CISA - Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture

Container Garden Design
2024-03-27 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Stockbridge, MA, United States
Acquire knowledge of the skills required for beautiful and successful container gardens with Jenna O’Brien, owner of Viridissima Horticulture and Design. Get to know the plants that thrive in containers and how to care for them. This class will cover practical aspects of gardening in containers with style throughout the New England garden season. Consider container selection, siting, planting, growing, and maintaining moveable gardens.
Jenna O’Brien, owner and founder of Viridissima Horticulture and Design since 2003, has been working in Berkshire gardens for over 20 years. She is also a member of the BBG Horticulture Advisory Committee and the Education Committee. Jenna specializes in container gardening, country estate garden care and management, entrance garden design, and Berkshire Garden Style.

Wednesdays, March 6 through 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Berkshire Botanical Gardens
Members: $215/Non-Members: $240

Developing Climate Resilient Water Management Plans for Diverse Cropping Systems
2024-03-28 17:00 - 18:30 | Remote
Because of climate change, it can be more difficult than ever to plan for meeting the water needs of your crops. Answering questions around the nuances of crop water needs, how to identify and utilize appropriate water sources, and how to know if your water supply will be sustainable into the future are all becoming more challenging to answer. In this forum Dr. Rahcel Schattman will discuss how to acquire the information needed to develop climate resilient farm water plans and cover emerging opportunities for improving water management strategies in diversified cropping systems. Rachel’s presentation will be followed by a facilitated farmer-to-farmer discussion. Come to listen, share your experiences, ask questions, troubleshoot, and be inspired about new systems that may make your own farm more climate resilient.
Find more information and to register click here.

Ayurveda, Yoga, and Seasonal Cooking at Many Hands Organic Farm
2024-03-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Many Hands Sustainability Center, 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, United States
Register here!
Embark on a 3-hour holistic journey of self-discovery and well-being. Immerse yourself in a rejuvenating meditation and yoga practice introducing the basic concepts of Ayurveda. Delve into enlightening discussions exploring the fundamental lifestyle and diet principles of Ayurveda, the ancient science of life and longevity. Learn how to align your lifestyle with the seasons through Ayurvedic wisdom, understanding how to nourish yourself according to the unique needs of each season. Additionally, ignite your culinary creativity with a hands-on cooking session focused on preparing delicious and nutritious meals aligned with the current season. Click here for more information!
Ayurveda, deeply rooted in the rhythms of nature, seamlessly aligns with the principles of farming and community-supported agriculture (CSA). This ancient system of health and wellness recognizes the interconnectedness between humans and their environment, emphasizing the importance of living in harmony with nature for optimal well-being. By embracing Ayurvedic practices, individuals not only nurture their own health but also contribute to the sustainability of the earth and support local farming communities. Through the mindful consumption of fresh, local, organic, seasonal produce, we honor the natural cycles of growth and nourish both body and soul in alignment with the wisdom of Ayurveda. Join us in this transformative experience as we cultivate balance, vitality, and inner harmony together.
Event Details:

Saturday, March 30, 2024
9am-12noon with pot luck lunch
Price: $50 – $100 sliding scale
Presenter: Jennifer Peck, Ayurveda Practitioner & E-RYT50 Yoga teacher

Spring Pruning of Woody Ornamental Plants
2024-03-30 09:00 - 13:00 | Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Berkshire Botanical Gardens, Stockbridge, MA, United States
Spring is a great time to assess woody shrubs for shape, structure, and winter damage. Ron Yaple, owner of Race Mountain Tree Services will demonstrate how to renovate, rejuvenate, and shape shrubs and small ornamental trees for structure, health, and optimal growth. Plants covered will include viburnums, lilacs, witch hazels, deciduous azaleas, sweetshrubs, crabapples, and ornamental cherries. Participants should dress for the weather, and bring pruners, work gloves, and a bag lunch. There will be some pruners available, provided by BBG.
Ron Yaple, owner of Race Mountain Tree Services in Sheffield, MA, who self identifies as a ​​”a pretty darn good arborist”, has developed a regional reputation as a premier arborist. He is a dedicated and knowledgeable teacher of arboriculture, and is a Certified and Licensed Arborist, a Registered Consulting Arborist and a Qualified Tree Risk Assessor.
Kieran Yaple has been connected with arboriculture since birth. He grew up in a household surrounded by trees and began climbing early. At age twelve, he and his father attended a two-day workshop with Dr. Alex Shigo, the father of Modern Arboriculture, learning about trees’ vascular systems in both stems and roots, as well as the extensive list of creatures living in soil, through the lens of microscopes. Kieran became a Massachusetts Certified Arborist in 2013 and an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist in 2012. Kieran is a Board Member for the MA Arborists Associations and began working in his family’s business in 2010.

Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Berkshire Botanical Gardens
Members: $50/Non-members: $70

Free Yoga Class & Networking Hour for Farmers
2024-03-30 15:00 - 17:00 | Sanctuary, 150 Main Street, Northampton, MA, 01060, United States
Saturday, March 30th, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Join us for a rejuvenating and restorative yoga class at Sanctuary, a personal healing and collective wellness center, inside Thornes Marketplace in downtown Northampton.
Sanctuary is featuring CISA as the nonprofit organization in its Community Spotlight Series for March. This free yoga class serves as an expression of gratitude for your hard work and dedication to all that you do for our community.
Yoga For Farmers is open to both farm owners and farm workers; all levels of experience are welcome. Please bring your own mat if you have one, but mats will be available for those who need them. Due to limited space, registration is required to secure your spot. Sign up here!

CISA's Annual Meeting & Celebration
2024-04-04 17:00 - 20:00 | Smith College Campus Center, Carroll Room, 100 Elm Street, Northampton, MA, 01060, United States
WE ARE AT CAPACITY! If you would like to be added to a wait list for the Annual Meeting, please reach out to Jennifer.

Join us for CISA’s Annual Meeting and a celebration on Thursday, April 4th at 5:00 pm in the Carroll Room at Smith College!
CISA members and supporters are invited to attend as we honor our Local Hero Award recipients, enjoy a delicious buffet dinner, and celebrate what you helped to accomplish in 2023.
Optional pre-meeting tours of Sub Rosa Botanical Lounge & Smith College Dining Services before dinner begin at 4:00 pm. Tours include registration for the Annual Meeting, so please only register for one ticket per attendee.
The Annual Meeting is free to attend, but registration is required. Cocktail hour with a cash bar begins at 5, and the evening program begins promptly at 6 pm.
Space is limited, so please RSVP.
Register here for the CISA’s Annual Meeting

Protect & Preserve Your Most Important Tool: You! - Mini Virtual Retreat for Women Farmers on Body Mechanics
2024-04-09 - 2024-04-11
Register here!
Spring is the perfect opportunity before the busy season starts to step back, reflect and learn how to better care for our physical and mental health. Join this unique, virtual series for woman-identifying farmers to connect and learn together on key elements of body mechanics. Back by popular demand — the pilot for this series sold out in 2023.
This peer learning series will start with three back-to-back daily 90-minute sessions in April. Led by and for women farmers, these sessions serve up a combination of practical information, movement and connection with other women sharing similar experiences.
Key Topics

Building flexibility & strength
Understanding muscles & joints
Preventing & managing injury
Dealing with chronic pain & conditions
Cultivating rest & recovery

This series takes a proactive and positive approach to aging: We’re all on the journey of getting older, whatever age we may be at now. Let’s celebrate the bodies and abilities we have and learn together how to best care for ourselves to keep our hands in the soil for as long as we choose.
Attendees will identify benchmarks and develop a personal action plan to best prepare and protect that most important tool — ourselves! — for the next growing season and beyond. Everyone will also have the opportunity to connect with women sharing similar experiences, from farming while pregnant to self care during menopause or managing chronic illness.
All women-identifying farmers are welcome, wherever you are on your agriculture journey.
Dates:

Apr 9 2024 | 12 – 1:30pm EDT
Apr 10 2024 | 12 – 1:30pm EDT
Apr 11 2024 | 12 – 1:30pm EDT

Labor Movement with Cynthia Flores
2024-04-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Remote
Register here!
Labor-Movement believes that when you move well, you work well. Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health and wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career.
Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health and wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career.
Movement Workshops address BETTER body mechanics and movement patterns related to farm tasks to increase productivity and help decrease workplace injuries. Time will be spent in an interactive atmosphere moving through basic movement patterns. Every attendee will leave with tips focused on ways to improve their overall movement patterning and work-related well-being. Time will be allotted for questions and some detailed discussion. Learn more about Cynthia’s mission at: https://www.labor-movement.com/
Cynthia Flores founded Labor-Movement LLC in 2020 with the mission of working with farmers and farmworkers to train body mechanics and movement patterns used in farming.
Event Details:

Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 1-3PM.
In-person workshop at Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, MA
Limited to 15 students (Sorry, no drop-ins!)
Cost: $20 Members, $30 Non-members

Contact Berkshire Grown at buylocal@berkshiregrown.org or call (413) 528-0041 for more information.
Register here!

