CISA Winter Workshop: Reaching the End Consumer
2019-03-18 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax) | The Food Bank of Western MA, 97 North Hatfield Road, Hatfield, MA, 01038
Location: The Food Bank of Western MA, 97 North Hatfield Road, Hatfield

As a wholesale farmer and value added producer, it’s a challenge to know your customer and what they want because often, we don’t get a chance to speak directly with the end consumer.
Buyers, distributors, and brokers play a crucial role as intermediaries – knowing what the customer wants and from which producer to supply those products. We invited three people who work in this industry to sit on a panel in March to give farmers and producers some insight about their customers. What are they looking for? What do they wish farmers would know about selling, packaging, and marketing their products in retail settings?

About the Panelists:
Henry Kryeski of River Valley Market, Dan Reilly of Equinox Food Brokers, and Gideon Burdick of Red Tomato

Register for Workshop Panel

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Introduction to Holistic Financial Planning
2019-03-19 14:00 - 17:00
Introduction to Holistic Financial Planning
Tuesday, March 19, 2:00-5:00PM
Holistic Management is a values based decision making framework that helps us optimize our work toward social, economic and ecological wellbeing. This course introduces the important ideas in Holistic Financial planning- planning for profit first, sorting expenditures for impact, testing strategies, and proactively monitoring leading indicators and adjusting plans to ensure outcomes. Learn more.

Home Orchard Management
2019-03-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Berkshire Botanical Garden, Route 102 and 183, Stockbridge, MA
This workshop covers complementary sprays backed by biodiversity and soil health to set the stage for successfully growing tree fruit here. Learn how fungal disease becomes manageable with wise variety choices and enhanced soil biology. Even major insect challenges can be resolved safely. Bring a bag lunch. Members: $110, Non-Members: $125
Berkshire Botanical Garden
5 West Stockbridge Road
Stockbridge, MA 01262
For more information visit our website: http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/
Or Phone: 413-298-3926
Or Email: info@berkshirebotanical.org

Local Food Trade Show
2019-03-27 14:30 - 17:30 | Stonewall Farm, 242 Chesterfield Road, Keene, NH, 03431, United States
Food Connects will hold its annual Local Food Trade Show on Wednesday, March 27 from 2:30 to 5:30 pm at Stonewall Farm. This event brings together local farmers, producers, and wholesale buyers from southern Vermont and New Hampshire.
Even though this area is abundant in high quality, locally produced food, it is sometimes difficult for wholesale buyers to access these products. Food Connects, an aggregation and distribution food hub operating in southern Vermont and New Hampshire, makes it easy for buyers to purchase hundreds of local products from dozens of local producers.
This trade show highlights products from area farmers and value-added producers who sell through Food Connects. Wholesale buyers working in schools, hospitals, retail, restaurants, and other institutions will have the opportunity to sample local products and meet regional food producers.
Reserve online – deadline March 20th!

Grant Deadline: Rural Energy for American Program (REAP)
2019-04-01
The next REAP deadline for renewable energy & energy efficiency grants and loan guarantees is April 1, 2019. This round is unrestricted and open to projects of all sizes.
Visit the website for more information or watch this free webinar. You can also reach out to the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program for assistance with your application/

Farm to Institution Wholesaling Workshop
2019-04-02 09:00 - 16:00 | UMass Amherst Campus Center, 1 Campus Center Way, Amherst , MA, 01003, United States
Are you a farmer looking to deepen your understanding of whether you are financially and operationally prepared to engage wholesale buyers? If so, this workshop is for you!
Join the Farm to Institution Summit for a FREE training program led and developed by Kitchen Table Consultants, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. You’ll leave this workshop feeling empowered with tools that provide solutions for success and help break down the barriers to institutional sales for small farms.
The agenda includes: (1) six modules to get your head around what to expect with courting buyers, how you might need to change your operation to increase opportunity, crop costing at scale and goal margins, budgeting for the wholesale enterprise on top of your whole farm budget; (2) intensive group work where everyone is engaged and eager to learn; (3) access to farm + food maker consultants with many years experience; (4) simplified project planning for attaining big goals; and (5) a printed course manual and flash drive with the entire toolkit.
Participation is limited to 20 attendees for this workshop (registration required).
This workshop is intended for farmers with three seasons of experience or more. It is recommended that farmer attendees have an accounting system in place and be familiar with it at an intermediate level (i.e., able to generate and read Profit + Loss reports). Although the workshop is designed for farmers, service providers are welcome, as there will be some modules on sales to all institutions with some specific attention toward farm to school.

