April 2014 Newsletter

Northeast Organic Farming Association/ Massachusetts Chapter

Inside this Issue:

Expanding (sub)urban Solidarity : GMO labeling bill edible with Ben A Farmer Exchange to favorably reported out of Barkan Peru legislative committee

page 3 page 13 page 18 From the Editor Northeast Organic Farming Association/ By Nicole Belanger, NOFA/Mass Public Massachusetts Chapter, Inc. Relations Coordinator 411 Sheldon Road Barre, MA 01005 978-355-2853 (p) 978-355-4046 (f) Doesn’t that sun feel nice? The snow [email protected] piles melt and we say hello to crocuses www.nofamass.org and robins. It’s spring again! Finally! Here’s hoping that the winter wasn’t too bad for NOFA/Mass Board Meetings are open to all you. I hope that deep freeze killed a lot of your members. For more information please contact: unwelcomed insects, and that your bees and animals Executive Director, Julie Rawson made it through ok. [email protected] 978-355-2853 This time of year, energy shifts towards time outside and beginning to realize those new projects we’ve been scheming about for months. We at NOFA/ © 2002-2014 NOFA/Massachusetts Mass are feeling our plans take shape as well. NOFA/Massachusetts is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible Due to popular demand, we’re offering several new to the extent allowed by law. classes this season. Aaron Englander shares his experience with the closed-loop system of Korean . This diy fertility workshop will take place at Heifer Farm in Rutland, MA on May Not a member yet? 3rd. Read more about it on page 7 CLICK HERE Our Development Director, Kristin Brennan, has also spearheaded the “ Soil Restoration” workshop in partnership with the Community, Project Bread and the Bionutrient Food Association. Part 2 on June 1 is open to all.

Julie Rawson highlights the expanding interest in (sub)urban edible landscapes, profiling a dynamic young business owner doing this work in eastern Massachusetts. Read about it on page 3. The NOFA/Mass Newsletter is published eleven times per year by the Do you believe it? The NOFA Summer Conference Northeast Organic Farming Association/ turns 40 this year! Conference Coordinator Massachusetts Chapter, Inc. Ben Grosscup showcases new attractions this Circulation: 5,000 year, including collaborative tracks and great preconferences. Read about it on page 6. Newsletter Editor: Nicole Belanger Circulation: Rebecca Buell Hope you have a fertile spring! Submissions: Nicole Belanger [email protected] Nicole Advertising: Bob Minnocci [email protected] Design: Nicole Belanger

www.nofamass.org 2 April 2014 Newsletter Expanding (sub)urban edible gardens with Ben Barkan Julie Rawson, NOFA/Mass Executive and Education Director NOFA/Mass in the beginning stages of creating the physical labor of farming while working at Busa a program to focus efforts on our more suburban Farm… Dennis Busa was my mentor and manager members. Initially we will focus on Middlesex County while in high school. He was really supportive. I and do some serious and in depth research with our continued to work on Dennis’s farm part time while NOFA/Mass members, NOFA Accredited Organic starting my edible gardening business. I grew up in Land Care Professionals, and activist organizations Arlington and working at Busa Farm was sort of a to get the lay of the land with respect to personal and spontaneous summer job. It was challenging. I had public organic farming autonomy, and I really enjoyed it. I found and gardening projects. out quickly that it would be hard to make a living at farming, and I looked at With this information landscaping as an alternative.” we hope to shed light on and educate After graduating from high school, about best practices Ben worked on over 30 organic farms regarding organic matter in Massachusetts, Oregon, California, development and carbon Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia. sequestration in the soil “Inspired by meeting so many awesome with food production people, I decided to start an edible as the vehicle. We want gardening company in Boston,” said Ben. to highlight innovative “While I was traveling in Hawaii, I got gardening practices, progressive public organic land a job setting up a vegetable . Back home, I got management and enhance the connection between my first client from a connection through Busa Farm. I service providers and those interested in organic started the company at 18 and am now 23.” gardening and land care. Hopefully the inspiring successes of those innovators who are on the ground “Organic farming seems to be an emerging trend can be spread across the region to those who are and a lot of young people are starting to see farming hoping to heighten local organic food production. This as a career path. Farming offers a lot of self worth,” article is the first in a series. observes Ben. “Younger people are starting to realize that we need more small-scale, local, and bio-diverse In mid March when spring still seemed very far away, farms. I am currently learning so much in my last it was nice to speak with Ben Barkan. Ben is exemplary semester at Stockbridge School of Agriculture in the of the surge of young folks who have entered farming Sustainable Food and Farming program. With the and are quickly finding successful niches in the market proper ethics, I think farming can be a way to save the place. Ben founded his Arlington based business, planet. The most sustainable option of all however is Home Harvest, in 2008. He and his staff provide to grow food for yourself. All of our gardens attempt to services that include design and installation of edible mimic nature’s efficiency–biodiversity is an important gardens, raised beds, landscaping, stone masonry, part of sustainability.” chicken coops, and . Knowing that growing in cities often means dealing I am always curious about what kind of personality, or with lead in soil, I asked Ben about contamination perhaps upbringing, allows a person to strike fearlessly issues. “First we take multiple soil tests and find out out into the world to do what he or she is passionate where the contamination is the worst,” said Ben. about. It really started for Ben when he was 15 and “Reducing the bioavailability of lead is crucial. Liming got a summer job with Dennis Busa at Lexington and adding can reduce ’ ability to Community Farm (formerly known as Busa Farm). uptake lead, and a heavy-duty barrier is necessary sometimes. We can also take tissue samples to confirm Here is the story, according to Ben: “I fell in love with that the produce is safe. Too much of the wrong type www.nofamass.org 3 April 2014 Newsletter of compost can have negative impacts. Our compost gardens. Education is a part of sustainability. Knowing is primarily made from leaves and grass; it’s well how to generate your own fertility and grow your own rotted and not too rich. When growing in compost food is important.” made solely from food , you can have too many nutrients, which causes adverse effects. Our compost is Our conversation shifted to climate change. Ben shared a custom mix and with all our gardens, we are relying his thoughts: “I think encouraging more localized and on microbial activity and mineralization. We are letting bio-diverse systems will help ameliorate climate change. the microbes do the work.” There will be less carbon in the atmosphere. is a part of the problem, and Ben does not use foliar we generally don’t till. We are nutrition sprays. He feels they huge fans of sheet mulching are not necessary because and mulching in general which plants absorb nutrients most mimics the forest. You can go efficiently through their into Hadley in the spring and roots. He also believes that see dust particles in the air micronutrients are rarely from all the farmers plowing deficient in Northeast soils and up their fields. That is carbon is concerned that some organic growers use copper and soil I want to keep in the soil by minimizing soil sulfate sprays for disease control, which can cause toxic disturbance. Our sheet consists of cardboard, levels of copper to accumulate in the soil. newspaper, compost, wood chips from local arborists, and local leaf mulch, especially for use with perennials. Ben is planning to graduate from The Stockbridge We don’t use peat moss or cocoa fiber. We try to keep School of Agriculture at UMass in the spring. all of our materials locally sourced.” Additionally, he took a 5-week permaculture design course in Oregon. He has attended numerous NOFA Lastly we discussed how we must move forward to events. “I remember when I was at the 2009, 2010, promote more local agriculture in the urban/suburban and 2011 NOFA conferences and took workshops on setting. Said Ben: “Education is going to play a huge soil chemistry; now I have been studying it in school role. During World War II, 20 million Americans and appreciate having the base foundation I acquired grew 40% of the nation’s vegetables. We did it before from NOFA,” says Ben. “I remember hearing Paul and we can do it again. Growing your own produce Stamets talk about mushrooms and how they can save is empowering and the positivity is contagious. I think the world. NOFA was great at introducing me to a lot the movement toward local food systems is already of topics. Will Allen was another real inspiration.” Ben happening. It just has to do with showing people also hopes to learn more about herbalism. what is possible. So much organic and nutrient dense produce can be grown in a relatively small space. A lot I asked Ben what is remarkable about him and/or his of people don’t know where to start. We teach folks business model. “Every garden we design and install how to take soil tests and work with lead contamination is different. Harmonizing each garden to suit each and provide a maintenance manual, discussing how landscape makes a lot of sense. I think the one-size to maintain gardens organically and sustainably. fits all approach is not a good idea because each site is Getting this movement to spread is about sharing the different. The design process takes a little longer with knowledge.” our methods, however our resulting gardens are more holistic and take the entire property into consideration. And here are Ben’s closing words: “I get really excited We try to engage our clients with our work. We want when I see people growing their own food. I think it to teach them so they can maintain their own gardens. is one of the most positive things we can do for our We try to listen to their goals, and we work with a wide environment and for ourselves. There is such immense variety of materials when building our gardens. Some satisfaction in tending to your plants, watching them customers want to maintain their own garden, and thrive and mature, harvesting the bounty and sharing some hire us year after year to maintain [their garden]. the harvest with friends and family. This is really what Often, a few years after the installation, customers humans evolved to do. Reconnecting with where our are confident enough to and tend to their own food comes from is profound and in need.” www.nofamass.org 4 April 2014 Newsletter NOFA/Mass outreach update By Sharon Gensler, NOFA/Mass Outreach Coordinator

