Rich and Healthy: No-till for Successful Farms and Gardens
2024-10-27 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, 165 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange, MA
Are you a farmer or market gardener seeking to start or transition to no-till methods that use simple tools, build healthy soil, reduce labor and cost inputs, promote climate resilience and increase your connection to the land? You’ll learn several no-till, climate resilience techniques in this experiential, day-long workshop with seasoned farmer Ricky Baruc and no-till soil science researchers. Sliding scale $65-$95. Space limited, email deb@seedsofsolidarity.org to register. Soup and salad lunch included. Special opportunity! Our friends at Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, in partnership with the American Farmland Trust Soil Steward program are offering up to ten full scholarships for farmers of color, or new farmers going no-till. Let us know if this is you!
Sunday Oct 27, 10am to 5PM
Visit Seeds of Solidarity’s website for more information.

Climate-Smart Farming and Marketing Program Informational Webinar / Seminarios Virtuales Informativos sobre el Programa de Agricultura y Promoción Climáticamente Inteligentes
2024-10-16 12:00 - 13:30 | Remote
¡Regístrese aquí!
Únase a uno de los tres próximos seminarios virtuales que ofrecerán una descripción general del Programa de Agricultura y Promoción Climáticamente Inteligentes, liderado por Pasa Agricultura Sostenible. Los socios del proyecto regional del noreste de Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), NOFA-MA, NOFA-VT, Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust y Maine Farmland Trust explicarán el proceso de registración y explicarán las 26 prácticas climáticamente inteligentes que el proyecto puede financiar.
El 90% de los fondos del proyecto están reservados para productores de pequeña escala y desatendidos. La definición del USDA de desatendido incluye: productores principiantes, socialmente desfavorecidos, veteranos, de recursos limitados, mujeres y de cultivos especializados. El USDA define “pequeña escala” como aquellos con menos de $350,000 en ingresos agrícolas brutos anuales en efectivo.
Habrá la oportunidad de conectarse con proveedores de asistencia técnica de organizaciones asociadas que le servirán como punto de contacto si decide inscribirse en el programa. Si vive fuera de Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire o Maine, pero dentro de la región del proyecto (desde Carolina del Sur hasta Maine), se le pondrá en contacto con el socio regional de su estado.
Este seminario virtual está disponible en tres fechas. Se cubrirán los mismos contenidos en cada sesión. El 16 de octubre y 13 de noviembre Los seminarios virtuales incluirán interpretación simultánea en español e inglés.
Fechas del seminario web:

18 de septiembre de 7:00 a 8:30 pm
16 de octubre de 12:00 a 1:30 pm (se ofrece interpretación en español)
13 de noviembre de 7:00 a 20:30 pm (se ofrece interpretación en español)

¿Qué incluye el Programa de Agricultura Climáticamente Inteligente?

Asistencia financiera: Reciba financiación para implementar prácticas climáticamente inteligentes en su granja.
Asistencia técnica a medida: Trabaje con nuestro equipo de proveedores de asistencia técnica para crear un plan de implementación que se alinee con los objetivos de su granja.
Aprendizaje entre pares: Únase a una comunidad de agricultores dedicados a mejorar la resiliencia climática y el desempeño financiero de sus granjas.
Oportunidades de investigación colaborativa: Los agricultores pueden indicar interés en ser seleccionados para colaborar en los estudios de referencia financiera y de salud del suelo de Pasa.
Asistencia de marketing: Mejore su capacidad para compartir su historia de impacto climático con los clientes y comunicar los beneficios climáticos y ambientales para generar apoyo de los consumidores para granjas, prácticas y productos climáticamente inteligentes.