Plant-Insect Co-evolution
2019-04-03 18:30 - 21:00 | Nasami Farm Nursery, 128 North Street, Whately, MA, 01093
How do plants defend themselves from insects, and how effective are these defenses? Come learn about insect life cycles, orders, and distinguishing features that they have adapted through co-evolution with plants. This class includes discussion about the native plant-native pollinator relationship, as well as an outdoor study to examine signs of insects on the landscape.
Program Code: BOT1508
Instructor: George LoCascio
Fee: $33 (Member) / $40 (Nonmember)
Limit: 16
Certificate: Elective: all certificates
CEU: MALP MCLP: .5 MNLA MCH: .5 NOFA AOLCP: 2.5 SAF CFE: 2.5 (Cat.2)
Cosponsor: Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
Registration: online

Conservation Planning, Practices, and Programs
2019-04-05 10:00 - 12:00
Conservation Planning, Practices, and Programs. A workshop for farmers and forest land owners Friday, April 5, 2019 10:00 am to 12:00 noon Deerfield Town Hall 8 Conway Street, South Deerfield, Mass.
Are you a farmer or farmland or forestland owner? The Franklin Conservation District invites you to attend a workshop to learn about programs that offer technical and financial assistance to help you address natural resource concerns on your land. Meet representatives from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Franklin Conservation District who will present information about conservation planning, conservation practices and how to access federal conservation programs. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and pick up literature.
Speakers:
Barbara Miller, retired State Resource Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Rita Thibodeau, District Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Carolyn Ness, Franklin Conservation District
The session is free and open to the public.
For more information or if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, please contact Barbara Miller, 413-628-4596.

Mass Aggie: Home Orchard Management
2019-04-06 10:00 - 15:00 | Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Avenue, Phillipston, MA, United States
Home Orchard Establishment & Basics (Classroom) from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00
Home Orchard Pest Management (Hands-on workshop) 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 6, 2019 led by Dr. Jaime Piñero & Ms. Liz Garofalo
Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Avenue, Phillipston, MA 01331
Morning: Horticultural topics covered will be the basics of planting fruit trees, including site selection, choice of variety and rootstock, planting best practices, tree training and pruning, fertilization and ongoing fruit tree care. (In-depth pest management will be covered in the afternoon session.) If weather permits, there will be a hands-on demonstration of planting fruit trees at Red Apple Farm.
Afternoon: One of the most challenging thing about growing your own fruit is knowing how to identify the insect pests and diseases that might afflict them. Learn the basics of pest and disease identification and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the home orchard. Hands-on, scouting, monitoring, placement of traps, etc., will be covered.
The workshops will be partially out of doors, so please dress appropriately for potentially wet, cold, and muddy conditions. If attending both workshops, please bring a bag lunch.
Fee $50 per workshop or attend both for reduced price of $90. To register, go to: UMassGarden.com or mail a check payable to: Mass Aggie Seminars. Attn: Doreen York, UMass, 101 French Hall, Amherst, MA 1003-9294

Berkshire Backyard Beekeepers
2019-04-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2019-05-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Berkshire Botanical Garden, Route 102 and 183, Stockbridge, MA
Join local beekeepers on the second Tuesday of each month at 6pm on the grounds of Berkshire Botanical Garden. Each month’s meeting, will involve season-appropriate discussions and demonstrations using the BBG apiary, weather permitting.
Berkshire Botanical Garden
5 West Stockbridge Road
Stockbridge, MA 01262
For more information visit our website: http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/
Or Phone: 413-298-3926
Or Email: info@berkshirebotanical.org

Tips and Techniques for Healthy Seedling Starts
2019-04-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Nasami Farm Nursery, 128 North Street, Whately, MA, 01093
Healthy plants and gardens begin with healthy seedlings. Come learn some basic yet critical propagation techniques for successful seedling starts. We begin with a brief overview of propagation terminology and science and continue in the greenhouse with hands-on demonstrations and experience. Plan to get your hands dirty and leave with some healthy native seedling starts!
Program Code: HOR3132
Instructor: Alexis Doshas
Fee: $40 (Member) / $48 (Nonmember)
Limit: 16
Certificate: Elective: HD/Adv.HD
CEU: MALP MCLP: 1; MNLA MCH: .5; NOFA AOLCP: 3
Registration: online

