SPRING 2021 Spirit of Enid Award...... 5 Jr Iron Chef VT...... 7 Farming & Caregiving...... 8 New Staff...... 9 Early Years of NOFA...... 11 Policy Update...... 12 Elders' Reflections...... 13 Soil Stewards...... 17 Why a CSA?...... 19

The Quarterly Newsletter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont Resilient Responses Emerging in the Food System in Vermont By Grace Oedel, NOFA-VT Executive Director Over the past year, NOFA-VT has more deeply those strategies in the long committed ourselves to the work of developing term. We need new systems, a more resilient food and farming system. But which won’t inadvertently the word ‘resilience’, right alongside ‘pivot,’ has perpetuate the conditions bubbled to the surface as a most overused and that have allowed for jargony term in the lexicon of change. What increasing climate chaos, does ‘resilience’ really mean? We understand endemic racism, and whole that the three main challenges of the last year communities of people are all inextricably linked: the pandemic, and being left behind, whether resulting turbulence; white supremacy, and it be through rampant food the national struggle with the historic and insecurity, lack of healthcare and affordable grocery store employees, were left unsupported continued reality of racism; and finally, climate housing, or other means. How can we use this and exposed, despite their newly acquired change and its increasingly devastating effects. moment to imagine a different goal than just label of ‘essential.’ And as people lost jobs, they ‘Resilience’ in the face of these interwoven survival? One that helps us move beyond harm lost stable access to food. In Vermont alone, challenges most basically refers to our collective mitigation, into durable, lasting, thriving of UVM researchers estimate that food insecurity ability to bounce back and recover. Simply everyone in our communities? has increased at least 25% over the past year. surviving, and mitigating harm through It is in the voices of those most affected by People waited for hours in their cars to receive a enormous disruption, is absolutely a short these challenges that we will hear the answers box of groceries. The charitable food system was term need. But is recovery and reversion to the we all need. The knowledge our farmers taxed like never before. agriculture of ‘before’ a goal in and of itself? and farmworkers hold can point us to a truly Where did we see resilient responses This time of enormous turbulence and resilient, and even thriving food and farming emerge in the system in Vermont? Local food disruptive change reveals that many of the system. These front-line communities are both systems stepped up to the challenge. Farmers systems we have relied on are not resilient, experiencing the brunt of the challenges and teamed up and designed delivery routes to reliable, or innovating adaptations to them. They have keep home-bound people supplied with all adaptable. We the answers that not only offer resilience, but the food they needed. They waived delivery need to notice thriving for all. fees. They increased the number of subsidized what systems First, the disruptions to the food chain farm shares dramatically. Farmers redesigned actually proved caused by the pandemic allowed us to see their packing systems to keep workers safe. As ‘resilient’ this where our national food systems are fragile and they always do, farmers and farmworkers kept year, and then weak. Corporate-controlled stores experienced us all fed. Local food shelves and restaurants move toward empty shelves in a nation accustomed to partnered together to employ people out of more investment abundance any day of the year. Food system work and keep Vermonters fed. Resilience and support for workers, from farmworkers to meat packers to Resilience, continued on page 3 NOFA-VT Spring Thoughts from Grace PO BOX 697, Richmond, VT 05477 As I write you, I’m sitting with a in the National Organic Coalition NOFA: 802-434-4122 cup of coffee sweetened with some “Fly-In” (normally in D.C., this VOF: 802-434-3821 of the season’s first maple syrup, year via Zoom), which offers us [email protected] www.nofavt.org basking in the earliest light of an opportunity to champion morning during a rare quiet organic priorities to our Board of Directors moment before my children wake federal delegation as part of Joe Bossen up. Snow falls steadily outside a powerful national effort. Cheryl Cesario Abbie Corse the window but with the sweet (We participate in a number Maggie Donin sap flowing, the earliest of seeds of other national coalitions Peter Forbes Caitlin Jenness tucked into trays to germinate, and as a part of our advocacy work Sophia Kruszewski the steady growing of the light, spring throughout the year.) We, along Eric Sorkin ­—hallelujah, spring!—is on the way. with organic farmers from Vermont, Mike Thresher met with Senators Leahy and Sanders and NOFA-VT Staff This year I’ve been longing for spring more than ever, pacing myself through this final stretch Representative Welch and their teams to bring Eric Andersen, Office Manager & forward three main priorities that we have centered VOF Admininstration Assistant of winter, holding onto the knowledge that once as a national organic agricultural community. They Kyla Bedard, Certification Specialist again, the miraculous will occur: the snow will feel relevant to bring forward here as we explore Kirsten Bower, Finance Director melt, and the rested, sun-warmed soil will offer up the idea of resilience, and how to move more Livy Bulger, Education & Engagement its richness for new life to emerge miraculously Manager despite it all. We all have been through a year towards it: Erin Buckwalter, Development & of wintering as writer Katherine May calls it—of 1. Centering organic agriculture as a key strategy Engagement Director quarantine, of challenge, of too much time in to help heal ecological decline and mitigate Megan Browning, Farm Services our own homes and apart from one another. Our climate change; Program Facilitator own personal challenges, losses, and griefs from Bill Cavanaugh, Farm Business 2. Working for racial equity in organic agriculture Advisor this time are unique, though the struggles of and farmland access, and; Isabel Cochran, Certification this time have left none of us untouched. I am Specialist noticing a need to mark the anniversary of this 3. Standing for integrity and authenticity in the Nicole Dehne, Certification Director year of pandemic, to process the enormity of the ‘organic’ label, and by closing loopholes in enforcement, ensuring that small, authentic Andrew Graham, Direct Markets challenges and losses we have faced this year and Coordinator to make way for my very real readiness for joy, organic producers can thrive. Bay Hammond, Materials Review warmth, and tender new shoots of growth. While these are the priorities of the national Specialist & Staff Inspector coalition, they are also deeply aligned with NOFA- Maddie Kempner, Policy Director At the same time, we have seen amazing acts VT’s sense of leadership needed for durable change Kim Norman Mercer, of hope— the emergence of new life, of collective Communications Manager effort, of a sense that we are truly in this together— and a truly resilient world. Jen Miller, Farmer Services Director that I think are in many ways helpful learning for As the maple trees begin to drip and the Emmet Moseley, Community Food our shared future. We know now that our farming light returns, I feel a sense of real hope—the kind Access Coordinator and food community can and will rally for each of “active hope” that Joanna Macy writes about, Laura Nunziata, VOF Operations other. That we can make it, together. That new life, hope that asks us to participate in making it so. Manager truly, will return each spring. The shoots are already Personally, I am excited to share that I’m expecting Grace Oedel, Executive Director pushing up underneath the snow. a baby in the summer, so the sense of life and Helen Rortved, Farm to School Program Director This Spring issue of NOFA Notes is all about potential growing is very immediate for me right Winston Rost, Certification Specialist what we have learned this year about resilience— now! For this baby and all our children, I am Brian Shevrin, Certification Specialist and for our belief in a path toward a more resilient heartened, hopeful, and inspired by the many Alice Smolinsky, VOF Office food system for our future. What worked this year? efforts towards a more resilient future for us all. & Database Manager What didn’t fall apart? What were the new ideas Warmly, Gregg Stevens, Certification Specialist that finally found the right moment to germinate? Kayla Strom What long overdue learning were we finally able to Farm to School & Development Coordinator receive and heed? Grace Oedel Becca Weiss, Office & I wanted to share a bit of our work that is Finance Assistant NOFA-VT Executive Director often out of public sight: we recently participated PAGE 2 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 Resilience, continued from page 1 for BIPOC in every town in the state. Farmers community building, at the core for our future. are organizing anti-racism study groups, NOFA-VT recently launched a second round looked like this local economy, coming together and are beginning the slow work of learning of ‘Resilience Grants’ for farmers, with pools to keep people fed while shortening supply and healing. BIPOC-led collective teams are of funds set aside specifically for BIPOC-run chains, strengthening the viability of local building new models of cooperative farming, farms to do projects that will help address farms, and turning to each other rather than land stewardship, and are keeping their climate change, and other forms of resilience. relying on corporations. communities fed. Thriving requires centering By listening closely to the projects that these Moving toward thriving, resilient systems is these strategies in all our farmers put forth to increase asking: what do we need to further decentralize work, ensuring that equity As we tend our place long-term resilience, we the food system and connect more eaters is the lens through which and each other as if will be able to align our directly with farmers? How do we increase local, our work flows, not an we are all sharing a organizational goals with the organic food access as the norm for all eaters, afterthought. home together, we most helpful strategies for a not the exception? thriving future. Climate change, the will return to a true, How do we grapple with resilience as it third major challenge just, thriving economy Resilience is defined as relates to white supremacy and agriculture in of these times, impacts for a shared future, in ‘the ability of an object to Vermont? The first step must be to acknowledge Vermont agriculture which we can not only spring back into its shape.’ the foundational history of agriculture in our enormously. This past year, Yet we need not restore the survive, but thrive. nation: twin legacies of genocide and the we recorded the worst dominant systems we had displacement of the Indigenous community, drought on record, with in place before 2020—these as well as the practice of enslavement that many Vermont farmers struggling to irrigate were the very conditions that have allowed grew the nation’s economy, with agriculture and source enough feed for their animals. We for white supremacy and climate change to as its engine. Vermont shares in the unbroken are seeing an enormous increase in the trend flourish. As we listen carefully to those people lineage that stems from these traumas. We see of people from out of state buying land in working on the front lines to restore thriving the continuation of these realities when we Vermont, a state well positioned in the face of a ecosystem health, to keep our communities fed, look at land ownership in Vermont. Why is land changing climate; Vermont is a state scientists and to dismantle racism from the way we create so overwhelmingly owned by white people predict will prove one of the best places to live society, we will hear the strategies we need that in the state? Why do we consistently hear the and grow food in the world by 2070. We need bring us back into “shape” with our ecology. narrative that there are no farmers of color in to plan a path to be a safe and welcoming place These people are both those most affected Vermont, when there are, in fact, thousands for all people migrating due to climate (which, by, and on the front lines to respond to, these of farmers of color who are critical to the again, isn’t far off in the future; it has already challenges. Centering their voices will bring agricultural economy of Vermont? The begun to happen) while also ensuring that forward the strategies we need for a thriving invisibilization (and resulting land can remain in farmland, and that future. normalization) of both of everyone—not just the economically Naomi Doe Moody, one of the cooperative these realities get in the advantaged—can make a home members of the Susu Community Farm, spoke way of meaningful work here. on our ‘Future Scouting’ panel as part of our to dismantle racism in Where do we see resilient 39th annual Winter Conference in February. our ‘Brave Little State.’ responses emerge in the system Naomi shared the idea of ‘Sankofa’ as a strategy Where in the in Vermont as climate change for finding the path forward. Naomi defined Vermont food system did continues to make itself abundantly ‘Sankofa’ as the idea that we don’t need magical we see resilience emerge clear? Organic farmers who already new tech-heavy solutions or to find some silver in response to racism and white had grazing practices in place fared better bullet that will catapult us into the future. supremacy? We saw the power of relationship than those without, as the organic matter in Instead, we need to remember what we already and coalition building when farm and workers’ their fields helped them to retain moisture know, what ancestors who tended this land rights organizations organized together to and therefore, were able to grow more grass for thousands of years in a way that generated advocate for stimulus payments for people throughout the season. Practices like hedge life, community, and health, already knew. As excluded from federal stimulus, and together rows, cover cropping, and no-till management we remember an older way, one that centers helped Vermont emerge as the national all help store water during drought—but also community–level relationships, we will uncover example of how to build a COVID ‘Equity keep carbon in soil long-term and therefore, the original meaning of ‘economy.’ “Economy’ Fund’. We are seeing the innovative ideas of reduce carbon in the atmosphere. Organizing comes from the root word ‘oikos’: the Greek an ‘Every Town’ effort put forward by grassroots around farmland access and new cooperative word for ‘home tending’. As we tend our place organizers (led by Kenya Lazuli) who imagine ownership models to reduce the economic and each other as if we are all sharing a home boldly that our state might similarly be a leader barrier of land ownership has blossomed, together, we will return to a true, just, thriving in an effort to remedy the exclusion of BIPOC with more cooperative and community trust economy for a shared future, in which we can (Black, Indigenous or person of color) land models emerging over the past year. We need not only survive, but thrive. ownership in Vermont with land designated these new models, models of cooperation and D