Comuníquese con Climate@buylocalfood.org si tiene alguna pregunta.
Este programa cuenta con el apoyo de la subvención Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. Este material se basa en un trabajo respaldado por el Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (por sus siglas en inglés: United States Department of Agriculture [USDA]), según el acuerdo número NR233A750004G025.
Cualquier opinión, hallazgo, conclusión o recomendación expresada en esta publicación pertenece a los autores y no refleja necesariamente los puntos de vista del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU . Además, cualquier referencia a marcas o tipos de productos o servicios específicos no constituye ni implica un respaldo por parte del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. para esos productos o servicios.
El USDA es un proveedor, empleador y prestamista que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Register here!
Join one of the three upcoming webinars that provide an overview of the Climate-Smart Farming & Marketing Program, led by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. Northeast regional project partners from Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), NOFA-MA, NOFA-VT, Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust, and Maine Farmland Trust will explain the enrollment process and review the 26 climate-smart practices the project can fund.
This program will run for 5 years, and can provide funding and an annual stipend to implement practices with soil health and climate resiliency benefits. Practices include cover cropping, hedgerow planting, low-till practices, mulching, silvopasture, nutrient management, conservation crop rotation, and more.
90% of project funds are reserved for underserved and small-scale producers. The USDA definition of underserved includes: Beginning, Socially disadvantaged, Veteran, Limited Resource, Women, and Specialty crop growers. The USDA defines “small-scale” as those with less than $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income.
There will be an opportunity to connect with technical assistance providers from partner organizations who will serve as your point of contact if you decide to enroll in the program. If you live outside of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine, but within the project region (from South Carolina to Maine) you will be put in contact with the regional partner from your state.
This webinar is available on three dates. The same content will be covered in each session. The October 16th and November 13th webinars will include simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and English.
Webinar Dates:

September 18 at 7:00-8:30 PM
October 16 at 12:00-1:30 PM (Spanish interpretation offered)
November 13 at 7:00-8:30 PM

What does the Climate-Smart Ag Program include?

Financial Support: Receive funding to implement climate-smart practices on your farm.
Tailored Technical Assistance: Work with our team of Technical Assistance Providers to create an implementation plan that aligns with your farm’s goals
Peer-to-Peer Learning: Join a community of farmers dedicated to improving their farm’s climate resilience and financial performance.
Collaborative Research Opportunities: Farmers can indicate interest in being selected to collaborate on Pasa’s Soil Health and Financial Benchmark Studies.
Marketing Support: Enhance your ability to share your climate impact story with customers and communicate climate and environmental benefits to build consumer support for climate-smart farms, practices, and products

Please contact climate@buylocalfood.org with any questions.

This program is supported by a Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR233A750004G025.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for those products or services.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Food Safety & Storage in a Warmer New England
2024-10-15 16:00 - 17:30 | Kitchen Garden Farm, 131 S. Silver Lane, Sunderland, MA, 01375, United States
Register here!
Join UMass Extension, CISA, and UVM Extension for a climate-themed twilight meeting at Kitchen Garden Farm in Sunderland, MA! Lilly Israel and Max Traunstein will give a tour of Kitchen Garden Farm’s postharvest and food production facilities, and discuss how the farm is considering climate change and food safety in its operations. Chris Callahan of UVM Extension will discuss precooling resources, sizing CoolBots and coolers, condensation management, and guidance on sorting/culling product for storage. Lisa McKeag of UMass Extension will give an overview of potential climate impacts on food safety. Program and presentations will be from 4-5:30 pm with refreshments to follow.

Date: Tuesday, October 15, 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Location: Kitchen Garden Farm, 131 S. Silver Lane, Sunderland, MA, 01375

This event is co-sponsored by CISA and UMass Extension. The event is part of CISA’s Adapt your Farm to Climate Change series. Contact climate@buylocalfood.org with questions.
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2023 70027-40447.

Twilight Meeting: Climate Impacts on Weed Management and Soil Health
2024-10-08 16:00 - 18:00 | UMass Crop & Livestock Research & Education Farm, 89 River Rd, South Deerfield, MA, 01373, United States
Register here!
How are climate change and hotter temperatures affecting our soils? Often, practices like reducing tillage and cover cropping are recommended to improve soil health, reduce risk of topsoil loss and enhance resilience to drought and flood—practices that can also affect weed management. UMass Extension will discuss general impacts of climate change on soil health and highlight current research on updating recommendations for planting timing and overwintering survival of cover crop species in MA. Maria Gannett, UMass Extension Weeds Specialist, will relate these strategies to how they can impact weed management.
This event is co-sponsored by CISA and UMass Extension and is part of CISA’s annual Adapt your Farm to Climate Change Series. The 2024 series focuses on the impacts of increasing temperatures throughout the year on specific parts of our food system, including soils, weeds and pests, farmworker health and safety, heat tolerant crops, urban farms and others.
Contact Stephen Taranto at stephen@buylocalfood.org or 413-665-7100 ext. 17 with any questions.
When: Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 4-6pm, with a light supper to follow
Where: UMass Crop & Livestock Research & Education Farm, 89 River Rd., South Deerfield, MA, 01373
Registration: Free! Please register in advance so we can order enough food. Click here to register.
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2023-70027-40447.