CISA Workshop: Serving Social and Economic Justice on the Farm
2019-04-17 16:30 - 19:30 | Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley St., Northampton, MA, 01060
We’re sorry! This event is full for the general public. We have some reserved spaces left for farmers. Please email Stevie for more information, with questions, or to RSVP: stevie@buylocalfood.org

How can we contribute to economic and social justice?
Many farmers have asked some version of this question before. We are, by nature of our work, invested in our communities. But as you know well, farming is hard, time-consuming work, often with limited financial rewards; aligning our social justice principles with the day-to-day grind of the farm is a constant struggle. This challenge is only greater in low wealth communities, where people are often without the means to afford and access healthy, sustainably grown food.
This workshop is geared towards farmers who want to engage in dialogue about how we, as part of this larger food system, can create change within our work that positively impacts your farm’s resiliency. Examples include social justice issues on the farm, creating community partnerships, and providing local food to low income customers–especially in light of the $8.3 million in SNAP dollars spent on local foods since the creation of HIP.
Leah Penniman of Soul Fire Farm with Maggie Cheney and D. Rooney of Rock Steady Farm & Flowers will draw from their experiences, research, and community connections including work from Soul Fire’s recently published manual “Sowing the Seeds of Food Justice”. They will discuss how they make their farms financially viable and socially responsible; we will dive into food distribution models, cooperative ownership, and methods of community collaboration. There will be small group discussion and attendees will walk away inspired by and ready to take steps towards implementing changes in their work.

Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley Street, Northampton, 4:30 – 7:30pm
Cost for the workshop is free. Food will be provided. Email or call Stevie (413-665-7100) if you have questions about the workshop or location accessibility.

About the Presenters:

Rock Steady Farm & Flowers is a for-profit farm located in Millerton, NY. “We use holistic farming practices that allow us to grow high quality vegetables, cut flowers, and herbs for a diverse array of market outlets. We manage a total of 12 acres: two in flowers, six in veggies, and over four acres of rotational cover crop. We have diversified customers including our 225 person CSA, floral designers, restaurants, food pantries, social justice non-profits, and design for special events in the Hudson Valley and New York City”
“Our farm is grounded in close partnerships with other land based projects, neighbors, and non-profits who are also working to build equity in our region and beyond. We are a growing cooperatively-owned farm, with opportunities for equity for staff members after a trial period. Our farm both shares land and feeds the kitchen of the The Watershed Center, a social justice retreat and resource center for change-makers. This partnership, as well as partnership with the Northeast Community Center in Millerton, provides job-training and volunteer opportunities for a diversity of youth and adults throughout the season. Additionally, we have a growing relationship with Callen-Lorde, an LGBTQ community health center in NYC as well as The LGBTQ Center.”

Soul Fire Farm ” is a BIPOC-centered community farm committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system. We raise and distribute life-giving food as a means to end food apartheid. With deep reverence for the land and wisdom of our ancestors, we work to reclaim our collective right to belong to the earth and to have agency in the food system. We bring diverse communities together on this healing land to share skills on sustainable agriculture, natural building, spiritual activism, health, and environmental justice. We are training the next generation of activist-farmers and strengthening the movements for food sovereignty and community self-determination.”

This workshop is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award 2016-70017-25423.