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 3 Want to Grow Your Business? PLANT THE SEED IN VERMONT’S GO-TO SOURCE FOR ALL THINGS FOOD AND FARMING.

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PAGE 4 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 The Spirit of Enid Wonnacott Award: Honoring Jack & Anne Lazor and Scout Proft

Pictured above, left to right: Enid Wonnacott, Executive Director of NOFA-VT, 1988-2018, Jack & Anne Lazor of Butterworks Farm and Scout Proft of Someday Farm

Following is a transcription of notes of universal human needs. Pasture was Jack’s longest-running CSA, which Scout started in from the award presentation on February passion, but so was fixing tractors with his 1987. They've been community-driven ever 7th, 2021, by Peter Forbes, NOFA-VT friend, Brian Dunn, or reading Wendell Berry's since. Board President poetry, or writing his own book. Their hillside farm has earned so much One of the things that makes a beloved Jack Lazor was an exceptional scholar, respect all across New England not just for how community, an inclusive community, is honoring a persistent and optimistic farmer, and a they farm but also for the consistent way they've our elders, and in this moment I'm feeling remarkably generous human being. One of served their community over decades. If you the loss of two very important elders. We are those people you felt would drop anything, if spend time in that part of Vermont, Someday remembering Enid Wonnacott today through you asked him, to have a conversation. So many Farm has likely helped to make you. They raise this award, and we are also remembering Jack of us have benefitted from those conversations thousands of game birds, roasting chickens, and Lazor, one of the people we're honoring today with Jack. turkeys, processed in their own state-certified who passed away last November 30th. Stonyfield Yogurt and Anne have created a processing facility. They've innovated countless farmer cohort program at NOFA-VT —“Soil Health many new ways of doing community supported The purpose of the Spirit of Enid Wonnacott agriculture. And somehow they also propagate Award is to bring Enid's spirit right to the Stewards”—to honor Jack’s ideas and spirit of mentorship. over a 100 varieties of organic vegetables and surface of our lives, by honoring those who fruits. truly embody it daily. Let me begin with I want to say something, too, about the Jack and Anne Lazor, innovators of organic model of their partnership. Jack and Anne We honor Scout Proft not just because of agriculture and cofounders of Butterworks Farm accomplished so much together. They built a the energy and care she's given to Someday in the Northeast Kingdom. From that hilltop business and supported each other's ideas, and Farm, but because of how she's shared herself in northern Vermont, these two really have then Anne cared for Jack through seven years with so many generations of VT farmers. changed our state and our country. of dialysis, all the while keeping their farm and Scout's generosity of spirit has made our NOFA community so much stronger. Jack and Anne have always been a powerful family going. team. They moved to that hilltop 45 years ago Jack and Anne were honored in 2019 with "This recognition is a reminder to keep and started making yogurt and cottage cheese a Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame lifetime planting the seeds and nurturing the folks who prepared on the cookstove, doing door to door achievement award for advocating for organic watch the seeds grow,” says Scout, of receiving delivery, to now an array of exceptional quality agriculture. Their 100% grass-fed, organic this award. “In these times it's of the utmost of yogurts, kefirs, heavy cream and buttermilk products are in yogurt, buttermilk, creams; their importance to mentor as Enid did, and to show that’s widely available all across the east coast. corn is in whiskey; their lessons are deep in our kindness to all things growing as Enid did, and movement. to spread the inclusiveness of what NOFA stands That would be exceptional success alone, for as Enid did. Kindness and joy and heart-full but there's been so much more to their lives. Today, we are also honoring Scout Proft: work. Thank you Enid for reminding us all of Jack knew the particulars of soils but also how mother, farmer, and teacher. Scout cares for what really is of greatest importance." to elevate every conversation to the larger topic Someday Farm in East Dorset, Vermont's D