Agrivoltaics Open House: Burgundy Brook Farm
2024-10-03 15:00 - 19:00 | MA
What: Come and see a real agrivoltaic project! Learn the different factors in making a project like this work effectively for farmers and farmland. Understand the benefits of these systems, and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
What to wear/bring: Please wear closed-toed shoes (sneakers, boots). We suggest wearing pants to keep ticks etc. off.
When: October 3rd 3pm-7pm. People can come for as long or as short as they’d like (it’ll get dark, so folks will likely head out earlier than 7).
Where: Burgundy Brook Farm, (search “Tables at the Farm Palmer, MA” in your Google or Apple maps or other GPS app)

Stony Hill Farm Tour: Planning for Climate Resilience
2024-09-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Stony Hill Farm, 899 Stony Hill Rd, Wilbraham, MA
Register here!
As the climate changes, western Mass is expected to have more days with temperatures in the 90s, new pests, wetter springs, more intense rain events, and decreased soil moisture during the summer. We’re channeling our climate anxiety into efforts to build our soils and increase our biodiversity to make our farm more resilient–-join us for a tour of our small organic farm to see what we’ve been up to! We’ll discuss the motivations behind our ongoing transition to no-till, and look at trials of organic mulches, cover crops, and beneficial insect plantings. We’ll also look at our efforts to transition away from fossil fuels (including solar electricity generation that powers our electrically-heated greenhouse, well pump, climate-controlled wash/pack room, etc). We’ll share ideas for future projects and discuss funding from the new Climate-Smart Farming & Marketing Program that is helping in these efforts. Pie and seltzer will be provided!

Date: September 22, 4-6pm
Location: Stony Hill Farm, 899 Stony Hill Rd, Wilbraham MA

Please reach out to stonyhillfarm01095@gmail.com with questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. It is geared toward home gardeners and farmers. Click here to see the full list of events!

Climate, Conservation, and Community: An Informational Tour of the Fort River Community Garden
2024-09-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Fort River Community Garden, 44 Belchertown Rd, Amherst, MA
Register here!
Come join members of the volunteer management committee for the Fort River Community Garden for a tour of the garden space! You will learn how the sociocratic model is used to run the garden, and some history of how the garden came to be. It is situated on conservation land that was donated to the town of Amherst after failed attempts at agroforestry. Portions of the landscape have also been managed and replanted along the bank of the Fort River, which runs through the property.

Date: September 21 : Cancelled
Location: Fort River Community Garden

Contact fern@buylocalfood.org with any questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. It is geared toward members of the general public. Click here to see the full list of events!

Reed Farm: Composting for Business Diversification and Climate Change Adaptation
2024-09-20 16:00 - 17:30 | Reed Farm, 136 Russell Street, Sunderland, MA, 01375​, United States
Register here!
Join Reed Farm for a look at their composting enterprise that adapts to climate change by diversifying income streams and reducing farm waste. Reed Farm received an adaptation grant from CISA in 2022 and used it to attend the Maine Compost School to learn about turning their farm’s “waste” into compost and a new source of income. Come tour the farm’s processing plant, production house, and composting field, and learn about changes and updates to their operation.
Presenters: Kat Chang Laznicka and Peter Reed Laznicka own and operate Reed Farm in Sunderland, MA, a small scale pastured poultry farm and state inspected poultry processing facility offering processing services to the local farming community. Since opening in 2019, Reed Farm has been awarded state and federal grants to expand production and progress their on-site processing facility towards a USDA grant of inspection.

Date: September 20th, 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Reed Farm, 136 Russell St, Sunderland MA

Reach out to info@reedfarmpoultry.com with any questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. Is is geared toward members of the farming community and the general public. Click here to see the full list of events!

