Games begin at 1:30; awards at 4 p.m. Lunch is available all afternoon.

For more information go to www.greenagers.org, or contact Samantha Halley in Greenagers’ Great Barrington office: 413-644-9090 office@greenagers.org.

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New Marlborough Autumn Social

New Marlborough — If you’re in the Mill River vicinity – or simply hankering to take a drive through this season’s exceptionally fine autumn palette of leafy hues – here’s a good reason to do so: An Autumn Social at the New Marlborough Fire Station from 5 to 7 Saturday afternoon, October 25. The event is offering wine tastings and great food, from Trois Emme Winery, Gedney Farm, Old Inn on the Green, Mario’s 528Cafe, Big Elm Brewery, Domaney’s, Hilltop Orchards, Windy Hill Farms, Berkshire Mountain Distillery, the Meat Market and Aegean Breeze. It’s a benefit for the New Marlborough EMS Scholarship Fund. Suggested donation: $20 per person.