Leon & Joyce Ripley & Sons of Maple Corner Farm (Granville, MA) will open their sugarhouse to show how, through their new reverse osmosis process and energy efficient evaporator with preheater, they produce maple syrup in less time saving firewood and energy overall. This event is being held in collaboration with the Community Involved in […]
Leon & Joyce Ripley & Sons of Maple Corner Farm (Granville, MA) will open their sugarhouse to show how, through their new reverse osmosis process and energy efficient evaporator with preheater, they produce maple syrup in less time saving firewood and energy overall. This event is being held in collaboration with the Community Involved in […]
Pick up your bulbs!
Pick up your bulbs!
Come pick up your bulbs!
Pick up your bulbs at the Hadley Library!
Come pick up your bulbs at Lilly Library!
Join CISA, the NRCS, and UMass Extension for a hard look at using and maintaining agricultural ditches on commercial farms. Learn what can and can’t be done when it comes to managing ditches and the water that fills them and the kinds of support available to farm owners and managers from local organizations and agencies. […]
In 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (MA DOER) established the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program. This program carries special incentives for solar systems that allow “dual-use,” defined as solar on farmland where the land continues to be used for agricultural purposes. These facilities are also referred to as “agrivoltaic” systems This presentation […]
When: Thurs Oct 27th, 7-8:15 PM On Thursday October 27th, the Massachusetts Pollinator Network will be discussing what state agencies are currently doing to improve pollinator habitat in the Commonwealth. Our guests include: Ryan Kingston, Sustainability Program Coordinator with the Leading by Example Program (DOER) Tara Mitchell, Landscape Architect with MassDOT Jennifer Forman-Orth, Environmental Biologist […]
Online – Free to attend. Donations are welcome, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Register here. As part of their month-long Climate Action Challenge, NOFA/Mass is hosting "The Work that Reconnects Workshop". The following description is from the NOFA/Mass website: The Work That Reconnects offers a larger story that puts […]
Remote | $50 (sliding scale offered. See below) About this Event Are you a farmer diversifying into value added production or an entrepreneur developing new and exciting products? Do you have questions about how to integrate food safety and quality into the development of a value added food product? If so, this is the program […]
Hosted by NOFA/Mass: Take some time to chat with fellow farmers and farm advisors about tillage reduction and soil health in an open, roundtable environment. The Monthly Min Till Farmer Call will be the first Monday of each month. No pre-registration required, this will be a free-form space with minimal moderation & with the goal of farmers being […]
USDA’s new Micro Farm insurance offers whole farm insurance for farmers making up to $350,000 per year. For example, if you’re insured for $100,000 and you only make $30,000 during the year, you could receive a claim payment of $70,000 to recover the difference. Coverage is based on your historic revenue over the past three […]
How can we develop systems to build community resilience, grow local agriculture, improve access to nutrient-dense food, share growing spaces, and mitigate climate disruptions? All seven state chapters of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) have been working to develop food security programs and learning opportunities to address these questions. This winter, each NOFA chapter […]
Dates: January 12th through February 9th, 2023 Time: Thursday evenings, from 6:00 to 9:00pm Location: MDAR office in Southborough, MA Cost: $100 for up to two participants per enterprise, as space allows. This 5-session course provides guidance to aspiring farmers through the decision-making process of whether to start a farm business. Participants will learn about […]
Join NOFA/Mass for their 36th annual Winter Conference! Connecting farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, educators, and environmentalists to share resources and ideas to grow our vibrant organic community. From the NOFA website: We are excited to come together around this winter’s theme, “Cooperative Foodways: Building Our Future Together” with this year’s keynote speaker, Ira Wallace, author and […]
Dates: January 17th through March 14th, 2023 Time: Tuesday evenings, from 5:30 to 8:30pm Location: MDAR office in Southborough, MA Cost: The course fee, subsidized by MDAR, is $150 per farm. A hands-on course to help established farmers develop a business plan and financial projections for their farm business. This course covers topics including resource […]
Best Practices for Plant Disease Management Strategy: General tips will be presented that form the foundation of both organic and conventional disease management. Recommendations based on research results will be covered for cucurbit diseases (powdery and downy mildews, Phytophthora blight) and basil downy mildew. Additional diseases will be discussed based on grower input. This workshop […]
How do you grow over 50 different crops for 500 shareholders who are coming to coming to your farm to pick up 13lb of vegetables for 24 weeks? Explore the answer to this puzzle in this workshop, where Dan will present and review the spreadsheets that has kept his farm running over the years. This […]
This webinar is part of the 2023 Tri-State SARE Project Webinar Series: Improving Pasture Management for Sustainable Livestock Production Speaker: Speaker: Heather Darby (UVM Extension) The Tri-State (CT, MA, RI) SARE Professional Development Program is planning activities for the next three years – through 2026. The project will focus on training agricultural service providers as […]
The Hatfield Comprehensive Plan Committee is gathering input directly from Hatfield farmers about how agriculture in town is changing and adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. The last two growing seasons have demonstrated to many the need for improved irrigation, drainage, or both. Temperature swings, new disease pressures, and declining soil fertility are on the […]
Over the past several seasons, Sawyer Farm has been successfully growing vegetables directly in a perennial Dutch White clover sod. Lincoln Fishman will explain how the system works, and discuss its benefits and current limitations. He’ll discuss no-till transplanter modifications designed to reduce soil disturbance and weed competition. Join CISA for a virtual presentation and discussion about […]
