Hampden Hampshire Conservation District

Building Fertile Ground: Biochar, Soil Health, and Agroforestry in Action
2025-09-27 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Big River Chestnuts SD, 98 Settright Rd, South Deerfield, Massachusetts, 01373
Rain date: Sunday, September 28th, 10 AM – 1 PM
Curious about biochar and how it supports soil health and climate resilience? Join us at Big River Chestnuts in South Deerfield to learn about the benefits of this carbon-rich soil amendment. We’ll discuss how biochar is made, how it can enhance soil health and water retention, and what to consider when using it on your farm. We will also discuss how to access funding and other forms of assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District will demonstrate its newest addition to their equipment program – a Stoltzfus 4-ton multi-purpose spreader, which will apply a custom blend of biochar and compost to Jono Neiger’s agroforestry system. This versatile tool is available through HHCD’s equipment rental program and can be used to apply a range of amendments that increase soil fertility and health, and build long-term climate resiliency. Snacks and refreshments will be provided after the event.
Registration is required. REGISTER HERE
*HHCD’s Stoltzfus Wet-Lime Spreader was purchased with grant funding provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. *The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides funding for biochar and other soil amendments through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Grazing, Growing, and Gathering: Exploring Regenerative Farming at Preservation Farm and Carr’s Ciderhouse
2025-09-18 16:00 - 19:30 | Carr’s Ciderhouse, 295 River Drive, Hadley, MA, 01035, United States
Join the Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District for an evening at Preservation Orchard, home to Carr’s Ciderhouse and Meadowfed Lamb, for a unique farm walk and fall social celebrating local agriculture, community, and the harvest season. Nestled on the slopes of Mt. Warner in Hadley, this historic orchard is home to a dynamic, integrated farming project committed to ecological restoration, soil health, and traditional foodways.
The evening will begin with a guided walk led by Nicole Blum, Ava Blum-Carr, and Jonathan Carr of Carr’s Ciderhouse, and Rachel Haas and Matt Kaminsky of Meadowfed Lamb. Learn about their innovative silvopasture system that brings together sheep, chickens, nut trees, and heirloom apples in a regenerative rotation. We’ll tour the orchard, nut groves, no-till vegetable plot, and cider-making facility, and meet the animals who help manage the landscape. Following the walk, we’ll gather at the ciderhouse for a social hour with delicious food and a tasting of Carr’s naturally fermented ciders.
This event is designed for farmers, land stewards, and agricultural professionals interested in agroforestry, soil health, and climate-resilient farming practices—but all are welcome. Whether you’re a farmer or a curious neighbor, come connect with your local land and food system while enjoying good cider, good food, and good company.
Please REGISTER HERE. Registration for this event is required. Suggested donation is between $10-50.

Canceled! Clover Living Mulch Field Walk
2025-07-31 17:00 - 19:00 | Hampshire College Farm, 793 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Register here!
Unfortunately, we have decided to CANCEL tomorrow’s field walk at Hampshire College Farm due to weather concerns. We will be in touch with information about a rescheduled event when details have been confirmed. We’re sorry about the cancelation. Thanks for your flexibility and your interest in this topic.
Please reach out with questions. We hope you’ll join us at the rescheduled event.
Join Lincoln Fishman from Momentum Ag and the farmers from Hampshire College Farm to learn about their Clover Living Mulch trials! Their practices include using a one-row strip tiller to create strips in crimped rye/white clover before planting squash and watermelon. They’ve also experimented with crimped and tarped rye, then broadcast white clover just before transplanting brassicas. We’ll talk equipment, timing and strategies.
Hampshire’s trials are part of Momentum Ag’s broader Clover Living Mulch trials across the Northeast. In 2024 we tracked 50 trials across 20 farms, and we’re doing the same this season. We’ll compare and contrast Hampshire’s strategies, struggles, and successes with what the larger group is finding. These techniques have the potential to scale up or down and work across a broad range of crops — we hope this field walk will be informative for growers at all scales, growers interested in strip-tillage and crimping generally, and growers interested in Clover Living Mulch.
In addition, Matthew Karas of the Hampden Hampshire Conservation District (HHCD) will 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 used by USDA Conservation Planners.