APR Landowner Webinar
2024-04-11 15:00 - 16:00 | Remote
If you farm or own APR land, please join Commissioner Randle and the APR Stewardship Team for a webinar covering policies, guidelines and resources relevant to APR constituents. RSVP in advance, here.
Please send your Q&A in advance to Kristina.Smith@mass.gov
For translation/interpretation services, please submit your request to Rebecca.Davidson@mass.gov by March 26th. Requests made after March 26th will be considered but may not be possible to fill.
If you require assistance to participate in this meeting you may submit a reasonable accommodation request to MDAR’s ADA Coordinator. In your request, please include a description of the accommodation you will need with as much detail as possible. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please note that last minute requests will be accepted, but we may be unable to fulfill the request. Please send your requests to: Gabriella Knight, ADA and Diversity Manager at Gabriella.Knight@mass.gov or call (857)-268-0629. This webinar will be available to watch as a recording after the live event.

MDAR’s First Annual Agricultural Resource Fair
2024-04-12 09:00 - 15:00 | Mass Wildlife Field Headquarters, Westborough
Non-profit agricultural stakeholders and service providers including our Federal-State Partners will be offering the Massachusetts agricultural farming community up-to-date timely resource information. The material presented will include material on services, funding information, and technical assistance programs to provide a ‘One-Stop Shopping’ resource opportunity for those that attend. The Fair’s goal is to assist in making the agricultural industries in Massachusetts sustainable and viable. There is no fee to participate and locally sourced snacks will be provided throughout the day.
Let us know you are coming by filling out this form. Registration is not required, but would be greatly appreciated to get an accurate count of attendees.
Event Details:

Date: Friday, April 12th, 2024, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: Mass Wildlife Field Headquarters, Westborough.
For more details on location and directions, click here.

For more information please contact Mary Jordan, at mary.jordan@mass.gov or 617-459-8747.

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!

Awareness Through Movement Workshop
2024-04-13 14:00 - 17:00 | Studio Firenze, 140 Pine St, Florence, MA, United States
This workshop is broadly geared towards farm workers and those who work in physically intensive or outdoor environments. You can expect to be guided through lessons containing a variety of movements around the theme of organizing yourself to go towards and away from the ground. This workshop also provides learning tools to introduce ease in the use of your hands. With a new growing season approaching, this is an opportune time to practice holding and inhabiting yourself with ease even in rigorous and repetitive work. This workshop aims to contribute to your longevity in sustaining farming, gardening, or general outdoor work!
Details:

Time: 2:00-5:00 pm
When: April 13th, 2024
Where: Studio Firenze (140 Pine St, Florence, MA)

Register and read more information here. We ask that folks please register in advance.

Indian Line Farm: Opening Meeting, Season Extension and Infrastructure
2024-04-15 16:00 - 19:00 | Indian Line Farm, 57 Jug End Rd, Great Barrington, MA
Calling all farm workers, farm apprentices, and agri-curious people! Western Mass/Hudson Valley CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) invites you to their 2024 season of on-farm workshops. Come see a new farm, learn new skills, meet other people interested in farming, and socialize. These visits are open to all!
The first workshop is at Indian Line Farm in Great Barrington, Monday April 15, 4-6 PM with a social potluck at 6 PM. All farm visits are on Mondays. See a full schedule of all nine events here.
Indian Line Farm grows approximately 5 acres of vegetables for our CSA, one market and a few stores and restaurants. We sell year round. We utilize 3- 30×96 greenhouses to produce heat loving crops early and to achieve winter/late fall/spring production of various greens, radishes, cilantro, scallions and carrots. The tour will include a basic introduction to the farm, greenhouse management and scheduling, grafting tomatoes, and soil health under plastic. We will also take a look at our new 8′ deer exclusion fence and the economics of that investment. As this will be the first visit of the season we will also do introductions and orient all apprentices to the CRAFT program as a whole. Click here for more information.
Farm Tour: Monday, April 15 – 4PM-6PM
Potluck and Discussion: 6PM-7PM
Location: Indian Line Farm, 57 Jug End Rd, Great Barrington, MA 01230

Safety at Work: Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in the Agriculture Industry
2024-04-16 14:00 - 15:00 | Remote
This webinar will focus on the importance of addressing gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the agriculture industry with a specific focus on farm workers and migrant workers. The webinar will discuss how GBVH impacts worker health and safety and different methods of addressing and preventing GBVH in the world of work. Speakers will include farm workers, migrant workers, and representatives from Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM), Justice for Migrant Women (J4MW), Coalition of Immokalee Workers, BASTA Coalition of Washington, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Spanish interpretation will be available.
Please register here to attend the webinar.

