Massachusetts Network of Farm-Based Educators

The Massachusetts Network of Farm-Based Educators is co-coordinated by the FBEA & The Trustees of Reservations Center for Agriculture and the Environment.

"A little discussion, a little exercise, and a little food."
~ a 2010 participant describing the perfect gathering

Massachusetts Network of Farm-Based Educators
2012 Gatherings

Fat Moon at Meadowbrook Farm
March 5, 11-1, Westford
Potluck lunch lunch & round-table discussion to share marketing/promotion ideas
RSVP to: elizabeth@healthylivingandlearning.com
more information
 
Land’s Sake
April 25, 1-3, Weston
Topic: permaculture, small gardens, and relationships between non-profits and towns.
Doug Cook has requested that when people RSVP they list any questions they might have related to these topics. 
RSVP to: doug@landssake.org
more information

Framingham school gardens
June date TBD

Appleton Farms
August 15, 3-5, Ipswich
Topic: Presentation of educational programs, focus on 4-H, Q&A with 4H kids & educators. RSVP to: mchadbourne@ttor.org

Holly Hill and Weir River Farms
September date TBD, Cohasset
Holly Hill and Weir River will jointly host at an elementary school on the South Shore with a farm garden.

Fruitlands Museum
October 2 , 11-1, Harvard
Topic: Holistic Resource Management. Phil Wilson & Lots Arts Collaborative of Still River, MA, will present. Plan to show hour-long film on Regenerative Agriculture as part of the presentation.

Farm School
November 6, 1:30 to 3:30, Athol.
Topic: TBD

2013 Planning Session
December date and location TBD

December: Planning session for 2013

History of the Massachusetts Network of Farm-Based Educators
In the fall of 2008, 15 farm-based educators engaged in a facilitated discussion in Concord, MA to explore the possibilities of a formalized network.  Following that meeting, led by Mark Walter, a teacher at Boston Teacher's Union School, there were five professional development monthly gatherings of the Massachusetts Network of Farm-Based Educators  at various sites including: Waltham Fields Community Farm, Lands Sake Farm in Weston, Appleton Farms in Ipswich, Holly Hill Farm in Cohasset, Weir River Farm in Hingham, and The Farm School in Athol. Topics discussed included; connecting farm-based education to local schools’ curricula, working with land trusts in targeted areas to preserve land, and identifying alternative resources for funding and volunteers. The interest in this group grew and membership expanded to include educators in the field of nutrition and climate change.