June 2014 Newsletter

Northeast Organic Farming Association/ Massachusetts Chapter

Inside this Issue:

Alleviating hunger by Proposed gas pipeline GMO labeling bill increasing urban farm threatens farms, conser- gaining support productivity vation land in Northern Massachusetts page 15 page 18 page 20 Northeast Organic Farming Association/ From the Editor Massachusetts Chapter, Inc. Nicole Belanger, NOFA/Mass Public 411 Sheldon Road Barre, MA 01005 Relations Coordinator 978-355-2853 (p) 978-355-4046 (f) [email protected] What a month! With CSA shares www.nofamass.org coming and going at full force, transplants and succession seeds breaking ground, keeping unwanted NOFA/Mass Board Meetings are open to all critters at bay (thanks to my members. For more information please contact: coworkers for helping protect my Executive Director, Julie Rawson fledgling community garden plots by sharing their [email protected] cutworm prevention strategies), and the sun rising at 5am, there’s no shortage of things to do this time of 978-355-2853 year.

To the mix, as I add the daily flow of personal © 2002-2014 NOFA/Massachusetts interests and an infinite curiosity about growing NOFA/Massachusetts is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit projects and environmental issues across the state and organization. Contributions are tax-deductible nation. I’m blessed to do this work! to the extent allowed by law. This month I was able to work on two such stories. Digging into background on Springfield’s Gardening the Community, their history with NOFA/Mass Not a member yet? and current project with us and Project Bread was CLICK HERE inspiring and illuminating. How can we come together to feed people, educate our youth, most effectively utilize available land, and tell the story in compelling ways? Read about this project on page 15 - “Alleviating hunger by increasing urban farm productivity.”

Editing and working with Phyllis Kirkpatrick on her “Proposed gas pipeline threatens farms, conservation land in Northern Massachusetts” story was eye opening. I’m left still working to find the balance between alarm and the possibility of people’s movements while educating myself. I hope you’ll read Phyllis’ story on page 18. The NOFA/Mass Newsletter is published eleven times per year by the We’re getting really excited about the 40th NOFA Northeast Organic Farming Association/ Summer Conference. As your summer plans gel, we Massachusetts Chapter, Inc. hope the August 8-10 conference is on your calendar. Circulation: 5,000 It’s not too late to apply for a Beginning Farmer or Farmer Education Fund scholarship. Check out workshop highlights and tracks on page 5. Newsletter Editor: Nicole Belanger Circulation: Rebecca Buell Happy growing, bountiful in-season eating, and Submissions: Nicole Belanger swimming hole seeking! [email protected] Advertising: Bob Minnocci [email protected] Nicole Design: Nicole Belanger

www.nofamass.org 2 June 2014 Newsletter Permaculture, commercial growing, lowering CO2 levels, Christine Jones and myccorhizal fungi Julie Rawson, NOFA/Mass Executive and Education Director September 1 Dr. Christine Jones will be in Boston. The location is yet to be determined. Save the date. On September 2 she will be in Amherst. We will start the day at Immanuel Lutheran Church for a classroom session from 9-12:30. A potluck lunch will follow and then a 2-hour field walk at Simple Gifts Farm, run by Jeremy Barker-Plotkin and David Tepfer. Check www.nofamass.org/events for registration details.

Check out this short video interview that she ran with Rural Delivery in New Zealand: www.youtu.be/ MmtUfU3ZQTg

If you are a NOFA/Mass member you will have was going to be away from home most of the received the Summer 2014 issue of the Natural time and this winter I’ve planted oats and peas Farmer by now. There are a number of articles by for the same reasons.” Dr. Jones, including one on mycorrhizal fungi that is reprinted in this month’s NOFA/Mass Newsletter. None of this is news to permaculturalists, of course. According to Dr. Jones, and many other prominent We commercial vegetable growers who feel reliant soils experts, it is the mycorrhizal fungi that are the on our tillage and clean cultivation need to look for key to our salvation – agriculturally and climate-wise. and learn new ways to keep those green plants always growing in our systems while still making a living. Below are some quotes from a recent email from Christine Jones. Don’t miss her! As I have pulled my head out of the sand and started to embrace taking my part in lowering CO2 Says Jones, “I love your clover idea. It’s highly atmospheric levels. I like many of you, I suppose, mycorrhizal. Mulch is great stuff too; it’s just have been looking for small ways in my own space that you have to keep replacing it and it doesn’t to do my part. I have been struggling with the choice do anything for the sub-soil. There has been of mulch vs. clover in our tractor wheel paths in some talk of breeding non-spreading turf- the vegetable fields. I learned this method of under grasses for use on the permanent wheel tracks sowing clover from Eliot Coleman more than 20 years in controlled traffic farming for commercial ago. But I have found over the years that planting of cash cropping here in Australia… the Dutch white clover is time sensitive – it “takes” better when planted early. And then annual weeds “I can’t help noticing as I walk around the sometimes overtake it. And with the crush of all streets, that the soil is a lot higher where there the work to be done on the farm, pathways can is thick turf alongside the footpaths than where take a back seat – which they often have. This year the ground is bare… we will purchase a weed whacker and mow those pathways when necessary. The clover and other “We often unwittingly remove plants we perennials, under this type of management, will take consider to be ‘weeds’ without considering over. Regular mowing of them will keep them from their value in channeling energy to the soil overtaking the vegetable beds – which are mulched as ecosystem and hence maintaining or restoring much as possible to keep the bed soil covered. soil structure. I have clumps of non-spreading perennial native grasses throughout my And we are going more permaculture in our CSA. I veggie garden - will send some photos one day. think it is hard for us commercial vegetable growers Last summer I planted a mixed cover crop of who feel the pressure to produce copious amounts sunflowers and two kinds of millet because I of vegetables each week for our CSA members, to www.nofamass.org 3 June 2014 Newsletter “mess around” with perennial crops in our systems. crops because of their intricate and deep root systems Slowly, but surely, they are starting to become more (which are highly adept at gathering nutrients). Eric frequent in our bags. This week we harvested a highly Toensmeier, you would be down right proud of me! nutritious mix of dandelion, yellow dock, and violet Another thing we are doing is letting our blueberry leaves (they went wild near our grapes, which we had pathways, which have previously been heavily heavily mulched with chicken bedding), plantain, mulched with hay and woodchips, grow up into grass comfrey (we are slowly planting this all over the and perennial “weeds”. We will mow pathways as farm), clover from last year’s bed pathways, and necessary, weed right around the plants, and mulch some lambs quarters thrown in. Shareholders also with wood chips. It is only June, but I am noticing received rhubarb, asparagus, spearmint, and chives. that this new system (for a hardheaded annual And the exciting thing about these perennials is that grower, that is) frees up all sorts of time to do other they are imminently more nutritious than the annual forward work on the farm.

www.nofamass.org 4 June 2014 Newsletter NOFA Summer Conference updates & highlights

The 40th annual NOFA Summer Conference is coming up this August 8-10 at UMass Amherst and we could not be more excited! Registration is now open, with an early bird registration discount available until July 11. Beginner Farmer and Farming Education Fund scholarships are available, as are Work Exchange arrangements and discounts for five or more people registering at the same time.

Watch our new video to get a taste of what the conference is all about: www.youtu.be/ UXypwHBTfZk.

With so many workshops to choose from, check out the schedule (now online) to plan your conference experience.

Some workshop highlights:

• Tory Field from Next Barn Over Farm will present her research on Food Sovereignty movements, connecting movements for food justice in the U.S. with allied movement all over the globe. • Aaron Englander will be presenting on Korean Natural Farming, a topic on which he recently presented for NOFA/Mass on May 3rd at Heifer Farm. • Richard Wiswall will be returning to give three different workshops on farm management, profitability, and farm employee management. • Matt Wilkinson, a newcomer to the conference will present on on-farm animal processing. • John Kenny will be reprising a workshop of growing brassicas, which he first presented to great acclaim at the 2014 NOFA/Mass Winter Conference. If you missed it in January, you won’t want to miss it this summer.