BIG THANK YOUS to the mighty volunteers who have joined our grassroots effort of having NOFA/Mass become a household word: Jane Hammer, Kimi Ceridon, Amie Lindenboim (3 times), Kate Kennedy (twice), Paul Bertler, Derek Christianson, Mary DeBlois, and Pam Raymond. How about YOU? We have a many great events on tap and need your help. If nothing listed below is in your neighborhood, check out the website regularly in order to keep up to date on new additions or suggest an event. Spring is a great time to get out, enjoy the beauty, and have fun organizing in your community. Catch up with friends and neighbors, meet new people and talk NOFA. Sound like fun? Let’s talk! Volunteer a few hours of your time to table at an event: you’ll receive a bit of training, maybe learn more about NOFA/Mass, and feel good about doing good work! Plus let’s not forget: each event of 4 or more hours covered earns a $25.00 discount on a NOFA/Mass sponsored event or a free NOFA hat: nofamass.org/programs/nofamass-outreach. Sign up Kate Kennedy & Mary DeBlois Volunteering now: [email protected] at Ag Day

OUTREACH CALENDAR April 17 Sustainable Comm. & Campuses Lowell April 19 Wendell Earth Day Wendell April 22 Whole Foods E Day Andover April 26 Amherst Sustainability Amherst April 26 Buzzards Bay E Day Buzzards Bay April 26 Charlton Earth Fest Charlton April 26 Harvard Univ. Earth Day Cambridge April 26 Musketaquid Art & Environment Concord April 26 W. Springfield E Day W. Springfield April 26 & 27 Franklin Co Little e Greenfield April 27 Earth Day Franklin Park Boston May 3 Soule Homestead Spring Fest Middleboro May 3 Spontaneous Celebrations Jamaica Plain May 9 NMH Teach-in/Farmers Mkt Northfield May 17 REC Spring Garden Festival Worcester

www.nofamass.org 5 April 2014 Newsletter NOFA Summer Conference Update By Ben Grosscup, NOFA Summer Conference Coordinator Since February I’ve been curating and planning the This year we will be offering the same number of program for the 40th Anniversary NOFA Summer workshops in two days instead of three. For many Conference, August 8-10, 2014. By May 8, the years, the Summer Conference had two 90-minute workshop descriptions and links to register for the workshops on Friday, three conference will be available at nofasummerconference. on Saturday, and three on org. This year’s program is shaping up to be quite Sunday. We will intensify excellent, and it shows that the workshop offerings on the local/organic movement Saturday and Sunday by has come a long way in 40 adding a fourth session to years. each day. This means that people can come to both We have a new track this full days of workshops year on methods and on the weekend without monitoring the success of missing a weekday. We will also offer one-day sequestering carbon in the registration, offering four fun and information- soil. Presenters will include packed workshops in a single day. Jim Laurie (Biodiversity for a Livable Climate), We are replacing the two Friday workshop slots with Seth Itzkan ( Center pre-conference intensive seminars for those who for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe), and Peter still want to take the day off on Friday for intensive Donovan (founder of the Soil Carbon Challenge). education on organic food systems. One of these Other presenters include Abe Collins and Ridge seminars will be a full day (9:00am-5:30pm on Friday, Shinn–both of whom teach about building soil August 8) with our keynote, Dr. Elaine Ingham, who carbon using grass-fed beef. Dorn Cox, co-founder will be teaching on “Changing Dirt into Soil”. If you and president of the board of directors for Farm missed it, check out the article on her on the front page Hack (which assembles open source technological of the Spring 2014 issue of The Natural Farmer. We’ll innovations for small organic farms), along with Peter also have three half-day pre-conference intensives that Donavan, will discuss methods for monitoring soil same day from 2:00pm to 5:30pm: “Tools for Resilient carbon. Urban Ecosystems” with Scott Kellogg; “Healing the Gut and the Body through Nutrition” with Dr. Chris Organized in Collaboration with the American Society Decker; and “Bioregional Herbalism: Stocking the of Dowsers, there will be a track of workshops on Home Apothecary with Locally Abundant Herbs” with using dowsing in Jade Alicandro Mace. agriculture. Another track, organized in Following the pre-conferences, there collaboration with will also be a sing-along event on the Neighboring Friday evening starting at 7:30pm Food Co-op called “Singing for Food and Association, will Freedom: Carrying on the Legacy of cover how the Pete Seeger.” Contact Ben Grosscup cooperative model at [email protected] with can be used to ideas for songs. advance local organic food systems. We have many other excellent The full program with details on workshops, pre- offerings this year on nutrition and health, herbs, conferences, entertainment, conferences for children soil and fertility, growing specific kinds of crops, and and teens, and creative financing will be posted at managing the economics of the farm. nofasummerconference.org online when registration opens May 8. www.nofamass.org 6 April 2014 Newsletter Korean Natural Farming: Working with Mother Nature By Aaron Englander, M.S. Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is a method that regional adaptations have been made. For example, Gil emphasizes self-reliant and efficient closed loop systems Carandang has published a book and online articles to minimize about Natural Farming adapted for off-farm inputs. the Philippine. It stems from the teachings In Hawaii, the KNF community of Masanobu has grown over the past few years. Fukuoka, In March 2014, I had the privilege who wrote in to take a second trip to Hawaii The One Straw where I toured several farms with an Revolution that advocate from University of Hawaii agricultural Extension, Michael Duponte. We systems must visited pig, layer hen, and taro work with operations implementing KNF Mother Nature, practices. The KNF philosophy rather than is much needed on the Hawaiian against her, in Islands, where the cost of off-island order to be truly sustainable. I am enthused to share inputs like oil, fertilizer, and other commodities are my KNF knowledge and experience at the upcoming incredibly expensive. Additionally, the abundant NOFA/Mass workshop on May 3rd at Heifer Farm in natural resources year round make Hawaii an ideal Rutland, MA. KNF practicing ground.