Working to Build Climate Change Resiliency at the Hampshire College Farm : A Farm Tour
2024-09-19 16:00 - 19:00 | Hampshire College Farm, 793 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002
Register here!
Come tour the Hampshire College Farm! We are a small, diversified vegetable and livestock farm right on the Hampshire College Campus and we are trialing ways to build resiliency into our day to day farming practices. Come chat with the farm staff and students about projects we are working on to help diversify our systems and build farm durability in our ever changing climate. Our projects aim to both enhance the farm’s systems while also providing areas for research and questioning for our students and community members alike. And we would love to talk with you about it!
Small snacks and refreshments provided.

Date: September 19th, 4-7pm
Location: Hampshire College Farm, 739 West St, Amherst MA

Please contact farm@hampshire.edu with any questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. It is geared toward members of the Hampshire College Community as well as the general public. Click here to see the full list of events!

Climate-Smart Farming and Marketing Program Informational Webinar
2024-09-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Remote
Register here!
Join one of the three upcoming webinars that provide an overview of the Climate-Smart Farming & Marketing Program, led by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture. Northeast regional project partners from Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), NOFA-MA, NOFA-VT, Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust, and Maine Farmland Trust will explain the enrollment process and review the 26 climate-smart practices the project can fund.
90% of project funds are reserved for underserved and small-scale producers. The USDA definition of underserved includes: Beginning, Socially disadvantaged, Veteran, Limited Resource, Women, and Specialty crop growers. The USDA defines “small-scale” as those with less than $350,000 in annual gross cash farm income.
There will be an opportunity to connect with technical assistance providers from partner organizations who will serve as your point of contact if you decide to enroll in the program. If you live outside of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine, but within the project region (from South Carolina to Maine) you will be put in contact with the regional partner from your state.
This webinar is available on three dates. The same content will be covered in each session. The October 16th and November 13th webinars will include simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and English.
Webinar Dates:

September 18 at 7:00 PM
October 16 at 12:00 PM
November 13 at 7:00 PM

What does the Climate-Smart Ag Program include?

Financial Support: Receive funding to implement climate-smart practices on your farm.
Tailored Technical Assistance: Work with our team of Technical Assistance Providers to create an implementation plan that aligns with your farm’s goals
Peer-to-Peer Learning: Join a community of farmers dedicated to improving their farm’s climate resilience and financial performance.
Collaborative Research Opportunities: Farmers can indicate interest in being selected to collaborate on Pasa’s Soil Health and Financial Benchmark Studies.
Marketing Support: Enhance your ability to share your climate impact story with customers and communicate climate and environmental benefits to build consumer support for climate-smart farms, practices, and products

Please contact climate@buylocalfood.org with any questions.

This program is supported by a Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR233A750004G025.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for those products or services.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. Click here to see the full list of events!

“Kiss the Ground” Showing with CISA and Miller Worley Center for the Environment
2024-09-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA, 01075, United States
Join Mount Holyoke College’s Miller Worley Center and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture to celebrate their Climate Change and Farming Week for a showing of “Kiss the Ground” followed by a discussion led by Growing Vines. This film reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle.

Date: September 18th, 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Miller Worley Center, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College St, South Hadley, MA

Please contact mkane@mtholyoke.edu with questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. It is open to members of the Mount Holyoke College Community as well as the general public. Click here to see the full list of events!

Dining for a Cooler Planet: Showcasing Local Farmers and Climate Resilience
2024-09-18 17:30 - 20:00 | Hampshire Dining Commons, UMass, 141 Southwest Circle, Amherst
UMass Dining will host a special event at Hampshire Dining Commons featuring a panel discussion on Local Agriculture and Climate Action, a cooking demonstration by our Executive Chef Bob Bankert at 6:00, and a special menu showcasing local ingredients.

Date: September 18th, 5:30-8:00pm
Location: Hampshire Dining Commons, 141 Southwest Circle, Amherst MA

Entry into the Dining Commons without a meal plan costs $18.75. Limited number of meal vouchers for low income diners available upon request. Once you enter, food is all-you-can-eat buffet style.
Please contact Kathy Wicks at kwicks@umass.edu with questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. Click here to see the full list of events!

Farming in a Changing Climate with Berkshire Agricultural Ventures
2024-09-18 16:00 - 19:00 | April Hill Farm, 62 Undermountain Rd, South Egremont, MA
Register here!
Join us for our 2nd annual climate event to hear insights and lessons from our local farmers and regional experts. Optional farm tour of April Hill starts at 4pm, and the main speaker presentations start at 5pm. Main event will be followed with refreshments and conversation.