In addition to breaking the workshops into time and category, we’ve also created tracks to help those looking to get the most on specific topics!

Workshop tracks include the following: • Beginning Farmer: A range of technical and farm-planning topics of particular interest to farmers with fewer than ten years of independent farming experience. • Cooperatives: Sponsored by the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, these workshops explore promising cooperative economic models. • Dowsing: Sponsored by the American Society of Dowsers, this track of workshop explores the use of dowsing in organic agriculture. • Draft Horse: These workshops provide hands-on experience working with draft horses, as well as presentation on the economics and techniques of farming with horses. • Organic Land Care: Attendance qualifies AOLCP (Accredited Organic Land Care Professional) participants for credits in the NOFA Organic Land Care Accreditation Program. • Permaculture: Permaculture-based approaches to organic agriculture and ecological design that offer perspectives, skills, and ideas for regenerative land use and creative community building. • Soil Carbon and Climate: These workshops provide information on farming practices that return carbon to the soil from the atmosphere, and build humus for the long term.

For more conference info, registration, ride shares and more, visit www.nofasummerconference.org. See you in August! www.nofamass.org 5 June 2014 Newsletter Scholarships available for Beginning Farmers to the NOFA Summer Conference!

Apply now for a scholarship to the NOFA Summer Conference. Beginning Farmers (those who have been farming for less than 10 years) who are also NOFA/Mass members qualify to apply for 50% off of the Saturday/Sunday registration cost.

Application DEADLINE is July 11, however applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply the better your chances! Applications can be found here: www.nofa.wufoo.com/forms/nofamass-2014-summer-conference-scholarship

Only NOFA/Mass members are eligible for our Summer Conference Scholarships. It is easy and quick to become a member, and you receive a full-year of discounts and information. To become a member, follow this link: www.nofamass.org/membership.

Contact [email protected] with any questions.

www.nofamass.org 6 June 2014 Newsletter An interview with Jason Cucciaria of Many Hands Organic Farm Jamie Lombardo, Statewide Education Events Coordinator

I recently had a chance to connect with Jason Cucciaria who has been an integral part of our Hands-on Hog Slaughter on the Homestead coming up on June 29. Jason is the Assistant Manager at Many Hands Organic Farm in Barre, MA

Jason had a lot to share with me about hogs and what he enjoys most about his work.

Jamie Lombardo: How long have you been working at MHOF? What is your favorite part? Jason Cucciaria: I started in 2009, and I like it all. I used to be a machinist and though I don’t have a background in agriculture I just think it’s the “bee’s knees”. In the machine shop you pretty much do the same thing every day. Here everyday is new. You never do the same thing and sometimes you never know what you might have to do. I think the pigs are just the coolest part about the farm.

JL: What especially is it about a pig that intrigues you? JC: The pigs work for you on the farm - they are little tractors you know. Pigs will trample and can dig just about anything with their snouts. They eat roots and insects and when you let them free range you can cut back on grain for feeding. Pigs can clear an area, a really good area.

JL: Have you ever slaughtered a pig before? JC: No, I’ve slaughtered chickens here with Julie. I’m a little nervous about slaughtering a pig, but I am excited too. I don’t want to bring any of my animals to the slaughterhouse. Doing it yourself is more economical in my mind and maybe kinder, at least more self-sufficient. It probably saves you aggravation too.

JL: What made you interested in a hog farming? JC: Well I get really interested at the Summer Conference. I learned from Dominic Palumbo about making a larger area for the pigs to roam, then you really only have to move them once or twice. You don’t want to have to work harder than you have to in farming.

JL: You want to run your own hog farm? Where? JC: My dad left me a house when he died. When I’m ready I want to borrow against it and invest in some land too. Anywhere maybe, but I really like God’s country in upstate New York.

JL: What else do you do to take care of the pigs daily? How many do you have at MHOF. JC: We have 14 pigs right now on about ½ an acre of land. I feed them every morning and I have to check the lines daily. The electric fencing is about 7500 feet; it goes around twice and always needs to be live.

JL: I know you are part of the Beginning Farm program, has it been helpful? JC: The Beginning Farmer program has helped me out a lot! I love meeting new people and the education events and Summer Conference are really good. My buddy is real interested in cows and he is going to come to the Hog Slaughter workshop.

The Hands-on Hog Slaughter on the Homestead workshop will be lead by Jake Levin of the Roving Butcher. Andrew Kelly and Jason Cucciaria will assist him. To sign up, visit www.nofamass.org/events/hands- hog-slaughter-homestead. The workshop is from 10am-4:30pm with a potluck lunch. The cost for NOFA members is $40, and for non-members, $48. www.nofamass.org 7 June 2014 Newsletter Lessons from top grazier, Greg Judy Winton Pitcoff, NOFA/Mass Raw Milk Network Coordinator

Graziers interested in restoring and improving pastures can find lots of online resources from Greg Judy, a livestock farmer from Missouri. His work is dedicated to showing how high density grazing “can revitalize hayed out, scruffy, weedy pastures, and turn them into highly productive grazing landscapes that grow both green grass and greenbacks.” It’s all about what the animals do to the soil, he explains – things that haying and mowing simply can’t do.

Start with this short video introduction to Judy’s farm, complete with some spring management tips: www.onpasture.com/2014/05/12/a-spring-visit-with-greg-judy-at-green-pastures-farm/.

Judy further elaborates on what he has learned from many years of managing pastures in the spring, in the article “Maximizing Spring Green Up Without Destroying Summer Pastures” at www.onpasture. com/2013/04/09/maximizing-spring-green-up-without-destroying-summer-pastures/

For a graduate-level lesson on Judy’s grazing techniques, watch his 2011 video presentation “The Healing Effects of Holistic High Density Grazing on Land, Livestock & People’s Lives” at www.youtube. com/watch?v=W6HGKSvjk5Q.

Greg’s two books, No Risk Ranching: Custom Grazing on Leased Land and Comeback Farms: Rejuvenating Soils, Pastures and Profits with Livestock Grazing Management www.greenpasturesfarm.net/store. Protecting Agribusiness php?cat=59&title=Books offer a complete overview of his methods, learning “how to What You Insurance work with nature without costly inputs, and Value Most Solutions let the animals be your labor force.” His lessons include tips on stockpiling grasses for Enduring relationships with our clients winter grazing, and how to manage forage have resulted in a mutual respect that during droughts. lies at the heart of how we do business.

Local Offices Throughout the Northeast.

For an Agent Near You Call: Coming to the 2015 NOFA/ 1-800-The-Farm Mass Winter Conference (1-800-843-3276) or visit www.FarmFamily.com Greg Judy, rotational grazer and carbon sequestration advocate, will join us on January 10, 2015.

Save the date!

Life insurance products offered by Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Glenmont, NY. Property/casualty insurance products offered by United Farm Family Insurance Company, Glenmont, NY, in MD and PA, and Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company, Glenmont, NY, in CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WV. 1 (800) THE FARM www.farmfamily.com FF-288A (0310)

www.nofamass.org 8 June 2014 Newsletter www.nofamass.org 9 June 2014 Newsletter NOFA/Mass outreach update Sharon Gensler, NOFA/Mass Outreach Coordinator

Here’s a THANK YOU to our volunteers who helped out in May: Alex Houtzager, Lorrie Dahlen, Susan Lozoritis and Barbara Pantos. They were valiant in their perseverance through rain and shine! I need your help, not only volunteering for any of the events below, but to also inform me of events not listed. It would be great to know about more local events in your community. There are a lot of things happening… so, please enlighten me! Let’s talk! You’ll receive a bit of training, maybe learn more about NOFA/Mass, and feel good about doing good work! Plus, don’t forget the free NOFA hat OR the $25.00 discount on a NOFA sponsored event you can receive for helping! More info at www. nofamass.org/programs/nofamass-outreach. Sign up or find out more by emailing me at [email protected]

OUTREACH CALENDAR

June 21 Solstice Riverfest Orange June 22-5 Revisioning Sustainability U Mass Amherst July 5-6 Permaculture Convergence Unity, ME August 8-10 NOFA Summer Conference Amherst August 15-17 Boston GreenFest Boston August 15-17 Heath Fair Heath September 14 Boston Local Food Fest Boston September 27-28 Garlic & Arts Festival Orange

Building bridges between those who care

The State Agriculture Councils of The Humane Society of the United States seek to ensure that animal production is humane and environmentally sustainable.