KNF compliments other Since returning from Hawaii, I have been techniques such as permaculture, cover cropping, experimenting with KNF in the Northeast. The past compost and amendments, three years I have and rotational grazing. These practices conducted research can help build soil fertility, organic at the University matter, and increase soil carbon of Maine sequestration. One exciting aspect of with organic KNF is the potential for incorporation bread wheat and innovation with other biological, and microbial dynamic, and holistic approaches to inoculants. One of agriculture. Central to KNF is the the soil inoculants concept that all living beings, animals, I tested was plants, and microbes, require the same the Indigenous basic needs: water, air and food. Microorganism (IMO), a main I learned about KNF from the Korean Master Han ingredient in KNF. I have developed some adaptations Kyu Cho at a workshop in Hilo, Hawaii in 2010. of Master Cho’s technique for the Northeast climate. While there, I stayed and worked on Kalapana Organics, a diversified fruit farm on the Hamakua Aaron is the Farm and Program Manager at Erickson Farm in Coast. On the farm I practiced making KNF inputs Rockport, Maine. He will lead a workshop on Korean Natural and learned their uses. One of the farmers I worked Farming on Saturday, May 3rd at Heifer Farm in Rutland, MA. with, Jackie Prell, has written articles on KNF for For more information and to register, visit nofamass.org/events/ Acres USA magazine, which initially piqued my korean-natural-farming interest. Developing countries in and the Pacific Islands have implemented KNF practices. Many www.nofamass.org 7 April 2014 Newsletter www.nofamass.org 8 April 2014 Newsletter Homesteading observations: By Sharon Gensler, Homesteader and NOFA/Mass Outreach Coordinator Uncertainties. Do I incorporate new (to me) ideas into purposes. my gardening practices or stick to the tried and true or run experiments? That’s what’s been on my mind Along with the extra spacing, soil and since the winter issue of The Natural Farmer. You might plant fertility must be addressed. I recall that issue focused on the SRI system of liked how Mark put it, “baby plants growing and featured a couple of articles about Mark not unlike humans, need food in Fulford’s experiments with this concept for vegetables small, frequent doses, at first and as on his Maine farm. He is achieving remarkable they grow and flower they tend to have the increased yields by increasing plant spacing by even more than appetites and space needs of teenagers.” Good soil, what is conventionally recommended. The idea is mineral rich compost, foliar applications of and to encourage each plant to reach its full potential by seaweed, and heavy mulch will be on my agenda. I’ll giving an abundance of space thus light thus increased keep you posted as we grow through the season. photosynthesis thus increased yield. Speaking of updates, here’s what’s happening now Since 1980, I have used, and been very satisfied at Wild Browse. We put in nine maple taps and so with, a modified French Intensive system of growing far have had a very poor sap run; only two and a my vegetables. I have 3-4 foot wide beds that are half quarts of syrup made to date. Hope the weather cultivated with a no till method using a broadfork for cooperates a little better in the next couple of weeks. soil aeration and conditioning. I’ve planted with the In the the onion seedlings are waiting for intensive approach so that the plants create their own snowmelt and bare ground, the peppers and parsley microenvironment. I have eaten well and preserved have yet to germinate, and the tomatoes are waiting much with this system. to be seeded. The chickens have been secured in their covered run due to hungry migrating hawks. The So why contemplate change? Something about the daylight is growing longer and my rest time shorter. articles struck me as “right”. I’m reminded of one Hope you are as excited about the coming planting year when a single, self-planted pole bean, alone on a season as I am. Happy spring! trellis, grew to magnificent proportions and produced an abundance of pods. Or the other “rogues”, which when left to their own devices grew into healthy productive specimens.

But do I go for broke and plant the whole garden with VERY wide spacing or maybe just a few as a test? The allure is to increase production by planting fewer plants/seeds thus maybe decreasing my workload. I can also envision planting cover crops between very young plants until they can be cut and used for mulch on the bed. On the other hand, why make extra work Building bridges between those who care for myself by running an experiment? The State Agriculture Councils of The Humane Society of the United States seek to ensure that animal production is I’m leaning toward planting tomatoes, peppers, squash, humane and environmentally sustainable. brassicas, carrots, and pole beans with the extra room To learn more, visit while keeping everything else the same. It’s not really humanesociety.org/agcouncils. an experiment in that I won’t be doing scientific controlled plantings, but rather following my intuition. I do have records of plant numbers and yields over many years that can be of use for comparison www.nofamass.org 9 April 2014 Newsletter Bulk Order Update By Cathleen O’Keefe, NOFA/Mass Bulk Order Coordinator

All bulk order distributions have been made, signaling springtime is finally here! Huge thank you’s to all of our sites, coordinators & volunteers this year. In March, we, site coordinators, had a beautiful, warm, sunny day to receive deliveries and distributions went smoothly. We appreciate your patience, when some items miss getting on the truck and ultimately to you, the first time around.

This month, we received tuber and allium seed, which will have to sit patiently as we wait for our soils to thaw. Here’s some information about what your seed goes through, before it gets to you:

All seed is certified by the state in which it’s grown. The following details Maine’s Certification Program. Check out Colorado Department of Ag & Cornell University’s website for other state programs.

Field Inspections: Each seed lot is visited by inspectors twice, a month apart, with a third inspection for Bacterial Ring Rot. Here are Maximum Tolerances: 1st inspection 2nd inspection Leaf Roll 2% 1% Mosaic 3% 2% Total Virus 3% 3% Varietal Mix 1% ¼%

Post Harvest Florida Test: Every grower sends 400 tubers from each seed lot of no more than 40 acres to the ME Potato Board’s Certification farm in Dade Co., FL. The seed is grown out in the field & tested for virus. Only lots scoring 95% clean or better with successful seasonal field readings qualify for the certified standard.

Late Blight: If late blight is found in a field visit, the farmer is responsible to clear it up. Testing in a lab is required in bad years. mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/7/title7ch401seco.html

Allowable defects at shipping point inspection: 10% of the surface of the spud may be scab & 10% “waste cut” of Fusarium dry rot allowed. Seed with either of these defects won’t grow defective tubers.

Good practices to reduce spud pains: • Covercrops – Follow harvest with a hardy winter grain: rye, triticale, winter wheat. • Rotation- Rotate crop families to reduce accumulation of crop specific pests/diseases. • Draw up a Nutrient Management Plan • Keep a Keen Eye- Watch for awkward looking plants & rogue as you scout your fields.

www.nofamass.org 10 April 2014 Newsletter Kidding Time! By Suzy Konecky, Beginning Farmer Program Coordinator The beginning of spring marks the time for lambs, support him completely. The scale of production that kids, and baby animals of all kinds to enter the world. would be required for the business to support itself With dairy-production animals, the arrival of the on the sale of cheese is too big for Lionel’s liking, “I newborns also marks the arrival of the rich spring don’t want to have to hire people to do the things that milk. It is a time of year that is heavy with anticipation, I really want to do, and then spend my time managing wonder, and excitement. For farmers or homesteaders those people.” This is a common question for small who are just entering the world of dairy production, it farmers: how to remain viable, without getting too big? is especially thrilling and joyful to watch Through their animals get the ready for giving birth NOFA/ and then welcoming Mass the new little ones. Beginning Lionel Zupan works in Farmer higher education, but Program, is getting his feet wet Lionel is in goat production. working with Lionel and his wife another Julie purchased a cheese house with a barn, maker as a few acres, and a mentor, a couple goats in Tricia December of 2010. Smith Since then, they from bought two more goats that were bred and are now Ruggles Hill Creamery. Tricia is very well respected expectant mothers. Lionel was not a farmer before this in the world of cheese and makes some of the best new goat venture and did not have much experience cheese around. Lionel, who feels very lucky to be with them, but he has drive, excitement, and loads working with her, said, “she has been fantastic, I am of enthusiasm. His goal is to ultimately make cheese, very grateful.” Lionel has been to Tricia’s farm twice butter, and soap using the milk from his goats. since their mentorship started in January. She is going through kidding season too, so the most recent visit Lionel is a mentee in the NOFA/Mass Beginning was focused specifically on kidding, and how to best Farmer Program. He considers himself still in the manage the goats and the kids. On his visit, Lionel was “hobby phase” with his goats, because he is still happy to see that Tricia validated many of the choices working full-time off his farm, in order to support that he had made. One of the most meaningful aspects himself. Nevertheless, his little farm enterprise is of the Beginning Farmer Program that many people growing and will double in size in the next few weeks have shared is the value of having a more experienced when the kids are born! With this first lactation, farmer confirm and support you in your choices. Those he plans to leave the goat kids with their mothers, in the program are lucky to have that sounding board and take only the milk that the kids don’t need. He for their ideas and plans. anticipates that the kids will drink about half of the milk that the moms have available, and he will use the Once the kids are born and growing well, Lionel rest. He will use the milk to experiment with different plans to delve more fully into the creamery and cheese cheese recipes. While he has been waiting for his goats production. He has worked on a business plan for to begin lactating, he has already been making some making and selling cheese, which Tricia has been very cheese with milk that he has purchased from another helpful with. As he was working on his business plan, farm. Lionel says “cheese is my #1 food,” and wants he often sent Tricia his assumptions with regards to to be able to produce enough of it to sell some, but figured like yield and cost, and she gave him lots of not necessarily have the income from cheese making feedback. Lionel says that he is extremely grateful for www.nofamass.org 11 April 2014 Newsletter all of Tricia’s help, and he hopes to continue to be able to visit her farm regularly over the course of the year. It To find out more about the NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer takes some time to digest the information that he learns Mentoring Program, visit the website: nofamass.org/programs/ on each visit, so perhaps eight visits over the course of beginning-farmer-program or email Suzy Konecky, Beginning the year would be right. He is so full of excitement and Farmer Program Coordinator at: [email protected]. energy right now that he is incredibly eager to learn, but thinks that as the season goes on he and Tricia will fall into a good balance of teaching and learning.

