Winter 2018

Enid’s Thoughts...... 2 A Day in the Life...... 3 “Vt Farm Kids”...... 5 Policy Update...... 6 Digging into Data...... 9 “Garden Diary” Poem...... 9 Jr Iron Chef VT...... 11 New Members...... 10

The Quarterly Newsletter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Organic Matters: Culture & Agriculture Our 36th annual Winter Conference, February 17-19th, 2018 By Megan Browning, Winter Conference Coordinator & Enid Wonnacott, Executive Director

With over 90 workshops, there is challenges, as well as something for everyone at the NOFA the role of the next Vermont Winter Conference! Are you generation in positive a homesteader or gardener interested in change. The theme plant propagation or raising bees? A food will be addressed enthusiast excited about making herbal throughout the medicines, or learning how to render conference – in our animal fats? Are you a commercial grower keynote addresses, interested in improving your cover crop workshops, and two system, or ready to make land succession featured films:Dolores plans? Or a beginner farmer interested and Look & See: A in learning about direct marketing and Portrait of Wendell financial planning? Want to take a deeper Berry. to essential issues that are rarely in public dive? Choose from four discourse and not reflected in agricultural full-day Monday inten- Throughout the We are thrilled to wel- policies. At Farm School NYC, the sives - Direct Marketing, conference we will address come esteemed keynote mission is to train local residents in urban Hemp, Cut Flowers or agrarianism as a catalyst speakers Mary Berry, agriculture in order to build self-reliant the Executive Director Silvopasture, with plenty for social change. communities and inspire positive local of time for discussion of the Berry Center in action around food access and social, and Q&A. Kentucky, and Onika economic, and racial justice issues. Abraham, farmer, educator and Director The theme of this year’s winter confer- of Farm School NYC. Throughout the conference we will ence, Organic address agrarianism as a catalyst for social Matters: Culture Both Onika and Mary will address our change, and the role of the next genera- & Agriculture, cel- critical and active role in the future of tion in stewarding the future of organic ebrates our agrarian farming and the organic movement. food and farming. roots. It addresses What will it take for farmers to be able to the important role afford to farm well? How do we become With so many interesting attendees and of agriculture in a culture that supports good farming exhibitors, one of the highlights of the our current envi- and land use? These are just two of the conference is the opportunity to network. ronmental, social, questions being asked by the Berry Center Catch up with friends old and new during in Kentucky, working to provide solutions and personal health (Winter Conference, continued on page 3) NOFA VERMONT NOFA: 802-434-4122 Winter Thoughts from Enid VOF: 802-434-3821 [email protected] | www.nofavt.org Along with the cold and the dark, winter is a advocates held two December meetings to great time for many of us to get to perseverate by address the issue of organic integrity, discussing BOARD OF DIRECTORS the fire, catch up on some reading, and attend everything from a whole new label, to an add-on Cheryl Cesario conferences and meetings. Our label to the existing organic Maggie Donin upcoming Winter Conference We are not ready to cede label that would denote different Seth Gardner is a great opportunity to fill production practices (e.g. soil Annette Higby use of and meaning of your networking bank back to grown, regenerative), to suing the Andrew Knafel the word organic to the full – we often think we should USDA over mismanagement. A David Marchant federal government. Lynn Ellen Schimoler just have one space, with few significant component of each Will Stevens structured sessions, and allow meeting focused on consumer Kate Turcotte everyone to just chat with each other and catch confusion in the market place and the challenge of Jon Turner up – a big winter party. introducing new labels. STAFF Of course, we have built a lot of time and The NOFA-VT Board of Directors met in Kyla Bedard Education Coordinator opportunity for just that at our upcoming December and made the decision to stand with Kirsten Bower conference, along with workshops where people organic, to work with our congressional delegation Finance Director can share what they have been thinking about (among others) to maintain the integrity of the Erin Buckwalter and learning in the last year, songs, roundtable label, and to promote the Vermont Organic Market Development Director discussions, good food, etc. Standing on the stage Farmers (VOF) label (the organic certification Nicole Dehne Certification Director and looking out at all of the energy in the room is program of NOFA-VT). We are not ready to cede Rachel Fussell one of my favorite times of the year. use of and meaning of the word organic to the Certification Specialist federal government. Phoebe Judge One of the important messages we will be VOF Materials Review & Staff Inspector communicating at the conference this year is This is not the only “wicked problem” or “complex Katy Lash that Organic Matters, our conference theme. issue” that we are dealing with this winter. Issues Certification Program Assistant There have been several high-profile national such as global climate change, cleaning up Lake Kim Norman Mercer media reports this year about products being Champlain, and dairy pricing are also wicked and Communications Coordinator fraudulently labeled as organic, farms not meeting complex in that there are many variables, they Jen Miller Farmer Services Director the standards, the Trump administration holding are constantly changing and often contradictory, Maddie Monty Kempner up the Animal Welfare rules, and the National they are beyond our control. There is not one Membership & Advocacy Coordinator Organic Standards Board being corrupted by simple solution. But the issue is that we are in Abbie Nelson corporate interests. NOFA-VT was part of a strong communion, trying to figure it out together, trying Food Systems Education Director collaboration of farmers and farm businesses to to keep an ultimate goal in mind. Laura Nunziata Quality Assurance Specialist send a strong message to the National Organic If we agree, broadly, to produce food and steward Jennie Porter Program (NOSB) to Keep the Soil in Organic, Community Food Security Coordinator and not allow the certification of hydroponic the land in a way that protects and promotes Winston Rost operations. personal and environmental health, then Organic Certification Specialist Matters. We might need to feed the fire a few Gregg Stevens Suffice to say, the mistrust of the enforcement and more times to work at some of the layers of this Certification Specialist administration of the National Organic Program wicked problem, and for sure have a lot more Stephanie Walsh Certification Specialist has been building and the latest vote by the NOSB conversations. Looking forward to participating in Marissa Watson at their October meeting in Florida to not prohibit those, as always. School Food Programs Coordinator hydroponic production to be labeled as organic Becca Weiss was the last straw for many farmers. Reaching that Share the Harvest Coord. & Office Assistant tipping point spurred many farmer meetings in Enid Wonnacott Vermont and nationally, with a resounding, “what Executive Director do we do now?” Enid Wonnacott Lauren Young NOFA-VT Executive Director Office Manager A group of Vermont organic farmers and organic