To learn more, visit humanesociety.org/agcouncils.

www.nofamass.org 10 June 2014 Newsletter Mycorrhizal fungi: powerhouse of the soil Dr. Christine Jones, www.amazingcarbon.com

The soil foodweb of microflora and microfauna Mycorrhizal fungi have a fan-shaped architecture, constitutes an underground engine of fundamental with long runner hyphae branching into networks of significance to plant productivity. Mycorrhizal narrower and narrower absorbing hyphae. There can fungi play a key role in be over 100 hyphal tips at the end of each the functioning of this run­ner. These networks extend from the foodweb, drawing down root system into the bulk soil, well beyond plant sugars derived the zone occupied by the roots and root from photosyn­thesis hairs. The absorptive area of mycorrhizal and providing much hyphae is approximately 10 times more needed energy for the soil efficient that that of root hairs and about ecosystem. Mycorrhizal 100 times more efficient than that of roots. fungi also improve aggregate stability, An amazing symbiotic relationship enhance soil structure, Plants colonized by mycorrhizal fungi can build stable soil carbon, grow 10-20% faster than non-colonized improve plant water use plants, even though they are ‘giving away’ up efficiency, and increase the to 40-50% of their pho­tosynthate to support efficiency of utilization of mycorrhizal networks. (Photo­synthate is important nutrients like the soluble carbon the plant fixes from CO phosphorus, sulfur and and sunlight). One of the reasons for this 2 nitrogen. appar­ent paradox is that plants colonized by mycorrhizae exhibit higher leaf chlorophyll Agricultural research tends contents and higher rates of photosynthesis to focus on convention­ than non-colonized plants. This enables ally managed crop and them to fix greater quantities of carbon for pasture lands where transfer to fungal hyphae in the soil. Mycorrhizal hyphae (white) colonizing the loss of diverse perennial roots (yellow) of a pine seedling. groundcover and/ Photo courtesy Aberdeen Mycorrhiza In exchange for soluble carbon from their or intensive use of Research Group host, my­corrhizal fungi supply nutrients agrochemicals, have such as phosphorus, zinc, calcium, boron, dramatically reduced the copper, and organic nitrogen. It’s an number and diversity of soil flora and fauna, includ­ amazing symbiotic relationship. Mycorrhizal hyphae ing beneficial microbes such as mycorrhizal fungi. have a tubular vacuole system that allows bidirectional As a result, the potential contribution of soil biology flow. That is, sugars from the host plant and nutrients to agricultural productivity has been greatly under­ from the soil can move rapidly and simultaneously in estimated. opposite directions.

What are mycorrhizae and how do they work? All groups of mycorrhizal fungi require a living Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are ‘obligate fungal host, but there’s more to it than just plants and fun­ symbionts’, meaning they must form an associa­ gi. A wide range of associative microflora are also tion with living plants. They acquire their energy in involved. For example, colonization of plant roots liquid form, as dissolved sugars, siphoned directly by mycorrhizae is enhanced by the presence of cer­ from actively growing roots. Mycorrhizal fungi tain ‘helper’ bacteria. There are also active colonies of cannot obtain energy in any other way. They have bacteria on the hyphal tips, producing enzymes which mechanisms enabling them to survive while host solubilize otherwise unavailable plant nutri­ents. plants are dormant but cannot survive if host plants are removed. Mycorrhizae and soil carbon Glomalin, a long-lived glycoprotein (protein con­ Mycorrhizal fungi produce thin, hair-like threads of taining plant sugar) is a highly stable form of soil cytoplasm (hyphae) with a hyphal tip at each end. One carbon that provides a protective coating for the tip enters a plant root and the other tip explores the hyphae of mycorrhizal fungi. Networks of fungal soil matrix. Although the hyphae are small in diameter hyphae also provide an important first step for the – usually less than 10 μm (micrometers or microns polymerization of plant sugars, ultimately leading – a millionth of a meter) – the mycelial network can to the formation of humus, a high molecular weight extend across many hectares. gel-like substance that holds four to twenty times its own weight in water. Humic substances significantly www.nofamass.org 11 June 2014 Newsletter improve soil structure, porosity, cation exchange seasonally dry, variable, or unpredictable environ­ capacity, and plant growth. ments (that is, in many regions of the world), my­ Both glomalin and humus are of significance to the corrhizal fungi play an extremely important role in current debate on soil carbon transience, as these plant-water dynamics. The hyphal tips are hydro­philic stable soil carbon fractions cannot be lost from soil (both the end in the plant and the end in the soil) during droughts or fires. enabling both water and nutrients to diffuse from one end to the other along a moisture gradient. Marie Spohn from the Universität Oldenburg has identified mycorrhizae (and the glomalin they Mycorrhizal fungi can supply moisture to plants in dry produce) as the primary soil carbon stabilization environments by exploring micropores not accessible mechanism in sandy soils. Previously, soil scientists to plant roots. They can also improve hy­draulic have considered carbon sequestration potential to be conductivity by bridging macropores in dry soils of low constrained by the soil’s clay content. The new find­ water-holding capacity (such as sands). ings are good news for Western Australia farmers, Further, mycorrhizal fungi can increase drought re­ opening the way for much greater levels of carbon sistance by increasing the number and depth of plant increase in agricultural soils than previously thought roots. possible. Perennial grasses and mycorrhizae Land management impacts Higher densities of mycorrhizal hyphae are found in Increasing the amount of stable carbon stored in healthy perennial grasslands than in any other plant agricultural soils via mycorrhizal fungi will require community. It has been estimated that the hyphae in 2 a redesign of many current land management tech­ the top 10 cm of four square meters (4m ) of peren­nial niques. Factors negatively impacting on mycorrhi­zae grassland, if joined end to end, would stretch all the include lack of continuous groundcover, single species way around the equator of the earth. crops and pastures (monocultures) and ap­plication of herbicides, pesticides or fungicides. Mycorrhizal fungi Cash crop enterprises could benefit enormously from are also inhibited by the appli­cation of large quantities widely spaced rows or clumps of long-lived perennial of inorganic nitrogen or water-soluble phosphorus grasses and/or mycorrhizal fodder shrubs. As yet we and by the presence of non-mycorrhizal crops (such do not know the required critical mass to improve as canola). Tillage has a less detrimental effect than soil ecosystem function, but it might only need to be previously assumed. Recent studies have shown that 5-10% perennial cover. In diverse plant communities, the use of chemicals is more harmful than moderate individual plants are connected by mycelial networks soil disturbance. Biology friendly farming practices called guilds, enabling exchange of nutrients and based on living plant cover throughout the year (e.g. water. This may help explain why mixed plant cover cropping or pasture cropping) and the use of communities often perform better than monocultures. biofertilizers, enhance mycorrhizal abundance and diversity and are more beneficial for soil health than In addition to the resilience conferred by mycor­rhizal chemical farming systems based on intermittently guilds, the benefit of permanent mycelial networks bare soils and minimal soil disturbance. in terms of aggregate stability, porosity, improved soil water holding capacity, reduced ero­sivity and Due to their low abundance in annual-based or enhanced nutrient availability in soils are immense. conventionally managed agricultural landscapes, Soil benefits in many ways from the presence of living the important role of mycorrhizal fungi in nutrient plants year-round, due to reduced erosion, buffered acquisition, plant-water dynamics and soil building temperatures, enhanced infiltration and markedly processes has been largely overlooked. improved habitat for soil biota. Signifi­cantly, it is the photosynthetic capacity of living plants (rather than The types of fungi that tend to survive in conven­ the amount of dead plant material added to soil) that tionally managed soils are non-mycorrhizal, that is the main driver for soil carbon accumulation. is, they use decaying organic matter such as crop stubbles, dead leaves or dead roots as their energy Management techniques that improve the vigor of source rather than being directly connected to living groundcover, foster mycorrhizal colonization, in­crease plants. These non-mycorrhizal fungi have relatively glomalin production, and enhance the humifi­cation small hyphal networks. process, will contribute to long-term carbon storage, improved soil function and markedly in­creased Mycorrhizae and water resilience to climatic variability. It is well known that mycorrhizal fungi access and transport nutrients in exchange for the carbon from Article reprinted with permission from The the host plant. What is less well known is that in Natural Farmer, Summer, 2014. www.nofamass.org 12 June 2014 Newsletter Homesteading observations: Visiting Malabar Farm Sharon Gensler, Homesteader and NOFA/Mass Outreach Coordinator It’s such a beautiful day today, it’s hard to sit at my Now that Malabar is owned desk rather than be out enjoying the homestead. by the state, many of the soil However, I’m all set to do my big vegetable “fruit” regenerating practices have fallen crop planting this afternoon by the wayside, but it was still and tomorrow. Being impressive to walk through the that I use the Biodynamic fields and to think how to bring Astrological Planting the ideas home. Though, climate Calendar, I plant tomatoes, change and carbon sequestration peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, were not issues in Mr. Bromfield’s time, his ideas winter and summer squash, to devote acreage to deep rooted forage certainly and cucumbers on days that apply and are relevant to these topics. The longer a are beneficial to fruiting crop has to grow, the deeper the roots, allowing for plants (corn, beans, and peas, the “mining” of minerals. When the forage crop is too, but they were planted either eaten by animals or cut to serve as mulch, the earlier). In years past, I would minerals are made available. This year, we are only have planted these crops pasturing poultry, so I’ve decided to allow portions Paw paw blossoms, pollinated by carrion beetles around Memorial Day, but of the pasture to grow more before mowing. This will lately, the unpredictable increase root development, put more carbon into the spring weather with temperatures and rainfall soil and make more minerals available. I’m also going fluctuating widely, I’ve been planting later, hoping for to have a more varied mix of cover crop varieties, some stability and warm soil. This means I won’t get allowing for root growth in differing zones. Who the first tomato in the neighborhood, but hopefully knew traveling away from the homestead for a college I’ll get a more bountiful late crop. graduation could actually be inspiring!

