NOTES FROM JULIE
 Julie Rawson Executive Director

What I have learned this year on the farm
A few years ago I did a reading with a friend who has real strengths in that realm. One of her pieces of advice was that I spend more time with my plants and learn from them. At the time I filed this information but was at a loss for exactly how it impacted me. I am in the middle of "In Defense of Food" right now, by Michael Pollan. He keeps reminding his readers of the power of food, particularly plants, and plants in all of their diversity.

Of course I have been eating essentially off of our farm for many years, and work to help bring along our CSA shareholders, especially the new ones, who struggle to use the many new vegetable foods that they encounter each week in their bags - things like kale, mizuna and collards, . What I have come to realize, if only rudimentarily this year, is the key to health is really in my back yard and fields. I have begun to go a little deeper to appreciate the gifts of dandelion, nettle (this one has changed my life this year), garlic, parsley, cilantro, purslane, lamb's quarters, rhubarb, elderberry and many other friends who weren't a real part of my consciousness growing up.

We are all on a continuum of knowledge and use of that knowledge. In NOFA it is our charge to share that knowledge with others. As we dive deeply into the "Local Organic" movement, we must up our level of teaching to our customers, neighbors and families, as we continue to educate ourselves, about how to live sustainably off of our land that we have been given here in Massachusetts . The folks who lived here before us, if not the Europeans, held all this knowledge. What an exciting task to relearn and share this with our 21st century culture. Watch out burdock, fiddleheads, here I come!

 

 NOFA/MASS NEWS
 Outreach News

Sharon Gensler
Outreach Program Coordinator and Western Mass Outreach Outreach is busy as usual educating the membership and the general public at events and conferences around the state. Don't forget to let us know of anything near you that we should attend or to which you'd like to volunteer to represent us.

Our Southeastern Regional Outreacher, Frank Albani, has resigned his position. I'd like to thank Frank for all of his good work representing NOFA and organics. I know it'll be hard but we need to fill his shoes, so if you are interested, please read the job description below and give me a call. NOFA /Mass's outreach program is an educational arm of the organization which interfaces with the public. Outreach coordinators and volunteers attend fairs, festivals, conferences, farmer's markets, and similar venues to talk with members and non-members about NOFA's ideals and programs. The state has been divided into two regions: eastern and western in order to facilitate this work.

Regional Outreach Staff Person will spread the word about NOFA/MASS at public events in Southeastern and Central Massachusetts. The position is under the general supervision of the Outreach Coordinator and with the Eastern Regional Coordinator, however, much of the job is flexible and self-motivated.

Duties would include:

• Identify public occasions appropriate for spreading the NOFA/MASS message
• Represent NOFA/Mass, or find member volunteers willing to represent us at such occasions
• Maintain a supply of literature and display materials for distribution at such events
• Maintain sale items and be responsible for any related income from sales
• Work with the Coordinator to develop goals and objectives, annual budget and to enlist and train volunteers
• Identify public places at which to distribute NOFA literature and coordinate delivery to such places
• Provide regular reports on this work to the Coordinator
• Attend one major NOFA event each year

Qualifications:

• Outgoing, friendly personality
• Enjoy public speaking
• Knowledgeable about NOFA/MASS and its programs
• Able to work on weekends and evenings when required
• Organized
• NOFA/MASS membership

180 hours @$11 per hour or a total of $2,000 per year plus expenses. To apply send a letter of interest, resume and three references to Sharon Gensler @ wildbrowse@yahoo.com or NOFA/MASS Outreach, Sharon Gensler 87 Bullard Pasture Rd. Wendell, Ma 01379. If you have questions please call Sharon Gensler 978-544-6347- before 9pm

More info 

 
 Let's Talk Turf: Organic Lawns

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 (snow date January 29)
1pm-3.30pm
Doyle Conservation Center,
464 Abbott Ave., Leominster, Ma

NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals Chip Osborne and Bernadette Giblin will come together to host "Let's Talk Turf: Organic Lawns". This workshop is co-sponsored by the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA) and the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)'s Organic Land Care Program.

During this workshop, Osborne and Giblin will discuss what organic lawns entail in terms of installation, maintenance and management, transitioning from conventional to organic lawns, what organic can and can't do, how to sell organic to a client/meeting expectations, realistic costs of organic. They will also share successes and failures they've experienced in the industry. The presentations will be followed by 60 minutes of Q&A and information sharing by all in attendance. Don't miss this great interactive opportunity! Come and share your own successes and failures and learn from each other! Refreshments will be served.

"Let's Talk Turf: Organic Lawns" costs $25 for ELA members and NOFA AOLCPs; $35 for non-members; and is appropriate for professionals in the field. Continuing education credits for ALCM, MNLA and MA pesticide credits have been requested; the course is eligible for AOLCP re-accreditation credits.