Pause & Pivot Farm Tour
2024-04-18 15:00 - 17:00 | Pause and Pivot Farm, 74 South Street, Williamsburg, MA, 01096, United States
Join us at Pause & Pivot Farm in Williamsburg on April 18th at 3 pm for an exclusive tour of their hydroponic container farm!
Discover the innovative techniques they use to grow a diverse array of greens and herbs year-round.
You’ll also get a sneak peek at their brand new woodworking operation at the farm, where salvaged and native wood are transformed into beautiful small furniture and functional home goods.
This event is offered on a sliding scale basis, and proceeds will go towards CISA’s programs.
Limited space available. Secure your spot by signing up using the link below.
Register here for the Pause & Pivot Farm Tour

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

Land Access for New Farmers in Massachusetts: A Farmer Learning Circle!
2024-04-23 18:00 - 19:30 | Remote
Register here!
Land access for new farmers plays a vital role in promoting sustainable agriculture practices, building climate resilience, and fostering responsible land stewardship through effective record-keeping and informed decision-making.
Join us for a conversation about land access for beginning and small-scale farmers in New England. In a region where the average cost of an acre of land exceeds $330,000, securing a farmstead can feel like a daunting and prolonged journey. Click here for more information!
During this Farmer Learning Circle, we’ll learn from the diverse experiences of farmers who have successfully navigated the process of finding their agricultural haven. Four seasoned farmers will share their personal stories, each offering unique insights gained from their distinct paths to land access. From leasing agreements with non-profits to negotiating with family members and navigating intricate legal landscapes, our panelists will provide invaluable guidance on dealing with various scenarios. Discover the intricacies of handshake leases, learn to identify red flags indicating unsuitable land, and gain practical tips for managing tricky situations.
Topics of discussion will include leasing from non-profits, collaborative land sharing arrangements, effective communication with landlords, investing in non-owned land, infrastructure considerations, the process of purchasing a farm using FSA loans, the significance of long-term leases such as 99-year leases, and much more.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the firsthand experiences of farmers who have traversed the challenging terrain of land access. Join us as we shed light on this vital aspect of farming!

Farmers leading the Panel:

Shaunia Flowers, 2 Cents Homegrown, Springfield MA.
Terry O’Brien, Hungry Heart Farm, Kingston, NH
Chris Grant, Grant Family Farm, West Newbury, MA
Stacey Apple, Iron Ox Farm, Hamilton, MA

Event Details:

Tuesday, April 23, 6-7:30pm
Location: Remote (Zoom)

Grow Great Gardens: Q and A
2024-04-27 10:30 - 11:30 | Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, 165 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange, MA
Seeds of Solidarity’s workshop season begins with Grow Great Gardens: Q and A on April 27th, 10:30-11.30. The Q & A will be followed by optional self-guided tour of our site. Free, all welcome! No pre-registration. It’s also our farmstand grand opening day!
Click here for event 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)

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.

Spring field walk at Riverland Farm
2024-04-29 15:00 - 17:00 | Riverland Farm, 211 River Rd, Sunderland, MA, 01375, United States
Let’s talk about interseeded clover as a way to maximize cover cropping on vegetable farms!
Join us — American Farmland Trust, Emily Landeck of Riverland Farm, Ash Loehr of Hurricane Flats, and Lincoln Fishman of Sawyer Farm— for a spring field walk.
As vegetable growers in New England, short growing seasons and high land prices make it challenging to fit in cover crops. This is particularly a true for crops harvested late into the fall, like brassicas. Brussels sprouts from Riverland are locally famous, and Emily has been having luck interseeding dutch white clover into recently established Brussels sprouts. Let’s walk out and take a look at the results this spring!
If you have experience interseeding cover crops into late summer crops, we hope you’ll join us for a good conversation to share both successes and failures. Or if you are curious to learn more about the technique, come and learn!