I’ve been playing catch-up, as we were away Here is the view around the homestead: The re- attending the graduations of three nephews. It’s fencing project has stalled due to travel and prime amazing how the “weeds” thrive in the cool wet planting time; the garlic is growing well and young spring. It’s a good thing we like to eat many of them! “volunteers” are delicious; we’ve been eating and One of the graduations was at Kenyon College in freezing tons of asparagus; the greens are up, Ohio. We were lucky in finding a hostel for our stay plentiful, and tasty; carrots and beets have been - even more amazing that it was located at Malabar planted in succession; chickens are in their summer Farm which is now an Ohio State Park. I had heard quarters on pasture; we’ve been eating greenhouse- of the farm at several of NOFA’s soil/human health grown carrots since March; we have sprayed the conferences. It was famous as a showcase farm for orchards following Michael Phillips’ Holistic Orchard soil conservation and health. methods. We missed seeing the fruit trees flower, but did get home in time to see the paw paws in full Louis Bromfield acquired the depleted, eroded, run bloom. down farm in the 1930s. He used many techniques based on work by Sir Albert Howard, Carl Reims, and My partner Pru heard a report about attitude and others looking at holistic approaches to successfully work that I wanted to share. Studies have shown restore soil health and thus, animal health. As that attitude affects our bodies and emotional well- chemical, industrial agriculture grew, especially after being. I don’t think that’s news to many of us who WWII, these techniques lost favor. However, the go joyfully into the garden for a full, rich experience recent renewal of these theories and research are the that some call work. However, something that struck sparks igniting the growth of the movement to grow me as a new point of view was to view much of the more nutrient dense food. Mr. Bromfield was also garden experience (all the squats, bending, lifting an author – the farm is the subject of several of his and hauling) specifically as exercise. In so doing, it books. The one I read, Out of the Earth, was an easy supposedly will help one’s body to receive the effort read about his farm, his ideas and how he arrived at as exercise rather than as body abuse! Wishing you them. continued joyful garden exercise! www.nofamass.org 13 June 2014 Newsletter Donegan Family Dairy, VT. One of the Organic Valley family farms that supply milk for our yogurt

