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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 30 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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What’s Happening

Climate Stories Music Program at The Great Falls Discovery Center

November 14 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Find inspiration to address climate change through the power of creativity and storytelling. On Thursday, November 14 from 7 – 8:30 p.m., at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners... more
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Transitioning to Organic – Compost Production for Organic Farms, Bed Prep, Soil Test Report Analysis and Recommendations

November 17 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
This workshop and gathering is for farmers interested in producing compost for on-farm use and those who want to explore the process for gaining approval to sell their compost as... more
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Selecting Heat Tolerant Crops and Seed Varieties

November 20 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Register here! This webinar will provide farmers and technical service providers with guidance on the selection of heat tolerant crop varieties and crop planting schedules adapted to changing climate trends... more
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PYO Christmas Tree--Cranston's Christmas Tree Farm

November 23 @ 12:00 pm - December 22 @ 4:30 pm
It's time to pick your own Christmas Tree! Cranston's Christmas Tree Farm opens in November, 2024. Location Physical Address: 372 Baptist Corner Road Ashfield, MA 01330 See map below Contact... more
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Family Fun Day: Santa Comes to the Farm

November 29 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Visit Austin Brothers Valley Farm on Friday, November 29th from 9am-3pm. Santa will be at the farm store with fun activities for kids like: Photos with Santa Mail letters to... more
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Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Adventure

November 30 @ 9:30 am - December 1 @ 3:30 pm
Join us for our annual Choose & Cut Christmas Tree Adventure!
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Wintering: Mindfulness & Reflection in the Off Season - A Virtual Class for Workers on Farms

December 1 - December 15
Not Our Farm, with Oakland-based meditation instructor Anna Davda, is offering our Wintering series for farmworkers for a second time! Each Sunday will center around a different wintering theme, and participants will... more
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Soil Management for Climate Resilience 

December 3 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Register here! In this webinar, Caro Roszell of American Farmland Trust will discuss the impact and associated risks of increasing year-round temperatures and extreme heat on soil moisture, nutrient levels,... more
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How to Welcome Visitors and Increase Sales

December 9 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Register here! How can on-farm experiences like tours, festivals, educational workshops, farm stays, or other events help your farm profitability? CISA, Lisa Chase from UVM, and Russell and Alane from... more
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From Field to Customer: Marketing Strategies for Beginning Farmers

December 9 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Are you a beginning farmer selling directly to customers through farmers markets, a CSA, farmstand, or events? Join Central Mass Grown for “From Field to Customer: Marketing Strategies for Beginning... more
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Cultivating Culture - A Gathering of Jewish Farmers

December 12, 2024 @ 3:00 pm - December 15, 2025 @ 10:00 am
Are you a Jewish farmer, rancher, homesteader, or food systems professional? We'd love to have you at our upcoming conference! We've done away with the application process and registration is... more
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Santa & Mrs. Claus visit Apex Orchards

December 22 @ 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Say hello to Santa and Mrs.Claus on Sunday, December 22nd! They will be visiting Apex Orchards from 9:00 am to 10:30 am! We will have delicious Mini Cider Donuts, Hot... more
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Get the Latest News From CISA

Valley Bounty: Coolidge Hill Farm

November 8, 2024    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Press Room
Jared Duval built his farm around Massachusetts’ innovative Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). Since 2017, HIP has helped tens of thousands of lower-income households buy fresh produce grown by local farmers. ... more
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My Turn: Stop the cuts to HIP and keep our communities fed

November 7, 2024    Posted in: CISA Opinion Pieces, CISA News, Press Room
This winter, thousands of low-income Massachusetts families will have less food on their tables — unless we take action now. The state needs to allocate an additional $10 million to ... more
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Valley Bounty: Robariah Farms

Published November 2, 2024 in the Daily Hampshire Gazette Bringing Kosher Back to Local with Robariah Farms By Jacob Nelson “When people say our chicken is the best they’ve ever ... more
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NEPM: Franklin County CiderDays

🍎 Claire takes Monte and Kaliis up to West County Cider’s taproom in Shelburne to talk about this weekend’s Franklin County CiderDays (events Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Nov 1-3). We ... more
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NEPM: Cuts ahead for program that helps low-income Massachusetts residents eat healthy local veggies

October 24, 2024    Posted in: CISA News, Press Room
One way local produce gets onto the table for many living in western Massachusetts is a state initiative called the Healthy Incentives Program, or HIP. That’s been a monthly stipend, amounting ... more
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NEPM: Rice Fruit Farm

. Monte, Kaliis, and Claire visit Rice Fruit Farm in Wilbraham. Owner Anthony Maloni bought and resurrected this farm stand a few years back. Since then it’s become a destination ... more
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Republican: ‘A huge blow’: Funds for low-income residents to buy local produce will be cut significantly

October 22, 2024    Posted in: CISA News, Press Room
Starting Dec. 1, the monthly household cap for the state’s Healthy Incentives Program — which gives recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, money to use ... more
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Valley Bounty: Celebrating Farm to School Month with Home Grown Springfield

As National Farm to School Month unfolds during October, the Connecticut River Valley perfectly displays this idea in action. Nationally observed since 2010, the month highlights the collaboration between farms ... more
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Valley Bounty: Blue Crow Botanicals

Sometimes, medicine comes from a pill bottle. Other times, it grows right in your backyard, if only you knew how to access it. Blending modern chemistry with traditional wisdom, Blue ... more
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NEPM: McCray's (Fear on the) Farm

  Jacob takes Monte and Kaliis to McCray’s Farm in South Hadley for a conversation with Barbara Cote and Mandy Carol from McCray’s Creamery and Dan Augusto, creator of the infamous ... more
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Featured Local Hero Profile

Be a Local Hero

Local Hero Profile: Bloom Woolen Yarns

October 18, 2023    Posted in: Specialty Producer Profiles, Local Hero Profiles
Local Hero Profile by Julia Mazzuchi, Local Hero Program Assistant  The buy local movement in the Valley not only encompasses... more
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