Starting at the ground level: Soil basics for plants, animals, and the planet By Winton Pitcoff, Raw Milk Network Coordinator

In looking for ways to improve animal health and production, the best place to start is on the ground. Below it, even. Healthy animals depend upon healthy forage, which relies heavily on healthy, nutrient- rich, actively managed soil. A few videos available online explain the principles behind healthy soil and some of the steps farmers can take to steward their resources in ways that promote health and sustainability for their animals.

• First, Fred Kirschenmann, of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, and the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, talks about soil as a living, critical element in our crops and animals’ lifecycles, and what needs to be done to preserve that resource: youtube.com/watch?v=VObLitSe3K0 • Tony Lovell, a soil/carbon researcher in Australia, explains how what we plant and allow to grow naturally affects the ecosystem and its long term sustainability for feeding livestock: youtube.com/ watch?v=wgmssrVInP0 • This lecture on mob grazing explains how your livestock naturally spread their manure and urine in the pasture, promoting microbial activity and the rapid recycling of nutrients, which can favor increases in and water infiltration: youtube.com/watch?v=swAd0a2E_n8 • Finally, expert Graeme Sait explains how building and conserving our soil has an impact far beyond the health of our farms, ultimately on the sustainability of the entire planet: youtube.com/ watch?v=8Q1VnwcpW7E

This is part of an ongoing series of notes on resources available to graziers and livestock farmers. If you have suggestions about websites or other publications we should include, please contact winton@ nofamass.org

www.nofamass.org 12 April 2014 Newsletter Solidarity Agriculture: A Farmer Exchange to Peru By Jon Magee

There were about thirty of us there, sitting on the long and start cooperatives such as Oro Verde. The farmers earthen porch in front of Abelino’s bungalow—nine of were unanimous that life is much better now—their us farmers from Massachusetts, the rest local Peruvian lives may not be easy, but at least the constant fear for cacao farmers and their families. “What do you want the future is gone and one can travel to town without for your kids? What do you hope for the future?” fear for one’s life. asked Leslie. Michael, the trip’s leader, translated the question. For a minute, everyone shifted uneasily, hesitating to say anything. If I remember correctly, it was Abelino’s wife who finally spoke up: “We want our children to stay in school, to get educated and become professionals, so they can have some security in life. There’s no security on the farm, and there’s just no income to raise a family with.” This was not an answer we expected, or at least not the answer we hoped for. So here we were: nine gringo farmers with college We had traveled to northern Peru, with the assistance degrees, looking extra pale under a veneer of of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Co., to meet the sunscreen, sitting with a crowd of former coca farmers members and staff of the Oro Verde Cooperative, in the settlement of Nuevo Celendin, comparing notes a Fairtrade, organically-certified small-farmer co-op about our lives and theirs. They were good sports; they growing mostly coffee and cacao on farms that average had spent the morning harvesting cacao pods with three to four acres. Of the approximately 800 families us, hunting around the steep, shady hillside for ripe which make up the co-op, about half are members of fruit. They split the pods with their machetes, and we the indigenous Chankas people. scooped the beans out as their children taught us to eat the tangy white flesh. We wandered back to the house The culture and climate of this region is completely for lunch: a large meal of chicken, rice, green plantain, different from that of the better-known highlands in and vegetables prepared by a host of women. After southern Peru, the heart of the Incan empire. In the the meal we had sprawled out on the porch for a long department of San Martin, where Oro Verde is based, conversation. the climate ranges from low to high jungle, ideal for crops such as rice, bananas and plantains, mangos, There was much to learn on both sides. These small- yucca, coffee, and cacao, and many other tropical scale farmers clearly wanted their children to have all fruits. In the 1990s, though, this region was known for the opportunities that education provided, whether its coca production—at that time, according to our or not they continued as farmers. With some caution hosts, 80 to 90% of the region’s farmers grew coca for we tried to describe the uncertain situation here in the international drug trade. As the market price of the United States—that too many people had left coca leaf plummeted, the Peruvian government, UN, the farms, that we need more farmers but struggle EU, and USAID helped to promote alternative crops with sprawling development, and that some young www.nofamass.org 13 April 2014 Newsletter people are choosing the farm life again. They could not believe that a mere 1% of Americans are farmers, We caught glimpses of what fair trade looks like to claiming that almost 100% of Peruvians are farmers— the communities of Oro Verde. On the one hand, which is a bit of an exaggeration, but there are clearly there were signs clearly announcing projects funded many more people connected to the land in Peru. in part by the Fairtrade social premium (the at portion of Fairtrade-certified sales earmarked for community “Does fair trade feel fair to you?” we asked. Again they improvements). The fair trade process has also brought hesitated. It all depends, Pablo finally explained, on the co-op into relationships with international aid how productive your farm is: fair trade just guarantees networks and individual buyers. On the other hand, a price, but if the yield or quality is low then you still the cooperative is only one outlet for its members, and don’t make anything, and on small farms like theirs a very discriminating buyer it is. Because fair trade the total yield buyers expect premium is rarely very coffee and cacao, the large. Their members can sell only grandparents’ their best produce through farms had once the co-op. The co-op staff been ample and offers clear feedback to prosperous, they members on the quality said, certainly of their crop, along with enough to recommendations on how provide for the to improve quality, but family’s needs, lower-grade produce must but with each be sold to local merchants generation the on the open market. Still, farms were even though the co-op split among the buys only a fraction of the children. Abelino’s farm was one of the largest at 8 local coffee and cacao, the presence of the co-op and acres, and even he worked off the farm to make ends the higher price that they offer have helped stabilize meet. Now that farms were so small, it was ever more the open-market prices. important to care for the fragile tropical soils, to apply compost and try to maximize yields. Much as in US The fair trade system is changing somewhat as it agriculture, many small-scale farmers in Peru have becomes more successful and widespread. Whereas fair been reluctant to invest time and money in long-term trade was once only the province of small roasters and soil building when short-term profits are already low. buyers who are committed to its core values, a large part of the market is now major firms interested more On our tour we also had a chance to visit Oro Verde’s in the marketing value of the Fairtrade-Certified label. warehouse and compound. Every day during harvest This situation has changed power dynamics within time, the co-op’s trucks depart from the warehouse for the movement as major players have more influence communities, to haul members’ coffee and cacao back over the certification process. Given that the current to their central facility. Here they shell, pack, grade, rules have minimal requirements holding buyers to and taste the coffee. In wooden bins they ferment fair trade values, less principled companies have been cacao beans, then lay them out to dry before sorting able to leverage a small participation in fair trade and packing them. In a shady area on the edge of the into a big marketing gain. At the same time, as fair property they propagate new varieties of coffee plants, trade producers have flourished, their products have varieties they hope will stand a chance against Coffee been recognized for their high quality. For this reason, Leaf Rust, which is devastating Latin American coffee many products from fair trade co-ops are sold without communities. Next to the nursery the co-op’s staff the Fairtrade label, simply because a buyer wants a make compost and raise Efficient Microorganisms, a premium grade of coffee or cacao. Such unlabeled ready-made and potent tea of soil and fungi to products do not pay into the Fairtrade system (or its help build soils and improve crop health. social premium) but might still offer the producers a www.nofamass.org 14 April 2014 Newsletter higher-than-market price.