Date: Thursday, July 31st, 5-7pm
Location: Hampshire College Farm, 793 West Street, Amherst, MA

Please register here in advance. Contact Lincoln at Momentum Ag with questions.

Soil Health Field Walk: No Till and Microbial Layers
2025-06-18 16:00 - 18:30 | Astarte Farm, 123 West St,, Hadley, MA, 01035
Join us for this free on-farm event, where we’ll be reviewing soil management techniques, complemented by revealing their microscopic allies. We’ll start with a field walk to discuss practices such as using occultation and solarization tarps, pollinator/insectary plantings, and the use of leaf mulch as part of a multi-year weed management system to reduce plastic in the field. Along the way, we’ll collect some soil samples of interest and then analyze them on-site using microscopes, microbiometers (low-cost soil testing kits), and other biological tools.
After analyzing the samples, we’ll come together for a group discussion to review the microscopy results, connect findings to farm management practices, and share insights on improving soil health. This is a great opportunity to see soil biology in action and learn how different practices impact microbial life in the soil. Refreshments will be provided.
About the Farm:
Astarte Farm is a 3.5 acre, certified organic farm located on the Hadley Common. Founded in 2000, Astarte Farm has been no-till since 2014. Management practices prioritize the health of the soil food web through minimal disturbance, cover-cropping, interplanting, mulch, and compost additions. Astarte has established insectary plantings around the farm border and a pollinator meadow of native plants, and is known for high quality fruits and vegetables, selling to the River Valley Co-op, local restaurants, and through a small CSA.
About the Instructors:
Ellen Drews joined Astarte Farm in 2020 as Farm Manager after three years of production farming at Brookfield Farm in Amherst. Hailing from the upper Midwest, she has been growing food and teaching children and adults about nature for more than a decade. She is passionate about no-till farming and the hope it brings for more resilient food systems in the face of climate change.
Rubén Parilla, Soil Technical Coordinator, NOFA/Mass
Rubén is a Certified Lab Tech with 15 years of experience working at different capacities in the environmental laboratory industry. He trained in microscopic soil microbial identification through the Soil Food Web School and studied Environmental Design at the University of Puerto Rico. He leads and performs all components of NOFA/Mass soil technical services and has extensive experience farming and working with growers, including beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers. Rubén performs soil health-related outreach and education for NOFA/Mass through monthly farmer learning calls, hands-on workshops and instructional events, and networking with farmers and individuals in the agricultural industry. Finalmente, Rubén es bilingüe y quiere saber de usted.
About the Project:
This event is held in partnership with the American Farmland Trust with the assistance of the Massachusetts Coordinated Soil Health Program (MDAR Agricultural Soil Health Program) and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program with MDAR. American Farmland Trust’s mission is to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. Through this collaboration, AFT is working with farmers to assess and enhance soil health across the state.

Field Walk at Bardwell Farm
2025-06-12 16:30 - 18:00 | Bardwell Farm, 49 Main St., Hatfield, MA, 01038
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

Beyond Flowering Plants: Helping Pollinators Thrive Year Round
2025-03-22 14:00 | Westfield Athenaeum, 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA, 01085, United States
This talk includes a brief introduction to the biodiversity crisis, explaining why providing habitat for pollinators is essential for maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. Amy will show that pollinators not only need flowering native plants as food for adults, but also need specialized native plants that provide food for their young. You will learn about the kinds of shelter needed year round for pollinator health and reproduction, and how to manage your landscape to provide it. Amy will also discuss the need for water and the importance of minimizing night light. She will share extensive resources on choosing and sourcing native plants and managing our landscapes to support biodiversity. Presented by Amy.

Managing Invasive Plants - the Why and How
2025-03-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom – VIRTUAL EVENT
Invasive plants are one cause of declining pollinator populations, loss of native plants, and are hastening the extinction of many animal species.. Learn which plants are invasive and how to manage them to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat. Presented by Heidi.

