Community Farming in Action: Workshop Track at 2009 NOFA Summer Conference

The Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts Chapter (NOFA/Mass) is holding a track of five workshops designed to convey lessons from community farming efforts in action. The track of workshops is a project of the NOFA/Mass Community Farm Initiative and will take place as a part of this year's NOFA Summer Conference -- a three day event that brings workshop presenters from all over New England as well as key note talks by Will Allen and Paul Stamets.

Registering for the NOFA Summer Conference provides entry to this track of workshops as well as the option to attend any of the other simultaneous workshops. To register for the conference visit:
http://www.nofasummerconference.org/

Community farms are not-for-profit, publicly accessible farms that conduct educational programming for the public and produce healthful food. They are centers that provide opportunities for meaningful work, learning, service and self-development. If you are interested in starting a community farm in your town or wanting to gain new insights to take back you your already existing community farm, this is the workshop series for you.

Workshop Descriptions

1. Tools for Starting Community Farms, Heather Scott
Saturday 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Hear proven methods to garner neighbor and municipal official support for community farms, and for moving a project from discussion to reality. Tools include: engaging leaders early in the decision making process; sharing stories about food, land, and community; listening and identifying concerns; and getting decision makers on the land.
Heather Scott is a land conservationist and leads the newly-established Medway Community Farm.

2. Public Schools, and Summer Programs, Lynda Simkins
Saturday 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Learn how to run programs that draw upon the vast potential of public schools as centers for food-based education and community service and programs that serve youngsters, especially during the summer months. Tools include: integrating programs with farm cycles, developing engaging curriculum, satisfying state requirements, and setting appropriate budgets and prices.
Lynda Simkins is farm manager of Natick Community Organic Farm.

3. More than Just Food: Mission-Driven Education, Greg Maslowe
Sunday 8:00 – 9:30 AM
Learn management strategies for incorporating middle school-aged youth and older as meaningful contributors and active learners on community farms. These include organizing programs around volunteer days, work programs, and adult education. Attracting diverse audiences furthers the mission of empowering people to practice local agriculture in their backyards.
Greg Maslowe is farm manager of Newton Angino Community Farm.

4. Food Security through Education, Action and Service, Richard Rudolph
Sunday 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Relate to lessons and experiences of a dedicated citizen group that founded and now manages a nonprofit community farm. Understand implementation of business principles and key details of legal structure, marketing, finances, and staffing. Learn how the farm has engaged the public in a model farm-to-school education project.
Richard Rudolph is executive director of Rippling Waters Farm in Steep Falls, Maine.

5. Accessing Public Land for Community Farming, Grey Lee and Wayne Castonguay
Sunday 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Consider various practices of farming on land that is land-trusted, municipally-owned, or conserved in some other way. Explore strategies that demonstrate to local officials and residents the value of public land for farming and farm-based education and that build long-term commitment in a community for land preservation.
Grey Lee, executive director, Land’s Sake, Weston, MA.
Wayne Castonguay, farm manager, Trustees of Reservation’s Appleton Farm, Ipswich, MA.

For info on this event, contact: Ben Grosscup, 413-658-5374, ben.grosscup@nofamass.org

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