Field Walk at Bardwell Farm

Join us for a soil health field walk on June 12 from 4:30-6 pm at Bardwell Farm. With the utilization of limited tillage, zone tillage, no till and cover cropping, Bardwell Farm strives to add a more sustainable approach to growing food within a changing climate, be it prolonged drought or excessive rainfall, building a stronger ecosystem for their crops to grow and thrive in. Harrison Bardwell will talk about the evolution of their planting system for cucurbits, lessons learned from no-till trials and how they are addressing disease challenges in 2025. Matthew Karas of the Hampden Hampshire Conservation District will then demonstrate how farmers can analyze soil characteristics and better understand opportunities to improve their own soil health through the In-Field Soil Health Assessment (IFSHA) framework. Light refreshments will be provided. 

​Harrison Bardwell is a 9th generation farmer and his passion for agriculture began with the inspiration of his grandparents and their love of farming. After mentoring with several businesses in the Hatfield area, he found his home at Wendolowski Farm where he was able to hone his skills and build roots within the agricultural community. To further his ambitions, Harrison attended Stockbridge School of Agriculture and obtained an associates degree in Sustainable Food and Farming. In 2016 he continued the family name by becoming the full-time owner and operator of Bardwell Farm.​

Matthew Karas was raised on a farm in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, where his family grew a variety of cucurbits, decorative flowers, hay and straw. Matthew studied conservation biology, botany, and sustainable agriculture as an undergraduate. During his Masters of Public Administration program, he studied the human water cycle, food insecurity among SNAP-Ed participants, and environmental injustices committed by extractive industries against Native Americans. As the Conservation Program Manager for HHCD, Matthew is primarily responsible for developing and managing the Healthy Soils Program, conducting outreach, providing technical assistance to farmers, and assisting with conservation plans. Beyond his work with HHCD, Matthew is a musician and artist, and enjoys hiking, camping, and playing board games with his family

Please register below to attend.  Details, including parking info, will be included in a confirmation email.
  
Questions? Contact Erinn Roberts at eroberts@farmland.org or 508-310-6905