Transform Your Yard to Support Pollinators: A 12 Step Program
2025-03-15 11:00 - 13:00 | Hubbard Library (Ludlow), 24 Center Street, Ludlow, MA, 01056, United States
Many people now realize the importance of pollinators and other essential wildlife. They want to make their yard pollinator-friendly, but don’t know where to start. This talk will step you through the process of evaluation, planning, and implementation, with many options for large and small changes. Presented by Heidi.

How to Maintain a Native Plant Garden: Managing the changes that occur over time
2025-03-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom – VIRTUAL EVENT
You have chosen and planted your native plant garden or meadow, and a fewyears later, whatever design you planned is no longer in place.
Some plants have spread, others seem crowded, some are turning brown in summer, others are thriving. Unexpected plants have popped up as birds, squirrels and the plants themselves have put seeds into your garden. Your growing conditions may have shifted due to climate change. You will learn the choices you have for managing the changes in your garden, depending on your preferences and your site conditions. There will be time for questions and discussion.. Presented by Amy.

How to Maintain a Native Plant Garden: Managing the changes that occur over time
2025-03-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Lilly Library, 19 Meadow St, Northampton, MA, 01062, United States

Environmentally Friendly Lawns and Lawn Alternatives
2025-02-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom – VIRTUAL EVENT
Lawns are ecological dead zones. 40 million acres are devoted to lawn in this country; the largest irrigated crop. Mowers emit at least 16 million tons of CO2 per year. At the same time millions of species are headed for extinction, in large part due to habitat loss. So, changing the way we manage lawns and/or reducing their size presents a huge opportunity both to save species and address global warming- right in your own yard! This talk covers many ideas on how to convert your lawn to an ecological benefit. Presented by Heidi.

Working with Weather Extremes
2025-02-27 17:30 - 19:30 | Munson Memorial Library, 1046 S East St, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01002
Join staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), Mass Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Mass Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), and the Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District (HHCD), to discuss strategies for dealing with extreme weather events, with a specific focus on maintaining agricultural ditches and related rules and regulations. Funding opportunities available to farmers will also be discussed.
Questions? Email Matthew Karas at MatthewHHCD@gmail.com

Working with Weather Extremes
2025-02-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Sunderland Public Library, 20 School Street, Sunderland, Massachusetts, 01375
Join staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), Mass Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Mass Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), and the Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District (HHCD), to discuss strategies for dealing with extreme weather events, with a focus on maintaining agricultural ditches and related rules and regulations. Funding opportunities that support farmers will also be discussed.

Environmentally Friendly Lawns and Lawn Alternatives
2025-02-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Westfield Athenaeum, 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA, 01085, United States

Beyond Flowering Plants: Helping Pollinators Thrive Year Round
2025-02-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom – VIRTUAL EVENT

Gardening for Biodiversity with Native Plants
2025-01-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom – VIRTUAL EVENT
In this talk, Amy will focus on the current biodiversity crisis; the evolutionary history among native plants, insects, birds and fungi, and how these interdependent relationships among diverse species are necessary for their survival. She will show how growing native plants and using ecological landscape practices can simultaneously reverse biodiversity loss, increase resilience in our landscapes, and slow climate change – all while creating a beautiful garden! Presented by Amy.

Gardening for Biodiversity with Native Plants
2025-01-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Westfield Athenaeum, 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA, 01085, United States
The “little things that run the world” are in big trouble: Insect populations are plummeting, and many species are headed for extinction. This spells disaster for our food supply, our ecology, and indeed, life on earth. The good news is that we can turn this around, starting in our own yards. By planting native plants, and other simple steps, we can restore vital insect populations. Come learn what you can do, and be inspired! Presented by Heidi.

How to Maintain a Native Plant Garden: Managing the changes that occur over time
2025-01-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Edwards Library (Southampton), 30 East Street, Southampton, MA, 01073, United States
You have chosen and planted your native plant garden or meadow, and a few years later, whatever design you planned is no longer in place.Some plants have spread, others seem crowded, some are turning brown in summer, others are thriving. Unexpected plants have popped up as birds, squirrels and the plants themselves have put seeds into your garden. Your growing conditions may have shifted due to climate change. You will learn the choices you have for managing the changes in your garden, depending on your preferences and your site conditions. There will be time for questions and discussion. Presented by Amy.