PAGE 2 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 A Day in the Life of a Vermont Dairy Farmer By Kyla Bedard, Education & Organic Dairy Program Coordinator

It’s 4am, pre-dawn, the time when most Due to the application of are tucked in their beds, sound asleep. chemical fertilizers, it took A time when the dark, silent, stillness the Corse family three years envelops you. For dairy farmer Leon to transition their land and Corse, it’s his favorite time of the day; animals to organic. he’s rested and it’s just him and his cows. Milking cows for over 40 years, it’s an In 2007, as they were about to automatic process for Leon, these early begin their last year of transi- mornings are the time where he does his tion, the herd transition (where best thinking. Waking up early is habit, a the cows are fed & managed part of life and Leon wouldn’t want it any organically while paid the Leon Corse, at his farm in Whitingham other way. conventional price for milk), they tragically lost their milking parlor to ing for their breakfast and to be milked, Corse Farm Dairy in Whitingham has a fire. This was a logistical nightmare for and it’s not even 5am yet…this is just the been in Leon’s family for 149 years, he Leon; not only would they need to find day to day of having a farm, all before we is the fifth generation and runs the farm a place to house and milk their cows- it even bring weather into the equation.” with the help of his wife Linda and would have to be within the organic daughter Abbie. A member of CROPP regulations. Leon was fortunate enough With the Corse Family Dairy located Cooperative, Organic Valley, the Corses to find a farm just over the border in at 2000’ feet; Leon’s been told that his are currently milking 55 cows, manage Massachusetts that was also transitioning great-grandfather would say, “when you about 100 acres of permanent pasture and had sold their milking cows. The fire live up here you should expect 9 months and more than 250 acres of hay fields, was on a Thursday night and by Friday of winter, 3 months of difficult sledding.” renting land from 23 neighbors. The morning Leon had the move figured out, Vermont can be a particularly harsh Corse family has “always had milking only missed one milking and remained region to farm and adds to the challenges cows and they’ve always been pastured, on schedules, becoming certified a year our farmers face. “On paper, this is not making organic not a huge stretch for later. a viable farm- when you look at the soil us,” said Leon. When he was first intro- types, length of growing season and how duced to organic in 2005, it took him Dairy farming is not an easy profession, it wet the farm is” but Leon has learned only a couple of hours to realize “it was is a lifestyle. “There are 10-15 days out of that the “reality of a farmer is that when a no-brainer”. The two main challenges the year when things don’t go smoothly you work with mother nature, you work they faced when considering transition and it feels like work,” Leon says. “These with mother nature.” Despite the difficult were the use of chemical fertilizers and days are bad, the kind of days where climate, Leon has been able to improve antibiotics, which were primarily used everything seems to go wrong and all at his land through conservation and on cows before ‘dry off’- the few months once… the heifers escaped and are in the management intensive rotational grazing before calving when cows are not milked road, broken water lines and the tractor where he moves his cows to fresh pasture - to prevent infections in their udders. breaks down. All while 55 cows are wait- (Dairy Farmer, continued on next page)