Managing People: Skill-building for Supervisors and Crew Leaders
2019-04-22 14:00 - 20:30 | North Hadley Sugar Shack, 181 River Drive, Hadley, MA, 01035, United States
(Para Español, haga click aquí.)
Get the best out of your farm team in 2019!
Managing people is a skill that can be learned, much like operating equipment or growing crops. Farmers often expect themselves or their employees to learn such skills on their own, but most of us are not born with people management skills and benefit from coaching. Labor is one of your farm’s biggest expenses and greatest assets – how well are you managing it?
Join us for this two-part workshop series to build your leadership, communication, and people management skills. Presenters Richard Stup and Ethan Grundberg of Cornell bring extensive combined experience in agricultural workforce management. Spanish/English interpreting will be available upon request. Participants may attend one or both workshops; all participants are encouraged to stay for dinner and networking from 5-5:30pm.
Please register (below) by Friday, April 19th. Cost is $15 to attend both workshops, or $10 to attend one workshop, and a $5 discount is available for additional attendees from the same farm. Scholarships are also available if financial support is needed to enable farm employees to attend. Contact Kristen at 413-665-7100 x12 to let us know if you are interested in a scholarship, to request Spanish/English interpreting, or with any other questions.
Workshop 1, 2-5pm: Leading and motivating employees
This session will help you identify the skills needed to be a great supervisor of people, and begin to develop and apply these skills on your farm. You will learn strategies for effective leadership and communication, assessing performance problems, supervising a multicultural or multilingual staff, and strengthening employees’ motivation and commitment to the farm.
Dinner for all attendees: 5-5:30pm
Workshop 2, 5:30-8:30pm: Managing performance and training
One of the biggest challenges of being a supervisor is effectively communicating performance expectations to employees and ensuring that those expectations are carried out. This session will delve more deeply into effective strategies for training employees, setting clear expectations, and providing feedback to get the best out of your staff.
Register here (or by emailing Kristen):

Choose Attendance Option

Both Workshops $15.00 USDWorkshop 1: Leading & Motivating Employees $10.00 USDWorkshop 2: Managing Performance & Training $10.00 USDAdditional Attendee- Both Workshops $10.00 USDAdditional Attendee- Workshop 1: Leading & Motivating Employees $5.00 USDAdditional Attendee- Workshop 2: Managing Performance & Training $5.00 USD

Enter name of attendee:

Enter farm/business name:

Workshop presenters:
Richard Stup, Director of the Cornell University Ag Workforce Development Program, focuses on human resource management, enhancing employee engagement, regulatory compliance, and leadership development at the farm level. Prior to joining Cornell University, Richard Stup founded Ag Workforce Development, a firm focused on improving individual and team performance through organization development and technology solutions. Earlier in his career, Richard was an Extension specialist with Penn State University, where he led the Dairy Alliance team and developed award-winning educational programming in human resource management. He earned his doctorate from Penn State in the field of Workforce Education and Development, including innovative research into the effects of human resource management on farm employee organizational commitment.
Ethan Grundberg works as Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Specialist in the Hudson Valley. Before coming to Cornell, Ethan worked as farm manager at Allandale Farm, a 40-acre diversified vegetable farm in eastern Massachusetts with a multicultural and multilingual staff. Prior to that, he studied Latin American History at the University of Iowa and earned his Master’s in agroecology and vegetable production at the University of California, Davis. He then managed the university’s research fields, providing instruction in safe equipment use to student employees, before returning east to work for as technical assistance and incubator farm coordinator for the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. Other experiences that have informed his work include positions supporting community gardens in New York City and working in the northern coffee-growing region of Nicaragua, where he honed his Spanish.

Nutritional management of pasture raised animals
2019-04-29 08:30 - 13:00
Monday, April 29, 2019 8:30 am to 1 pm |
Nutritional management of pasture raised animals Topics: Pasturing versus confinement systems, nutritional challenges of raising animals on pasture, multi species grazing, forage quality
A certificate of participation from University of Connecticut Extension will be awarded to each person who completes the three classroom workshops and at least one of the field workshops.
Register for any or all of the workshops at https://goo.gl/forms/sFIqmM2oxieDkTdg2 or by emailing jean.king@uconn.edu.
Winter weather policy: February and March workshops each have a designated Snow Date. In the event of inclement weather those registered will receive an email by 5 pm of the previous day. Changes will also be posted on our website

Conservation workshop
2019-05-07 16:00 - 18:00
Conservation workshop for Hampden/Hampshire Counties farmers and forest land owners planned
The Hampden/Hampshire Counties Conservation Districts will host a workshop where farmers and forest land owners can learn about programs that offer technical and financial assistance to help them address natural resource concerns on their land. The workshop, titled Conservation Planning, Practices and Programs, will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, 195 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035.
Meet representatives from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Hampden/Hampshire Counties Conservation Districts who will present information about conservation planning, conservation practices and how to access federal conservation programs. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and pick up literature.
The session is free and open to the public. For more information, or if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, please contact Barbara Miller, 413-628-4596.