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 5 NOFA-VT Member Book Club, April 1 By Erin Buckwalter, NOFA-VT Development & Engagement Director During these virtual times, we’re offering a a copy of the book yet, you can contact your wonks, and designers, across generations, NOFA-VT member book club! On Thursday, April local library or consider purchasing from one geographies, and race--and aims to advance a 1st from 6:30-8pm, please of Vermont’s incredible more representative, nuanced, and solution- join us to discuss All We independent bookstores. oriented public conversation on the climate Can Save: Truth, Courage, You can find a list here: crisis. These women offer a spectrum of ideas and Solutions for the www.vermontbookshop. and insights for how we can rapidly, radically Climate Crisis, edited by com/visit-vermonts- reshape society. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson independent-bookstores. Intermixing essays with poetry and art, this and Katharine Wilkinson. book is both a balm and a guide for knowing This collection sets out to More about this collection from and holding what has been done to the world, highlight a wide range while bolstering our resolve never to give up Goodreads of women’s voices in the on one another or our collective future. We environmental movement, All We Can Save must summon truth, courage, and solutions to most of whom are from illuminates the expertise and turn away from the brink and toward life-giving North America. Connect insights of dozens of diverse possibility. Curated by two climate leaders, with fellow NOFA-VT women leading on climate in the book is a collection and celebration of members during these the United States—scientists, visionaries who are leading us on a path toward socially distant times. journalists, farmers, lawyers, all we can save. If you don’t have teachers, activists, innovators, D

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PAGE 6 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 Get a Taste for the Jr Iron Chef VT Cooking Club By Kayla Strom, NOFA-VT Farm to School and Development Coordinator This winter, teens across the state have been been having so much fun participating in Vermont FEED’s (a collaboration in the club and the rest of of NOFA-VT and Shelburne Farms) virtual us have enjoyed having competition, the Jr Iron Chef VT Cooking Club. him cook for us!” reminds us that it takes many players­—students, The monthly cooking challenge is a fun way to “I just wanted to let you know how much food service professionals, parents, and the bring our community together while honoring the kids loved getting their prize box,” another community—to change our food system. Jr the core values of Jr Iron Chef VT, which family shared. “They have already picked out Iron Chef VT involves all of these individuals to engages middle and high school students in some recipes to try from the new cookbooks. create a vibrant and fun event. improving their own health and the health of Today we’re making dumplings! This is a really Please share the news of this club with all their community by creating nutritious, locally wonderful program!” sourced dishes to inspire school meal programs. the Vermont teens in your life who love to It’s not just students who have been cook or try it yourself! Below is the recipe Over the last four months, participating involved. The Cooking Club has brought challenge for the month of March. For more students have learned how to make mixed together past Junior Iron Chef VT competition vegetable curry, Chinese dumplings, vegetable details about the club, participation, and judges, coaches, and local chefs to share their rules, visit jrironchefvt.org. pot pie, and sweet potato chickpea burgers. One wisdom with participants each month. This participating family shared that, “My son has Sweet Potato-Chickpea Burgers with Caribbean Slaw & VT Maple BBQ Sauce 2019 Crowd Pleaser, Green Mt. Union High-Middle School, Team: Turnip the Beet TIME: 10 minutes prep, 45 minutes baking YIELD: 4-6 servings Ingredients (* these can easily toasted sauce and slaw. be sourced locally) ½ cup golden raisins Mash the cooked sweet potato Burgers ¼ cup shredded carrot* together with the chickpeas. ¼ cup scallions, cleaned, and 1 15 oz can of chickpeas, drained Add all other burger ingredients chopped and rinsed and continue to mash until well ¼ cup mayonnaise (or Greek 1 medium sweet potato* combined. Form the mixture yogurt) ¼ cup coarse grain cornmeal* into about five patties with your 1 lime, juiced coconut in a large bowl. Mix until ¼ cup scallions, cleaned, and hands. A half cup measuring cup ¼ teaspoon allspice thoroughly combined. Refrigerate chopped* can be helpful for scooping and Salt and pepper to taste for 20 minutes to allow the flavors 1½ teaspoons chili powder flattening your patties. Place on an to combine. Salt and pepper to taste Garnish: Avocado slices (optional) oiled or parchment lined baking

sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until Step 3: BBQ SAUCE BBQ sauce Preparation Instructions golden brown, flipping halfway Combine all BBQ sauce ingredients 1 cup canned tomato sauce through the baking time. Step 1: BURGERS in a small bowl and set aside while ¼ cup VT maple syrup* Preheat oven to 450°F. patties bake. 2 teaspoons cider vinegar* Step 2: CARIBBEAN SLAW Cut the sweet potato in half 1½ teaspoons water Preheat the oven to 325°F. lengthwise. Rub a little olive Step 4: ASSEMBLY -CREATE 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce Spread coconut evenly on a oil on the cut side of the sweet YOUR SANDWICH rimmed sheet. Bake 5-10 minutes, (use soy sauce if vegetarian) potato. Place cut side down onto watching carefully and stirring a Toast and butter French bread or 2 teaspoons garlic powder a parchment lined baking sheet. few times until fragrant and golden buns of your choice. Layer your Salt and pepper to taste Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes brown, being careful not to burn it. sweet potato chickpea burgers, until the sweet potato is tender Caribbean Slaw Set aside and allow to cool. BBQ sauce and Caribbean slaw, when pricked with a fork. Allow and top with optional avocado 1 cup shredded red or green to cool. Remove skin and place in Combine all of the slaw slices. cabbage* a medium size bowl. While the ingredients, including the 1/3 cup sweetened coconut, sweet potato bakes, make the BBQ Enjoy!

Don't forget to compost! Have someone in your house join the fun and help with the root vegetable peeling and dicing. Once you’ve peeled all of your vegetables, this recipe comes together quickly. You’ll find the vegetable prep will leave you with a nice pile of peels which are garden gold. NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 7 The Unique Challenges of Farming & Caregiving By Megan Browning, NOFA-VT Farmer Services Program Facilitator Caregiving in our society is systemically With the generous support of folks who for storytelling and relationship building undervalued as a matter of course. Any false made donations to our COVID-19 Response around the unique challenges of farming and expectations compound for farmers, with the Fund, we started a support series in December. caregiving. pastoral and unrealistic vision that farmers can We worked with farmers and caregivers from In a survey of participants after the provide childcare—while they are also farming. different parts of the state: Abbie Corse, Kate series, most reported feeling less alone, and Since the pandemic, we’ve heard from many Spring and Keegan Albaugh, to offer support appreciated the space to both share their farmers who felt like they were really alone. and guidance through this 6-part zoom struggles and build relationships with other Many worried they were both bad parents and series that we called: “Help! I’m Farming and farmers experiencing a similar challenge. bad farmers—that it was just too hard to do both Caregiving in a Pandemic.” well with all the constraints and added stress Throughout this time together, people from the pandemic. had the space and support to have open and After hearing this same refrain repeated honest conversations about their farming and by many folks, NOFA-VT wanted to help create caregiving challenges and strategies they were more opportunity for farmer to farmer support, using to address them. The series supported to bring farmers with these shared experiences around fifty farmer caregivers across the together to feel less alone, and share strategies sessions and we brought back another series that were working for them so others could in March to continue these conversations, benefit. as well as some additional opportunities I Am the Farmer: Abbie Corse I can always find something to Reflects on Farming & Mothering advocate for being better, but I have genuine contentment By Megan Browning, Farmer Services Program Facilitator through almost all of my Abbie Corse, an owner and operator of the mother to experience the pain, heartbreak and days and that is the greatest Corse Farm Dairy, has been learning to juggle despair that I did,” she said. privilege in the world. I mothering and farming for ten years, and it wouldn’t have that if I wasn’t Abbie described the unique challenges of has not always been easy. Mother of Eli, 10, farming and caregiving. farming and caregiving, emphasizing the reality and Niko, 7, and stepmama to Grey, 14, Abbie —Abbie Corse that carrying out the responsibilities of your job is finally becoming clear headed about what and childcare simultaneously is not expected in pressure points exist at the intersection of any other profession. Somehow, however, in the farming and parenting. “I’m an unusual dairy farming world, this is expected and accepted. farmer,” shared Abbie in a recent interview, “If that is what you want to do, I bow to you,” “because I don’t farm with my partner. This has Abbie shared, “but it shouldn’t be the standing literally defined how I am able to farm; needing expectation.” to be the primary caregiver and farmer all at once.” Abbie is quite clear that our young people are in part leaving the state, “because there Before becoming a mother, Abbie had no is not a robust enough infrastructure here to idea what a challenge it was going to be. “My raise up your family rurally.” Farmers need what expectation of myself, brought on by a societal every other person needs to live a life of dignity: and cultural expectation,” she shared, “is that schools, childcare, healthcare, and community. I would be able to become a mother and still We must continue to advocate for these things farm, just like I had before.” In fact, after having on the policy level, and in the meantime we’re her first son, struggling through a difficult labor going to have to build these systems of support and trouble breastfeeding, difficulties finding together. childcare, and working hard to keep the family farm going, Abbie felt more alone than she After suffering a nervous breakdown in ever had in her life. “I don’t want any other farm August 2008 while living and working away