(Winter Conference, continued from page 1) our extended lunch time, evening social annual conference is a great opportunity is a highlight of the winter for Vermont’s opportunities, or at the seed swap. You’ll to introduce new people to NOFA-VT, local food growers and eaters. We look also enjoy working on a community art and build our network of people com- forward to this annual opportunity to project with Bonnie Acker, or eating mitted to sustaining agriculture and food bring together farmers, gardeners, home- roasted roots from the NOFA-VT oven systems through organic gardening or steaders and organic food enthusiasts for and a variety of delicious food donated by farming, choosing organic food when three days of shared learning, inspiration, generous local food producers. they make purchasing decisions, or being good food, and great conversation. We a strong, positive voice for organic. look forward to seeing you there! If you have attended the conference d before, please bring a friend this year. Our The NOFA Vermont Winter Conference

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 PAGE 3 to organic. to be in oversupply with the potential to last another year to 18 months. With this Being certified organic for almost 10 oversupply of milk, organic milk buyers years, Leon has seen many changes currently are not signing contracts with within the organic milk market. The any new farms. This has been a hard farm transitioned when the conventional year for our organic dairy farmers with milk market was high, which was perfect them operating at or close to the cost of timing as this higher conventional pay production. In Leon’s case, luckily, “it’s price helped offset the high cost of not putting our farm in real jeopardy but organic feed during the transition. They we have to be real cautious of how we were shipping their milk organic for 6 manage our money.” months when the conventional price crashed. This caused a number of farms When the Corse family discusses the Leon, enjoying his grandson. to transition to organic for the steadier, older generation winding down, Leon has higher milk price and for 18 months the made it clear to his daughter Abbie, who every twelve hours. He is the first Master organic pay price was high. In 2009, due will be taking over the farm, that the last Grazer in Vermont, certified through the to this flood of newly certified dairies, thing he wants to give up is his morning Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program, the organic milk market took a downturn milking, his favorite part of being a dairy and has taken on the challenge of training and Leon questioned his decision to tran- farmer. Despite all the challenges Leon’s the first Grazing Apprentice in the state. sition but knew organic was a much more faced over the years, to him farming is As Leon says “education is a lifelong stable market. Luckily, the organic market not a job or work, it’s a way of life. When experience, as long as you’re willing.” This quickly turned around and in 2015 they people ask Leon how he does it every is proven in his commitment to educa- were receiving the highest milk price day, he replies, “it’s because I don’t think tion and sharing of knowledge; he even ever. In hindsight Leon says “it was too of it as working, it’s just how I spend my manages to find time to mentor local much”; in 2016 the organic milk market time.” d dairy farmers interested in transitioning again became flooded and it continues East Hill Tree Farm Nursery for Fruit Trees Nuts and Berry Plants

Plainfield, VT (802) 454-7874 [email protected] Visit www.easthilltreefarm.com to check out our bare-root fruit trees for spring. Bless up the Earth.

PAGE 4 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 Agricultural Literacy Week: Premiere of “Vermont Farm Kids” This year, for Agricultural Literacy Week, the annual celebration of Vermont’s farming heritage, NOFA-VT presented a new short documentary, “Vermont Farm Kids.” The film was produced by NOFA-VT Farm to Community Mentor Maria Reade and filmed by James Chandler. It depicts the unique and poignant stories of farm kids (ages 10-28) from across the state of Vermont.