In many ways we were humbled by our visit—by breaking bread with our hosts, by experiencing in a small way the daily life of these farmers, by observing the influence that our culture has in their communities, and by seeing how much we can learn from them, as well. After working with Oro Verde for a number of years, Dean’s Beans organized this trip hoping to facilitate a genuine exchange among small-scale farmers. We were certainly grateful for their financial assistance and for the opportunity to meet our fellow growers. Dean is open to organizing similar trips in the future, and I would encourage other farmers to take part. As for us, we look forward to supporting the small farmers of the world in their struggle for economic justice.

Jon Magee is a writer and farmer living in western Massachusetts. He started working on organic vegetable farms in 2006 and published the book Small Farm Equipment in 2012. His current writing focuses on the history of farming and farm labor.

www.nofamass.org 15 April 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 16 April 2014 Newsletter Where to buy non-GMO feed? By Jack Kittredge, NOFA/Mass Policy Director

A lot of folks buying local meat, milk, and eggs are also among the consumers who are most concerned about GMOs in our diet. Many of them have not yet made the connection that most GMOs are not in processed foods in the grocery store. The bulk of GMOs are made into animal feed. In fact, it is difficult to buy feed which is not made almost entirely of GMOs–unless you buy organic feed. And everyone knows that organic feed is about twice as expensive as conventional, GMO feed.

So what can we do? Well, there are sources of both organic

and just non-GMO feed on the market, and as more and more people come to care about this, these feeds are becoming better and better distributed in places like Massachusetts.

As part of our campaign to encourage animal raisers to use non-GMO feed–and proudly market their products as not produced with GMO feed–we have developed a list of non-GMO feeds distributed in the Commonwealth, as well as an interactive map showing where they are sold.

To access an introduction to the topic and a list of Northeast producers of non-GMO feed, visit nofamass. org/content/non-gmo-animal-feed-resource-guide. To access our interactive map, visit nofamass.org/content/ non-gmo-animal-feed-sources.

The map is easy to use if you have ever used Google maps. The plus and minus slide bar enables you to zoom in or out, and the four arrows in a circle enable you to move the field of the map north, south, east or west. Clicking on the map and sliding it can also do this. When you see a pin near you, click on it and you will get a pop- up listing of the dealer, the town, the phone number, and the brands sold.

This research and map is the work of policy intern Emily Nink. If you find any errors in the data please contact me at [email protected]. I hope this is very useful to all the animal raisers out there. www.nofamass.org 17 April 2014 Newsletter GMO labeling bill favorably reported out of legislative committee By Jack Kittredge, NOFA/Mass Policy Director

On Monday, March 17 (yes, St. Paddy’s Day for all you of the Irish persuasion) a bill calling for the mandatory labeling of food with GMO ingredients sold in Massachusetts was favorably reported out of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture.

While this may not sound like a big deal, it is! For close to a decade all GMO bills have died in that committee. What brought it out? The amazing outpouring of calls, emails, and letters from people like yourselves to your legislators saying it is time we label these foods. We owe special thanks to Representative Anne Gobi and Senator Marc Pacheco, the House and Senate chairs of the committee for listening to that outpouring and agreeing that we do have the right to know what is in our food!

We also need to thank NOFA/Mass’ partners in the GMO labeling coalition: MassPIRG, MoveOn.org, and MassRight2KnowGMO. We all mobilized our members and constituents to contact the legislature, conducted Lobbying Days at the State House, delivered properly labeled joke packets of food to all legislators, and answered countless questions from and delivered countless studies to an army of legislative aides!

The next step is with the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Yes, you read that right. In their wisdom the leadership has referred the bill to this little-known committee where we need to work more constituent magic. Almost half of the 17 members of this committee have signed on to the idea of GMO labeling already, so if we can get their attention we should be able to move the bill this next step along.

Although we are excited about having a bill in play, as it came out of committee the bill is not everything we wanted. For starters, it contains a trigger – similar to the Connecticut and Maine bills passed last year. That means that it will not go into effect until other states pass similar bills – in Massachusetts’ case four more states so that there is a combined population of 20 million affected. That means New York or both Pennsylvania and New Jersey would have to join New England. In addition, there is currently no prohibition of use of the word “natural” with GMO foods. Also there is no preamble establishing the state’s compelling interest in labeling GMOs. Such an interest is crucial, lawyers say, in defending the bill from court challenges (virtually certain to be filed by Monsanto and friends should it become law.)

Nevertheless, we are encouraged that the bill lives. It can be amended and improved during this legislative process – which doesn’t end until the last day of July – if we generate enough energy. You will be hearing from us again!

www.nofamass.org 18 April 2014 Newsletter YOUR VOICES: COMMUNITY ISSUES In this new section of the newsletter, we will feature articles written by members of our local communities on issues of importance to them.

We welcome your submissions! Please send your story or idea by email to [email protected].