Public Hearing on APR Regulations
2019-05-08 17:30 - 19:30 | John W. Olver Transit Center, Allen Meeting Room, 12 Olive St, Greenfield, MA
The Department of Agricultural Resources will hold a public hearing on amendment of 330 CMR 22.00. The Department is proposing changes to address the transfer and sale of a parcel protected by an APR.
The revised regulations will provide APR landowners with a clearer understanding of their requirements at the time of transfer, the Department’s process for review and their rights to withdraw and appeal the Department’s decision.
Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the hearing. Written testimonies or comments will be accepted until 5:00 P.M. on Friday, May 10, 2019 by email to dorothy.du@mass.gov or by mail to Dorothy Du, 251 Causeway Street, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02114-2151.
The proposed regulation and a redline comparison version are available on the MDAR website:
330 CMR 22:00 Proposed Regulations
330 CMR 22:00 Redline
or may be obtained by calling Dorothy Du at 617-626-1741.
For special accommodations for this event or to obtain this information in an alternative format, you may contact the ADA coordinator at 617-626-1710.

Gardening the Community's Plant Sale & Gardener's Gathering
2019-05-11 09:00 - 13:00 | Gardening the Community, 200 Walnut Street, Springfield, MA, 01105, United States
Join GTC and the Springfield Food Policy Council on Saturday, May 11 for an annual Plant Sale and Gardener’s Gathering.
There will be a wide selection of healthy vegetable and fruit starts (young plants ready to go in the ground) available, along with many herbs and flowers.
Prices range from $2.00 – $4.00 for seedlings, and only $25.00 for a beautiful, overflowing hanging basket.
NEW offerings this year: Cauliflower, Celery, Rainbow Swiss Chard, Leeks, Poblano Peppers, Rosa Bianca Eggplant, White Star Eggplant, Chocolate Mint and many more! We are also offering many of last year’s favorites, such as Gandules, Aji Dulce, Kale, Sungold Cherry Tomatoes, and Lavender!
We encourage you to come shop the day of the sale! We will have a wide selection of plants available including wrapped gift plants, just in time for Mother’s Day, as well as free workshops thanks to our partnership with the Springfield Food Policy Council. GTC will host their Gardener’s Gathering from 10:00 – 12:00 — come meet your neighbors, learn something new, and celebrate spring!
Plants are available to pre-order online before April 28th. To pay for pre-order plants by cash, check, of EBT, download this form. For folks paying with a check, please mail your form and payment or stop by the Farm Store. For folks paying with EBT or cash, please bring your form and payment to our Walnut Street Farm Store at 200 Walnut St. on Wednesday or Thursday from 11:00am – 6:00pm. You can use your SNAP benefits to purchase any vegetable, fruit or herb plant!

Field Workshop: Plant identification, forage calculations, soil health/sampling, stockpiling
2019-05-15 09:00 - 12:00
Wednesday, May 15, 9 am to 12 noon
UMASS Hadley Farm, 111 North Maple St, Hadley, MA
Topics: Plant identification, forage calculations, soil health/sampling, stockpiling
Speakers: Bob Skalbite and Dr. Masoud Hasemi, UMASS
Register for this workshop at:
https://goo.gl/forms/sFIqmM2oxieDkTdg2 or by emailing jean.king@uconn.edu

These workshops are part of a 2017-2020 USDA/NESARE Professional Development Program Grant, a joint
project among the Universities of CT, MA and RI.

No-Till For Life Workshop
2019-05-25 13:00 - 16:00 | Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, 165 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange, MA
Seeds of Solidarity founder and farmer Ricky teaches regenerative, soil building techniques for low maintenance, highly productive gardens. Treating the soil as sacred results in nourishing food, mitigates impacts of climate change, and inspires a deeper relationship with that which sustains life. This event follows a free tour of the farm and education center.
$35-$50 sliding scale fee. Please email solidarity@seedsofsolidarity.org to register

An Ecological Approach to the Nursery and Greenhouse
2019-06-01 12:00 - 15:30 | Nasami Farm Nursery, 128 North Street, Whately, MA, 01093
Nursery and greenhouse plant production can maximize ecological processes and practices. This technical yet informal workshop explores how mimicking and building on natural systems can create a sustainable, safe, and successful operation.
Program Code: HOR4082
Instructor: Alexis Doshas
Fee: $46 (Member) / $56 (Nonmember)
Limit: 16
Certificate: Elective: HD/Adv.HD
CEU: MALP MCLP: 1; MNLA MCH: .5; NOFA AOLCP: 3.5
Registration: online