www.nofamass.org 14 June 2014 Newsletter Alleviating hunger by increasing urban farm productivity Nicole Belanger, Public Relations Coordinator and Newsletter Editor NOFA/Mass, Gardening the Community (GTC), and the innovative, statewide anti-hunger agency Project Youth development and food justice are at the Bread are working together on a collaborative core of GTC’s work. The program serves as project, focusing on building the agricultural many as 30-35 youth during the summer (and capacity of GTC. GTC, a thriving Springfield-based 15-20 youth during the school year). On several food justice plots in a Springfield organization, neighborhood and food has for desert, participants grow 12 years vegetables for CSA shares, successfully the weekly Mason Square worked with Farmers’ Market, and an young people, on-site farm stand. Young teaching people in the program are them job, also involved with GTC’s leadership, Board of Directors and are and gardening food justice organizers, skills, while advocating for the return also growing of a full-scale supermarket food to sell to their area among other at affordable Dan Kittredge leads Urban Agriculture Soil Restoration workshop projects. Alleviating food at Gardening the Community - June 1, 2014 prices to insecurity is a big part members of the community. of their work, as well. They purposely make their high-quality produce available at affordable rates Over the next year Project Bread is funding and by pricing their vegetables competitively with local offering technical assistance in telling the story of supermarket produce. The youth learn job and GTC, offering evaluations of the program, tracking entrepreneurial skills, gain a greater familiarity with production, soil improvements, and how many producing and eating healthy vegetables, and are people are being impacted by the program (both mentored to become leaders in their community. teens and recipients of the food they produce). NOFA/Mass is facilitating a mentoring relationship Kristin Brennan, Development Director at NOFA/ between a local farmer and GTC, as well as a two- Mass and former coordinator of GTC, recognizes part workshop series focusing on farming best the existing successes of GTC and sees the potential practices like building soil, reading soil tests, for increased vegetable production and community irrigation, seed selection and saving, transplanting, empowerment through this partnership. “GTC is etc. The workshops took place in April and June of a great community organization. They have built 2014. strong relationships and capacity. NOFA is trying to provide technical agricultural expertise that This is not the first time Gardening the Community compliments their community relationship building and NOFA/Mass have combined forces. In 2002 and permanence on local land.” NOFA/Mass member Betsy Corner and Springfield resident Ruby Maddox partnered up to create GTC, “People think you put a seed in the ground and it which began as an educational gardening project grows, but a lot of work has to get done beneath in a vacant lot near the Elias Brookings Elementary the surface to develop the kind of food that is not School in Springfield. NOFA/Mass helped GTC get just nice looking, but also is high quality produce,” off the ground, and for its first eight years, GTC fell says GTC Project/Youth Director Ibrahim Ali. under the umbrella of NOFA/Mass. In 2010 GTC “When visiting programs in different parts of the went under the fiscal sponsorship of Third Sector country, we came to realize that one of the most New England, having outgrown the organization important things [for growing healthy food for our support available from NOFA/Mass. constituents] is soil. We wanted to do this program www.nofamass.org 15 June 2014 Newsletter because there’s always room to grow and learn more NOFA Summer Conference (August 8-10). about agriculture.” For over 10 years, Project Bread has been funding, Anne Richmond, GTC Program Director, often sees among its other work, organizations with an people coming from the outside into communities agricultural mission in urban settings. This spring like Springfield to do urban ag and food justice Project Bread is funding 20 such projects, with sites work. That is intentionally not the case for GTC. across the state in places like Boston, Pittsfield, “We don’t tend to hire people who have farming Haverhill, Worcester, Dartmouth and Springfield. experience,” says Richmond. “We hire people in our This is their second year funding Gardening the community who are passionate, have a hunger to Community. learn, and are connected. We want to make sure we have strong accountability back to the residents of Project Bread began in 1968 as The Walk for our neighborhood and community.” Hunger, and is now the oldest continual walk for charity in the country. Many think of Project Bread Recognizing the importance of local ownership of as a Greater Boston focused organization, but local projects (and that its strongest knowledge their work spans the entirety of Massachusetts. base is in agricultural production), this project was According to Scott Richardson, Project Bread’s a natural fit for NOFA/Mass. “Supporting folks in Interim Director of Development and Director of their development as growers is central to who we Research and Strategic Initiatives, their mission are as a community,” says NOFA/Mass Executive is to “alleviate and ultimately end hunger in Director, Julie Rawson. “Working with Project Massachusetts.” While Richardson admits it’s Bread, a relatively new partnership, and GTC, a long a “pretty big, audacious goal,” their strategic term collaborator of ours, will help us continue to focus on policy work, direct technical assistance, hone our skills and effectively support those who outreach, education, and collaborative partnerships would grow their own food – on any size piece of approaches hunger from a systemic perspective, land.” which Richardson sees as being different from traditional anti-hunger work, often focused on This collaboration comes at a critical time for GTC. giving away food. They farm on three sites with year-to-year tenancy (and on two smaller satellite sites). GTC is in the “Our work is much more about education and final stages of negotiating the purchase of a 2/3- empowerment. It’s a safety net as well as resources acre site from the City of Springfield. Land security that can help pull people up out of hunger,” says will allow them to invest in soil improvements and Richardson. “Our model is more holistic. It takes infrastructure like a high-tunnel and training site. into account that hunger has many different faces, They hope to own the land outright in late June or that hunger is not a constant in many people’s lives, early July of this year and will be embarking on a that it is a transitional state, and that it can take campaign to raise $300,00 for infrastructure costs. many forms.” Their day-to-day operations are funded in large part by foundations, but they’re creatively diversifying Richardson notes that urban farming does a host by branching out into restaurant sales, value- of great things. “It beautifies neighborhoods, it added products, and a monthly sustainer program creates a collaborative environment of community, (currently consisting of 20 sustainers up and down it provides a source of community engagement and the Pioneer Valley). education, it provides healthy food locally, and it provides education about the importance of healthy Kristin Brennan, who authored the grant, envisions eating. It does a good job of lowering the barriers to that this mentorship and technical growing support healthy eating. And it can serve as a source of local will increase production capacity and become a income for a community.” model for other programs in cities in Massachusetts. Public presentations on the project will take place in Though urban farming (and its acceptance) is several cities across the state next winter or spring, increasing, with local zoning changes happening in and the team will also host a workshop titled “Cross- several Massachusetts cities, Richardson recognizes sector Collaboration in Urban Ag” at this year’s that there is more to be done. “We expect and www.nofamass.org 16 June 2014 Newsletter hope to see [urban agriculture] increase, and our to appropriate farm hiring and compensation investments are reflective of that. In Boston last practices. The second is collaboration. Whether year they just lifted the ban on sale of city grown it’s opening your farm to gleaning or tours, or produce. We’d like to see happen statewide. And volunteering to speak at a local school or offering we’d like to see more interest in local agriculture.” surplus food to a local food pantry, Richardson sees a lot of potential. “We should both be looking for Funding local, innovative projects compliments opportunities to collaborate.” Project Bread’s state and national policy work. “State policy work is a critical component to For more info visit, Gardening change,” says Richardson, but accelerating that the Community at www. change does require implementation on the ground. gardeningthecommunityblog.wordpress. That’s where the real impact happens.” com, Project Bread at www.projectbread. He also highlights two ways rural farmers can org, and NOFA/Mass at www.nofamass.org. support anti-hunger work. The first is asking farmers to be aware of hunger as an issue related

www.nofamass.org 17 June 2014 Newsletter Proposed gas pipeline threatens farms, conservation land in Northern Massachusetts Phyllis Kirkpatrick One morning in early March of this year, I received animals. I don’t yet know exactly what home owners a phone call from a man who seemed rather young would be paid to allow their land to be forever and uncertain about what he had to say and how to maimed – could be a pretty handsome amount, say it. He started to tell me as I understand it, for those who are that there was a planned impacted. Or they could be motivated “natural” gas pipeline that by a conviction that this is really for the would “hug” the corridor greater good of society. In a free country between the towns of they are entitled to their views, but I Ashfield and Plainfield, think they are in the minority. a magnificent, hilly, and sparsely populated I assumed there would be a united front agricultural region in in opposition – we’ve fought hard to western Massachusetts. evade many a would-be invader in the I own a 43-acre farm in past, as rural towns too often seem soft Ashfield – a town with a targets to mighty corporate and military population of about 1,100. entities. In 1985 we stood up to U.S. Air Force communication towers planned I had absolutely no idea for all over our prized potato fields. This what he was talking would have been a huge loss for farmers, about, until he told me the land forever off limits to agriculture. he was calling to make an Senator Ted Kennedy is said to have appointment so he could remarked that no other issue during his come and explain the details and get me to sign term provoked as much opposition as the threat a permission agreement allowing his company to of the Air Force towers here in Ashfield and the survey my land. By now I was definitely getting it, neighboring town of Hawley. They went away, tails and I did what any sane person would. I put him off between their legs because of relentless popular by telling him I was extremely busy, which was true. opposition and a stalwart defense of our right to say When he called again in a few weeks, I told him the no to things that plainly were not good for us, our same thing. land, or our way of life (which is about as good as it can get). I have not talked to him again but I have received mail from him. I did not reply. His letters were We put a stop to the regular trucking of nuclear followed up by letters from someone from the waste materials down our Main Street from the company’s next rung up, someone who had been Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor in Vermont in the given permission to start threatening people. I 1980s. A couple of years ago we repelled a row of received two more letters reminding me that I had wind turbines, which I don’t oppose on principle, not complied with recent demands for my signature. but you can’t put them where people are trying to I finally wrote Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company sleep at night. We haven’t sat still on these (and (TGP) a letter saying I would not let them on my countless other) issues and been had when we knew land to survey. there were forces afoot that could destroy what was precious to who we are and what we value. By now I was well connected to a dozen or so neighbors (there are 79 in all) who are in line for It’s ironic that there was one battle – one significant this invasion. It took no time for people to check in battle – we lost (if a battle there was). I wasn’t with each other, trying to identify allies. We are not here when the miles and miles of over-head, high- all allies in this and, ironically, some who support tension electrical wires were erected through our the pipeline are farmers. This seems at odds with whole region and that of many others. They didn’t a farmer’s need for clean water, soil, and healthy follow any pre-existing pathways for other utilities www.nofamass.org 18 June 2014 Newsletter or other rights of way as far as I know. But that by the presence or construction of a gas pipeline parade of high-tension wires is EXACTLY where underground, carrying hundreds of toxic chemicals the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company has decided including radioactive radon. Although the company to bury their pipes, as there is already an easement claims the pipes never leak, they leak. there by the electric company. Kinder Morgan, the mammoth owner of Tennessee Give or take a foot (we keep getting differing Gas Pipeline Company, is plundering through most estimates) the pipes will be approximately 3.5 feet states and delivering toxic fractured gas beneath our in diameter, buried just a few feet beneath the soils. Remember, “this land is my land, this land is ground. The pipeline will be spaced approximately your land”? NO! This land is theirs any time they four to five feet away from the electrical towers. The feel like taking it. I am just so grateful that nobody easement goes through our rich, certifiably organic can commodify chunks of the sun and sell them in pasture land. the “free and open” marketplace. These guys would be right there. About 13 years ago, we became host to what was then a fledgling organic yogurt plant, SideHill Farm. We await our fate, and there will be a fight. We have a beautiful century-plus old barn with a step-down milking parlor (very rare around here). About the author: Phyllis Kirkpatrick has lived SideHill Farm thrived here for 12-13 years until they in Ashfield since 1976, where she started a still- acquired their own additional land. We have never thriving community newspaper, The Ashfield used chemical fertilizers. We never put chemicals on News. Her many pursuits have included quilt gardens or pasture. We raised sheep here for several maker, beeswax candle maker, antiques dealer, years, had seasonal pigs for meat for a while, raised mother, farmer, and fashion model. She’s currently ducks, and never didn’t have chickens, until last fall a music teacher and collaborator on a history of when it got to be too much for me, now that I am Ashfield from 1960-2010. alone and definitely no spring (fill in the critter). I have been forced to accept the facts as they are now; Editor’s Note: The proposed Northeast Expansion I can only do what I can do. Project would run from New York State into Massachusetts, where a 129-mile pipeline would Last spring I decided to put my home on the market. span from Richmond to Dracut. The proposed My house was built in 1797. It’s a beautiful classic pipeline path runs through hundreds of private Cape with all the original masonry, three fireplaces, properties and through public land, including paneling, etc. This kind of house is and always has land and waterways that are protected from been right up my alley. I had a lot of lookers, most development under state law. This project is still loved the house and the land, but they weren’t crazy in the exploratory stage and public hearings are about the power lines through the property. There happening in affected towns, attended by abutters were close calls but nobody bit until a successful and others concerned about the potential impacts of artisanal cheese maker, originally from these parts, this development. decided he’d like to return. There wasn’t anything he didn’t like about the place. One of our barns is Communities in affected areas are organizing from the 18th century. He came two or three times themselves to resist this development. To find out and then made me an offer. I countered. I was not- more, visit www.nofrackedgasinmass.org.Two so-patiently-waiting for his next bid when the rumor additional pipeline expansions are also proposed of the pipelines was followed by its confirmation for Massachusetts, one increasing the capacity of an that the gas people were really coming! We, as we already existing pipeline in Southern Massachusetts were obliged to do, informed him of the new turn of and another newly proposed through Connecticut, events. He withdrew the offer instantaneously. Rhode Island and Southeastern MA.

