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PRODID:-//CISA - Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture - ECPv6.15.15//NONSGML v1.0//EN
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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for CISA - Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240601T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240601T120000
DTSTAMP:20260506T153340
CREATED:20240227T204713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T204713Z
UID:46151-1717232400-1717243200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Keeping the soil covered: tarps\, cover crops\, mulch
DESCRIPTION:Register here! \nWe aim for the highest possible fertility\, a no till scenario\, increased soil organic matter\, and high nutrient density\, disease and insect resistance\, and as few weeds as possible. At this workshop we will discuss our 10 years of no till\, a bit about our problems with this modality as they have evolved over the years\, and the solutions that we have implemented. Always a work in progress\, this fascinating journey is always full of new insights and observations. \nSpecifically\, we will show how we use cover crops pre\, post and during the season\, tarps throughout the farming year\, and myriad sources of mulch. We will demonstrate the use of our bale chopper\, mulch some broccoli with chopped straw or hay and leaves\, take down some cover crops and use a pre-plant soil drench for planting of tomatoes in the next 2-3 days. We will remove tarps from some of our sweet potato beds and prepare the beds for planting similar to the tomato beds. Finally\, we will undersow inoculated (with biocoat gold) crimson clover in our mulched collard beds and apply a transplant drench to the beds. \nClick here for more information! \nEvent Details: \n\nSaturday\, June 1\, 2024\n9am-12noon with pot luck lunch\nPrice – $50-$100 – sliding scale\nPresenters –Julie Rawson\, Elenore Alves\, Matthew Kornn
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/keeping-the-soil-covered-tarps-cover-crops-mulch/
LOCATION:Many Hands Sustainability Center\, 411 Sheldon Road\, Barre\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240603T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240603T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T153340
CREATED:20240401T180956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240401T180956Z
UID:46479-1717430400-1717441200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Off The Shelf Farm: Scaling Pastured Poultry on Leased Land
DESCRIPTION:Off the Shelf Farm started in 2018 with 750 hens\, 150 broiler chickens and 13 lambs with a hand shake lease for 30 acres and no infrastructure. In 2024 the farm will support 2800 laying hens\, 4500 broiler chickens and 30 lambs all rotationally grazed on pasture. It will for the first time have a legal\, long-term lease on 80 acres and will be implementing a $500k grant-supported project to build winter chicken housing\, egg processing and cold storage space. We will talk about our process of scaling our business and “making it work” despite not owning a farm or having any long-term security. Click here for more information.  \nDate: Monday\, June 3\, 4:00 PM  7:00 PM \nLocation: 200 North Plain Road\, Great Barrington\, MA 01230
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/off-the-shelf-farm-scaling-pastured-poultry-on-leased-land/
LOCATION:Off The Shelf Farm\, 200 North Plain Road\, Great Barrington\, MA
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240603T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240603T193000
DTSTAMP:20260506T153340
CREATED:20240517T122747Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240517T122747Z
UID:46873-1717439400-1717443000@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:SNAP training for farm & farmers’ market staff (session three)
DESCRIPTION:Register here! \nMake sure your farm stand and farmers’ market staff are ready to accept SNAP this summer by having them attend this SNAP employee training. \nEmployees will learn SNAP basics including what EBT cards look like\, what items are SNAP eligible\, how to run a SNAP transaction\, and the differences between SNAP and HIP. Attendees will come away knowing how SNAP works\, how to answer questions around SNAP and HIP\, and how to successfully and legally run a transaction on Conduent and TotilPay machines. \nThis training will also cover the SNAP protocols and rules that the USDA requires businesses to cover with their employees every year. A list of employees who attended the training can be provided to the employer\, to satisfy the USDA’s requirement that SNAP trainings for staff be documented. \nThis training is for employees who will be processing SNAP transactions. Open to all staff of farm businesses or farmers’ markets that accept SNAP. \nThis workshop will be held on Zoom on Monday\, June 3rd\, 6:30-7:45pm. \nContact Jim Simon at jim@buylocalfood.org or 413-665-7100 ext. 18 with questions.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/snap-training-for-farm-farmers-market-staff-session-three/
LOCATION:Remote
CATEGORIES:CISA Events,Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240615T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240615T120000
DTSTAMP:20260506T153340
CREATED:20240227T204926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T204926Z
UID:46153-1718442000-1718452800@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Homestead Carpentry
DESCRIPTION:Register here! \nThere’s a time in every homesteader’s life when some carpentry is needed to build or repair something made of wood.  This workshop will provide a solid grounding in getting started. Very basic questions will be explored in a setting that requires no knowledge of woodworking. \nTopics will include: how to select the right lumber for your task\, how to measure it and cut it to size\, the options for fastening it together\, and making a good assembly.  Each topic will cover the tools needed\, with a demonstration of technique\, and how to avoid some common pitfalls.  Emphasis will be on hand tools where feasible. \nWhile in his 20s\, John Wilson was a carpenter for 10 years.  He worked on framing apartments\, finish work in condos\, a cabinet shop\, and built two houses.  He’s kept active in carpentry remodeling work in the intervening years\, and was part of the MHOF garage and chicken coop renovations the past two years.  He has always had an appreciation for tools and techniques. \nClick here for more information! \nEvent Details: \n\nSaturday\, June 15\, 2024\n9am-12 with pot luck lunch\nPrice: $50-$100 – sliding scale\nPresenter: John Wilson\, with some help from Jack Kittredge and Danny LeBlanc