Smart People or ‘Smart’ Meters By Patricia Burke Will Allen’s book “The War on Bugs” chronicles times lower. how industrialists of the 20th century manufactured demand for and fertilizers by promising Dr. Mercola wrote: “Companies like Monsanto wealth and ease, and are buying cultivating fear that increasingly crops would fail without more friends by chemical intervention. funding colleges Industrialists avoided and universities, disposal fees and reaped where they can massive profits by gain control over introducing chemicals research, science, manufactured for policy, and public warfare into the opinion… It’s consumer marketplace, become quite clear backed by an army of that instead of scientists, advertisers, evidence-based and bankers via farm decision making, we journals, academia, now have decision- county agriculture based evidence agents, and marketers, including Dr. Seuss. making.” On that basis, the MA Department of Public Conquering nature through the commoditization of Utilities (DPU) is mandating smart meters as the the periodic table of the elements was one hallmark of cornerstone to grid modernization, despite unresolved the 20th century. cost, security, privacy, safety, customer choice, green- washing, environmental and health concerns. A leading Commoditization of the electromagnetic spectrum, “tobacco scientist” was the only witness who testified particularly microwave radiofrequencies, is the on behalf of smart meter safety before the MA DPU in hallmark of the 21st century. The military-industrial Feb. 2014. Product defense firms suppress evidence of complex played a hand, establishing pro-industry harm for the tobacco, asbestos, and lead industries by radiofrequency (RF) exposure limits in Western skewing technical literature and magnifying doubt. Alliance nations (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.) Many countries enforce limits hundreds of Why Do Informed Environmentalists Oppose times lower by recognizing and protecting against non- ‘Smart’ Meters? thermal biological impacts. While the Western Alliance In its smart grid policy statement, Berkshire Litchfield countries assume that only tissue heating is harmful Environmental Council stated: “The smart grid is (the thermal threshold), many countries recognize and increasingly understood as an over engineered, ill- protect against biological impacts at levels hundreds of advised, financial boondoggle at taxpayer expense, www.nofamass.org 19 April 2014 Newsletter capable of endangering the security of the entire pending the results of the DPU working group process. national grid, violating constitutional privacy The group is petitioning the Attorney General to protections, and endangering public health. In investigate the Worcester Smart Meter Pilot and the addition, the smart grid/metering has not been found DPU working group process. to save energy when all the new variables in the system are factored in. Plus, time-of-use pricing is largely Learn more here: punitive to those who can least afford it. Time-of-use HaltMAsmartmeters.org pricing is fundamentally a Wall Street model designed stopsmartmetersmassachusetts.org to maintain shareholder profits as we transition to more NoMassSmartMeters.wordpress.com. energy efficient models that will reduce demand.” facebook.com/pages/STOP-NG-SMART- GRID/269138816433075 ‘Smart’ meters track minute details, enabling time of use pricing. Smart appliances micro-chipped with transmitters in the 2.4 GHz range enable the utility to monitor and control consumption. A second Patricia Burke is a meridian yoga teacher, student of the 60 meter transmitter communicates with the utility year Chinese agricultural calendar, writer, and full time activist company in the 900 MHz range utilizing pulsed working on behalf of biologically based RF limits. She was microwave radiofrequencies. Meters communicate injured by smart meter installation in CA in 2009. Many of her in an interconnected “mesh network”, inefficiently articles, including “Picture A World Without Honeybees,” are broadcasting in all directions all the time, eventually featured in Spirit of Change Magazine. reaching a neighborhood node that transmits data to the electric company. Communication uses microbursts of pulsed radiofrequencies, for example 1/2000th of a second every 2 seconds, between 10,000 to 190,000 Protecting Agribusiness times daily. Utilities imply that the meter only transmits a few minutes per day by adding the microbursts and What You Insurance averaging the power of the pulses. Value Most Solutions

The pulsing RF has created serious adverse health Enduring relationships with our clients impacts in a portion of the population. Opt-outs have resulted in a mutual respect that do not protect medically vulnerable residents. The lies at the heart of how we do business. American Academy of Environmental Medicine called for a moratorium on the installation of smart meters. Local Offices Throughout the Northeast. Learn More For an Agent Near You Call: Consumer organizations including the National 1-800-The-Farm Consumer Law Center oppose smart meters due to (1-800-843-3276) or visit the movement towards prepay meters, remote shut- www.FarmFamily.com offs, and the impact on low-income ratepayers. The Department of the Interior recently issued a report on towers and migratory birds. The BioInitiative Report summarizes independent scientific research. India already lowered its standard to 1/10th of previous RF limits. “Getting Smarter About the Smart Grid” by the National Institute for Science, Law and Public Policy Life insurance products offered by Farm Family Life Insurance Company, Glenmont, NY. offers a road map to a decentralized, truly smart grid. 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

HaltMAsmartmeters.org is the leading consumer FF-288A (0310) advocacy organization in MA opposing smart meters. Opt out Bill H2926 is on hold in the legislature www.nofamass.org 20 April 2014 Newsletter Donegan Family Dairy, VT. One of the Organic Valley family farms that supply milk for our yogurt

www.nofamass.org 21 April 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.

Appleton Farms Clark Organic Farm 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA 185 Concord St, Carlisle, MA 978-356-5728, [email protected] 978-836-8687, [email protected] www.thetrustees.org/appleton www.clarkfarmcarlisle.com Dairy Store hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., We offer two sizes of CSA shares. A large share is for Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cape Ann those who cook almost every meal and eat tons of Farmers’ Market, Thursdays 3 to 6:30 p.m. (June veggies and berries. The small share is for those who 12-October 9), Newburyport Farmers’ Market, cook frequently and love their veggies, but may only Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (late May-October). be feeding a couple people. Appleton Farms products (year-round): farmstead aged cheeses, fresh cheeses, whole milk yogurt, milk Colchester Neighborhood Farm (skim, 1%, whole, heavy cream), grass-fed beef, eggs. 90 Brook St, Plympton, MA Other locally sourced products include: bread, grains, 781-422-3921, [email protected] condiments, seasonings, maple syrup. In season: www.colchesterneighborhoodfarm.com seasonal vegetables and other locally sourced Our farm stand and pick-your-own will open June 1. cheeses (goat, mozzarella). Right now we have farm fresh eggs and CSA shares for sale. Billingsgate Farm 6 County Road, Plympton, MA Cow Belle Farm 781-293-6144, [email protected] 413-687-4061, [email protected] www.billingsgatefarm.com cowbellefarm.com Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday Join our mailing list for upcoming Meat-up’s and bulk & Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. sales offers. Call or email for availability.

Blue Heron Organic Farm Farmer Dave’s CSA PO Box 67, Lincoln, MA 437 Parker Road, Dracut, MA 781-254-3727, [email protected] 978-349-1952, [email protected] www.blueheronfarmlincoln.com www.farmerdaves.net We will be opening the farm stand in mid-May Cape Ann Farmers’ Market on March 15 and April (Fridays-Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) with an Organic 19 selling stored root vegetables and greenhouse Plant Sale! We sell to many Boston area restaurants; baby greens. Brox Farm Stand, 1276 Broadway please see website (click on ‘Restaurants’) for Road, Dracut, MA, opening in May for annuals and seasonal availability. The farm stand is open June- perennial plant sales and mid-June for produce. October, please visit website for more information Spring CSA Shares: March 3-June 6; pickup available about farm stand hours and farmers’ markets. Please in Reading, Burlington, Dracut, Tewksbury, Union email the farmer if interested in volunteering! Square-Somerville, Lawrence and home delivery in select areas. Summer CSA Vegetable and Fruit Shares: June 9-October 24; many pickup options. www.nofamass.org 22 April 2014 Newsletter See website for more info. have 2 spring plant sales where we sell dozens and dozens of varieties of vegetables, flowers and First Root Farm herbs starts and seeds, organic soil amendments, Farm Location: 955 Lexington Road; Mailing Address: bags of soil mixes, compost, fertilizers, organic pest PO Box 673, Concord, MA controls, and more. The first “Early Spring Plant [email protected] Sale” is on Saturday April 26 and the “Spring Plant www.firstrootfarm.com Sale” is on May 17, 18, 24, 25 with early “Members 2014 CSA shares now available! 21 weeks of delicious Only” hours for members of the nonprofit Friends of produce grown using organic & sustainable methods. Holly Hill Farm on Friday May 16. Details are on our $650 full share/$350 small share. Pickups in Concord website. & Somerville. Weekly handmade CSA news zine, pick-your-own, flower bouquet share option, kid & Lindentree Farm CSA family friendly. We also have fall shares (November, 10 Old Concord Road, Lincoln, MA four weeks) and winter shares (two bulk pickups 781-259-1259, [email protected] November/December). Read all about it and sign up lindentreefarm.com at our website. Lincoln Farmers’ Market at the Lincoln Mall Station, Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., June through Green Meadows Farm September. We also host the Field of Greens for Food 656 Asbury St, South Hamilton, MA for Free in Cambridge. Summer vegetable shares farm: 978-468-2277, office: 978-468-3720, admin@ including berries, melons, and flowers. We have 20 gmfarm.com years of experience growing, certified organic with www.gmfarm.com biological farming emphasis. 20-22 week CSA, from Open Tuesday-Sunday, April through December, 8 June-October, with pick-ups on site in Lincoln, three a.m. to 6 p.m. 2014 Vegetable, Flower, and Fruit pick-up days to choose from: Tuesday, Thursday, Shares Available. Saturday. Some work participation and preseason orientation. We also have openings on our crew for Heritage Fields interns, and an assistant farmer position with housing 309 Gidney Road, Orange, MA on site (for that position only). Pay according to 978-544-3282, [email protected] experience. Open by appointment. ADGA purebred LaMancha kids for breeding stock; frozen chevon, kids for Long Life Farm custom slaughter. 205 Winter St, Hopkinton, MA 508-596-1651, [email protected] High Meadow Farm www.longlifefarm.com 28 High St, Hubbardston, MA 2014 CSA Vegetable Shares on sale now, certified 978-928-5646, [email protected] organic. www.highmeadowfarms.com Farm stand open 9 a.m. to dusk daily. 100% grass-fed Many Hands Organic Farm beef, woodland raised pork, pure maple syrup and 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, MA honey. 978-355-2853, [email protected] www.mhof.net Holly Hill Farm Call ahead to visit. Comfrey salve at $8, Eggs at $7/ 236 Jerusalem Road, Cohasset, MA dozen and Lavender and peppermint soap at $6/bar 781-383-1455, [email protected] are available now. Boneless half hams at $13/lb, and www.hollyhillfarm.org various beef cuts listed on the website are available 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. seasonally, check website for for on farm purchase right now. Certified organic CSA details. Certified organic produce, flowers, and herbs shares, pork, chicken, turkey, and soup birds now beginning in the spring with asparagus, salad greens, available to pre-order. and other produce as the season progresses. We

