News / Berkshires
Double Your Value at the Downtown Pittsfield Farmer's Market
The Downtown Pittsfield Farmer's Market is off to it's best season yet on the First Street Common. The new location, with plenty of parking right across the street and ample picnic and play space- including a splash park for children of all ages, isn't the only big upgrade this season. The exciting and much anticipated Double Value Program begins Saturday July 4th . The DVP will allow shoppers to double their SNAP, WIC and Senior farmers market benefits. Basically, when you shop at the market for food using your SNAP/WIC benefits you can take home twice as much of the local harvest. How awesome is that?!
“We want everyone in our community, regardless of income, to have access to quality, nutritious food,” said market manager Jess Conzo in the 2014 Farmer's Market Report. She continued, “The Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market is dedicated to providing access to fresh, local, affordable food to low income and under-served residents. The market has the potential to serve more low-income residents than any other farmers market in the Berkshires, because of its location. Pittsfield is the largest community in the Berkshires with a population of 45,000. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2011 Low/Mod Income Summary Data, 52.4% of Pittsfield’s entire population is considered to be low-income.” The Double Value Program seems like a very effective way to serve our community and fulfill the mission of the market.
Another market initiative, the Farm-to-table Food Drive, is a collaboration with the Unitarian Universalist Church in Pittsfield. Over the course of the 2014 season the Downtown Farmer's Market donated between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds of fresh, local food to local shelters and food pantries. The beets, kale, lettuce, corn, carrots, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, coffee, bread and more are a big change from the non-perishables that these organizations typically receive. You can support these programs that directly benefit our community simply by coming to the market and enjoying all that it has to offer, every Saturday from 9 am til 1 pm through October. Want to do more? Get your tickets for the Blue Moon Rooftop Party, a benefit for the market on July 31st. More information about the benefit party is available online at www.farmersmarketpittsfield.org under special events.
"Farmers markets have become a critical ingredient in local economies, food systems and communities. Not only are they an economic boost to local farms and businesses, they can also strengthen community ties and promote healthy eating." - USDA That statement really rings true for me- the Downtown Market is so much more than a place to stock up on weekly staples, there are also chef demos, workshops and live music, it is the perfect Saturday morning family activity! Last Saturday I saw a basket of picnic blankets to borrow for a spontaneous picnic, a free lending library and yes, there's always plenty of good, strong coffee, hot or cold- I'll see you at the market!
Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals
It's that time of year again when everyone is talking about setting goals or making new resolutions. If you are like so many people who set goals in the New Year only to find them somehow impossible to follow though with, this guide is for you! So many times in my life I have tried changing a bunch of things at once, only to fail at everything.
Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals is a way to set yourself up for success because how you go about setting goals can make all the difference. When I was working as a health coach one of the most important things I would tell my clients is to set just one goal at a time and use the acronym S.M.A.R.T. Goals as a guide.
When you set one goal and focus all of your energy on it, you are much more likely to succeed. This guide is great for small goals and can also help you break down big goals into smaller, more manageable steps. You don't get to the mountain top in one leap, it takes many small steps to add up to big accomplishments. So what does S.M.A.R.T. stand for?
S is for Specific. Let's say you want to get more exercise on a regular basis. That's a great goal but it's pretty vague. A more specific goal would be: I want to get a minimum of 20 minutes of exercise 5 days a week. Even more specific: I want to run or do yoga at home for a minimum of 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. I will schedule this into my weeks calendar to make sure I have the time. Now that's specific!
M stands for Measurable. A successful goal is one that can be easily measured and answers the questions How much? How many? Using my specific goal above, I can measure both the frequency and the duration of my workouts. This is how I will know I am hitting my goal or if I need to make some adjustments so that I can hit my goal.
A is for Attainable. Is your goal something that you can, with a little stretching, actually reach? You want to aim for something in between too easy and too challenging.
R stands for Realistic or Relevant. If you don't exercise at all, setting a goal of five workouts a week is really not realistic. Scale things back until you can realistically, with some stretching and commitment, reach your goal. Start with 1-2 workouts per week. Once you reach that level of fitness, try for 3-4 per week and so on until you hit your big goal. A relevant goal is one that matters to you that you are both willing and able to work towards achieving it! Beware of setting goals based on "I should..." We can all list 100 things we 'should' be doing, things that usually have more to do with others than with our true desires. Make sure your goal is for you, think "I want, I need or I desire" as ways to state your goal.
T is for Timely or Time-Bound. With my exercise goal I would want to set a date at which I will be regularly hitting my goal. Let's say I pick a deadline of February 1st, giving me a month to sort out all the details and get into this new workout routine. An end date for your goal gives you something to work towards. It gives urgency to your work and a clear deadline for completion. Then you can celebrate your success and set up a new goal!
Each goal you set and achieve will set you up for your next goal. Each one a small step towards a bigger picture: a more fully realized version of who you really are. Think of how quickly each little change you make will add up into major positive changes over the course of a few months or a year.
One last thing, be sure to share your goal and your deadline with people who support you in making positive changes. Knowing your friends are rooting for you, and will be asking you how things are going, can be a huge motivator!