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/homestead-carpentry/
LOCATION:Many Hands Sustainability Center\, 411 Sheldon Road\, Barre\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240617T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240617T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T153340
CREATED:20240401T181259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240401T181259Z
UID:46482-1718640000-1718650800@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Cricket Creek Farm: Dairy Production\, Grazing\, and Processing
DESCRIPTION:Cricket Creek is a grass-based dairy farm managed by a small team of collaborators.  The entire farm is comprised of about 500 acres\, about 150 of which is hay fields\, just over 100 is pasture\, and the rest is wooded.  We are one of the oldest dairy farms in the region\, but infused with new life and energy.  Our primary activity is raising dairy cows for their good milk.  Our milking herd ranges between 35 and 40 lactating animals\, depending on the time of yea\,r and the entire dairy herd is about 80 animals including the dry cows and young stock.  We sell raw milk from our farm and the rest of our milk we make into artisanal cheese in our farmstead creamery; in 2017 we made about 47\,000 lbs of cheese.  We raise grass-fed beef and whey-fed pork.  We sell our goods through our farm store\, at local farmers markets\, and through various regional cheese shops\, food co-ops\, restaurants\, and other establishments.  Our mission is to produce nourishing food that honors our animals\, respects the land and feeds our community\, and to exemplify a sustainable model for small-farm viability. \nOur workshop will be an overview of running a small diversified dairy farm.  We will discuss rotational grazing\, dairy cow health issues\, our nurse cow system\, milking schedules\, farmstead cheese production\, raw milk and cheese marketing and sales.  We will talk about our systems for integrating other enterprises on the dairy farm.  We will share the challenges and successes financially turning around an old dairy farm and what it means to run a sustainable dairy operation.  Our current iteration of Cricket Creek is fairly new and we are relatively young farmers; we can give the perspective of a start-up business including the intricacies of getting well established and grounded with careful planning and record keeping. Click here for more information. \nDate: Monday\, June 17\, 4:00PM – 7:00PM \nLocation: Cricket Creek Farm\, 1255 Oblong Rd\, Williamstown\, MA 01267
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/cricket-creek-farm-dairy-production-grazing-and-processing/
LOCATION:Cricket Creek Farm\, 1255 Oblong Rd\, Williamstown\, MA
CATEGORIES:Community Events,Farmer Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240626T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240626T120000
DTSTAMP:20260506T153340
CREATED:20240530T163223Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240530T163410Z
UID:46956-1719392400-1719403200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Pasture Based Systems for Sustainable Livestock Production
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a tour of this pasture based diversified livestock farm. Learn firsthand from owner Sara Davis about the economic analysis and decision-making processes she employs. Hear about the strategies she implements that are crucial for the longterm success of her business. \nFor more information\, visit https://livestock.extension.uconn.edu or contact Rachel Bespuda\, Project Director at rachel.bespuda@uconn.edu \nRegister here! \nLocation: Oak Hollow Livestock\, 4 Gould Rd\, Shelburne Falls\, MA 01370\nDate: Wednesday\, June 26th\, 9 am – 12 pm
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/pasture-based-systems-for-sustainable-livestock-production/
LOCATION:Oak Hollow Livestock\, 4 Gould Rd\, Shelburne Falls\, MA\, 01370\, United States
CATEGORIES:Farmer Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240626T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240626T200000
DTSTAMP:20260506T153340
CREATED:20240603T204112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240607T165712Z
UID:46977-1719424800-1719432000@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Maintaining Agricultural Ditches: What to Know About the Agricultural Exemption and Best Practices from NRCS
DESCRIPTION:Register here! \nPlease 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. \nDate: Wednesday\, June 26th\, 6pm \nLocation: Hadley Senior Center\, 46 Middle St.\, Hadley\, MA 01035 \nContact climate@buylocalfood.org with questions.
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/maintaining-ditches/
LOCATION:Hadley Senior Center\, 46 Middle St\, Hadley\, MA\, 01035\, United States
CATEGORIES:Climate Events,CISA Events,Farmer Events,CISA Workshops for Businesses
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240629T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240629T123000
DTSTAMP:20260506T153340
CREATED:20240605T195025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240605T195234Z
UID:47019-1719653400-1719664200@www.buylocalfood.org
SUMMARY:Agroforestry & Climate Adaptation: A Tour of Big River Chestnuts
DESCRIPTION:Register here! \nWith 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. \nAgroforestry 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. \nJoin 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\nstewarding 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. \nThe 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDate: Saturday\, June 29\, 2024\nTime: Farm Tour from 9:30 to 11:30. Socializing from 11:30 to 12:30.\nLocation:195 River Rd\, Sunderland\, MA\nContact: hampdenhampshireconservation@gmail.com\n\nClick here for more information
URL:https://www.buylocalfood.org/event/agroforestry-climate-adaptation-a-tour-of-big-river-chestnuts/
LOCATION:Big River Chestnuts\, 44-98 Settright Rd\, Deerfield\, MA\, 01373
CATEGORIES:Climate Events,Farmer Events
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