Date: September 18th, 4-7pm
Location: April Hill Farm, 62 Undermountain Rd, South Egremont MA
Cost: Chose-what-you-pay Tickets, with a recommended ticket price of $10

Please reach out to ben@berkshireagventures.org with any questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024.It is geared toward farmers and interested members of the general public. Click here to see the full list of events!

Maximizing MDAR Funding Opportunities and Navigating Climate Conditions - A Tour at the Food Bank Farm
2024-09-17 17:30 - 19:30 | The Food Bank Farm, 32 Shattuck Rd, Hadley, MA, 01038, United States
Register here!
At this event you will learn about MDAR’s new succession planning opportunity, MDAR grants and the MDAR APR Program. We will tour the Food Bank Farm and hear about their experience putting the land into APR, obtaining APR approvals for farm projects and grants and resources used for infrastructure on the farm as well as the challenges of weather and farming on land under the Wetland Exemption.
Please bring your own lawn chair if you would like to sit during the speaking portion.

Date: September 17th, 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Food Bank Farm of Western Mass, 32 Shattuck Road, Hadley MA

Please contact Kristina.Smith@mass.gov with any questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. It is geared toward farmers and interested members of the general public. Click here to see the full list of events!

Climate Week Film Screening: Common Ground
2024-09-16 18:00 - 21:00 | The Greenfield Garden Theater, 361 Main St, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
Kick off CISA’s Climate Week with a film screening of Common Ground, a fascinating documentary that dives into the dynamics of modern agriculture and the importance of healthy soils for the longevity of our people and planet. This is a great opportunity for farmers, gardeners and foodies to sit back and enjoy a well-made film featuring the work we know and love alongside the systems that we are struggling to overcome, and how to move forward together. Gather at 6pm to enjoy some food before the film starts at 6:30. The film is scheduled to end around 8:15, followed by a discussion until 9.
The event is free, but please register beforehand here.
Watch the trailer & read more about the Common Ground film here.

Date: September 16th, 6-9pm.
Location: Greenfield Garden Cinema, 361 Main St, Greenfield MA

Please reach out to Lauradavis@nofamass.org with questions.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024. It is geared towards members of the farming community as well as the public.

Planning and Adapting for Heat and Other Climate Impacts at Farmers’ Markets
2024-09-16 14:00 - 15:30 | Remote
Register here!
This webinar will target farmers’ market managers and vendors and will provide examples of practices that will help reduce the impacts of extreme heat and climate change on farmers’ market operations. Join staff from CISA and Mass Farmers Markets as they provide an overview of how climate change can affect infrastructure, produce availability and quality, and how to make sure vendors and customers are comfortable and safe.
This event is part of Climate Change and Farming Week 2024 and CISA’s annual Adapt Your Farm to Climate Change series.

Date: September 16, 2pm-3:30pm
Location: Remote

Please contact climate@buylocalfood.org with questions.
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2023-70027-40447.

Building Healthy Soil in Urban Growing Areas
2024-08-14 10:00 - 14:00 | Tapley Court Apartment, 221 Bay St, Springfield, MA, 01109, United States
Ver la pagina en español
Click here for more information.
Calling all members of the Bay Street community, Springfield gardeners and community organizers, and housing or social service coordinators!
Come and visit the organic community garden at Tapley Court Apartment.
The Tapley Youth Agricultural Scientists invite you to experience the garden and learn how they built healthy soil and created an organic food source for community members on Bay street and the wider Springfield community.

Register Online Now

They will share:

How the garden came to be
How to build healthy soil in small urban growing spaces
How to develop an intensive growing garden
How to grow culturally important crops in Springfield
A cooking demonstration using crops from the garden

Growing in urban green spaces brings many challenges. The Tapley Youth will describe the simple soil health techniques they’ve used to rebuild soil health and make it possible to grow organic food, like mulching, soil ferments, cover cropping, and mulching. They’ll also demonstrate a few of the soil test methods they use to regularly monitor soil health.
They’ll describe how they designed and evolved this intensive garden over time, how they care for it so it grows lots of food, and how they’ve learned to grow culturally important crops in New England.
They’ll even demonstrate how they use harvests from the garden to make something delicious (with samples to taste!)
We hope you’ll walk away inspired to spearhead your own community garden, identify potential partners to get involved with, and leave motivated to create an organic food source in your community!
If you have questions, please reach out to Sister Anna Gilbert-Muhammad (anna@nofamass.org)

Water & Climate Change Twilight Meeting at Bardwell Farm
2024-08-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Bardwell Farm, 49 Main Street, Hatfield, MA, 01038, United States
Register here!
Join UMass Extension and CISA for a climate-themed twilight meeting at Bardwell Farm in Hatfield, MA!