A special film premier in Montpelier on Nov. 14, 2017 featured a showing of the film and remarks from Lt. Governor David Zuckerman (who is also an organic farmer), Agricultural Secretary Anson Tebbetts, and Vermont Librarian Scott Murphy. Some of the farm kids were also on hand to share their thoughts, and filmmaker Maria Reade talked about her experience making the film. d

Photos: (Top) Lt. Governor and organic farmer David Zuckerman talks to the audience about the unique experience of growing up on a Vermont farm. (Bottom left) The Ransom brothers are featured in the film, talking about the fun they have at Strafford Organic Creamery. (Bottom right) Willa Robb poses by the portrait of her and her brothers, taken during the filming of “Vermont Farm Kids.”

Rally for Change Welcome new staff! NOFA-VT is grateful to be a part of City Market’s successful Rally for MEET JENNIE PORTER: Change Program this February. Each month, 40% of the program’s Community Food Security Coordinator donations go to one of their larger partner organizations, of which NOFA-VT is one. Another 50% of the donations go to the Chittenden Jennie graduated from St. Lawrence University with Emergency Food Shelf each month. The final 10% of the donations go a B.S. in mathematics and art history. A winding to other non-profits that are doing great work in our community, but road of farming and non-profit work brought her aren’t part of their Community Outreach to Vermont to complete a M.S. in Food Systems at Program. the . Since graduating in 2015 she has completed a Permaculture Design Certificate Since October 2014, customers in Nepal and has worked as a Farm to Institution have donated over $500,000 to local Coordinator at the non-profits through this program. Vermont Agency of Agriculture. The Rally for Change donations will When not in the be supporting NOFA-VT’s advocacy office, she can program working on state and national likely be found legislative initiatives. exploring Ver- So, please round up when you mont’s mountains, swimming holes, shop at City Market to support and bakeries.d NOFA-VT in February! d

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 PAGE 5 Winter Policy Update By Maddie Kempner, NOFA-VT Membership & Advocacy Coordinator

NOSB Update production. The proposal would have set current policies. minimum requirements for the amount The National Organic tandardsS Board of soil used in containers and limited the Rodale Institute Introduces (NOSB) held their fall 2017 meeting amount of liquid fertilizer used to feed from October 31 – November 2 in Jack- Regenerative Organic Certification crops, thereby effectively eliminating sonville, FL. At each of their two annual (ROC) Program hydroponic systems. Many producers meetings each year, the NOSB discusses On September 13, 2017, the Rodale traveled all the way from Vermont to and makes recommendations regarding a Institute announced its work on the Jacksonville during the busy end of their range of materials and production prac- creation of a new certification program harvest season to testify before the board, tices to be included in or prohibited from called Regenerative Organic Certification all of them asserting that soil is and has organic certification. Some of the materi- (ROC). The program aims to address always been the foundation of organic als reviewed at this fall’s meeting included what it refers to as its three pillars, growing. anaerobic digestate and fatty alcohols including soil health, social fairness, and for crops, sulfur and hypochlorous acid After two days of public comment, the animal welfare. The ROC program is for livestock, and marine materials for vast majority of which favored the pro- intended not to supplant, but to build processed products. The board’s work plan hibition of hydroponics, the board voted onto the USDA organic label, while also included some broader issues such as against the proposal by a margin of 8 to addressing areas where USDA organic strengthening the guidance for sourcing of 7, effectively maintaining the status quo. has fallen short or is not keeping up with organic seed, a proposal to eliminate the While the board voted against prohibiting consumer expectations. ROC also aims incentive to convert native ecosystems to hydroponics, they have not yet voted in to leverage other existing third party organic production, clarifying what quali- favor of allowing hydroponic systems certifications such as the Agricultural fies as an “emergency” for use of synthetic or recommended any specific standards Justice Project (AJP) standards for farmer parasiticides in livestock production, and for their certification. updating excluded methods terminology Until (and unless) such to address new forms of genetic engineer- standards are developed ing. and put in place by the National Organic However, the vast majority of public Program (NOP), the comments presented to the board over Vermont Organic two days were on the topic of hydroponics Farmers (VOF) and and container production, and in partic- other certifiers who ular, a proposal put forward by the crops have not certified subcommittee to prohibit hydroponics, hydroponic systems aeroponics, and aquaponics from organic will continue with their Organic Silage for Sale This years’ first and second cut of organic silage for sale. It can be picked up at the farm in Newport Center, Vt or we can deliver in a 50 mile radius. Contact us for more information at 1-802-274-4934 or 1-802-744-6553 to leave a message. COLLINS MILL ROAD FARM

