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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Farmer Circles are peer learning communities for farmers interested in discussing a certain topic in an informal, supportive environment. Each circle meets for at least 12 hours over the course […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 - […]
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 […]
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) […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Register Here Dormant season pruning of fruit trees is one of the best tools farmers and gardeners have in maintaining and optimizing orchard and fruit tree health! It is also one of the most peaceful and pleasant outdoor tasks during the colder months. Join us for a deep dive on apple tree pruning and care […]
Registration Required - Register Here The Hampden-Hampshire Conservation District (HHCD) is hosting a Local Working Group - because no one understands the challenges facing our land and natural resources better […]
NOFA/Mass Registration Required - Register Here Your farm’s fertility plan doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With the right tools and approach, it can be grounded, methodical, informed and even fun. In this full-day, hands-on workshop, we’ll explore practical ways to assess soil health and develop effective fertility strategies, with a focus on agroforestry […]
Register Here May in the Northeast brings a mix of warming days and sometimes stubbornly cool, wet soils. In this one-hour call, we’ll focus on transplanting into variable spring conditions, priming soils with biology, and practical bed prep strategies. We’ll also cover spring amendments, inoculations & preps, with an eye toward how temperature, moisture & […]
Location: Pioneer Gardens Farm, 425 Greenfield Rd, Deerfield, MA 01342 Register here This workshop at Pioneer Gardens in South Deerfield, MA will bring farmers and irrigation system designers together to look at emerging irrigation practices that increase water efficiency. The workshop will highlight the use of soil moisture sensors as a key component of irrigation […]
Register and Learn More Here Join Just Roots and NOFA/Mass for a farmer-to-farmer field walk exploring how soil health practices can take shape on a small, diversified production farm. We’re coming together to share practical knowledge and experience. This is an opportunity to share real-world experience—what’s working, what isn’t, and what we’re all still figuring […]
Register Here Join us for this full-day workshop about the physical component of soil health where we’ll explore the essential principles that shape soil structure and vitality. This intensive will mix classroom-based learning with hands-on demonstrations and activities assessing soil structure. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of soil physical properties, including texture, structure, porosity, […]
Register Here Managing a farm at the right scale is essential to finding your place within the broader network of Massachusetts growers. If you’re considering expanding your operation— or questioning whether scaling up is the right move— join us for a day-long workshop grounded in practical experience, reflection, and peer learning. Hosted at Upswing Farm, […]