Lisa McKeag will share findings from her recent water quality survey of farms around MA and discuss potential impacts of weather and climate change on ag water quality.
Harrison Bardwell will show off his new automated irrigation system, and discuss irrigation practices and funded projects around the farm.
Sue Scheufele will discuss climate change impacts on vegetable pests including an on-farm trial for managing Phytophthora blight in peppers hosted by Bardwell Farm.

This event is co-sponsored by CISA and UMass Extension and is part of CISA’s annual Adapt your Farm to Climate Change Series. The 2024 series focuses on the impacts of increasing temperatures throughout the year on specific parts of our food system, including soils, weeds and pests, farmworker health and safety, heat tolerant crops, urban farms and others.
Contact Stephen Taranto at stephen@buylocalfood.org or 413-665-7100 ext. 17 with any questions.
When: Friday, August 2, 2024, 5-7pm, with dinner and discussion to follow
Where: Bardwell Farm, 49 Main St., Hatfield, MA 01038
Registration: Free! Please register in advance so we can order enough food. Click here to register.
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2023-70027-40447.

Tillage Reduction Systems and Equipment: Living Mulch and Strip-Till
2024-07-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Atlas Farm trial fields, 595A River Rd, Deerfield, MA, 01342, United States
Register here!
Come check out Atlas Farm’s 3 acre experiment with strip-tilled winter squash in a perennial clover living mulch, and living clover/rye pathways in five acres of tomatoes. We’ll look at a no-till drill, strip-till equipment, and strip-cultivation equipment. Atlas Farms’ trials have implications for tillage reduction and soil health for conventional and organic growers at all scales. Following the talk and tour, there will be a light dinner at 6 PM. We hope to see you there!
This event is co-sponsored by CISA, Momentum Ag, the Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District, and UMass.

Date: Thursday, July 25th, 4-6pm
Location: Atlas Farm, 595A River Rd, Deerfield, MA 01342

Contact climate@buylocalfood.org with questions.

Hazelnut Agroforestry Field Tour
2024-07-13 14:00 - 17:00 | Nutwood Farm, 76 Porter Hill Rd, Cummington, MA, United States
Register here!
Are you excited about the possibility of growing climate resilient tree crops for our local food system? Do you have dreams of a perennial, climate resilient, dynamic agroforestry farm, but are struggling to take the steps to put your aspirations into action?
Join Nutwood Farm and NOFA/Mass to explore a small commercial hazelnut orchard and learn what it takes to transition land to tree crops, from developing a site plan, testing your soil, clearing land, selecting species of plants and animals, to working with mistakes and thinking ahead. They’ll walk us through how they got started and where they’re headed next, including embarking on investing in processing infrastructure and developing value-added food products as well as other marketable agroforestry products.

Throughout the day we will:

Tour the farm to see hazelnut hedgerows, earthworks, and livestock
Ask critical and inspiring implementation questions
Engage in rich discussion about agroforestry development in the Northeast
Review the various entities and organizations that have supported this work
Meet and mingle with others who might also be in your shoes!

