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CISA Winter Workshop: Farmer to Farmer

February 27, 2018 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Join farmers from across the Northeast as we talk about experiences, successes and challenges in our relationships as managers and people in the broader community of food and agriculture. We will also talk with each other about the future of farmers as managers, workers, leaders, activists, and family members.

Farmer Guests:

Ben Dana and Danielle Allen – Root 5 Farm, Fairlee VT
Al and Nancy Rose – Red Apple Farm, Phillipston MA
Jody Bolluyt – Roxbury Farm, Kinderhook NY

Location: World War II Club, 50 Conz. St. Northampton 

 

Price is slightly less than other Winter Workshops: 


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About the Farms:

Red Apple Farm: 

Red Apple Farm is a 4th generation farm established in 1912.  Although once a predominantly apple wholesale operation it is now a diversified direct-marketing farm operation.  The farm grows over 50 varieties of apples, peaches, pears, blueberries, raspberries, pumpkins, and potatoes.  The farm produces and makes a wide assortment of products year-round that include cider donuts, fudge, apple crisp, fresh cider, etc.  The farm operates and manages four retail locations.  The farm hosts several major events and festivals throughout the year and operates a function barn for private events and farm weddings.

Red Apple Farm is proud to employ 100% local employees.  Many of the employees have family who have been part of the farm for several generations.  In the peak Fall season the farm employs over 100 folks.  The stall at the Boston Public Market has staff of approximately 20 folks while the farm staff at Wachusett Mountain is close to 40.  The farm has a team of 8 year-round managers overseeing different aspect of the operations.  Nancy and Al, the current generation, have four kids and live and work full time at the farm.
Root 5 Farm is located in Fairlee, Vermont. We grow 8 acres of certified organic vegetables and we hire 5 full time employees from March to December. We grow for 175 CSA members, 2 local grocery stores, 6 restaurants, and 2 farmers markets. One of our strategies to maintain happy, healthy employees is to avoid huge spikes in the workload, which is a burden on workers and causes burnout. We focus on careful crop planning and season extension so we can spread out the workload and provide consistent work for our employees for 10 months of the year.

Roxbury Farm is a community supported farm; a partnership between the farmers and the customers.  Through this partnership we can work together to create a food system that works for everyone.   Our customers know where their food comes from and who grows their food.  They have a direct relationship with the farmers and the land.  Our customers trust us to farm in a regenerative way and to produce the freshest and highest quality food possible at a fair price.

We have a guaranteed market for our products and we receive a fair price.  This allows us to pay better wages to people working on the farm, use regenerative farming practices, raise our livestock humanely, and to share our farming knowledge with other farmers.  We want our farm to be here for our customers for generations to come.

This workshop is part of the CISA Winter Workshop Series: 

Policies Practices, and People

Farmers and related business owners and operators, you are invited to participate in CISA’s seven-workshop series “Labor Management: Policies, Practices and People” beginning January 2018.

A well rounded farm operation needs to be a positive workplace that meets the needs and expectations of managers and employees. Addressing the issues of ethical management, staff retention, and effective communication and training tools, this series’ topics span the needs of multiple farm audiences. Whether you are new to farm employment or looking for advanced methods to improve staff management and workplace culture, these workshops will provide tools for a productive, healthy, and just workplace that improves farm operations. Examples in the workshops will be farm related, but the skills and methodology will be relevant to all businesses.

By participating in at least three workshops, you will be eligible to receive a one-on -ne consultation to improve your staff management and operations.

The cost to attend the whole series is $75 for Local Hero Members or $15 for each individual workshop. The non-member cost is $95 for the series, or $18 for each individual workshop. Food will be provided at each session. If cost is a barrier to your participation, please feel free to contact Stevie to discuss options—we want everyone to be able to get the training they need to effectively operate their business. Scholarships may be available.

Contact Stevie Schafenacker via email or at (413) 665-7100, ext. 27 for more information.

Translation services may be provided upon request.

Funding for CISA’s Winter Workshop Series is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/National Institute of Food and Agriculture under award 2016-70017-25423, USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program through grant USDA-AMS-SCBGP-2016, USDA/Agricultural Marketing Service through grant 16FMPPMA0002, and by individual contributors and Local Hero members. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Details

Date:
February 27, 2018
Time:
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Event Categories:
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Venue

World War II Club
50 Conz Street
Northampton, MA 01060 United States

Organizer