PAGE 6 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 (Policy Update, continued from previous page)

farmers by providing additional income, educating community members about the role of agriculture in rural communities, and keeping working lands in agriculture. The legislation will aim to create greater consistency and fairness statewide in how accessory on-farm businesses are permit- ted and regulated.

2018 Farm Bill As Congress gets to work on the 2018 Farm Bill, NOFA-VT is discussing our policy priorities with our Congressional and farm worker fairness, and Animal will take place in in the spring of 2018) delegation. We are supporting several bills Welfare Approved (AWA) standards for and OFA farmer members. In order to that aim to boost organic research, data the humane treatment of animals. Rodale enable its members to have a voice in collection, and improved enforcement of and its certifying partner NSF Interna- the development of the 2018 Farm Bill, organic regulations, including: tional accepted comments on proposed which is underway in Congress, OFA has • Organic Agriculture & Research Act ROC standards through December 31, passed a set of “urgent” policy priorities (H.R. 2436), which would authorize 2017. with input from its farmer members. In $50 million in mandatory spending addition to Farm Bill programs, OFA’s annually for the Organic Agriculture Organic Farmers Association policy platform addresses issues like the Research and Extension Initiative Update Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OREI), (OLPP or “animal welfare”) rule, the The Organic Farmers Association (OFA) • Organic Farmer & Consumer Protec- proposed Organic Checkoff, and NOSB is a national organization formed in tion Act (H.R. 3871), which increases recommendations. 2016 by a group of organic farmers and funding for the NOP to improve advocates, in partnership with Rodale To view OFA’s policy platform and enforcement and prevent fraud, and Institute, to provide a strong and unified become a member, visit organicfarmersas- • Homegrown Organic Act (H.R. voice for certified organic farmers in the sociation.org. 3637), which would eliminate the realm of federal policy. In addition to lower payment limits for organic advancing a policy platform on behalf Agricultural Enterprise Bill & under EQIP (i.e. equalize the oppor- of certified producers, OFA also aims to Survey tunities for organic with the rest of the strengthen and support the capacity of program). organic farmers and farm organizations, Do you operate, or are you interested in NOFA-VT is also voicing strong support and to support collaboration and leader- operating, an accessory business on your for the continuation of certification ship among state, regional, and national farm (such as farm dinners, tours, or a cost-share programs, with adequate organizations working with and for processing facility that adds value to your mandatory funding to meet projected organic farmers. farm products)? If so, we want to hear from you! NOFA-VT, in collaboration demand. On dairy, we’re pushing for the NOFA-VT became a member of OFA with a group of key agricultural stake- immediate publication and implemen- in 2016 and currently holds an orga- holders, is working on a bill (introduced tation of the Origin of Livestock rule, as nizational (i.e. non-voting) seat on the this session) that aims to support innova- well as the Organic Livestock and Poultry interim steering committee. Recently, tion on farms and a vibrant agricultural Practices (OLPP) rule, and for consistent OFA elected its first Policy Commit- economy. Businesses that operate in interpretation and enforcement of grazing tee, which is tasked with drafting and conjunction with working farms such as requirements for dairy animals. d adopting the organization’s annual farm dinners, value-added processing, Please feel free to email me policy platform, in conjunction with the and educational events increasingly with any thoughts or questions: elected Governing Council (elections serve critical roles for many of Vermont’s [email protected] NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 PAGE 7 Sharing the Harvest

Above, NOFA-VT staff enjoys a staff breakfast at the The Skinny Pancake in Burlington for the annual Share the Harvest.