PAGE 8 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 from the family farm, Abbie and her husband moved back because that was where they Welcome to our Newest Staff! felt she could be most whole and supported. Andrew Graham - Direct Markets Coordinator With access to her family and the medical Andrew grew up in Pennsylvania attending a Waldorf school. support she needed to navigate her mental After he finished high school, his family moved (back) to Vermont, illness, she apprenticed with her father to where he studied Community & International Development take over the family dairy business. She felt at UVM. After a year with AmeriCorps VISTA doing poverty privileged to have housing and basic needs remediation work in Vermont and three years at an urban farm met, but money was tight, and when she co-op in Portland, Oregon, Andrew attended Antioch University had her first child in 2010, childcare was a New England where he earned a degree in Environmental financial burden. Education focused on the food system and climate change. Most Although she was able to figure out a recently, Andrew spent three years as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners childcare solution within their family budget, Association (MOFGA), where he managed the incredible volunteer this was a seriously challenging time for community that helps put on the Common Ground Country Fair. Andrew loves to cook and do all Abbie and her family. Imagine the dead of things related to food, including growing and processing it. He believes that we each need to be an July, in 90 degree weather, urgently needing ally to people who are suffering or marginalized. His values include localism, thriftiness, and sharing to get hay dry and then having to stop in the resources. He currently lives in Brattleboro. middle to pump and drive 20 minutes to bring milk to her child in childcare. This was Eric Andersen - NOFA-VT Office Manager not sustainable. and VOF Admin Assistant Eric lives in East Montpelier with his wife and ten year old daughter on their farm, Anderbell Acres. When he’s Read the rest of the story ~ not managing finances, you can find Eric riding his John nofavt.org/abbie-caregiving Deere in the fields, getting his hands dirty, and enjoying hiking, biking and exploring all the wonders that Vermont D has to offer with his family. You can check out their farm website at anderbellacres.com. D

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 9 Local Products Wanted! Current Local Food Sourcing Needs Grocery Grains Beet Sugar Barley Local Fruit, dried or frozen Buckwheat Dairy & Perishables Rolled Oats Goats’ Milk Blue Cornmeal Single-Source Cottage Cheese Meats Eggs Buffalo Oat Milk Duck Fresh Organic Milk Pork Tofu Fish (trout) For a full list, visit www.citymarket.coop/local-product-gaps or contact Claire Ross at 802-861-9747 or [email protected] www.citymarket.coop/local-product-gaps Your Community-Owned Grocery Stores 82 S. Winooski Ave, Burlington, VT 207 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT Open 7am - 11pm every day • (802) 861-9700 Open 7am - 9pm every day • (802) 540-6400 www.citymarket.coop