At a recent Plainfield town meeting, in response to a Sources www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ woman’s question about the possible devaluation of ci_25862152/official-natural-gas-pipeline-an- her home, one of the Kinder Morgan reps said that absolute-disaster-groton; www.nofrackedgasinmass. he knows of no home whose value has been reduced org and www.archive.org/details/happinesspony www.nofamass.org 19 June 2014 Newsletter GMO labeling bill gaining support Jack Kittredge, NOFA/Mass Policy Director

House 3996, the bill which NOFA/Mass, MassPIRG, MoveOn.org and Massachusetts Right2KnowGMO have been pushing, is gaining steam. The coalition was just joined by the Chef’s Collaborative, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sustainability among chefs in both restaurants and institutional food service. We also sponsored a showing of GMO OMG, a new film exploring the corporate takeover of seeds, with director Jeremy Seifert in Boston on June 11. Finally, at a State House press conference on June 4 we announced that a majority of legislators in both houses of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts have signed on and are supporting the bill!

That list continues to grow daily. If you want to check if your legislators have signed on, go to www.marighttoknow.com/home/legislative-support/endorsements for the latest listing. You can find out who your legislators are at www.malegislature.gov/people/search.

Of course, as Thackery observed, “there is many a slip twixt the cup and the lip” and having majority support in both houses does not automatically mean that we will see passage this year. The legislative session expires at the end of July and the bill currently sits in the House Committee on Ways and Means. It must move out of committee, win a vote in the full House, and travel all the way through the Senate by July 31.

The bill calls for mandatory labeling of foods sold in Massachusetts containing GMO ingredients (as well as requiring labeling of GMO seeds) and would go into effect upon the passage (the “trigger”) of similar legislation by at least four other states representing a total population of 20 million or more (as counted in the 2010 census). Connecticut and Maine have passed similar laws already, and Vermont just passed one without such a trigger. It is scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2016.

If you want to help move our bill (House 3996) forward, calls and letters to your legislators are always helpful. Especially helpful right now would be calls and letters to friends on the House Ways and Means Committee.

The legislators on that committee come from: Haverhill – Chair Brian Dempsey, Worthington – Vice Chair Stephen Kulik, Hyde Park – Angelo Scaccia, Roxbury – Gloria Fox, Ludlow – Thomas Petrolati, New Bedford – Robert Koczera, Brockton – Christine Canavan, Lynn – Robert Fennell, Lowell – Kevin Murphy, Milton – Walter Timilty, Waltham – Thomas Stanley, Lenox – William Pignatelli, Dennis – Cleon Turner, Methuen – Linda Campbell, Dedham – Paul McMurtry, Marblehead – Lori Ehrlich, Arlington – Sean Garballey, Brockton – Michael Brady, Holliston – Carolyn Dykema, Nantucket – Timothy Madden, Boston – Nick Collins, Hanover – Rhonda Nyman, Plymouth – Viriato deMacedo, Bridgewater – Angelo D’Emilia, Shrewsbury – Matthew Beaton, Whitman – Geoff Diehl, E. Falmouth – David Vieira, and Saugus – Donald Wong.

If you are from one of those districts, it would help a lot to mention to your representative that we sure would like food companies be required to tell us when they put GMOs in the food we feed our families. Thanks for your help! www.nofamass.org 20 June 2014 Newsletter wants YOU …to help build our local food supply!

Come grow with us: In 2012, we purchased more than $37,000,000 worth of local produce and flowers in our North Atlantic and North East regions—and we’re not stopping there!

If you are, or would like to be a grower of: • organic broccoli • organic blueberries • organic strawberries • organic melons

Please contact Mike Bethmann, Rich Thorpe or Brian McKeller regarding potential opportunities: • [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected]

Supporting local farmers, producers and vendors for 30 years and counting.

www.nofamass.org 21 June 2014 Newsletter From Field to Fridge Farms listed in the NOFA/Mass Organic Food Guide have the opportunity to highlight here what they currently have available for sale. Pick up some of their goods and help support your local organic and sustainable farmers today! v If you would like your farm or business listed on the Organic Food Guide website, contact Rebecca Buell at [email protected] or 978-724-3561. v To access a farm’s full Organic Food Guide listing, click on that farm’s name.

Atlas Farm First Root Farm 635 River Road, Deerfield, MA Farm Location: 955 Lexington Road; Mailing Address: 413-695-2728, [email protected], 949 Main St., Concord, MA [email protected] [email protected] www.atlasfarm.com www.firstrootfarm.com The Atlas Farm Store (218 Greenfield Road, Rts. 5 & Lexington Farmers’ Market, Tuesdays 2 to 6:30 p.m. 10, South Deerfield) is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. We grow over 30 kinds of vegetables, so look for We’ll also be at the Copley Square Farmers Market, our spring kale, chard, cabbage, broccoli, bok choy, Tuesdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Certified radishes, salad turnips, scallions, head lettuce and organic strawberries, greenhouse red tomatoes baby greens at the Lexington Market. Our summer and cherry tomatoes, greenhouse cucumbers, head CSA is sold out, but fall shares (November, four weeks) lettuces, arugula, bok choy, herbs (dill, parsley, and winter shares (two bulk pickups November/ cilantro), harukei turnips, scallions, radishes, carrots, December) are still available. Read all about it at www. beets, bunched greens (kale, chard, collards, firstrootfarm.com. dandelion greens), and certified organic plant starts for home gardeners. At the Copley Square Farmers Green Meadows Farm Market, we also offer flowers and baby greens from 656 Asbury St., South Hamilton, MA Old Friends Farm. farm: 978-468-2277, office: 978-468-3720, admin@ gmfarm.com Bay End Farm www.gmfarm.com 200 Bournedale Road, Buzzard’s Bay, MA Open Tuesday-Sunday, April through December, 8 a.m. 617-212-8315, [email protected] to 6 p.m. 2014 Vegetable, Flower, and Fruit Shares www.bayendfarm.com Available. Farm stand mid-June: Wednesdays and Thursdays 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In June Heritage Fields we look forward to spring garlic, bok choi, arugula, 309 Gidney Road, Orange, MA broccoli raab, radish, spinach, chard, kale, lettuce, and 978-544-3282, [email protected] escarole. We also have CSA memberships available. By Appointment Only. Closed June 5-20. Pastured Chevon/Cabrito/Goat meat; Pastured Beef. Billingsgate Farm 6 County Road, Plympton, MA High Meadow Farm 781-293-6144, [email protected] 28 High St., Hubbardston, MA www.billingsgatefarm.com 978-928-5646, [email protected] Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday www.highmeadowfarms.com & Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Baby beets, Baby pak Farm stand open 9 a.m. to dusk daily. 100% grass- choi, Broccoli, cucumbers, garlic, kale, lettuce, radish, fed beef, woodland raised pork, pure maple syrup and rhubarb, spinach, summer squash, zucchini. honey.