To register: call (617) 436-5838 or send your check to ELA, 1257 Worcester Rd., Framingham, MA 01701. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information or a registration form, call Kathy Sargent-O'Neill at (508) 759-5177 of ELA (or email ksoland@verizon.net), or Kathy Litchfield, at (413) 773-3830 of NOFA (or email kathylitch29@yahoo.com). Or, visit www.ecolandscaping.org or www.organiclandcare.net.

More info... 

 
 8th Annual NOFA 5-day Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care

January 14, 15, 16, 20 and 21, 2009
Doyle Conservation Center, 464 Abbott Avenue, Leominster, MA.
This 5-day intensive course trains and accredits professionals to practice organic land care (caring for land without the use of synthetic pesticides or soil amendments). It is recommended for landscapers, designers, municipal and parks employees, horticulturists, master gardeners and entrepreneurs. Visit www.organiclandcare.net for more information or call Kathy Litchfield at (413) 773-3830 or email: kathylitch29@yahoo.com

Find out more 

 
 NOFA/Mass 22nd Annual Winter Conference

Organic Farming: The Roots of a Sustainable Community
Saturday, January 17th, 2009
Worcester Vocational Technical High School Skyline Drive, Worcester, Ma Eliot Coleman Keynote: "Small Growers are the Soul of Organics" Eliot Coleman all-day intensive workshop on Four-Season Growing Other workshops may be added but those confirmed to date include:- 1) Soil Fertility
2) Planning your Garden
3) Pest/disease Control in Vegetable Garden
4) Organic Gardening 101
5) Growing Sweet Potatoes
6) Strawberry Production
7) Raw Milk and its Benefits
8) Raw Milk Panel Discussion
9) Regulations around Value added Dairy Processing
10) The Family Cow
11) Sustainable Nursery Management in a Changing Climate
12) Container and Small Space Gardening
13) Pastured poultry
14) Raising Pigs
15) Root cellars
16) Crop Planning/Record Keeping for Farms
17) Farm leases and leasing
18) A Paradigm Shift: Concepts Necessary for the Production of Nutrient Dense Crops, and their potential 19) Nutrient Dense Crop Production: A How To
20) Carbon - Confronting Climate Change
21) Successful CSA
22) Income and Tax Issues for Farmers
23) Growing and Using Culinary Herbs
27) Optimal Winter Storage for Production Agriculture
28) Bee workshop
29) Continuing The Organic Legacy: Farm Transfer and Succession for Retiring and Entering Farmers
30) Growing Greens
31) Growing Potatoes
32) Grants for Farmers - SARE, Farm Viability, MFEP
33) Community Farm tracks 1, 2,&3
36) Building Community Gardens
37) Organic Lawns
38) Bread Making


Registration is open (online registration available in December) $50 per person with discounts available (does not include Coleman workshop) $100 for Eliot Coleman's Four Season Growing Workshop (includes general conference admission) For complete conference details visit www.nofamass.org/conferences/w2009/index.php or contact Jassy Bratko, Conference Coordinator at jassy.bratko@nofamass.org or 978-928-5646

Read More.... 

 
 Genetic Engineering News

Jack Kittredge
Social Action Coordinator NOFA/Mass puts out a monthly Email update on genetic engineering in agriculture. It provides a summary of recent news events, successful activity in opposition to GMOs, and business news about companies involved in the technology. If you would like to be added to the list to receive this update, contact Jack Kittredge at jack@nofamass.org or read the latest news on ag biotech at www.nofamass.org/programs/social/index.php

This month's edition has the following information:-

• Another California County Poised To Become GE-Free
• USDA Rules Could Allow Drugs in Food
• U.S. Begins To Turn Its Back on GM Crops, Report Claims
• Non-GM Soy Makes a Comeback in US
• Researchers Find Evidence for Horizontal Gene Transfer in Mammals, Reptiles
• RAFI-USA Releases Pocket-size Farmers' Guide to GM Contracts
• Food Crisis Means Monsanto Profits
• Monsanto Hurting Iowa Farmers
• Bayer Faces 1,200 Rice Lawsuits
• EU approves new GM corn varieties
• Europe's Secret Plan To Boost GM Crop Production
• Organic Farming "Could Feed Africa" - Study
• Drought-Resistant GM Crops "Ready In Four Years"?
• Bt Cotton Damages Soil Quality
• India: Killer Bt Cotton Fails Again In Vidharba

More info... 

 
 NOFA 2009 SUMMER CONFERENCE

Immediate Call for Workshop Presenters
Are you interested in presenting a workshop at the 2009 NOFA Summer Conference? Each year, the NOFA Summer Conference provides a valuable opportunity for farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, educators, and environmentalists to share resources and ideas in order to grow a vibrant organic community.

