Local Farming in the Climate Crisis – Panel and Action Circle

On September 17, 2023, the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew and CISA are hosting a panel to discuss the challenges of farming in the climate crisis, the Massachusetts government response, and visions for the future. The event will discuss recent climate events affecting Massachusetts, including intense cold and hard frosts damaging peach and apple crops, and July flooding impacting over 150 farms and 2,700 aces of crops. The panel brings together two local farmers, David Fisher of Natural Roots Farm in Conway and Sarah Voiland of Red Fire Farm in Montague and Granby, with Natalie Blais, State Representative for 1st Franklin District. Following the panel, join in the action planning session to share ideas of what we can do, next steps to take, and how each of us can contribute.

There is no charge for the event. Donations will be accepted with all donations going to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and United Way Farm Resiliency Fund being set up to support Massachusetts farming in the evolving climate crisis.

Location: Main Sanctuary, Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew, 8 Church St, Greenfield, MA 01301 (Please enter front doors of the Church
on Federal Street)

Presenters:

• David Fisher, his partner and farm family and crew operate a horse-powered vegetable farm on the South River. The farm offers year-round CSA shares with 200 members and a farm store. In the July flooding the farm lost its main fields with damage to farm roads and River crossings. They have been able to continue operations with community support from a GoFundMe campaign and support from local farms.
• Sarah Voiland, her husband, family and crew operate Red Fire Farm with fields near the Sawmill and Connecticut Rivers. The farm offers year-round CSA shares with 1,200 members and a farm store. The excessive rainfall damaged crops in the fields and washed away plants in some fields, but the farm was not flooded by the Rivers. Like other farms the full extent of damage from the summer’s rainfall is still in play because excessive rain causes fungal diseases in plants and may affect crops still in the ground.
• Natalie Blais, State Representative for 1st Franklin District, has served the District since 2019. She serves on the Joint Committee on Agriculture and has visited local farms affected by the July flooding. In August the Legislature provided $20 million in mitigation funds for natural disasters including flooding in western Massachusetts.

This is the first event in the 2023-2024 Environmental Sunday program organized by the Church’s Green Team. This event is also the first event in CISA’s Climate Change & Farming Week 2023 beginning September 17 and ending September 22. Learn more about how to get involved here!

Contacts:

• Ella Ingraham, The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew Green Team coordinator, [email protected] or 860-684-4420
• Stephen Taranto, Climate Program Coordinator for CISA, [email protected] or 413-665-7100 ext. 17.