www.nofamass.org 23 April 2014 Newsletter Natick Community Organic Farm SideHill Farm 117 Eliot St. (Route 16), Natick, MA 58 Forget Road, Hawley, MA 508-655-2204, [email protected] 413-339-0033, [email protected] www.natickfarm.org www.sidehillfarm.net Farm open every day during daylight hours. Onions, Our farm shop is open year-round, seven days a carrots, rutabagas, lots of cranberries, possibly some week, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Raw Milk, yogurt, beef, our winter squash, mesclun, whole organic chicken, pork just-out-of-the-cave Hawley Blue cheese, and our (cuts, smoked), turkey, maple syrup, woolen yarn, farm-shop-only Sour Cream. All from our grass-fed and woolen roving. cows and available in the farm shop. We now have pork from the first SideHill Farm forest pigs. Come Natural Roots visit! 888 Shelburne Falls Road, Conway, MA 413-369-4269, [email protected] Small Ones Farm www.naturalroots.com 416 Bay Road, Amherst, MA Starting in June, open Tuesdays and Fridays 3 to 6:30 413-253-6788, [email protected] p.m. CSA shares from our horse-powered farm are www.smallonesfarm.com available (forms at the farm or on our website). Farm Stand opens in July. Our 2014 Fruit CSA shares are now available! We have a waiting list for our New Lands Farm summer CSA, but we have openings available for our 593 Main St, Springfield, MA fall CSA. Contact us via our website or via email to 51 Union St, Worcester, MA register or get on our waiting list! 413-787-0725/508-754-1121, [email protected] www.newlandsfarm.org Sweet Autumn Farm New Lands Farm, a program of Lutheran Social 180 Prospect St, Carlisle, MA Services, is now inviting new members to join our 978-287-0025, [email protected] CSA! The New Lands Farm refugee farmer collective Tuesday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 will grow, harvest, and pack a unique share of p.m. (starting in May). Chicken (available now-call vegetables for you or your family each week from ahead), duck eggs, heirloom vegetables, cut and June 17 – October 14. Weekly pick-ups are available edible flowers, herbs, heirloom tomato and pepper on our two farm sites in Sutton and West Springfield seedlings (sale in May), and Registered Nigerian on Tuesdays or in downtown Worcester on Goatlings for sale as milkers and pets. Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. To learn more about our CSA and become a member, email or call Sara Tower Sweet Morning Farm or visit our website. 910 Greenfield Road, Leyden, MA 413-773-8325, [email protected] Robinson Farm www.sweet-morning-farm.blogspot.com 42 Jackson Road, Hardwick, MA Seven days a week, daylight hours, at the farm. 413-477-6988, [email protected] CSA Shares on sale now, 3 sizes - Full, Half and www.robinsonfarm.org Mini. Reserve now for summer shares. Organically Farm Shop hours 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Check our grown eggs and microgreens. Coming soon: mesclun, website for retail cheese locations. Offering our radishes, and spring greens. Sign-up for our Eggs and “Award winning” Farmstead aged cheeses (cow), Extras list for winter and spring crops. our grass-fed beef/veal, Raw Milk, Sidehill Farm yogurt, Westfield Farm goat cheese, Hardwick Sugar Tracie’s Community Farm, LLC Shack maple syrup, High Meadow and Frolhoff Farm 72 Jaffrey Road, just north of Winchendon on Rt 12, pork, local honey, jams, crackers, and “Real Pickle” Fitzwilliam, NH fermented veggies. 603-209-1851, [email protected] www.traciesfarm.com Farm stand and farm store in barn open daily sun-

www.nofamass.org 24 April 2014 Newsletter up to sundown. Summer shares for the 2014 Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. season. Check out our website for more information. We have available 2014 100% Pure Maple syrup We have Walpole Creamery Ice Cream, Smith Country Cheese, Eggs from Monte Rosa Farm, raw Warm Colors Apiary honey, jam, maple syrup and soap in our farm store 2 South Mill River Road, South Deerfield, MA located in the barn. We’ll have vegetable, herb, and 413-665-4513, [email protected] flower 6 packs, hanging baskets, perennials and more www.warmcolorsapiary.com out at our farm stand. All grown without the use of Varieties of Honey, beeswax candles, and beekeeping chemical fertilizers and pesticides and with varieties equipment and supplies. that do well in our area.

Turner Farms Maple Syrup PO Box 65, South Egremont, MA 413-528-5710, [email protected] www.turnerfarmsmaplesyrup.com

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 25 April 2014 Newsletter Community Happenings

Events

Just Roots presents: Community Herbalism Intensive April 19 – October 18 (3rd weekend of ea. month) The Greenfield Community Farm, Greenfield, MA Saturdays from 1pm – 4pm & Sundays from 10pm – 4pm This Herbal Medicine Program will provide a foundation in Western Constitutional Herbalism and its impact on the specific needs of our community in Franklin County. This course will be a combination of classroom discussions, wild plant walks, foraging, and cultivation of medicinal plants.

This 7-month course is $850 (early bird rate), payment plans available. Register at: justroots.org/events/community-herbalism-intensive/ Contact [email protected] for more information

Valuing time and muscle - Working with beginning farmers in labor record keeping Thursday, April 17th - 12pm to 1pm Knowing how to take labor records can set up your farmers to make management decisions that appropriately value labor, especially their own. How can you support beginning farmers in these record-keeping skills? Whether it is setting prices, evaluating profitability, or considering a new farm investment, this training will help you work with beginning farmers in designing the right recording keeping systems that lead to informed management decisions.

Register for this webinar here http://bit.ly/1h9jFIw.

Diversifying beyond direct - Supporting beginning farmers in exploring wholesale markets Friday, April 25th - 12:00pm to 1:00pm Most beginning farmers look to direct marketing like farmers markets and CSA’s for the majority of their sales and don’t consider wholesale as a viable option. Learn about the nature of wholesale relationships, terms of pricing and payment, and expectations for quality and packaging. Exploring the structure of wholesale markets will help you design outreach and education programs that prepare beginning farmers to consider these channels as their enterprises grow.

Register for this webinar http://bit.ly/1k4Jw6y.

Just Roots presents: Raising Your Own Meat and Eggs Sunday, April 27 10am to 4pm The Greenfield Community Farm, Greenfield, MA Learn about the ins and outs of raising your own meat and eggs, including pigs, chickens and turkeys. Topics include breed selection, infrastructure, nutrition, budgetary facts & figures, etc. This class is geared towards first- time livestock owners.

