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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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Find Local Food Here in the Pioneer Valley

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Whats Happening?

Safety at Work: Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Agriculture Industry

April 16 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
This webinar will focus on the importance of addressing gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the agriculture industry with a specific focus on farm workers and migrant workers. The webinar... more
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Pause & Pivot Farm Tour

April 18 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Join us at Pause & Pivot Farm in Williamsburg on April 18th at 3 pm for an exclusive tour of their hydroponic container farm! Discover the innovative techniques they use... more
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Soil Carbon Amendment Webinar

April 18 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Have you been growing cover crops year after year and still aren’t seeing soil organic matter increase? Are you tired of soil moisture swings, seeing water puddle on your fields... more
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Land Access for New Farmers in Massachusetts: A Farmer Learning Circle!

April 23 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Register here! Land access for new farmers plays a vital role in promoting sustainable agriculture practices, building climate resilience, and fostering responsible land stewardship through effective record-keeping and informed decision-making.... more
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Grow Great Gardens: Q and A

April 27 @ 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Seeds of Solidarity's workshop season begins with Grow Great Gardens: Q and A on April 27th, 10:30-11.30. The Q & A will be followed by optional self-guided tour of our... more
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No-till Gardens and Farms: Healthy Soil, Heal Climate

April 28 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
An experiential learning packed afternoon suitable to farmers or enthusiastic gardeners seeking to learn and use no-till methods that use simple tools, build healthy soil, reduce labor and cost inputs,... more
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Climate Adaptive Gardening Series: Adaptations for your own garden

April 28 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
April 28 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Join climate scientist and community gardener Laura Hilberg of EcoAdapt to explore the realities of climate change in western Massachusetts and the impact on... more
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Climate Adaptive Gardening Series: Philosophy of Permaculture

May 4 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
This workshop will offer reflections on the principles and philosophy of permaculture from Claudia Murray, a graduating senior in the Sustainable Food and Farming program at UMass. We will look... more
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Reconnect Retreat

May 5 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
A day of practices to destress and stay centered amid uncertainty. In this restorative, uplifting day in community with others, you will experience and gain techniques for: reiki/energy healing, forest... more
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Caretaker Farm: Soil Health

May 6 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
What is soil? What defines the quality of soil? How do you determine the quality of your soil? How do you try to preserve and improve your soil? During the... more
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Navigating the new normal- power equipment and implements on the farm and homestead

May 11 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Register here! Are you confused on how to enter into the realm of tractors, implements and power equipment? There are many time and labor saving pieces of equipment available lately... more
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Impacts of Increasing Annual Temperatures for New England Farms

May 13 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Register here!  Join CISA and Sara Kelemen from the USDA Northeast Climate Hub on Monday, May 13th, 4-5:30pm for the annual Adapt Your Farm to Climate Change webinar and workshop... more
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Get the Latest News From CISA

Valley Bounty: Gwydyr Farm

Every piece of farmland has its strengths and weaknesses. Often, the most successful farmers are those that learn to see their land’s potential clearly and build a business around it.   ... more
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NEPM: Great Falls Aquaculture

This week, Jacob takes Monte and Kaliis to visit Great Falls Aquaculture and the 180,000 barramundi raised there. They talk with general manager Spencer Gowan and hatchery manager Walker Wright-Moore ... more
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NEPM: D & R Farm

. Diane and Robert Rollins of D & R Farm in Hampden join the crew to talk about the love they put into farming AND all the ways they make ... more
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Valley Bounty: Fruit Fair Brings Relief to Food Desert in Chicopee

March 30, 2024    Posted in: CISA News, CISA's Valley Bounty Column, Press Room
Samaita (Sam) Newell is a first-generation immigrant from India. She met Jared Newell as a student in the five-college area. Following graduation and getting married, the young couple dreamed of ... more
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Valley Bounty: Real Pickles

“Real Pickles is a worker-owned co-op making pickles and ferments with produce that’s all organic and regionally grown,” Hunter explains. “A big part of our mission is supporting the regional ... more
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Valley Bounty: Holyoke Farmers' Market - and Field Notes!

Published March 2, 2024 in the Daily Hampshire Gazette Building community, year-round: Holyoke Farmers Market is a source of positivity and local fare By Jacob Nelson “When I was a ... more
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NEPM: Diemand Farm - and Field Notes!

. Tessa White Diemand of Diemand Farm in Wendell stops by to talk about her family’s farm, her personal journey with farming, and telling a story at CISA’s live storytelling ... more
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Valley Bounty: River Valley Co-op

In just 15 years, River Valley Co-op has grown into an indispensable part of the local food economy. For local farms, food businesses and community members who want easy access ... more
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NEPM: Rivershed Farm

. It’s CSA sign up time! Local farms around the region are gearing up for the growing season, and the more people sign up now for CSA farm shares, the ... more
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Valley Bounty: CSAs are the Community Behind the Food

Though more weeks of winter lie ahead, National Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) week — Feb. 19-25 — marks the symbolic start of the CSA cycle, when member sign-ups start rolling ... 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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