You are raising and selling local meat, but are you making a profit? Learn marketing techniques and how to use the NEW Cornell Meat Pricing Tool to develop prices that deliver a profit in every channel. This event is hosted by Berkshire Grown - check out the full list of their winter workshops here. Presented […]
This webinar is part of the 2023 Tri-State SARE Project Webinar Series: Improving Pasture Management for Sustainable Livestock Production Speakers: Cheryl Cesario (UVM Extension) Rich Meinert (UConn Extension) The Tri-State (CT, MA, RI) SARE Professional Development Program is planning activities for the next three years – through 2026. The project will focus on training agricultural […]
Join American Farmland Trust for a webinar on Cut and Carry for Weed Management and Fertility in Organic Cropping Systems. Also known as ‘transferred mulch,’ “cut and carry” refers to the practice of growing, harvesting and moving loads of mulch from one part of the farm (or a neighboring farm) to another, usually as loose […]
Free Webinar! The International Workshop on Agritourism is hosting a free webinar on Marketing Your Farm. A farm marketing consultant and two agritourism farmers will discuss the three essential components of marketing your farm, with a focus on agritourism. Learn the three essential components of marketing your farm, with a focus on agritourism. Myrna Greenfield […]
In this all-day workshop we will discuss the basics of how set up a new grazing system, and how to troubleshoot and improve an existing one. We start the day from the perspective of pasture plants, and then shift to look at grazing from the perspective of the livestock. This will provide a solid understanding […]
About the Statewide Local Working Group Purpose Local Working Groups (LWG) provide essential input to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on the most important natural resource concerns and management strategies in their region. NRCS uses these recommendations to develop conservation solutions and to guide the agency’s technical and financial assistance programs. While LWG […]
(Nearly) Fall Meadow Stroll Sunday, September 17, 12:00 – 2:00 pmCheckerspot Farm30 Jacksonville Rd., Colrain Franklin Conservation District announces the last outdoor event of the year in our Native Plants education series. Join Jocelyn Demuth of Checkerspot Farm in Colrain for a stroll around her former dairy pasture turned native plants meadow, which is still abuzz in September. Come see what’s […]
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, […]
REGISTER HERE! In 2023, the Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District (HHCD) launched the Healthy Soils Program, which provides farmers with resources to encourage and facilitate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, with the goal of building soil health and mitigating issues caused by conventional practices. As part of the Healthy Soils Program, HHCD offers equipment rentals, no-till […]
Register Here! Are you interested in MDAR’s Climate Smart (CSAP) grant programs? Are you an APR farmer wanting to see an APR Improvement Program (AIP) grant in action? Are you interested in the APR program for your land? Join us at Warner Farm in Sunderland, where Dave Wisseman will showcase how they used their AIP and CSAP grants. We’ll […]
Location: Hadley Public Library, 50 Middle Street, Hadley 01035 Pickup Time: September 23, 10am-12pm Inside, you will find flowering perennials, beautiful grasses, shrubs, and trees that are right at home in your landscape where they do the important work of supporting pollinators! All plants are locally sourced from growers in Hampshire and Franklin counties. Click here […]
Join Tom Sullivan at Cathy and Michael Katz's Farm in the historic landscape of The Great Meadow of Hadley. Tom will draw our attention to the bees visiting the farm's flowers, ID them to their bee family, and talk about the bees' nesting styles. We will be able to collect a few seeds from plants […]
Are you thinking of starting a small farm?Do you already run a farm and are hoping to expand? Invest in yourself and watch your returns grow through this 7-week course. Click here for more information. This course is right for you if you’ve never taken a day of financial planning in your life! It is also […]
Course Details: When: Tuesdays, January 9 – March 5, 2024, 6-8:30pm Where: MDAR office in West Springfield, or alternate western MA location dependent upon interest Registration: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. $150 per farm. If interested, please complete the brief Growing Your Farm application and email it to [email protected], or mail a hard copy to: MDAR, Attn: […]
An overview of insurance programs relevant to vegetable and small fruit producers in New England. This workshop is intended for those with little to no prior experience with insurance and wondering what the options are and if they are right for your farm. Or for those looking for a refresher or updates. We will hear […]
A deeper dive into each individual program, one at a time, to help you decide which program is right for your farm. Regional experts from FSA and RMA will provide tips and tricks on how to be successful applying for coverage and getting a claim, including what records you need to keep and why. We […]
Are you interested in learning more about solar options for your farm? As solar panel costs have lowered and incentives have increased, more farms are turning to solar to offset electricity costs. Join this webinar to learn about site assessment, compare ground mounted and roof mounted systems, and incentives and funding available for solar projects. We […]
Author Talk: Lawns Into Meadows author Owen Wormser Sat., Feb. 10, 1:00-3:00 pm Hadley Public Library (HHCD) Tues., Feb. 13, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Storr’s Library in Longmeadow (HHCD) Intended Audience: Adults Join us for a presentation by local native plant expert, landscape designer, and author, Owen Wormser, about how to turn your lawn into […]
With our unpredictable drought-flood cycle, irrigation has become a necessity for many vegetable operations to weather the summer. Choosing the right system to fit your operation’s needs can be costly and feel overwhelming. Starting off by using an efficient irrigation system will increase plant productivity and give you tools to best manage your operation. Join […]
Author Talk: Lawns Into Meadows author Owen Wormser Sat., Feb. 10, 1:00-3:00 pm Hadley Public Library (HHCD) Rescheduled due to inclement weather - New date, Wednesday, Feb 21st, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Storr’s Library in Longmeadow (HHCD) Intended Audience: Adults Join us for a presentation by local native plant expert, landscape designer, and author, Owen […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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) […]
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, […]