On October 5th, 2017, NOFA-VT sponsored the 23rd annual Share the Harvest fundraiser to benefit the NOFA-VT Farm Share Pro- gram which supports access to farm fresh food for limited income Vermonters. On that day, participating restaurants, co-ops, brew- eries, and food stores statewide pledged a percentage of their total sales or made a donation to build funding for Farm Share Program recipients. Thank you to our generous participants & individuals who donated to this vital program! A list of this years’ participants, as well as links to donate to the Farm Share Program year round, can be found at: http://nofavt.org/sth Local Products Wanted! Current Local Food Sourcing Needs Grocery Meats Beet Sugar Buffalo Nuts (black walnuts, Duck hazelberts, etc) Dairy & Perishables Flour Tortillas Goats’ Milk Grains, Seeds, and Oils Single-Source Cottage Cheese Barley Produce Buckwheat Value-added Greens Rolled Oats For a full list, visit www.citymarket.coop/local-product-gaps or contact Claire Ross at 802-861-9747 or [email protected]. www.citymarket.coop/local-product-gaps Your Community-Owned Grocery Stores 82 S. Winooski Ave, Burlington, VT 207 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT Open 7am - 11pm every day • (802) 861-9700 Open 7am - 9pm every day • (802) 540-6400 www.citymarket.coop

PAGE 8 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 Digging into the Data A new study, designed to determine the frequency, motivations, gave the farmers a chance to and barriers of shopping at direct markets (farmers markets, share their knowledge and farm stands, and CSAs) in Vermont has recently been released. experience. The ideas and To understand these trends, Matrix Marketing was contracted to information gathered will be conduct two online surveys and three focus groups, and then to used in the next phase of the segment and analyze the data for us. project: an extensive consumer marketing campaign that aims The report,Consumer Insights to Support Messaging for Vermont to increase purchases at direct Direct Markets, examines responses from in-state and out-of-state markets. food consumers in Vermont to understand the buying trends. NOFA-VT is leading the The report is part of a larger, multi-year project to increase project, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agricul- purchases from direct markets. ture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant On December 7th, 2017, NOFA-VT held a “Farmer Forum” with 16FMPPVT0023. 27 farmers who sell directly to consumers in attendance. It was an Read the report online at http://nofavt.org/consumer-insights. afternoon of presentations, discussion, and brainstorming which d Garden Diary A mound of laden edamame plants sits here beside me on the soft September lawn. Shade and light are strewn around. My old red-handled clipper snipped them, left their rich roots in the ground.

I like the clean click of steel against the flat brass anvil. Armful by armful I bring them here, sit down, tug pods off, choose Above, at the 12/7/17 Farmer Forum held at the Capital City Grange in the right arrangement of the sun, Montpelier, Taylor Hutchinson of Footprint Farm pitches her marketing and how my work gets done. campaign to a room full of fellow farmers. Below, the result of a I think: “This is what heaven breakout brainstorming session to create messages for consumers to would be like if I could make a buy directly from their local farmers. heaven.” But I would never get it right. So many details! Monarch on yellow zinnias, the sun slipping into night.

It isn’t this that makes me sad, if it is sadness that I feel. Heaven offers little interest other than a name for gratitude. I take fuzzy beans inside to boil, and eat ecstatic pearls of green.

Scudder Parker, September 2017 [email protected]