www.nofamass.org 22 June 2014 Newsletter Ladybug Farm Produce p.m. CSA shares from our horse-powered farm 143 Williamsville Road, Hubbardston, MA are available (forms at the farm or on our website). 978-928-3731, [email protected] ladybugfarmproduce.webs.com New Lands Farm Hours: Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6:30 593 Main St, Springfield, MA and 51 Union St, p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Café Worcester, MA is serving fresh coffee, herbal teas, homemade breads, 413-787-0725/508-754-1121, [email protected] muffins, and cookies. The farm store carries Ladybug www.newlandsfarm.org organic seedlings, organic vegetables, culinary herbs, Farm stand open Tuesdays 4 to 7 p.m. and at Merrick and field cut flowers, jams and jellies, herbal vinegars, Neighborhood Market Thursdays 4 to 7 p.m. starting eggs, and homemade gifts. We also sell milk, fresh in July. New Lands Farm, a program of Lutheran farmer’s cheese, local maple syrup, soaps and lotions. Social Services, will sell fresh vegetables beginning in July at their farm stand on Tuesday afternoon at the Manda Farm farm and Thursday afternoon on Main Street at the 25 Pleasant St., Plainfield, MA West Springfield Boys and Girls Club. Try new ethnic 413-634-5333, [email protected] vegetables like mchicha, bottle gourds, garden egg, www.mandafarm.com and bitter melon. Help support local refugee and Open all year at the farm. Also selling at Farmers’ immigrant farmers and sustainable farming in West Markets in Florence, Wednesdays 2 to 6 p.m. (April Springfield. For more information contact Sara Tower 30 -October) and Ashfield, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at [email protected] or 413-787-0725 or visit our (May -October). New stock of all cuts of organically website. fed, pastured, heritage breed beef and pork; new item: chorizo; plenty of eggs. Plough & Stars Project 75 Capen St., Medford, MA Many Hands Organic Farm 617-852-4109, [email protected] 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, MA ploughandstarsproject.com 978-355-2853, [email protected] Saturday CSA distributions 9 a.m. to noon, June www.mhof.net through October. Over 120 varieties of produce. Call ahead to visit. Certified organic CSA shares, pork, chicken, turkey, and soup birds now available to pre- Robinson Farm order. Comfrey salve at $8, eggs at $7/dozen, lavender 42 Jackson Road, Hardwick, MA and peppermint soap at $6/bar, and boneless half 413-477-6988, [email protected] hams at $13/lb available at the farm. www.robinsonfarm.org Farm Shop hours 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Check our Natick Community Organic Farm website for retail cheese locations. Offering our 100% 117 Eliot St. (Route 16), Natick, MA grass-fed, organic “Award Winning” Farmstead aged 508-655-2204, [email protected] cheeses (cow), beef/veal, Raw Milk, Sidehill Farm www.natickfarm.org yogurt, Westfield Farm goat cheese, Hardwick Sugar Farm open every day during daylight hours. Seedlings, Shack maple syrup, High Meadow and Frolhoff Farm salad greens, spinach, kale, collards, pac & bac choi, pork, local honey, jams, crackers, and “Real Pickle” beets, radishes, carrots and other root crops, beans, fermented veggies. soybeans, tomato, eggplant, peppers, herbs including parsley and basil, winter squash, eggs, turkey, maple SideHill Farm syrup, woolen yarn, and woolen roving. 58 Forget Road, Hawley, MA 413-339-0033, [email protected] Natural Roots www.sidehillfarm.net 888 Shelburne Falls Road, Conway, MA Our farm shop is open year-round, seven days a week, 413-369-4269, [email protected] 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and you can find us at the Amherst www.naturalroots.com Farmers’ Market, Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Starting in June, open Tuesdays and Fridays 3 to 6:30 Raw Milk, yogurt, beef, our just-out-of-the-cave

www.nofamass.org 23 June 2014 Newsletter Hawley Blue cheese, our farm-shop-only Sour Cream, and pork from the first SideHill Farm forest Tracie’s Community Farm, LLC pigs. All from our grass-fed cows and forest raised pigs 72 Jaffrey Road, just north of Winchendon on Rt 12, and available in the farm shop. Come visit! Yogurt Fitzwilliam, NH and Solar Smoothies at the Amherst Market. 603-209-1851, [email protected] www.traciesfarm.com Small Ones Farm Farm stand and farm store in barn open daily sun-up 416 Bay Road, Amherst, MA to sundown. Summer shares for the 2014 season. 413-253-6788, [email protected] We’ll have vegetable, herb, and flower starts, hanging www.smallonesfarm.com baskets, perennials and more out at our farm stand. Farm Stand opens in July. Our 2014 Fruit CSA’s are All grown without the use of chemical fertilizers and now available! We have a waiting list for our summer pesticides and with varieties that do well in our area. CSA, but we have openings available for our fall CSA. Check out our website for more information. We Contact us via our website or via email to register or have greens, asparagus, Walpole Creamery Ice Cream, get on our waiting list! Smith Country Cheese, eggs from Monte Rosa Farm, raw honey, jam, maple syrup and soap in our farm Sweet Autumn Farm store located in the barn. 180 Prospect St., Carlisle, MA 978-287-0025, [email protected] Warm Colors Apiary Farm Stand: Tuesday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 2 South Mill River Road, South Deerfield, MA 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (starting June 3). Chicken eggs, 413-665-4513, [email protected] Duck eggs, Rhubarb, Herbs, Snow Peas, and more. www.warmcolorsapiary.com Also Registered Nigerian Dwarf yearlings and babies Varieties of Honey, beeswax candles, and beekeeping available for sale. See capradiemndg.com for equipment and supplies. availability.

www.nofamass.org 24 June 2014 Newsletter Community Happenings

Events

Grain Grower’s Network: grain systems in the Hudson Valley, beginning farmer community and sharing what works Wednesday, June 18 - 10am - 2pm 2409 US Route 9, Hudson, NY

Join Sparrowbush farmer Ashley Loehr and baker-miller Antoine Guerlain at Camphill Village in Copake for a rising discussion of milling grains in the Hudson Valley. Topics to be covered include overcoming the challenges of needed, borrowed and shared equipment to produce milling quality grains on a diversified vegetable and livestock farm and the needs and challenges of milling and baking with local grains.

Cost: $10.00 per person or $15.00 for two or more people per farm. To preregister and pay, visit www.tinyurl.com/shopNOFAevents or call Stephanie at (585) 271-1979 ext. 509.

Pandora Thomas to Keynote 2014 Revisioning Sustainability Conference Sunday, June 22 – 7pm to 8:30pm UMass Amherst – Lincoln Campus Center 11th Floor

Celebrated teacher, speaker, designer, and co-founder of Earthseed Consulting LLC, Pandora Thomas will be delivering a keynote presentation entitled, We Are the Ones! The contemporary food system has become far removed from its sustainable legacy. This needs to change. Colleges and universities have a particular role to play in this work as the bridge to communities through service and educational outreach, and as leaders in the shift towards creating more sustainable food systems. Doors open at 6:00PM, hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments will be served.