PAGE 10 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 Our Friends the Fields Special Chronicles of the early years of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association 50th Anniversary By Sara Norton, NOFA-VT Director, 1980-1984 Article One morning in June, 1979, Larry Karp not yield up their harvest. One cannot take walked on his hillside in Greensboro, Vermont. without giving back.” Memory likes to gather things up in bundles The Natural Farmer He wrote in that summer's Larry and Erika Karp were among the group like bales of hay or bins of carrots in the root issue how, “a walk in my fields this time of year of farmers, organizers and activists who came cellar – the preserved harvest. These bundles is my reward… the sounds of birds, the wind together as NOFA, The Northeast Organic become themes, which is the way history loves dusting the leaves of the trees and the warm Farmers Association. to organize itself. The themes in my memory summer sun playing with all the shades of of NOFA are these: 1) The strong, pervasive green. … We’ve just finished our first cutting of That next spring, I sat with Larry and Erika at sense of idealism that was shared. It was felt in hay and the thought comes to mind that I am their kitchen table, planning each meeting in farmhouses cutting and harvesting half a year’s worth of a NOFA workshop on their NOFA is the most around the state, tasted feed for my animals in four weeks of the year. farm on keeping bees. Their extraordinary in the potluck before the farm was beautifu­l—­a mosaic Then I realize how wondrous it is. Here falls with organization I have meeting, felt at farmers every pass of my mower, every circuit of my of enterprises that fit together markets, experienced in the tedder, every blade of my baler, the sustenance in a pattern: bees, cows, pigs, ever known. It is my conferences and the hearing of winter …the forces of the sun captured in chickens, vegetables—all privilege to have rooms at the statehouse, and on a hillside in Vermont’s each bale to warm my cattle during those winter been a part of it. was present in the mix of grit days far from the green mosaic of summer Northeast Kingdom. This is and high goals seen in the pasture.” how life should be, I thought. rural, hardscrabble way of life Here is an example of the ingenious puzzle that that people were willing to live. 2) The people Karp continues, “Haying is the time I get to is a diversified, small farm. become reacquainted with my fields and see gathering to work together in a robust volunteer how they have done since last year; to see what The topography of Vermont and New spirit of collective action. 3) A commitment to I’ve done for them. Fields are living beings, Hampshire, where NOFA began, with its care for the land, the soil; to nurture our places, friends a farmer gets to know. And teachers. hillsides, sometimes steep and sometimes our valleys and hills. Our fields teach us the lesson of our actions. gentle, and with its river valleys, sometimes My story with NOFA begins on January 2, If the fields are not fed and cared for they will narrow and sometimes wide, begs for small 1980 when I took the job of State Coordinator, farms and diversified farming practices. And or Director, of the still new organization of the times, with their Vermont-NOFA. (In those days NOFA loved desperate need for the term “coordinator” in keeping with its local, healthy food and nonhierarchical principles. One didn’t “direct,” with their planetary one “coordinated.” Later the board changed climate crisis, demand my title to “Director” to better interface with organic agriculture. organizations in the non-NOFA world with And it is deeper: whom we were networking). I was given the it’s about having an keys to the new NOFA office at 5 State Street in intimate relationship Montpelier, just two blocks from the Statehouse. with the intelligence of I climbed the narrow stairs to the bare office. the land and to know There was no furniture yet but over along one the fields as friends. wall, a collection of cardboard boxes of old I am writing this files which had emerged from closets around in 2021. I am almost the state waited silently. I sat on the floor and 80 years old and I’m eagerly opened the first box. What would I learn looking back 50 years here about what to do as the new director? to NOFA’s beginning. Now I can say with Read the whole article conviction that NOFA is & see early NOFA the most extraordinary organization I have ever documents online! Go to known. It is my privilege nofavt.org/50th-stories to have been a part of it. NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 11 Spring Policy Update By Maddie Kempner, NOFA-VT Policy Director The past few months have been a whirlwind progress toward a solution that clarifies that in the Vermont legislature, both for advocates farmers practicing accepted animal husbandry and, no doubt, for legislators themselves. A or grazing management will not be required to COVID-focused 2020 session that extended well provide access to shelter at all times. into the fall left both advocates and legislators We have continued to work alongside Rural with less time than usual to regroup and make Vermont, Vermont Growers Association, Justice plans for the new biennium now underway. As for All, and Trace to advocate for changes to Act a result, it's been challenging to predict what 164 (previously S.54) that will create a more just having not met since April 2020. On March would "stick" during this legislative session in and equitable adult-use cannabis marketplace. 16, the group resumes its work, along with terms of improving or moving forward with new S.25 is a bill put forward by the Senate Judiciary several new members added via legislation policy. Committee this session regarding cannabis, last year. The charge of the group is essentially Thankfully, one area of focus that became which was taken up on March 10 by the Senate to research and recommend approaches clear early on was the dire need to address food Agriculture Committee, marking the first for compensating farmers and other land insecurity, particularly among children, which time adult-use cannabis legislation has been managers for ecosystem services provided by has sharply risen as a result of the economic considered by the agriculture committee in ecological land management. NOFA-VT serves crisis caused by COVID-19. Since the start of the either chamber. We are seeking changes to the in the seat representing small-scale, diversified session, we have worked with Hunger Free VT, existing law that would 1) establish outdoor agriculture. In this role, we plan to advocate Shelburne Farms, Vermont Foodbank, and early cannabis cultivation as an agricultural activity, for a PES program that rewards farmers, childhood advocates to move S.100, a bill that is 2) establish a craft licensing structure and the including organic farmers, for a range of truly a win-win effort to address food insecurity, costs of craft licenses, 3) differentiate between ecosystem services and that specifically address as well as long term agricultural resilience, by indoor, mixed-light, and outdoor cultivation for biodiversity (both above and below ground) as a taking meaningful steps toward more local food commercial sale, 4) institute production caps for cornerstone of ecological health. being purchased by schools. The bill combines all scales and types of cultivation licenses, and In recent weeks, the Climate Council has three important school meals initiatives into 5) increase allowances for home cultivation. also finalized the membership of its five one: Universal School Meals, funding for the We are tracking, and have testified in subcommittees on Agriculture & Ecosystems, Farm to School grants program, and Vermont response to a proposal from the Vermont Cross-Sector Mitigation, Just Transitions, Rural Food for Vermont Kids, a tiered incentive Agency of agriculture, Food & Markets to Resilience & Adaptation, and Science & Data. program that encourages schools to purchase create an "Agricultural Innovation Board" to While NOFA-VT was not appointed to a seat on more local food. As of March 10, S.100 has replace the Vermont Pesticide Advisory Council the Agriculture & Ecosystems Subcommittee, passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee (VPAC). The Agricultural Innovation Board we are pleased to see many of our partners and and is in the Senate Education Committee. would make recommendations to reduce the allies on the list of appointees, and are cheering Closer to the farm, we've also been working use of and exposure to pesticides, as well as on our board member, Abbie Corse, who is with the legislature to address and clarify advise the legislative and executive branches serving as that subcommittee's co-chair. some problematic language currently in on agricultural pest control measures. It would Finally, at the federal level, we continue to statute in Act 116, which requires that animals be constituted of a range of experts from work closely with our Congressional delegation predominantly maintained outdoors have across the agricultural community, along with and allied national organizations like the access to "adequate natural or built shelter" a few members with expertise in the human National Organic Coalition and the Organic at all times, to "prevent direct exposure to the health and ecological impacts of pesticide Farmers Association to advocate for stronger elements." While this language was passed use. We are supportive of some aspects of enforcement of the organic regulations and the with the goal of preventing egregious animal this proposal - particularly the ways in which finalization of important rules that will close abuse and cruelty (a goal we clearly share), we this board would work more holistically and loopholes in organic production. In March, are concerned about its implications for the collaboratively on pesticide use reduction. we participated in a virtual "fly-in" with NOC, grazing community. Working in collaboration However, we have concerns about abolishing where we advocated for organic as a climate with our partners at Rural Vermont, NOFA-VT VPAC altogether, about the Agency's oversight solution, racial equity within organic, greater has testified on this issue and brought in a role in the board, and about the creation of yet enforcement of the pasture rule and soil health number of graziers and other agricultural another agricultural advisory board whose work regulations, and for USDA to finalize several experts to the House Agriculture & Forestry is related to many other concurrent efforts still rules including Origin of Livestock (OOL), Committee to propose alternative language underway. Organic Livestock & Poultry Practices (OLPP), based on the National Organic Program, which Speaking of related efforts, the Payment and Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE). we believe sets a more reasonable standard for for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Soil Health See more details in "Thoughts from Grace" on shelter of grazing animals. While not clear if Working Group is set to reconvene this spring, page 2. our language will be accepted, we are making D PAGE 12 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 Reflections on the Early Organic Movement By Will Stevens, organic farmer & past NOFA-VT Board President Vermont’s organic movement in the late Klein at Littlewood Farm 70s and early 80s was marked by a number of in Plainfield for several small, discreet, and innovative operators who years before landing at his were sprinkled throughout the state. Many current farm in 1989. of these folks were homesteaders inspired by David Marchant Helen and Scott Nearing, and/or back-to-the- came to Riverberry Farm landers looking for an opportunity to find life’s in Fairfax in 1991 by way meaning. A few were conventional farmers of Cornell, in addition to who saw commercial opportunity in organic work/life experiences in food production. Most (if not all) of them were Oregon, Plymouth, VT, and motivated by the idea that their efforts were the New Alchemy Institute making the world a better place. Whatever the in Massachusetts. He and reasons, however, those organic pioneers looked his wife, Jane Sorensen, to NOFA for support because of a shared sense currently raise strawberries, of purpose and mission. This year, NOFA-VT vegetables, and bedding adopted the theme of “Honor, Energize, and Above, Grace Gershuny, NOFA-VT's first state coordinator (known then just plants. He is very proud of as "NOFA"), speaks from the podium during the 1983 Summer Conference. Imagine” for its Winter Conference, kicking the fact that about 20 of Below, Eugenie Doyle and Sam Burr, of Last Resort Farm, have been off the celebration of 50 years of service to their past employees are continuously farming since 1986. Vermont’s organic community. now farming on their own. The “Honor” portion of the conference was Suzanne Long runs a keynote Panel of Elders, composed of six Luna Bleu Farm with her veteran farmers, who represent what was going husband, Tim Sanford, in on in Vermont’s organic community during South Royalton. They are those nascent early days: primarily a Community Grace Gershuny became involved with Supported Agriculture NOFA-VT in 1974 when she organized, and operation and offer an then sold vegetables at, the Newport Farmers assortment of vegetables, Market. She served in many volunteer and staff meat, and eggs. Suzanne positions for NOFA through the 1980s and came to the farm through joined the National Organic Program staff to a variety of farm work help write USDA’s organic regulations in the experiences in New Jersey, 1990s. Grace has authored and co-authored India, New Hampshire, and several books, including the 1986 classic, The Vermont. Their daughter Soul of Soil. The third edition of her memoir, Shona is assuming Organic Revolutionary, was published in 2020. responsibility of the Sam Burr and Eugenie Doyle of livestock portion of the operation as part of their nutrition. Grace Gershuny used her Master’s Last Resort Farm in Monkton bought their farm succession plan. studies to advance her commitment to organic current farm in 1986 after running a dairy Since knowing where we come from education. Their best lessons, it seemed, came and strawberry operation for several years provides perspective on where we’re going, from their experiences in the School of Life. in Brookfield. Along with organic berries, panelists shared their experiences as new Every one of these panelists were ready vegetables, and hay, they raised three children, farmers starting out at a time when “Organic” when opportunity knocked. The early organic one of whom (Silas) is in the process of taking was a euphemism for poor-quality produce. movement was marked (out of necessity) by over and expanding the farm. For most of them, organic farming just made self-education and innovation. The lack of Bruce Kaufman runs Riverside Farm sense; its moral imperative preceded the task of supportive services and businesses meant in East Hardwick with his wife and business making it work economically. Although none of that farmers needed to create their own ways partner Judy Jarvis. Bruce had farming in them started out with a brilliant business plan of doing things. They refined their farming his blood at an early age and first farmed in hand, several launched their career paths out practices and management systems through in New Hampshire with Samuel Kayman in of “active resistance” to their higher educational trial and error, good record-keeping, and the late 70s. Samuel went on to Stoneyfield experiences as undergrads, rebelling against information-sharing. Although not explicitly Yogurt fame while Bruce kept on farming — he the then pervasive lessons about soil health, mentioned, NOFA played a critical role in the moved to Vermont and partnered with Joey organic production and profitability, and Reflections, continued on page 15 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 13 Organic Agriculture is Climate Friendly Agriculture By Nicole Dehne, VOF Certification Director We are happy to announce that VOF and make a positive impact on climate change. and look for a NOFA-VT have received a Vermont Specialty Crop Science demonstrates that organic farming short survey, Block Grant to help market organic farming as a reduces greenhouse gas emissions, builds soil which will solution to climate change. We are excited about health, sequesters carbon, and fosters resilience test a this opportunity to create a statewide campaign to droughts, floods, and other extreme weather number to educate consumers about the important role events. We believe that it is critical to increase of Vermont organic farmers play in mitigating the broader public understanding of how taglines, against the harmful effects of climate change, organic practices like cover cropping and crop slogans, and how their purchases of organic food can rotation help to create healthy soils. The role that and talking make a big difference! As part of this project, organic producers play in fighting the negative points to we have partnered with Vital Communities to impacts of our changing climate must be more determine evaluate messages and materials with shoppers clearly understood, allowing shoppers to make which will capture in market channels like farmers markets, co-ops, that connection when purchasing their food. In consumers’ attention about and CSA pickups in the Upper Valley. addition, as consumers increasingly value and the power of organic agriculture to address This marketing campaign is part of a support climate friendly organic practices with climate change. larger goal of NOFA-VT’s, to help our state (and their dollars, we believe that more farmers will Thank you! beyond) recognize the important role that be incentivized to adopt organic practices. D organic agriculture plays as a solution to the This spring, we are launching this climate crisis and to encourage shoppers who educational campaign through radio, print, and care about this issue to buy more organic to social media. Please keep an eye on your inbox