The cost of this workshop is $95 (early bird rate). Register at: justroots.org/events/raising-your-own-meat-and- eggs/ Contact [email protected] for more information

www.nofamass.org 26 April 2014 Newsletter Community Happenings

Farm Based Vacation Program Tuesday, April 22 - Friday April 25 9:30am – 12pm Soule Homestead Education Center, Middleboro, MA Hands-on interactive program designed to spark interest in nature, build self-confidence and develop social skills. Explore 120-acres of pristine farm land; nature inspired arts, crafts, and games. A different theme is planned each day! Children ages 5-10 may enroll. Per day: $13 member, $15 non-member. 4 day week: $45 member, $53 non-member.

Pre-registration and payment by Friday, April 18. Call 508-947-6744; email Laurie Amberman at educator@ soulehomestead.org; or visit soulehomestead.org for more information.

Announcements

Assistant Farm Manager Wanted Small organic, grass based dairy & cheese making operation seeking Assistant Farm Manager: Ideal full time candidate will have an interest in gaining knowledge about all aspects of the operation including cheese making, herd management, milking, and adding diversification to the whole farm operation. Cow health knowledge strongly preferred. Reply to this ad with resume and wage requirements for application. Serious applicants only. No calls or stopping by, email application only. [email protected]

Field of Greens, a program of Food for Free, accepting volunteers for 2014 growing season! Field of Greens grows a variety of greens, cabbage, and root vegetables in Lincoln, MA (about 30 min outside Boston). All of the produce we grow is donated to Boston area hunger relief agencies, and nearly all of the work in the fields is done by volunteers. This work includes everything from planting and weeding to harvesting and preparing for distribution. We work Wednesday mornings from May through November, or until there are no more crops in the field.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email [email protected].

Breakthrough Leaders Program for Sustainable Food Systems at UVM

The University of Vermont is offering a combined online and on-campus cross-disciplinary program addressing problems and opportunities relating to sustainable food systems and leadership. The program will start online from June 2 - 13 concluding with an on-campus week long interactive on campus session from June 15 - 20.

More info: learn.uvm.edu/programs/breakthrough-leaders or contact Christina Economou, ceeconom@uvm. edu, 802-656-0642

www.nofamass.org 27 April 2014 Newsletter www.nofamass.org 28 April 2014 Newsletter NOFA/Mass Workshops & Events

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

Spring Holistic and Traditional Nutrition Series: Beans and Grains April 15 – 6:00pm to 8:00pm House of Gena Mavuli, Boston, MA Cost: $35 NOFA Members; $42 Non-members Beans and grains can be a healthy part of a diet, but if prepared incorrectly, they can be a source of gastric distress and lead to a host of health problems. In this class you’ll learn how to properly prepare beans and grains so that your body can absorb all the nutrition possible from your meals. Instructor: Gena Mavuli

Growing Gourmet Mushrooms in your Yard and Garden April 27 – 10:00am to 12:30pm Newton Community Farm, Natick, MA Cost: $28 NOFA members; $34 non-members This hands-on workshop will teach you the techniques necessary to grow edible mushrooms in your landscape, whether a vegetable garden, or ornamental understory. We will discuss and demonstrate companion

planting with mushrooms in annual and perennial settings. We’ll also explore how to make use of waste materials and neglected spaces through mushroom cultivation. This workshop will primarily focus on Wine Cap, Elm Oyster, and Oyster mushrooms. Instructors: Dan Bensonoff & Dan Schenk

Spring Holistic and Traditional Nutrition Series: Culturing Dairy April 29 – 6:00pm to 8:00pm House of Gena Mavuli, Boston, MA Cost: $35 NOFA Members; $42 Non-members Have you ever wanted to make your own yogurt, but just don’t know where to begin? This class will go over the ins and outs of making yogurt, kefir, and creme fraiche in your own home. Culturing makes dairy easy on the digestive system because the “good” bacteria break down the milk sugar and casein, rendering it much more digestible and pleasant to consume than normal dairy products, particularly those that are pasteurized. Bring your questions along with you! Instructor: Gena Mavuli

www.nofamass.org 29 April 2014 Newsletter Korean Natural Farming May 3 – 9:30am to 4:30pm Heifer Farm, Rutland, MA Cost: $45 NOFA members; $54 non-members Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is an agricultural method that encourages self-sustaining, closed loop systems through minimizing external inputs. Developed by Master Han Kyu Cho in South , KNF echoes many of the principles central to Masanobu Fukuoka’s Natural Farming technique as well as Permaculture. Workshop attendees will learn to make various KNF inputs such as Indigenous Microorganism (IMO) soil inoculant, Fish Amino Acids, Water-soluble , and Oriental Herbal Nutrient. KNF is applicable to many types and scales of farming, from backyard veggie gardening to larger scale livestock operations. Students will walk away from the workshop equipped with the knowledge to implement KNF practices on their own farm or garden. Instructor: Aaron Englander

Genetic Roulette and discussion of GMOs May 7 – 7:00pm Dracut Garden Club, Dracut, MA Cost: Free Learn how you can protect your family from the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and join together with other consumers to demand mandatory labeling of GMOs in our food.

Film screening of 60-minute video Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives featuring numerous doctors, veterinarians, and other health professionals discuss the dangers of eating GMOs.

Post-film discussion with Jack Kittredge, Policy Director, NOFA/Mass.

www.nofamass.org 30 April 2014 Newsletter New and Renewing NOFA/Mass Members in March:

Virginia Adams and Diane Johns Brooke Finn and Rita Jamie O’Gorman Mike Agosti Wollmering Keith and Dawn Olcott Karen Aherne Alden Fish Harriet Marple Plehn Lisa Alexander Lisa Fox Dianna Provencher Helen Allard Martine Gougault Hui Eddie Qi Ann Banks Donna Green James Ruma Sam Barkoskie Holly Hill Farm Sage Crossing Foundation Cate Barkoskie Alexander Houtzager Bruce and Rachel Scherer Claire Bateman Kathy Huckins Susan Sellew Kathrin Woodlyn Bateman Jeffrey Jourdain Lesley Shore and Bill Tragakis Patricia Benjamin and Stephen Jaya and Geof Karlson John Sielski Swingle Colleen Kearney and Sean T. Robin Silva Barbara Bockbrader Brady Debra Simes Alden Booth and Elisabeth Anna Kelchlin Donna St. Amant Greenough Amy Klippenstein and Paul Jack Stacy Vin Bucca Lacinski Ed Stockman Cape Cod Organic Gardeners Rick Kunz and Laura Plath Liz Strachan Anne Casavant-Chaney Jeff Langevin Diane Syverson Craig Cheesman Henry Lappen Laura Timmerman Bruce Colby Peter Lappin Christine Turnbull Kathy Cole Carol Laurin Tom and Patricia Vaughan Kay Deans Robert Lynch and Meghan Paul and Alice Vigliani Mike DeRosa Arquin Jonathan von Ranson Frederick Dowd Melissa Martin Anthony Walker Dianne Elardo James McSweeney Julie Weitekamp Rich Eldred Rosalind Michahelles Martha Gilpatrick Wolf Carl Fawcett George Northrop and Kathleen George Zahka Mrs. Marcia D. Feinberg Collins Richard Zukowski

Thank you to Spring Appeal Donors in March

Andres Aguirre Sandra Hume Jacqui Marsh Robert Banning Jack Kittredge and Julie Jennifer Munoz Patricia Benjamin and Stephen Rawson Linda Ugelow Swingle John & Margaret Lowry Mary Lou Conna Dave and Kerri MacDonald

www.nofamass.org 31 April 2014 Newsletter NOFA/ Massachusetts 411 Sheldon Road Barre, MA 01005

www.nofamass.org 32 April 2014 Newsletter