The event is free and open to the public. To RSVP (required) or for more info visit www.j.mp/ umasspandora

Farm Succession Info Night Wednesday, June 25 - 6pm to 8pm John W. Olver Transit Center, 12 Olive Street, Greenfield, MA

It’s never too early or too late to plan for your future and the future of your farm. If you want to exit comfortably from farming, pass the farm to your next generation, transfer to a non-family successor, or have other questions about this important transition, this low-pressure, informational gathering is for you.

You will learn about the farm succession and transfer process; where to start and how to take your first or next steps; key challenges and methods to address them; and tools and resources.

Cost: Free, w/ free supper. To RSVP call (603) 357-1600 or visit www.landforgood.org/RSVP

www.nofamass.org 25 June 2014 Newsletter Community Happenings

Announcements

Central Massachusetts Farm Survey The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission is surveying farmers to determine how to better support agriculture and the local food system. If you’re a farmer in Central Mass, please make your needs heard by filling out this survey. Participants are entered in a drawing for a $200 gift card. www.svy.mk/RV5zA6

Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period Begins June 15 To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election, and reside in the local administrative area where the person is nominated. Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda. gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2014 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1, 2014. Elections will take place this fall.

269 High St. Greenfield, MA (413) 773-9639 Feed, Fertilizer, Pet Food, Farm Supplies Many Organic Products FARMER-OWNED Member owners include more than 700 people who are now or have been involved in agriculture from Franklin, Hampshire and Berkshire Counties in Mass. Windham County, Vt. and Cheshire County, N.H. Check the website to learn about the store, products offered through our members and information on becoming a member www.greenfieldfarmerscoop.com

www.nofamass.org 26 June 2014 Newsletter NOFA/Mass Workshops & Events

Visit nofamass.org/events for workshop additions and updates.

Food Forest Swales: Design and Implementation June 21 – 1:00pm to 4:00pm 47 Union Avenue, Westport, MA Cost: $25 NOFA members; $31 non-members In this workshop participants will learn how to site swales in the landscape and lay out a swale on contour using an A-Frame level. They will then design a plant polyculture that is suitable for a Linear Food Forest Swale and help plant an existing swale with Food Forest trees and perennial vegetables! Wear your get dirty clothes. Instructor: Lydia Silva

Organic Growing 101 June 21 & 22 - 9:00am to 4:00pm Many Hands Organic Farm, Barre, MA Cost: $244 Jack and Julie, who have owned and operated Many Hands Organic Farm for over 30 years, will combine hands on work with discussion of principles of organic growing. Besides participating in daily animal chores and one or two specific field tasks, participants will harvest and prepare lunch on both days. Topics include sustainable farming systems, appropriate energy use, recycling and resource conservation. Offered in collaboration with Worcester State University. College credit available. Instructors: Julie Rawson and Jack Kittredge

Mushroom Log Inoculation June 28 – 1:00pm to 3:00pm Nantucket Mushrooms LLC, Chatham, MA Cost: $32 NOFA members; $38 non-members Join Nantucket Mushrooms LLC Cofounder for an inspirational and educational, mushroom log cultivation workshop. Topics covered include: Hands on inoculation, fruiting, harvesting, choosing a location, force fruiting, pests, choosing your logs and building outdoor grow beds. Instructor: Wesley Price

Hands-on Hog Slaughter on the Homestead June 29 – 10:00am to 4:00pm Many Hands Organic Farm, Barre, MA Cost: $40 NOFA members; $48 non-members At this hands on workshop, with the help of Many Hand’s farm tractor and bucket, Jake Levin will lead us in the slaughter of a four month old pig, bleed it, scald it in a cast iron bathtub, eviscerate it, and eventually cut it into standard pork cuts. A tour of the Many Hands Organic Farm certified organic pig operation will be included. Instructors: Jake Levin, Andrew Kelly & Jason Cucchiara

NOFA Summer Conference August 8-10 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA Cost: Varies. Early bird pricing available through July 11. NOFA invites you to attend its 40th Annual Summer Conference, featuring 200 workshops on farming, gardening, land care, nutrition, & food politics; full and half day pre-conferences; and 100+ exhibitors. This is a family-friendly event with conferences for children and teens, a country fair, and organic meals! Budget www.nofamass.org 27 June 2014 Newsletter conscious accommodations are available, including camping and dorms. This year’s keynote speaker Elaine Ingham is a soil scientist and researcher, teaching growers to foster microbial life in soils.

Registration and more info at www.nofasummerconference.org!

Growing Certified Organic Cut Flowers - Part 2 August 29 - 10:00am to 12:00pm Natick Community Organic Farm, South Natick, MA Cost: $25 NOFA members; $31 non-members In part 2 of this two-part workshop we will explore harvest and post harvest of certified organic cut flowers, weed management, marketing and selling, and strategies for season extension. Attendance in part 1 is not necessary to attend part 2. Instructor: Lynda Simkins

Genetic Roulette Screenings Cost: Free Want to learn more about GMOs? See the film! We are screening this film which cites evidence that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may be a major contributor to rising disease rates in the US. In the one-hour film, doctors and other health practitioners discuss their clinical experience with patients who have disorders from eating GMOs. This sometimes shocking film may change your diet and help you protect your family. A question and answer period with Jack Kittredge, NOFA/Mass Policy Director, will follow the film.

• June 16 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Newton Free Library, Newton • June 18 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm - Brookfield Town Hall, Brookfield • June 23 - 6:30pm to 8:30pm - West Springfield Library, W. Springfield • June 24 - 5:45pm to 7:30 pm - Winthrop Library, Winthrop, MA

www.nofamass.org 28 June 2014 Newsletter New and Renewing NOFA/Mass Members in May Katherine Anderson Peter Endicott Greg Maslowe Robert Ayres John D. Engwer Bob Minnocci Paul Benjamin Henry Fairlie Kathy Morris & Larry Siegel Louise Berliner Lynn and Len Fisher John Olander Jane Bindley Lisa Fisher Suzen Perry Farlin Black Donna & Richard Gilmore Sally & Steve Pullen Dee Blake Nancy Gold Andrew Mark Quillen, OSB Sierra Heath Bright Jessica Goldhirsch Mary Robinson CarrieSue Broderick Emily Hale-Sills Christine Samoiloff Stephan Brown Sally Hilgendorff Sandy Sheble-Hall Trina Bryant India Hoeschen-Stein Ros & Dan Smythe Helene Cahen Ruth & Michael Ireland Lucy Stockton Anna Churchill Sue Ito Sarah Stockwell-Arthen Jessica Cook Elizabeth Johnson Steve Swanson Virginia Culligan & Clarke David Kennard Emily Swartz Laszlo Philip Kenney Max Traunstein Lorrie Dahlen Ruth Bailey Langh Dorothy Weaver Debra Deane John & Martha Lazarus Seth Wilkinson Jason Durgin Jamie Lombardo Thomas Willits Mark Duvall & Diane Flynn Leslie Malloy

Thank you to Spring Appeal Donors in May Robert Banning Duncan & Cynthia Cox Alison Robb Jane Bindley Taylor Kane Dorothea Sotiros Betsy Corner Bruce Quevillon Martha Gilpatrick Wolf

Looking for help? Have something to sell? Have land to lease? Classifieds Place a classified ad! Find out more atwww.nofamass.org/classifieds

Seeking Herd Manager or Herdsperson, Sidehill Farm, Hawley MA

Sidehill Farm is a small dairy in western Massachusetts, producing yogurt and raw milk from our grass-fed cows. We are seek a full-time herd manager, or an experienced herdsman, familiar with organic practices and rotational grazing. Responsibilities include milking, feeding, herd health, breeding, maintenance of milking equipment, calf and barn chores. Also fencing, paddock sizing, haymaking, pasture clipping, tractor maintenance. Minimum of 2 years experience with organic dairy (3-5 years preferable). Must be able to handle animals calmly and gently, and be skilled with tractors and equipment. Cleanliness and attention to detail are critical. Competitive salary based on experience, 6 day week, paid time off. Send a resume, and 3 references to [email protected]. www.nofamass.org 29 June 2014 Newsletter NOFA/ Massachusetts 411 Sheldon Road Barre, MA 01005

www.nofamass.org 30 June 2014 Newsletter