Date: April 29th, 2024 from 3 to 5 pm
Address: Riverland Farm, 211 River Rd, Sunderland, MA 01375
Parking: Please park along the road by the Riverland Farm sign

Please RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/r/xwPMg9yEkN

Emily Landeck recently became Director of Farm Programs at Hampshire College Farm and operates Riverland Farm in Sunderland. She has been working on adding cover crops to a tight vegetable rotation while producing beautiful organic vegetables for regional wholesale markets.
Lincoln Fishman and Ash Loehr will join us for the conversation. Lincoln has been developing systems for reducing tillage by utilizing dutch white clover, and recently co-founded Momentum Ag, an organization dedicated to on-farm research to help farmers implement and optimize climate-smart innovations. Ash has a lot of experience interseeding cover crops at Hurricane Flats in South Royalton, VT where they grow organic vegetables, culinary herbs, and popcorn, for sale at their farm store and local markets.
QUESTIONS? Contact Julie Fine at American Farmland Trust, jfine@farmland.org, 413-531-0425

Hilltown Making Food Fun
2024-05-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Old Creamery Co-op, 445 Berkshire Trail, Cummington, MA, 01026, United States
Spring is here! Let’s start a garden and learn about local food.

Making Food Fun comes to the Hilltowns! CISA and the Old Creamery Co-op team up to celebrate spring. Plant vegetable seedlings or strawberry starts from Windy Ridge Farm for your home garden. Learn about seeds from the Hilltown Seed Saving Network. Taste local foods and learn new recipes for spring ingredients. This family event is free and open to the public at the Old Creamery Co-op, 445 Berkshire Trail, Cummington, MA 01026, on Saturday, May 4th from 10am-12pm—rain or shine! Parent resources about HIP, farmers’ markets, and more.

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.

Reconnect Retreat
2024-05-05 10:00 - 16:00 | Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, 165 Chestnut Hill Road, Orange, MA
A day of practices to destress and stay centered amid uncertainty. In this restorative, uplifting day in community with others, you will experience and gain techniques for: reiki/energy healing, forest meditation, yoga and teas for nervous system health, grounding and nourishing recipes. Facilitators are Nalini Goodial, Ricky Baruc, and Deb Habib. Fee includes all sessions, lunchtime soup (resulting from a cooking lesson!) and a take home tea or spice pack. Sliding scale: $50 -$90. Pre-registration required, space limited. Email deb@seedsofsolidarity.org to register.
Sunday May 5, 10am to 4PM
Visit Seeds of Solidarity’s website for more information.

SNAP training for farm & farmers' market staff (session one)
2024-05-06 14:00 - 15:00 | Remote
Register here!
Make sure your farm stand and farmers’ market staff are ready to accept SNAP this summer by having them attend this SNAP employee training.
Employees 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.
This 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.
This training is for employees who will be processing SNAP transactions. Open to all staff of farm businesses or farmers’ markets that accept SNAP.
This session is being offered at two times which you can choose from: Monday, May 6, 2:00-3:15pm or Thursday, May 9, 10:30-11:45am.

Register here for Session 1 on May 6th!
Register here for Session 2 May 9th!

Contact Jim Simon at jim@buylocalfood.org or 413-665-7100 ext. 18 with questions.

Caretaker Farm: Soil Health
2024-05-06 16:00 - 19:00 | Caretaker Farm, 1210 Hancock Rd, Williamstown, MA
What is soil? What defines the quality of soil? How do you determine the quality of your soil? How do you try to preserve and improve your soil? During the visit to Caretaker Farm we will discuss the importance of soil health for the sustainability of your farm. We will also tour the land and observe how our soil health fits into the environmental sustainability of the farm.
Caretaker Farm is a 34-acre diversified farm that includes a 270 family vegetable CSA, a bakery, bees, chickens, pigs, ponds, pastures, hills, forest, and a stream. Click here for more information.
Date: Monday, May 6, 4:00 PM 7:00 PM
Location: 1210 Hancock Rd, Williamstown, MA 01267

SNAP training for farm & farmers’ market staff (session two)
2024-05-09 10:30 - 11:30 | Remote

Navigating the new normal- power equipment and implements on the farm and homestead
2024-05-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Many Hands Sustainability Center, 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, United States
Register here!
Are you confused on how to enter into the realm of tractors, implements and power equipment? There are many time and labor saving pieces of equipment available lately and with rampant sticker shock everywhere, how do you choose what to buy?
For those who have equipment already, how do I maintain it? Can I repair it? Should I repair it, or bite the bullet and upgrade? Interested in starting a new enterprise on the farm? What will I need?
We will discuss these and other subjects. I am a diesel mechanic, certified welder and farmer with 40 years of experience with agricultural and construction equipment. You’ll have access to insights and experience that will help you confidently delve into the world of power equipment, implements and tractors.
Click here for more information!
Event Details:

Saturday, May 11, 2024
9am-12noon with pot luck lunch
Price: $50 – $100 sliding scale
Presenter: Dave Petrovick with support from Jonathan Anderson

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: 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.