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 PAGE 9 Thank you for supporting organic agriculture! NOFA Vermont welcomes the following members who recently joined us during the fourth quarter of 2017. NEW MEMBERS: Laura Allen, Hidden Valley Lake, CA Mike Dixon, Brattleboro, VT Charlie Siegchrist, Jericho, VT Molly Bagnato, Waitsfield, VT Myles Goodrich, W Danville, VT Janet Steward, Plainfield, VT Bonnie Bordelon, Jericho, VT Caroline Gordon, Royalton, VT Jon Williams, Waterbury Center, VT Daniel Brooks, West Pawlet, VT Peter MacAusland, Barrington, RI Margi Wood, Dummerston, VT Emily Brown Rosen, Titusville, NJ Ashlyn & Abraham McClurg, Brattleboro, VT Denise Pothier, Newport Center, VT Juanita Burch-Clay, Middletown Springs, VT Phyl Newbeck, Jericho, VT Julie Haupt, Bennington, VT Ignacio Coviella, Cambridge, MA Daniel Rowe, Cornwall, VT NEW & RENEWING BUSINESS MEMBERS: All Souls Tortilleria, Waitsfield, VT Laraway Youth & Family Services, Johnson, VT Vermont Bread Company, Brattleboro, VT Black Dirt Farm, Greensboro Bend, VT Main Street Landing, Burlington, VT Vermont Livestock Slaughter & Processing, Castanea Foundation, Montpelier, VT North Country School, Lake Placid, NY Ferrisburg, VT Dubois Agrinovation, St-Remi, QC OMRI, Eugene, OR VT Econ Dev/Ag Credit Corp, Montpelier, VT Hotel Vermont, Burlington, VT Rhino Foods, Inc., Burlington, VT Pitchfork Farm, Burlington, VT PROGRAM GRANTS: • City Market, $250 for Farm to Community Community Fund, $1,150 for NOFA Economic Study Mentor Program farm field trips Vermont’s Food for All Farm Share • Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & • Farm Credit Northeast Ag Enhancement, Program in Washington County Markets, $39,673 Organic Specialty Crop $1,000 to sponsor the NOFA Vermont Farm • People’s United Community Foundation, Cost of Production: Farm Viability & Value to Community Mentor Program, Vermont $2,500 for the NOFA Vermont Farm Share Chain Enhancement Farm Kids documentary video project Program • The Vermont Community Foundation, • Hunger Mountain Cooperative • Stonyfield Farm, $1,500 for the 2017 Dairy $2,500 for Strategic Planning Living potting soil for Organic Growers

802-223-6049 | Montpelier, Vermont vermontcompost.com we speak organic

PAGE 10 NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 Jr Iron Chef VT Jr Iron Chef VT is a statewide culinary competition that challenges teams of middle and high school students to understand how they can effect change in the food system by creating healthy, local dishes that inspire school meal programs. Jr Iron Chef VT is a project of VT Food Education Every Day (VT FEED), a collaborative program of NOFA-VT and Shelburne Farms. The mission of Jr Iron Chef VT is to empower Ver- mont students to develop healthy eating habits through the use of whole local foods.

To support Vermont's young epicureans, become a Jr Iron Chef sponsor! If you would like to sponsor this professional competition that makes a difference in the lives of New VOF hundreds of students, contact Marissa Watson: [email protected] register your team please visit: vtfeed.org/jrironchefvt Certifications

To cheer for your favorite team, please come to the Expo on March Vermont Organic Farmers would 17th, 2018. More information: vtfeed.org/jrironchefvt/plan-your-visit. d like to welcome the following new producers who have recently obtained organic certification (certified between 9/1/17- 12/1/17) for all or a portion of their operation, joining the nearly 700 organic farmers and processors throughout the state.

Leonard Farm True North Granola, LLC ShakeyGround Farm Boissonneault Family Farm The Sayre Fields Thornhill Farm Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Jamie Emmerson Hoolie Flats LLC BULK ORDER NOW AVAILABLE! Half Wild Farm NOFA-VT is once again offering the Bulk Order to its community of farmers Borderview Research Farm and growers of all shapes and sizes. Production Grower? We have what Lin Huntington Sales Manager you need! Homesteader? We have what you need! Backyard Gardener? We Newfield Herb Farm have what you need! You Fortmann Farm can download/view the 2018 Clearfield Farm Bulk Order Catalog at www. Sparrow Farm nofavt.org/bulkorder. Order forms are due by Friday, Learn more about the February 9th. Pick-up will be benefits of certified held Saturday, March 10th. organic, locally grown at All proceeds benefit NOFA- www.nofavt.org/why- VT’s Farm to Community organic Mentor Program.

NOFA NOTES • WINTER 2017-2018 PAGE 11 NOFA VERMONT Non-Profit Org. PO BOX 697 US Postage RICHMOND, VT 05477 PAID Permit No. 37 Return Service Requested Richmond, VT

NOFA VERMONT’S 36TH ANNUAL WINTER CONFERENCE! 100 + workshops, keynote speakers, roundtables, & celebration for commercial growers, gardeners, homesteaders, and food lovers. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! February 17-19, 2018 • Burlington, Vermont nofavt.org/conference