Slow Living Summit 2019
2019-06-06 - 2019-06-07 | Downtown Brattleboro, Brattleboro, VT
The ninth annual Slow Living Summit will take place in Brattleboro, Vermont on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7 2019.
Presented by Strolling of the Heifers and Windham Grows, the Summit’s focus is “The Future of Women in Food Entrepreneurship” and its goal is to bring together diverse entrepreneurs in the farm and food industries, providing them with tools, resources, and mentorship they need to grow socially responsible businesses.
“We invite and hope that people from ALL communities can join us for this year’s Summit,” said Orly Munzing, Founder of Strolling of the Heifers. “This year will focus on women’s stories, but men, women and non-binary people are part of those stories.” Panels this year include Law in the Era of #MeToo, Non-traditional Financing for Women and Other Underserved Communities and How the Co-op Model Works for Women.
Speakers include economist, author and Honor the Earth co-founder Winona LaDuke, former Vermont gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist, NPR’s Planet Money host Stacey Vanek Smith and Principal Founder of Breakthru Beverage, Charles Merinoff.

Strolling of the Heifers Weekend
2019-06-07 - 2019-06-09 | Downtown Brattleboro, Brattleboro, VT
A weekend of fun and education for the whole family, built around the world-famous, agriculturally-themed Strolling of the Heifers Parade. Come down to Brattleboro’s historic Main Street and dance to the MOOOsic on Saturday, June 8!
The parade kicks off at 10 am sharp with scores of lovable heifer calves – groomed, decorated and led by future farmers. The heifers are followed by farm animals, bands, tractors, floats, clowns and surprises.
When it’s over, follow the crowd to the Slow Living Expo for food, entertainment, animals, tractors, music and family fun — plus demonstrations, a craft show and exhibits related to our mission of farm and food innovation.
And that’s not all: Stroll Weekend starts Friday night, June 7 with our Expo Festival featuring a culinary competition, Gallery Walk, music, food, fun and more. On Sunday, June 9, enjoy the Famous Farmers Breakfast, the cycling Tour de Heifer and the Farm Tour.
Always rated one of Vermont’s Top 10 Summer Events! Visit the website for the full weekend schedule!

Greater Quabbin Food Alliance Spring Gathering
2019-06-07 08:30 - 13:00 | Orange Innovation Center, 131 West Main Street, Orange, MA
Join us at the Spring biannual Greater Quabbin Food Alliance meeting on June 7th! Come share your ideas with the community, learn about local projects, and join a network of farmers, businesses, and organizations working to strengthen local food economies.

Agenda:
8:30 AM: Coffee, pastries and informal networking.
9:00 AM -12:00 PM: Welcome, lightning talks, and working groups break out.
12:00 -1:00 PM: Local lunch from Petersham Country Store & “Local Makers Market”
Attendees are encouraged to bring local, non-perishable, handmade food and farm products to sell at the gathering. Some examples of local food and farm products include honey, dried herbs, soap, maple syrup products, wool products, and candles.
Please contact AmeriCorps member Kat Kowalski with any questions about the market at kowalski@mountgrace.org.
For more information, visit quabbinfoodalliance.wordpress.com.

Field Workshop: Soil sampling, forage calculations, plant identification, grazing management
2019-06-12 09:00 - 12:00
Wednesday, June 12, 9 am to 12 noon
Windmist Farm, 71 Weeden Lane, Jamestown, RI
Topics: Soil sampling, forage calculations, plant identification, grazing management
Speakers: Andy Radin and Dr. Justine Deming, URI
Register for this workshop at:
https://goo.gl/forms/sFIqmM2oxieDkTdg2 or by emailing jean.king@uconn.edu

These workshops are part of a 2017-2020 USDA/NESARE Professional Development Program Grant, a joint
project among the Universities of CT, MA and RI.