Transform Your Yard to Support Pollinators:
2025-01-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom – VIRTUAL EVENT
A 12 Step Program Description: Many people now realize the importance of pollinators and other essential wildlife. They want to make their yard pollinator-friendly, but don’t know where to start. This talk will step you through the process of evaluation, planning, and implementation, with many options for large and small changes. Presented by Heidi.

Less is More: Eco-Friendly Fall Garden Cleanup free webinar
2024-10-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual (Zoom)
Less is More: Eco-Friendly Fall Garden Cleanup free webinar
with Heidi Dollard of the Massachusetts Pollinator Network
Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7:00 PM

Re-think your fall cleanup to benefit pollinators, birds, and reduce pollution. The traditional “garden cleanup” is harmful to beneficial wildlife and adds to greenhouse gasses. By doing less, you can do more to help the biodiversity crisis, reduce global warming, and save work and money while still maintaining an attractive landscape.

CLICK HERE to register

Let Compost Happen: Setting up an effective at-home system
2024-07-27 10:30 - 11:30 | Jones Library, 43 Amity St, Amherst, MA, 01002, United States
Date: Saturday, July 27th, 10:30-11:30AM.
Location: Jones Library, 43 Amity St, Amherst
To register, send an email to : Programs@Joneslibrary.org
Just because food is not consumed, doesn’t mean it is waste! Instead, food scraps should enter a biological system to decompose naturally, nourish myriad organisms as it breaks down, and return to the earth as rich organic material. We call this process “composting”, but in essence it is simply the cycle of life. That which grows, shall return to the earth.
With the proper system in place, composting at home can be an easy and rewarding experience that converts your food scraps and garden material into a valuable fertilizer, while keeping biological material from entering landfills and producing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
In this residential composting workshop, Matthew Karas, Conservation Program Manager for the Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District, will discuss the basics of at-home composting, the different types of systems that are available, and what to do with your finished compost.

Tillage Reduction Systems and Equipment: Living Mulch and Strip-Till
2024-07-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Atlas Farm, 595A River Rd, Deerfield, MA, 01342, United States
Register here!
Come check out Atlas Farm’s 3 acre experiment with strip-tilled winter squash in a perennial clover living mulch, and living clover/rye pathways in five acres of tomatoes. We’ll look at a no-till drill, strip-till equipment, and strip-cultivation equipment. Atlas Farms’ trials have implications for tillage reduction and soil health for conventional and organic growers at all scales. Following the talk and tour, there will be a light dinner at 6 PM. We hope to see you there!
This event is co-sponsored by CISA, Momentum Ag, the Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District, and UMass.

Date: Thursday, July 25th, 4-6pm
Location: Atlas Farm, 595A River Rd, Deerfield, MA 01342

Contact climate@buylocalfood.org with questions.

Agroforestry & Climate Adaptation: A Tour of Big River Chestnuts
2024-06-29 09:30 - 12:30 | Big River Chestnuts, 195 River Rd, Sunderland, MA, 01373, United States
Date: Saturday, June 29, 2024. Rain Date: Saturday, July 13Time: Farm Tour from 9:30 to 11:30. Socializing from 11:30 to 12:30.Cost: FreeLocation:195 River Rd, Sunderland, MA
With each year that passes, extreme weather events become more frequent and erratic, and itbecomes harder and harder to make a living as a farmer. In response to climate change, manyfarmers 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 theumbrella of ‘agroforestry’ – a broad term that refers to any practice that intentionally integratesforestry with agriculture.
Agroforestry is not new – It is a traditional practice that was forgotten as American farms grewlarger, less diverse, and more mechanized. However, agroforestry is starting to receive a greatdeal of attention, and is primed for a resurgence. Indeed, agroforestry practices may prove vitalin keeping farmers farming.
Join us for a tour of Big River Chestnuts, where we will learn about agroforestry practices fromJono Neiger. Big River Chestnuts is a 10-acre diversified alley cropping and silvopasture farmstarted by Jono in 2018, with a vision to produce commercial quantities of chestnuts whilestewarding 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 providinglight tillage, along with a host of other benefits.
The day will begin with a short discussion on the value of agroforestry as a climate adaptationtechnique, followed by a walking tour of the farm. After the tour, people are encouraged tosocialize and enjoy some local snacks. Please register here.