We are looking for knowledgeable and enthusiastic presenters to offer workshops in a wide variety of categories, from beginner level to advanced. The workshop length is 90 minutes. The categories have included: the Environment; Animals; Crops; Farming and the Community; Cooking and Food Preparation; Fruits, Nuts, and Trees; Garden and Greenhouse; Herbs and Flowers; Nutrition and Healthcare; Of the Spirit; Practical Skills; Soil and Fertility; Weeds, Insects and Farm Tours. Examples of current workshops are animal origami, shelter building, music and movement, juggling, board games, yoga, mural-making, and racing turtles.

The 2009 NOFA Summer Conference will be held at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. Workshop presenters receive free conference registration and a $50 honorarium. ALSO needed are Teachers. Each teacher will be assigned a group of children, (who are grouped by age), and will remain with this group as they attend the workshops during the weekend. Teachers are paid $11.00 per hour for approximately 30 hours and are provided with a dorm room and one meal for the weekend.
If you would like to participate, please contact Valerie Walton at (978) 689-0716 or aallspice@aol.com. ASAP

 

 REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
 

Your Input is Needed!
Recent contamination outbreaks for tomatoes and spinach have raised concerns about the safety of fresh produce. As a grower, you, too, may be receiving pressure from buyers about the safety of your produce. To address this issue, UMass Extension and the UMass Department of Nutrition, with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), have teamed up to implement a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification program for fruit and vegetable growers in Massachusetts. To achieve this goal, your help is needed. We will be doing a survey to assess your thinking about fresh produce safety. We hope you will take the 15 minutes or so to complete it. The results from this survey will direct the designing of a GAP food safety program that meets the needs of Massachusetts fruit and vegetable growers like you. If you do not receive a copy by the 24th of November, 2008 and are interested, please contact David Nyachuba at 413-545-0552 or email him at dgn@nutrition.umass.edu.

National Soil Project at Northeastern University - Assistance requested
Principal Research Scientist Elham Ghabbour and Chemistry Professor Geoffrey Davies are directing an undergraduate research project at Northeastern University Boston (NU) that aims to measure the humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) contents of the nation's agricultural top soils (0 - 30 cm). The ultimate objective is to monitor the status of our soils over time.

FAs and HAs are major microbially-resistant organic soil components that retain water, act as pH buffers and regulate other healthy soil functions. Existing data do not distinguish HAs and FAs from transient soil organic matter such as leaf litter. Preliminary results on 150 samples indicate wide variation in HA and FA contents. The NU group has many years of experience in measuring HAs and FAs. The project needs one-pound, dried soil samples to be mailed parcel post to NU from the nation's farms and counties for analysis. Parcel postage will be reimbursed upon request. Please contact g.davies@neu.edu and check the website www.hagroup.neu.edu. The project results will be published and shared with soil donors on request. Your help will make the project possible and is very much appreciated.

 

 REGIONAL EVENTS
 

Holiday Fair and Wreath Making Workshops
Saturday, December 6, 2008 10am-5pm
Soule Homestead Education Center
46 Soule St. Middleboro, MA 02346
Handmade crafts, baked goods, and children's activities. Wreath Workshops 2 sessions. Visit www.soulehomestead.org or call 5089476744 for info.

Zone-Tillage & Soil Health Conference
Monday, December 1, 2008
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Publick House, Rt. 131, Sturbridge, MA
Come hear researchers, Extension folks and growers describe what zone-tillage can do for your farm and why they would never recommend conventional tillage again! Pre-registration: $35 by Nov. 21 (rain or shine, no refunds), $40 at the door - if space is available. Send name of attendee(s) and a check made out to UConn, to the University of Connecticut, Cooperative Extension System, 24 Hyde Ave., Vernon, CT 06066. Contact: Jude Boucher, 860-875-3331, jude.boucher@uconn.edu. A program and registration form can be found here. Sponsored by Northeast SARE, and the University of Connecticut, University of Rhode Island and Cornell University Cooperative Extension Systems

Transitioning to Renewable Energy for Greenhouse Heat
Thursday, December 4, 2008
8:30-4 pm
Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center
Sturbridge, MA

This one-day conference will focus on alternative technologies & fuel sources that are immediately available, locally produced, and economically favorable in comparison to traditional fossil fuels. While the emphasis will be placed on showcasing the experiences of growers who have made the switch to renewable fuels, we will also provide information on sources of funding that may be available, conservation strategies, and procuring, producing, and using wood and corn as biomass fuels.

A pre- registration fee of $40.00 is due by December 1st. Please make checks payable to the University of Massachusetts and mail to: Energy Program, Marilyn Kusmeskus, 250 Natural Resources Rd., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. Cost of admission includes: handouts, lunch, snacks and beverages during break. A program and registration form can be found here.