PAGE 14 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 Reflections, continued from page 13 scare” as being a watershed moment in the When asked for words of wisdom, several evolution of the organic movement, because folks mentioned the importance of being kind success of many of today’s Elders because it it made Food Safety a top national issue. Prior to yourself and not being afraid to ask for help was there to support them when little else to this, many small organic producers were — feeling alone is not the same as being alone. was. NOFA sponsored on-farm workshops, comfortable operating within, expanding, and Remember that your community can help share summer and winter conferences, and other exploiting the “cracks” in America’s existing your burdens; it is in your interest to both ask programs and services that nurtured the food system. After Alar, Vermont’s organic and share. They mentioned the importance of organic community throughout its infancy. producers suddenly found themselves in the unity: organic agriculture is still but a small NOFA’s community came to be made up spotlight and well-positioned to take advantage speck of the national ag economy and panelists of farmers and consumers, educators and of the public’s new and growing interest in stressed the need to maintain solidarity around students, practitioners and acolytes, mentors personal health and access to a safe, secure, the shared mission and purpose of organics. and mentees. In this community, knowledge and local supply of food. This would become Several suggested that priorities are situational: was freely shared the “Localvore” movement in the Northeast. As yes, it’s good to establish priorities, but it’s also and co-operation, not larger farms began converting to organics in good to review and adjust them as conditions competition, was the other parts of the country, their economies of change. Quality of life should include the norm. Every panelist scale both increased production and lowered production of good food and vice versa! agreed about the prices. As Grace mentioned, the upside was that Bruce’s advice? “Do not be afraid . . . do what value this co-operative consumers had better access to more organic Mother Earth wants us to do . . . . You can do it! culture played in their products because more land was in organic Have faith, (and) plant seeds!” development as an production. The challenge for Vermont growers D organic grower and in its became how to compete on this new stage. importance for the future. The panelists Farmers markets were discussed the challenges an easy entry point for many panelists’ careers of achieving balance in organic farming. The markets provided between work and family a flexible training ground where planting life while running a schedules, marketing ideas, and quality family farm business. assurance could be experimented with and The reality is that on perfected, and through which producers could the farm there is always discover their real interests and refine their something to do and management styles and farming systems. Every never enough help, and panelist described their business’s evolution sometimes time-critical as a series of responses to changes in markets, actions (whether family interests, skills, personal and/or economic or farm) need to be taken. situations, and other factors. Eugenie said that The overriding hope “transition” represented the essential story of is that the long-term their farm. economic ends justify the Of all the challenges mentioned by the short-term means. panelists, access to land was, and still is, at Although time did or near the top of the list. All of them are not allow for many “Tales Above, Suzanne first-generation farmers, and the land they from the Farm,” the Long and her are farming today is not where they grew up. panelists were generally husband, Tim Fortunately, a variety of programs and policies upbeat about the state Sanford, of Luna now exist that are designed to help young of organic farming in Bleu Farm in S. farmers find, finance, and profitably operate a Vermont today and were Royalton. Left, new farm. The Vermont Land Trust, the Vermont encouraging about Dave Marchant Housing and Conservation Board, lenders who the prospects of future and his wife, have a new understanding of the business success for today’s young Jane Sorenson, potential of small diversified farms, and Federal farmers. Tomorrow’s started River programs have all made things much easier for Elders have the Berry Farm in young farmers today to “set up for success” than advantage of having had Fairfax in 1991. what the panels’ Elders experienced back in the the path cleared for them days when “farming” in Vermont was defined as through the experiences conventional dairy, period. of and lessons learned by Several panelists mentioned the 1989 “Alar today’s Elders.

