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Who is CISA?

Who is CISA?

Hear about what we do from local farmers and people we work with every day!

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Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy.

CISA has been working for over 25 years to build a stronger, more resilient, and more just local food system. We envision a local food system where farms are viable, working conditions are fair and just for owners and workers, the environment is respected, and locally grown food is available for all.

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Whats Happening?

Berkshire Botanical Garden's 87th annual Harvest Festival

October 8 @ 10:00 am - October 9 @ 5:00 pm
October 8-9, 10am - 5pm The Berkshire Botanical Garden's 87th annual Harvest Festival returns on Columbus Day weekend, continuing an 87-year tradition celebrating autumn in the Berkshires. Considered one of Berkshire’s... more
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Growing Your Farm Business Planning Course

October 11 @ 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Growing Your Farm Business Planning Course October 11 – November 29, 2022, Tuesday evenings 5:30 – 8:30pm MDAR office in Southborough, MA A hands-on course to help established farmers develop... more
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Hak'hel Festival: The Great Gathering

October 16 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 16, 2022 1:00 PM 5:00 PM Abundance Farm 253 Prospect Street Northampton, MA 01060 USA (map) Like Havdalah at the end of Shabbat, Hak'hel marks the end of... more
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Ditch Use, Maintenance, and Management on Commercial Farms

October 24 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Join CISA, the NRCS, and UMass Extension for a hard look at using and maintaining agricultural ditches on commercial farms. Learn what can and can't be done when it comes... more
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Dual-Use: Agriculture and Solar Photovoltaics Webinar

October 27 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Registration link: Dual-Use: Agriculture and Solar Photovoltaics Webinar October 27th at 11:00 am. In 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (MA DOER) established the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program.... more
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Successful Value Added Food Product Development for Farm and New Food Businesses: Managing Food Quality and Safety

November 4 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Are you a farmer diversifying into value added production or an entrepreneur developing new and exciting products?  Do you have questions about how to integrate food safety and quality into... more
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Get the Latest News From CISA

Foxtrot Farm - Farming and Climate Change Special Feature

September 24, 2022    Posted in: Climate Change and Farming Blog, CISA News, Press Room
"What would happen if farmers adapted to climate change without relying so much on plastic and petroleum?” asks Abby Ferla. “One of our answers is, we'd probably grow different plants." ... more
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WRSI: North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival

September 23, 2022    Posted in: CISA News, WRSI's "Local Hero Spotlight" interviews, Press Room
Deb Habib of Seeds of Solidarity Farm and Education Center – and one of the longtime community organizers behind the North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival – talks with Phil ... more
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Vollinger Farm - Farming and Climate Change Special Feature

September 17, 2022    Posted in: Climate Change and Farming Blog, CISA News, Press Room
Scientists can give us a 30,000-foot view of how climate change is now impacting our planet. Bob Vollinger can tell you how that translates to daily life at Vollinger Farm ... more
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WRSI: Kushi Farm and The North Hadley Chili Pepper Company

September 12, 2022    Posted in: CISA News, WRSI's "Local Hero Spotlight" interviews, Press Room
WRSI, September 12, 2022.  Matt Kushi, farmer and owner of Kushi Farm and The North Hadley Chili Pepper Company
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WHMP: CISA's Margaret Christie on the Afternoon Buzz

September 1, 2022    Posted in: CISA News, Press Room
CISA’s Margaret Christie chats with Buzz and Brian Adams about the current season on local farms, climate change, making local food affordable, and a whole lot more. Listen in here!
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WRSI: Summer 2022 - what we're hearing from local farms

September 1, 2022    Posted in: CISA News, WRSI's "Local Hero Spotlight" interviews, Press Room
Phil and Monte discuss the challenges farmers are facing during this dry summer, how they (and CISA) are responding.
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WRSI: Nice Snack Parlor

August 29, 2022    Posted in: CISA News, WRSI's "Local Hero Spotlight" interviews, Press Room
Marcy Gregoire, the “Queen of local, organic shaved ice,” chats with Phil and Monte about opening Nice Snack Parlor in the Nova Motorcycle shop in Great/Turner’s Falls, her love affair ... more
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Valley Bounty: Stillman Quality Meats

August 27, 2022    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Press Room
Kate Stillman’s farming roots are set in four generations of livestock, dairy, fruit, and vegetable farming. Stillman’s boots stepped onto the family’s path at age nine, starting by selling at ... more
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WRSI: Watershed Restaurant

August 22, 2022    Posted in: CISA News, WRSI's "Local Hero Spotlight" interviews, Press Room
“It was a literal watershed moment,” says James Fitzgerald, of his Melissa Stetson’s decision to open the Watershed Restaurant together earlier this year. “The moment when things change in a ... more
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Valley Bounty: Astarte Farm

August 19, 2022    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Press Room
"It's basically like a landslide,” Amelia Mead says of tilling the soil. It resets the soil ecosystem to a state of just-post-disaster – a blank canvas on which crops and ... more
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Featured Local Hero Profile

Be a Local Hero

Local Hero Profile: Wilder Hill Gardens

June 9, 2022    Posted in: Local Hero Profiles
Local Hero Profile by Ellery Pool, TerraCorps Service Member If you are looking for sustainably grown nursery plants, gorgeous cut... more
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