Click here for more information.
Questions? Contact Ruben at events@nofamass.org

Agroforestry & Climate Adaptation: A Tour of Big River Chestnuts
2024-06-29 09:30 - 12:30 | Big River Chestnuts, 44-98 Settright Rd, Deerfield, MA, 01373
Register here!
With each year that passes, extreme weather events become more frequent and erratic, and it becomes harder and harder to make a living as a farmer. In response to climate change, many farmers are experimenting with a range of ‘climate-smart’ practices that increase the diversity, resilience, and adaptability of their operation. Some particularly exciting practices fall under the umbrella of ‘agroforestry’ – a broad term that refers to any practice that intentionally integrates forestry with agriculture.
Agroforestry is not new – It is a traditional practice that was forgotten as American farms grew larger, less diverse, and more mechanized. However, agroforestry is starting to receive a great deal of attention, and is primed for a resurgence. Indeed, agroforestry practices may prove vital in keeping farmers farming.
Join us for a tour of Big River Chestnuts, where we will learn about agroforestry practices from Jono Neiger. Big River Chestnuts is a 10-acre diversified alley cropping and silvopasture farm started by Jono in 2018, with a vision to produce commercial quantities of chestnuts while
stewarding the river terrace soils and habitat. In addition to the chestnuts, Jono grows heartnuts, hazelnuts, and persimmon. A diverse mix of perennial crops grow in between the rows of trees, while livestock forage amongst the lush landscape, adding valuable nutrients while providing light tillage, along with a host of other benefits.
The day will begin with a short discussion on the value of agroforestry as a climate adaptation technique, followed by a walking tour of the farm. After the tour, people are encouraged to socialize and enjoy some local snacks. Please register here.

Date: Saturday, June 29, 2024
Time: Farm Tour from 9:30 to 11:30. Socializing from 11:30 to 12:30.
Location:195 River Rd, Sunderland, MA
Contact: hampdenhampshireconservation@gmail.com

Click here for more information

Maintaining Agricultural Ditches: What to Know About the Agricultural Exemption and Best Practices from NRCS
2024-06-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Hadley Senior Center, 46 Middle St, Hadley, MA, 01035, United States
Register here!
Please join us on Wednesday June 26th at 6pm at the Hadley Senior Center for a workshop on ditches and storm water management in agricultural settings. This workshop is intended for farmers and members of conservation and agricultural commissions. We will hear from the MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on the agricultural exemption, with time for Q&A. There will be a presentation on best practices & resources from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Staff representing CISA, MDAR APR, Hampshire Hampden Conservation Districts and Hadley Conservation Commission will be attending the event and available to answer questions.
Date: Wednesday, June 26th, 6pm
Location: Hadley Senior Center, 46 Middle St., Hadley, MA 01035
Contact climate@buylocalfood.org with questions.

Climate Adaptive Gardening Series: Good Bug, Bad Bug
2024-06-01 10:00 - 11:30 | Grow Food Northampton Organic Community Garden, 140 Meadow St, Florence, MA, 01062, United States
Learn the ins and outs of which insects live in our gardens, why, and how they affect our crops from Master Gardener Ken Conway!
Free
Please Register here

Climate Adaptive Gardening Series: Mill River Floods, Past & Present
2024-05-16 17:00 - 18:30 | Grow Food Northampton Organic Community Garden, 140 Meadow St, Florence, MA, 01062, United States
On the 150th Anniversary of the Mill River Flood of 1874, join local historian John Sinton and Smith College Botany professor Gaby Immerman, co-founders of the Mill River Greenway Initiative, for a presentation on the history and current state of Mill River floods and the relationship of flooding with the Grow Food Northampton Community Garden. More details coming soon!
Sliding scale, $0-30, limited space available.
Please register here.

Impacts of Increasing Annual Temperatures for New England Farms
2024-05-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Remote
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 series kick-off event. The 2024 series focuses on the impacts of increasing temperatures throughout the year on specific parts of our food system, including soils, weeds and pests, farmworker health and safety, heat tolerant crops, urban farms and others.
Sara will share climate and temperature data from New England and discuss some examples of how temperature change will impact agricultural operations. Sara has been working on diversified farms for 8 years, and manages climate adaptation and mitigation planning programs for many types of farmers with the Climate Hub and other partners.
Through webinars and on-farm workshops, participants in this year’s events will learn about adaptation practices and how to implement them, hear from technical assistance providers and converse with farmers on their experiences making changes on their farms. See this year’s full schedule here and see you on the 13th!
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2023-70027-40447.

Climate Adaptive Gardening Series: Philosophy of Permaculture
2024-05-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Grow Food Northampton Organic Community Garden, 140 Meadow St, Florence, MA, 01062, United States
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 at the relationship between farming and European colonization, and learn how permaculture offers a shift in perspective to address these crises. We hope to think through new approaches to engaging with food, farming, and our connections to the land. Finally, we will consider different ways of integrating permaculture at the community garden or in your own home garden! All gardening experience levels welcome.
Free, limited space available.
Please register here.