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 15 NOFA-VT Members: Thank you for supporting organic agriculture! A warm welcome to the following members who joined us or renewed their membership in the 1st quarter of 2021: NEW MEMBERS Emily Amanna, Athens, VT Hannah Doyle, Enosburg Falls, VT Katy Lash, Cambridge, VT Linda Ruth Smith, Putney, VT Victor Atkins II, Lincoln, VT Nicole Draper, Swanton, VT Lazor Family, Westfield, VT Giovanna Sassi, Shelburne, VT Andrew Bainton, Burlington, VT Emmett Dunbar, S Londonderry, VT Seth Leach, Pawlet, VT Fred Schmidt, Burlington, VT Jenna Baird, North Chittenden, VT Jeff Dunham, Starksboro, VT Wendy Leffel, Pownal, VT Tatiana Schreiber, Putney, VT Aylie Baker, Shelburne, VT Linda Dunnack, Fairlee, VT Katie Rose Leonard, Shelburne, VT Jess Simpson, Lyndonville, VT Susan Beshar, West Glover, VT Lucas & Louisa Farrell, Townshend, VT Dan MacArthur, Marlboro, VT Donna Smith, Marshfield, VT Ethan Bond-Watts, Charlotte, VT James Findlay Shirras, Montpelier, VT Michael Maguire, Great Barrington, MA Adele Stafford, Waitsfield, VT Scott Boyce, Richford, VT Karey French, Hinesburg, VT Jette Mandl-Abramson, Wells River, VT Meggie Stoltzman, Halifax, VT Tim Brennan, Greensboro, VT Heath Galloway, Waitsfield, VT Jean Martel, Embrun, ON Ethan Thompson, Burlington, VT Chess Brownell, Stowe, VT Licia Gambino, Shrewsbury, VT Kate McConlogue, Underhill, VT Cornelia Tierney, Charlotte, VT Kara Buchanan, Burlington, VT Jessica Garretson, Plainfield, VT Robin McDermott, Waitsfield, VT Cole Trager, South Royalton, VT Molly Bulger, Huntington, VT Cecilia Garvin, Peacham, VT Susan Munkres, Burlington, VT Suzanne Tremblay, Colchestet, VT Nathan Bullard, Bridgewater Corner, VT Angela M Grenier, Wilder, VT Charlie Nardozzi, N Ferrisburgh, VT Stephanie Walsh, Burlington, VT Karen Burke, Colchester, VT Victoria Hahl, Middlebury, VT Emily O'Connor, Avon Lake, OH Maria Wicker, Charlotte, VT Capps Household, Lunenburg, VT Eli Hersh & Valerie Woodhouse, Sharon O'Connor, S Royalton, VT Winnie Wilkinson, St Albans, VT Lisa Carper, Fairfield, VT Norwich, VT Luigi Palmeri, Putney, VT Sarah Williston, Oak Bluffs, MA Rae Carter, Plainfield, VT Rick Hubbart, Grand Isle, VT Willis Phelps, South Strafford, VT Sarah Wood, Hartland, VT Paul Cate, Montpelier, VT Dmitriy Ioselevich, Burlington, VT Sherri & Ken Pidgeon, Williston, VT Rebecca & Douglas Worple, Kat Clear, Ferrisburgh, VT Andrea Jacobson, Great Barrington, MA Mary Louise Pierson, Thetford Ctr, VT Jeffersonville, VT Krista Coombs, Bennington, VT Amber Kennedy, Underhill, VT Christine Porcaro, Ferrisburgh, VT Helena Wu, Londonderry, VT Sarah Costin, Shaftsbury, VT Brent Kidder, Northfield, VT Janis Reinke, Hubbardton, VT Olive Ylin, Wolcott, VT Jill Crosbie, Bridgewater Corners, VT Kieran Killeen, Shelburne, VT Marianne Richards, Milton, VT Philip Young, Morristown, VT Anne & Paul Dannenberg, Kurt Kling, Starksboro, VT Jess Rubin, Burlington, VT Kayleigh Boyle, Craftsbury, VT Huntington, VT Sylvia Knight, Burlington, VT Lara Dickson, Middlebury, VT Pam Knights, Northfield, VT Elisabeth Dorries, Danville, VT Alice Kriz, Brattleboro, VT Kevin & Paula Dougherty, Rochester, VT Christine Kubacz, Fairfield, VT

NEW & RENEWING BUSINESS MEMBERS ADAK Software, LLC, Ballston Lake, NY Plainfield Co-op, Plainfield, VT All Souls Tortilleria, Burlington, VT Runamok Maple, Fairfax, VT Artesano, Groton, VT Sweet Tree Holdings 1, LLC, Island Black Dirt Farm, Greensboro Bend, VT Pond, VT Brigham Family Farm, Cuttingsville, VT The Maple Standard, Burlington, VT Butternut Mountain Farm, Morrisville, Thomas Hirchak Company, VT Morrisville, VT Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, Upstate Elevator Supply Co., East Thetford, VT Burlington, VT Dana Hudson, Waterbury Ctr, VT Vermont Soap, Middlebury, VT Deana Hawk, East Montpelier, VT Weavers Way Community Programs Dobra US LLC, Burlington, VT DBA Food Moxie, Philadelphia, PA Farm & Wilderness Foundation, Plymouth, VT Farmers To You, LLC, Middlesex, VT Hunger Free Vermont, S. Burlington, VT Jade Mountain Wellness, Burlington, VT King Arthur Baking Company, White River Junction, VT McEnroe Organic Farm, Millerton, NY Michael Pill, Shutesbury, MA Mountain's Edge Farm, LLC, Hinesburg, VT

PAGE 16 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 Jack Lazor Memorial Soil Health Stewards NOFA-VT is proud to launch a soil health is eager to honor his legacy and cohort program to honor the legacy and wisdom assure that his work and knowledge of Jack Lazor, an organic farming pioneer and continues on with the next generation. the co-founder of Butterworks Farm. This cohort will promote farmer-to-farmer education and Generous donation from relationship building in an effort to address Stonyfield Organic both short term mitigation strategies around In December 2020, NOFA-VT was soil health as well as long term systems change. honored to receive a $5,000 donation This cohort will prioritize farmers who are, from Stonyfield Organic in memory or wish to become, great educators and will of Jack Lazor. Sharing the intentions continue to share what they learn with other for this donation, the Stonyfield team farmers through mentorship or by hosting wrote, "Healthy soil is the foundation workshops in the future. In this way, the funds of organic agriculture. We can think of will continue to pay it forward and honor Jack’s no better way to honor Jack’s legacy legacy for years to come. In this inaugural year, than to support Vermont’s organic the program will focus on dairy and livestock farmers in coming together to learn farmers. more about the best ways they can Many thanks to Stonyfield Organic, improve soil health, and share this Butterworks Farm and the Lazor Family for knowledge with each other. This builds their generous funding for this legacy project the viability of organic farms and to help steward healthy soil and a thriving advances the climate mitigation potential of resilience, and innovative practices to agricultural future for our planet! organic farming.” support long-term farm viability • Build farmer-to-farmer educational Jack’s Life & Legacy Butterworks Farm & Lazor Family opportunities for farmers to learn from and Matching Contribution and Focus with each other Jack Lazor was a cornerstone of the organic on Education • Begin a network of soil health stewards who farming community. Jack, along with his wife will contribute to educating others through Anne Lazor, have always been innovators When determining the best use of these mentorship and on-farm education about or organic agriculture. They co-founded funds, we reached out to Jack’s dear life and soil health practices Butterworks farm 45 years ago and started business partner, Anne Lazor. Excited about • Continue to bring farmer voices into soil making yogurt and cottage cheese on the this memorial, Anne generously offered to health advocacy work stove and doing door to door deliveries. This match Stonyfield’s donation to support farmer business has grown to include exceptional education on soil health. Anne shared, “Jack The initial cohort will begin soon, with soil quality yogurts, kefirs, heavy cream and would wish that you could make the main health intensives, and will continue into the buttermilk widely available across the east focus of this money to support education and summer months with several on-farm visits coast, with the business now largely managed technical support for the care of the ”life in the to farms implementing innovative practices by their daughter, Christine Lazor. Jack has soil” and the “soil carbon sponge”, which he to improve soil (and animal) health, mitigate always known the particulars of soils and in was so passionate about in his later years. This climate change, and increase biodiversity. The his later years, Jack was especially passionate would include soil biology, plants and roots cohort will wrap up in the fall of 2021 with a about support for the care of life in the soil and covering the earth, biodiversity in farming and closing session and keynote speaker to round the soil carbon sponge. He was a brilliant and gardening, and creating systems that draw out learning and develop next steps. enthusiastic educator, always eager and willing carbon into the earth and mitigate climate to share his wisdom and experience with other change. “ Expected Outcomes & Next Steps farmers. Goals & Timeline We are seeking additional funding to run Jack was an exceptional scholar, a persistent this program again with a variety of production and optimistic farmer, and a remarkably Honoring the legacy of Jack Lazor, the types, which over time will build a dedicated generous human being. Jack and Anne were central goal of this cohort is to share his passion team of soil health stewards around the state honored in 2019 with a Vermont Agricultural for building soil health and educating the who will continue practicing innovative soil Hall of Fame lifetime achievement award for farming community about soil health practices building on their farms and serve as educators their work advocating for organic agriculture. that contribute to long-term resilience of farms in their communities. and farmland. We intend for this cohort to: Their lessons are deeply embedded into the More information can be found at nofavt. organic farming movement. Jack passed in • Directly address soil health on Vermont org/soil-stewards. November 2020 after a long battle with cancer, farms D and Vermont’s organic farming community • Increase knowledge of soil health, climate NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 17 The Natural Farmer Welcomes New Editor Beginning with the summer 2021 issue, well, including oysters, lions mane and others. resources they need to become a farmer. The Elizabeth Gabriel will take over as editor of We also raise pastured sheep for meat, ducks TNF: Why did you want to become the editor Natural Farmer . The newspaper is published for eggs and slug control, and we have a small of The Natural Farmer? and mailed to NOFA members quarterly and (really, very small) maple syrup operation, with EG: features news of the organic movement 100 trees on our land, and another 200 that I’ve been working in and developing and in-depth stories about we lease down the road. Our farm is nonprofits for nearly 15 years. Before my farming, gardening, and based on principles of silvopasture, time at Groundswell, I worked in Cooperative homesteading. with our sheep grazing through Extension, and before that I was a cofounder of a small urban farm nonprofit in Washington, The Natural Farmer: existing woods, and we plant DC called Common Good City Farm. That time Tell us a little bit about hundreds of perennials every year, including elderberry. was extremely rewarding and I’m proud of my yourself. contributions, but those roles and as Executive TNF: Elizabeth: I am an What does Director, have required me to hold a bird’s eye educator, food justice Groundswell do? view almost constantly. I miss diving into the advocate, community EG: Groundswell is a details, writing and researching, gathering organizer, farmer, and new beginning-farmer training and food stories. It is really appealing to me to take on a mom. For the past six years, I justice organization, founded in 2009. new role, as a voice or a facilitator, for sharing have been the Executive Director of Farm businesses in the US are 98% owned those stories. I am looking forward to meeting Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming, by white folks, and yet 98% of the industry’s NOFA farmers and other stakeholders. I am based in Ithaca, New York and serving the Finger work force is non-white. Land ownership and committed and excited to think about how Lakes Region. agriculture have a long history of racism and The Natural Farmer can be a platform for the TNF: What do you raise on your farm? unequal access to resources, including land intersection of NOFA and issues of equity and money. Groundswell's programs and and justice to take shape. I look forward to EG: My husband Steve and I have run an distribution of resources can make farming expanding it and moving it forward in a agroforestry farm, Wellspring Forest Farm in more diverse, and support people typically direction that appeals to existing members, and Mecklenberg, New York, since 2011, when we marginalized to gain access to the land, loans, attracts new members and diverse voices to started with log-grown shiitake mushrooms. We money, technical assistance, training and other NOFA. have expanded to include indoor mushrooms as D East Hill Tree Farm Nursery for Fruit Trees, Nuts and Berry Plants