Citizen Science with the Beecology Project
2019-06-23 10:00 - 15:00 | Nasami Farm Nursery, 128 North Street, Whately, MA, 01093
Join Dr. Robert Gegear, 2018 recipient of the Society’s Regional Impact Award, for a hands-on workshop on pollinators. Learn to identify local bumblebee species and then use the Beecology Project phone app to collect and contribute bumblebee data from field observation. This class can be taken alone or in tandem with the Ecological Pollinator Conservation class.
Program Code: BOT1511
Instructor: Robert Gegear
Fee: $66 (Member) / $80 (Nonmember)
Limit: 16
Certificate: Elective: all certificates
CEU: NOFA AOLCP: 5
Registration: online

Introduction to Landscape Ecology
2019-07-30 18:00 - 21:00 | Nasami Farm Nursery, 128 North Street, Whately, MA, 01093
Landscape ecology is the science of understanding the interaction of ecological processes on a multitude of scales and spatial patterns, with an aim at improving and supporting these systems for a healthy environment. In this intro class, we explore the principles of landscape ecology, examine case studies, and take a brief field walk to orient ourselves to thinking BIG!
Program Code: HOR8025
Fee: $40 (Member) / $48 (Nonmember)
Limit: 16
Certificate: Elective: all certificates
CEU: MALP MCLP: 1; NOFA AOLCP: 3
Cosponsor: Ecological Landscape Alliance
Registration: online

Seed Saving
2019-08-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Nasami Farm Nursery, 128 North Street, Whately, MA, 01093
Seed saving brings tremendous benefits to the willing gardener. Learn how seeds develop, stay dormant, and germinate. This hands-on workshop covers harvesting, cleaning, and storing a wide spectrum of native seeds. Spend time in the field observing and collecting seeds, then practice cleaning. Take your seeds home at the end of class. Bring a lunch and dress appropriately for the field.
Program Code: HOR3205
Instructor: Kate Stafford
Fee: $66 (Member) / $80 (Nonmember)
Limit: 16
Certificate: Elective: all certificates
CEU: MALP MCLP: 1; NOFA AOLCP: 5
Cosponsor: Ecological Landscape Alliance
Registration: online

Webinar: Right Animal, Right Place, Right Time
2019-08-26 19:00 - 20:00
Webinar: Right Animal, Right Place, Right Time
When: Tuesday, August 27th, 2019
Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Location: ONLINE
Cost: FREE!!!
Livestock can be a wonderful tool for both farm profitability and ecological health of the farm, if only managed correctly. Understanding the way animals behave, and thinking of our role as orchestrating their movement through a habitat is critical to maintain the health of the animals and of the land. Join this webinar to explore the key considerations for ruminants, pigs, and poultry and ways they can be ecologically managed on the farm.
Presenter: Steve Gabriel of Wellspring Forest Farm in New York
The Webinar can be accessed by registering below:
Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2119803841754614284
Webinar ID: 907-005-635
To Join the Webinar by Phone: 415-655-0060 access code: 118-986-808
As always, NOFA’s webinars are free and past episodes can be viewed on our YouTube page. If you want a reminder for this webinar, feel free to contact me on 413-214-1237 or email me at anna@nofamass.org.

Attorney General Meeting on Overtime
2019-09-13 13:00 - 14:00
“I am writing to invite you to a meeting with State Representative Natalie Blais, The Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development’s office, and the Attorney General’s office to discuss the implications of the recent Chang Farm ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC). The meeting will occur on Friday, September 13th at 1pm at Nourse Farms in Whately.
In March, the SJC ruled that workers involved in on-farm “preparation for market” activities are not exempt from overtime pay while doing tasks that are considered “preparation for market”. It had been the understanding for many years that market preparation was exempt from overtime requirements.
This ruling has had significant implications for many farms across the Commonwealth. The Attorney General’s office is responsible for enforcing these policies. At the request of State Representative Natalie Blais, staff has agreed to meet with local farmers to give an overview of overtime rules and regulations and will do their best to answer questions to help you to understand the application of the ruling. The Attorney General’s office will do their best to answer questions and provide clarification on the grey areas that exist in regards to what constitutes “preparation for market” activities versus other farm tasks which are covered by the overtime exemption.
Please note that the purpose of this meeting is not to discuss or argue the merits or logic of the SJC ruling as the ruling is beyond the control of these offices. Rather, this meeting is intended to help you gain a clearer understanding of the implications of the ruling and how it will be enforced.
Please pass this invitation on to other farmers who might have an interest.
If you would like to attend please RSVP by September 9th, 2019 to lily.wallace@mahouse.gov
Any questions, please let me know.
Brad Mitchell
MA Farm Bureau
508.481.4766