Contact Tina Smith, 413-545-5306, tsmith@umext.umass.edu, or Andy Cavanagh, acavanagh@psis.umass.edu, 413-577-3976, University of Massachusetts Extension.
Sponsored by the University of Massachusetts Extension Floriculture and Vegetable Programs, New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and Massachusetts Flower Growers Association.

Alternative Greenhouse and High Tunnel Crops
Friday, December 12, 2008.
Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA

A pre- registration fee of $35.00 is due by December 5th. Please make checks payable to the University of Massachusetts and mail to: Greenhouse Crops Program, Room 203 French Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. Cost of admission includes: handouts, lunch, snacks and beverages during break. A program and registration form can be found here. For more information www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/

Or contact: Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts, 413-545-5306, tsmith@umext.umass.edu; Paul Lopes, University of Massachusetts 508-295-2212 ext 12 or lopes@umext.umass.edu or Leanne Pundt, University of Connecticut, 860-626-6240, leanne.pundt@uconn.edu Sponsored by University of Massachusetts Extension, University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System, and Northeast SARE.

New England Vegetable and Berry Growers -- All Day Program
Friday, January 9, 2009 10am-4pm
Day's Inn at the Parwick Centre, Chicopee, MA
(450 Memorial Drive, next to Exit 5 off I-90)
New England Vegetable and Berry Growers -- All Day Program Saturday, February 7, 2009 10am-4pm
Waltham Extension Ctr., Waltham, MA
These two day-long programs will focus on current topics of special interest to New England vegetable and berry farmers. Topics will include downy mildew in cucurbits; biological disease control products; selecting and managing cover crops for nutrients, organic matter and pest control; fertilizer products and uses, mixing for fertigation, soil testing; update on new materials for weed control and problem weeds such as galinsoga; cucurbit diseases: testing irrigation water for Phytophthora capsici, new materials, resistance to fungicides; specialty crop research; economics of vegetable production; how climate change may affect vegetable and berry production in New England; farm slides from Tuttle Farm in Maine; and the Ag conservation model for land preservation in New Hampshire. Co-sponsored by the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and New England Vegetable Extension Programs. Contact hours for pesticide applicator recertification will be offered at both meetings. More information can be found here. To register, contact John Howell, (413)665-3501, howell@umext.umass.edu.

NOFA-NY's 27th Organic Farming and Gardening Conference:
Meals Without Wheels: Revitalizing our Local Organic Foodshed
January 23-25, 2009
Rochester Riverside Convention Center,
Rochester , NY .

The conference will feature over 75 exhibitors in our exciting Trade Show and Organic Marketplace and over 80 workshops of interest to vegetable, fruit, grain, and livestock farmers, small-scale food processors, gardeners, green businesses, conscientious eaters, consumers, and children!

Keynote lineup includes Fred Kirschenmann, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Ames, IA and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, Tarrytown, NY; Brett Melone and Florentino Collazo, Agriculture and Land Based Training Association, Salinas, CA; and Shirley Sherrod, Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, Albany, GA. Saturday's organic dairy program will feature Organic Dairy Guest Speaker, Ed Sheaffer, VMD, Clark Veterinary Clinic, Palmyra , PA and author of Homeopathy for the

The Friday, January 23, program offers 18 intensive full and half-day workshops to explore select topics comprehensively. Friday workshops will address topics such as organic greenhouse management, food policy councils, grazing, crop rotation, local wheat production and marketing, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), nutrient management, potatoes, small-scale food processing, organic wine making, permaculture, organic gardening, healthy eating, and organic certification.

The Saturday and Sunday program features over 70 workshops, a full children's conference, the Auction for Agriculture, evening social hour, and live entertainment.

The full conference program and online registration are available at the NOFA-NY website, visit: www.nofany.org. The pre-registration deadline is January 9, 2009. Walk-in registrations are welcome

Winter Farmers' Market and Week of Winter Fare
Winter Fare Farmer's Market
Greenfield High School
February 7
10am-2pm

Last year's market featured a full range of locally grown products: storage crops, greens, cheese, meat, eggs, bread, jams, preserves, dressings, and more. Workshops, displays, and a barter mart (plan now to make sure you'll have extra preserves or other handmade items to trade!) round out the day.
Week of Winter Fare
February 7-15
A week-long celebration of local food and year-round local eating organized by a volunteer committee, will return for a second year and includes local food potlucks, community events, and specials at area restaurants.

Seeking Vendors and Volunteers for both events For More Information: Contact Claire Morenon, 413-665-7100, Ext 16 or winterfare-owner@yahoogroups.com or visit www.winterfare.org