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Located at 3499 East Hill Rd, Plainfield, VT www.easthilltreefarm.com OPEN: Sat. 9-4:30 & Sun. 10-4:30 or by appointment (802) 454-7874

PAGE 18 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 Why get a CSA? Good for Farm Businesses, Good for Building Community By Andrew Graham, NOFA-VT Direct Markets Coordinator Many of you probably already know that and tongs so customers would not touch the FG: I realized I didn’t want to grow a big Community Supported Agriculture, or CSAs, are food. She said she has already signed up for garden anymore, and also that I could pay in a great way for farmers to get the money that the 2021 season with the same farm, and is installments. I went to their site and learned they need to cover costs in the beginning of looking forward to her first pickup. Frederica is that I could get a half share. Other community the season in order to produce delicious fresh now another community member singing the members/friends knew the farmer and talked food. This model not only helps reduce financial praises of buying directly from a local organic about how excellent both the farmer and the stress on farmers, but helps customers feel farm through their CSA. quality of the food is, and the convenience of invested in their local farms. With the yield of Some farms offer events for shareholders to pickup. Last year, with the pandemic affecting the CSA tied to how the farmer’s season goes, get to know the farm better and the interactions everything, they had a great safety protocol and customers have an opportunity to learn about on pickup day help solidify a sense that you are setup with handwashing and distancing, masks, the factors affecting farm businesses, as well as part of a local community supporting a local and tongs, so customers would not touch the which crops come into season at different times farm. food. in their area. NN: Signing up for a CSA is often more When did you sign up? CSAs also help build community among cost-effective than buying similar farm-fresh FG: Mid-February 2020. This year I was worried shareholders. Seeing the same people when products at a store, and the money spent goes I had missed the deadline, so I went to the you go to pick up your share allows you to directly to the farmer. People interested in website and learned that it was time to sign up. meet your neighbors and many people find out purchasing a CSA share should act quickly, as (Already signed up for 2021.) about CSAs from friends and family members. one Vermont farmer told us that they had sold NN: Had you purchased a CSA share in the past? Frederica Graham of White River Junction told out their CSA over a month ago. us that several years ago she volunteered at a FG: Yes, about 25 years ago. local event and someone she met there was Following is a brief interview with NN: Have you heard of the NOFA-VT Farm Share extolling the virtues of a local organic farm’s CSA member, Frederica Graham: Program, which provides 1/2 price CSA shares CSA program. However, she felt that it was NOFA Notes: Where did you purchase a CSA for limited-income farmers? probably too expensive and too much food for from in 2020? her. Last year, after hearing another testimonial FG: I have now! from a friend, she decided to visit the farm’s Frederica Graham: Sunrise Farm, White River NN: Did you learn anything (through having a website and discovered that she could get a Junction CSA) about food and farming? half-share and pay in installments. NN: How far away from you? FG: What grows when, I guess, but I Frederica enjoyed the bounty of fresh food FG: 5 minute drive. knew that as a lifelong gardener. with the option to choose between several NN: Did you know of that NN: Did you generally just get your different options each week, and froze some of farm before purchasing a share, or did you buy any add-ons? it to eat throughout the winter. She mentioned CSA share? that the pick-your-own beans and herbs FG: Just the share, no add-ons. I reminded her of her gardening days and helped FG: Yes enjoyed the pick-your-own. her feel like she was part of the process. While NN: How did you hear about NN: Did you find that it provided the farm also has a farm stand offering many it? you with food that you liked to products available to purchase while picking FG: cook? up shares, she told us she did not choose to do Four years ago I FG: You bet! I ate a ton of swiss that. volunteered at Flavors of the Valley (local farm and chard and kale while it was in When Covid-19 changed how we shop for food event) and someone there told me about season. food last year, Frederica felt lucky that she had it and how wonderful it was for her family of NN: Did you preserve any of the food? a CSA share lined up, and praised the farm for six. I didn’t think I could afford it, and thought it FG: Yes, I froze some! their safety protocol, including a handwashing would be too much. D station, signage, strings and dots on the floor to NN: regulate distancing, everyone wearing masks, How did you overcome the thought that it wasn’t for you? Go to the NOFA-VT website­­ at nofavt.org/csas to find a directory of CSAs across the state, and support your local organic farmer this year!

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2020-2021 PAGE 19 NOFA VERMONT Non-Profit Org. PO BOX 697 US Postage RICHMOND, VT 05477 PAID Permit No. 37 Return Service Requested Richmond, VT

Happy spring! Stay safe!

New Organic Certifications Vermont Organic Farmers welcomes the following new producers who have recently obtained organic certification (certified between 6/1/20-9/1/20) for all or a portion of their operation, joining the more than 700 organic farmers & processors throughout the state. Boyce Family Sugary Peaceful Harvest Mushrooms Daniel Lussier Pumpkin Hill Maple Fat Gorilla Cookies Red Mountain Maple Frederic Nadeau Still Hill Farmstead Hudson Road Maples The Mackenzie Inc Kendrick Griggs Tristan Butler King's Little Maple Whispering Hills Homestead Marsh Family Maple Windswept Farm Nicholas Livestock

Learn more about the benefits of certified organic, locally grown at www.nofavt.org/why-organic