Maintaining Agricultural Ditches: Workshop and Farm Walk
2024-06-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Hadley Senior Center, 46 Middle St, Hadley, MA, 01035, United States
Register Here
Please 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.

Welcoming Pollinators Home
2024-04-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Storr’s Library, 693 Longmeadow St, Longmeadow, Massachusetts, 01106
Welcoming Pollinators Home
Presenter: Tom Sullivan of Pollinators Welcome landscape design
Thursday, Jan. 25, 10:00 – 11:00 Bernardston Senior Center (Franklin CD)
Thursday, Feb. 22, 6:00 – 7:00 PM Northfield Public Library (Franklin CD)
Saturday, Mar. 30, 1:00 – 2:30 PM Hadley Public Library (HHCD)
Tuesday, Apr.16, 6:00 – 7:30 PM Storr’s Library, Longmeadow (HHCD)
Tom’s work as a gardener and landscape designer is led by a recognition that whole ecosystems and human health are intertwined with pollinator well-being. As such, he creates designs that primarily use native plants, both for their ecological benefits and aesthetic fit in the landscape, with the priority of creating native bee habitat. Tom will share strategies you can employ in your own landscape to welcome pollinators while allowing ample space for human activity. Tom completed a Master of Arts in Landscape Design from the Conway School.
Register Here

Welcoming Pollinators Home
2024-03-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Hadley Pulic Library, 50 Middle St, Hadley, MA, 01035, United States
Presenter: Tom Sullivan of Pollinators Welcome landscape design
Thursday, Jan. 25, 10:00 – 11:00 Bernardston Senior Center (Franklin CD)
Thursday, Feb. 22, 6:00 – 7:00 PM Northfield Public Library (Franklin CD)
Saturday, Mar. 30, 1:00 – 2:30 PM Hadley Public Library (HHCD)
Tuesday, Apr.16, 6:00 – 7:30 PM Storr’s Library, Longmeadow (HHCD)
Tom’s work as a gardener and landscape designer is led by a recognition that whole ecosystems and human health are intertwined with pollinator well-being. As such, he creates designs that primarily use native plants, both for their ecological benefits and aesthetic fit in the landscape, with the priority of creating native bee habitat. Tom will share strategies you can employ in your own landscape to welcome pollinators while allowing ample space for human activity. Tom completed a Master of Arts in Landscape Design from the Conway School.
Register Here

Cool Bugs and Native Plants: Adventures in Native Plant Gardening for Beginners and Families
2024-03-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Storr’s Library, 693 Longmeadow St, Longmeadow, Massachusetts, 01106
Cool Bugs and Native Plants: Adventures in Native Plant Gardening for Beginners and Families
Presenter: Jocelyn Demuth, owner of Checkerspot Farm (Colrain)
Saturday, March 2, 10-11:30 AM at Hadley Public Library (HHCD)
Saturday, March 30, 2024, 10:00 – 11:00 AM at Storr’s Public Library in Longmeadow (HHCD)
For all ages, including families with children in grades 3-5
Learn the basics using native plants in gardens and the diversity of life created in even a small garden. Native plants bring insects, birds and other wildlife to your space. What’s good? What’s bad? Does that insect sting? What is that cool butterfly? Three years after slowly planting native plants in her own field, she has some answers to these questions. Jocelyn Demuth is the proprietor of Checkerspot Farm, a native plant nursery in Colrain, MA named after an elusive butterfly. Last year the farm’s namesake returned to the native plant meadow attached to the farm. Jocelyn will share the ways that you can create space for and identify some of these interesting creatures who are the foundations of our ecosystems.
Register Here