No-till Gardens and Farms: Healthy Soil, Heal Climate
2024-04-28 13:00 - 16:00 | Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, 165 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange, MA
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, and promote climate resilience. A perfect time of year to learn and introduce several techniques that build healthy soil. Led by Seeds of Solidarity farmer, co-founder Ricky Baruc, known for his no-till farming successes and invigorating teaching style. Pre-registration required. Sliding scale: $35 to $60. Proceeds will be donated to 1for3.org to support their school and community gardening programs for Palestinians in the West Bank. Email deb@seedsofsolidarity.org to register.
Sunday April 28, 1-4PM
Visit Seeds of Solidarity’s website for more information.

Climate Adaptive Gardening Series: Adaptations for your own garden
2024-04-28 13:00 - 14:30 | Grow Food Northampton Organic Community Garden, 140 Meadow St, Florence, MA, 01062, United States
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 farmers and gardeners in our local landscape.
Climate change is already affecting our community in the form of frequent, severe flooding, heat waves, and unseasonably warm winters, and these impacts are likely to become even more extreme over the coming decades. Although it is difficult to predict what will happen and challenging to cope with climate change on top of all of the existing stressors we are all dealing with, there is a lot we can do to prepare for and respond to the changes that are happening – and hopefully build a better, stronger community in the process!
This workshop will introduce community gardeners and other interested participants to climate change adaptation, which focuses on how to cope with and respond to climate change. We will also outline the changes that we are most likely to experience in western Massachusetts and how they might impact our community garden, and provide some resources for participants who are interested in exploring these topics in greater detail. Finally, we will leave ample time for questions. We encourage you to ask questions in the registration form ahead of time, so that we have the information to answer them at the workshop!
FREE, donations accepted
Please register, and submit questions here
(Rain date: Sunday, May 5)

Soil Carbon Amendment Webinar
2024-04-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Remote
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 and watching your crops and pastures dry up a few weeks later? Do you worry that you’re not getting the most out of your fertilizer investments? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may be interested in the Soil Carbon Amendment (SCA) webinar, hosted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Health Subcommittee and American Farmland Trust (AFT). Click here for more information.

Arthur Siller, Soil Health Specialist and Olivia Golden, Urban Agriculture Educator of UMass Extension will discuss compost application rates, the effect of compost on soil organic matter and other soil properties and the differences between manure and compost.
Deborah Aller, Extension Associate, Cornell University will present on her research with biochar and its positive effects on soil health.
Kate Parsons, Resource Conservationist, NRCS will cover the financial assistance that is available for eligible agricultural producers to apply compost, biochar or other soil carbon amendments using NRCS’ new Conservation Practice Code 336 (SCA).

And of course, no soil health webinar is complete without a very brief review of the soil health principles. This webinar is designed for both farmers and technical service providers. Please register by Monday April 15th to learn how Soil Carbon Amendment can help you advance towards your soil organic matter goals.
DATE: April 18, 2024
TIME: 5:30 – 7:30 pm EST
LOCATION: Online Event, meeting link sent by email

Questions? Contact Caro Roszell at croszell@farmland.org, (413)-206-7169

Climate Adaptive Gardening Series: No-till Practices for Soil Health
2024-04-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Grow Food Northampton Organic Community Garden, 140 Meadow St, Florence, MA, 01062, United States
Join local GFN farmer and educator Rose Cherneff at Grow Food Northampton’s Organic Community Garden to learn about all things soil! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone figuring out how to grow food in the time of climate change.

This hands-on workshop will begin with an introduction to soil health – learning how to assess our soil using both our innate senses and carbon-proxy tests, as well as how to interpret chemical soil test results from the UMASS soil lab. We will then move into learning about no-till gardening techniques to enhance soil health such as planting, tarping, and crimping cover crops, lasagna gardening, and living mulches! This workshop is offered on a sliding scale fee of $0-20.

Sign up for the Saturday, April 13 workshop here
(Please save Sunday, April 14 as a rain date!)

And…if you are looking for more in-depth learning about no-till gardening, Rose Cherneff teaches a 9-month long course on climate resilient gardening through their school “Gardening for the Future.” The course covers a range of topics to help gardeners grow food during this time of climate change, and is offered on a sliding scale. The course began in February, but gardeners are invited to join now! Learn more and sign up for the course here!