High Tunnel Energy Efficiency On-Farm Tour
2024-03-26 14:00 - 16:00 | Dog Days Farm, 72 Jaffrey Rd, Fitzwilliam, NH, 03447, United States
This on-farm tour will focus on energy use and conservation in high tunnel and greenhouse production. Energy costs can be substantial in a smaller diversified production system and reducing electric bills can help your bottom line.
Register Here

About the presenter: Chris Lent is an Agricultural Specialist working out of Pennsylvania for the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) as part of the Northeast regional team. He operated an organic vegetable farm for ten years and worked in the fields of energy efficiency, solar installation, and organic farm inspection. His work at NCAT has focused on farm energy, organic vegetable production, local food systems, high tunnel management, and urban agriculture.
For questions or assistance in registration, contact matt@cheshireconservation.org or (603)756-9282.
This workshop is a partnership between the Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD), the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire (NOFA-NH), and New Hampshire USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NH-NRCS). Funding for this program is provided by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) with NOFA-NH and the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider and lender.

Statewide Local Working Group
2024-03-19 09:30 - 12:30 | Virtual (Zoom)
PurposeLocal Working Groups (LWG) are a key part of NRCS’ locally-led conservation process. They provide essential input to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Conservation Districts (CDs) on the most important natural resource concerns and management strategies in their region. NRCS and the CDs use these recommendations to develop conservation solutions and in the case of NRCS to guide the agency’s technical and financial assistance programs. While LWG meetings were formerly conducted at the county level, MACD, in coordination with NRCS, has developed a statewide LWG process involving wide-ranging representation at a single annual meeting. ParticipationIn general, anyone who can provide input on agricultural and natural resource concerns in their community can participate in the Statewide Local Working Group process. That may include various types of agricultural producers, nonindustrial private forest landowners, professionals representing relevant agricultural and conservation interests, and others who are familiar with natural resource concerns in their community.AgendaThe 2024 Statewide Local Working Group meeting will begin with a brief overview of NRCS programming and a summary of the results from last year’s Local Working Group. The bulk of the meeting will then be devoted to a discussion of natural resource concerns among participants split into breakout groups. There will be two breakout sessions: one organized by sector– cropland, forestry, livestock, aquaculture, urban ag, etc.—and by one organized by region/county. An open discussion amongst all participants will follow, and the meeting will conclude with an outline of next steps.OutcomesUnderstanding which issues are considered most important to local stakeholders helps NRCS identify program funding needs for Massachusetts’ various communities, as well as conservation practices most useful to each region of the state. In addition, by giving a voice to diverse communities, the LWG process ensures that the agency is aware of all resource concerns and management strategies that include new technologies or innovative approaches. Following the Statewide LWG meeting, all input will be compiled, analyzed, and summarized in a final summary report containing recommendations for both NRCS and the conservation districts. The report will be publicly available. The summary reports from the past two meetings can be accessed on the MACD website here.
REGISTER HERE
For more information, contact Austin Miles, MACD Outreach Coordinator: AMilesMACD@gmail.com

Cool Bugs and Native Plants: Adventures in Native Plant Gardening for Beginners and Families
2024-03-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Hadley Pulic Library, 50 Middle St, Hadley, MA, 01035, United States
Presenter: Jocelyn Demuth, owner of Checkerspot Farm (Colrain)
Saturday, March 2, 10-11:30 AM at Hadley Public Library (HHCD)
Saturday, March 30, 2024, 10:00 – 11:00 AM at Storr’s Public Library in Longmeadow (HHCD)
For all ages, including families with children in grades 3-5
Learn the basics using native plants in gardens and the diversity of life created in even a small garden. Native plants bring insects, birds and other wildlife to your space. What’s good? What’s bad? Does that insect sting? What is that cool butterfly? Three years after slowly planting native plants in her own field, she has some answers to these questions. Jocelyn Demuth is the proprietor of Checkerspot Farm, a native plant nursery in Colrain, MA named after an elusive butterfly. Last year the farm’s namesake returned to the native plant meadow attached to the farm. Jocelyn will share the ways that you can create space for and identify some of these interesting creatures who are the foundations of our ecosystems.
Register Here
