We are currently accepting proposals for workshops for the 2026 Winter Conference  Our theme this year is inspired by the Massachusetts Healthy Soils Action Plan, which focuses on how we can effectively conserve, protect, restore, and properly manage our soils throughout the state to improve the vitality of our environments and the health and quality of life of our community members. While the theme highlights “healthy soils”, we know that meaningful land work goes far beyond technical soil knowledge. That’s why we welcome proposals from a wide range of voices for a well-rounded conference; whether you’re a grower, educator, healer, food worker, researcher, artist, organizer, or simply someone with a meaningful relationship to land, we invite you to submit a workshop proposal!

We’re excited to invite you to this month’s Soil Health Call, part of our ongoing bimonthly series that brings together farmers, gardeners, researchers, and community organizers passionate about living soils and resilient food systems. Following the momentum of our recent  Indigenous Microorganism (IMO) workshop, we’re opening up a discussion on how we can build localized networks of mutual support. How do we move beyond individual practice and begin to share knowledge, materials, tools and microbes across our communities? How can we form ongoing cohorts that support one another in producing IMOs, biofertilizers, compost, and more? Our calls will cover a range of topics related to soil health, including soil biology, organic matter, nutrient management, and any topic of relevance to the NOFA community and beyond. We will also have guest speakers who will share their expertise and insights on the latest developments in the field.

Join us for this opportunity to see what organic soil care can look like on a detailed and scientific level, in conjunction with the unique array of specialty crops  from Hilltop Farm & Fiber Arts. If you’ve felt  the itch to grow something other than  vegetables, this is a great time to learn about growing natural  dye plants , which can be  annual or perennial, and many of which also have the benefit of showy flowers.  Hilltop Farm also grows garlic, rhubarb and seeds. The workshop will be split in half, the first part of the day focusing on soil assessments for beginning and learning farmers, and the second half exploring the links between soil stewardship and specialty  markets and income streams, along with  how to process these niche plants  in keeping with certified organic standards!

Are your clients asking you for more ecologically friendly landscaping services? Whether they’re concerned about weed pressure, soil erosion, or the use of herbicides, starting with the health of the soil will help to solve those issues. In this workshop, we’ll not only cover the soil fundamentals that will allow you to provide the best results for  your clients, but also offer some of the tools you’ll need to assess soil and to landscape smarter.

En español

Enjoy delicious food and make your SNAP go farther by using HIP benefits with a local farmer! 

Join the NOFA/Mass Food Access Team as we use the garden harvest (or farmshare) to make a quick and nutritious meal. This event’s recipe will feature a dish prepared with fall greens, such […]

Join us for a special opportunity to boost your voice in the upcoming Farm Bill! With Congress expected to move quickly on a new version of the bill, this online listening session is a chance for farmers to speak directly about the importance of USDA programs for their operations, including how recent cuts […]

Looking to make the shift to or improve your organic growing, but don’t know where to start? Join our Growing Organic Together monthly calls! This is a supportive, welcoming space where people of all backgrounds come together to learn, share, and grow. Each month, we explore new ways to incorporate organic and sustainable practices into our growing spaces, with guidance from a variety of experts and a community that encourages growth and connection. Whether you're small or large scale farming, looking to improve your Organic Systems Plan or simply interested in the organic movement, you’ll find inspiration and support here. We will be centering topics of transition to Organic.

Farm fertility can be a puzzle - whether it’s assessing your farm’s soil, building an on-site composting system, or configuring your Organic Systems Plan (OSP). Join us as we walk through some of the considerations and unique approaches to soil health solutions available to farmers. During this 2-part event, we’ll start by exploring your own role in testing your farm’s soil, learning about a variety of tests and how to interpret them. Some of these tools include, refractometer, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) meters. We’ll take a look at the standard soil tests, discuss how to interpret them as well as which information is the most valuable to you and management practices. In the second part of this event, we’ll focus on soil management practices at Late Bloom Farm. Farmer Anna Kelchlin will guide us through their process in moving from deep mulch composting systems to investing in vermi-compost teas as a fertility solution. Deep mulch composting can be labor intensive and may not deliver the biological activity that is necessary for delivering nutrients for robust plant health. You’ll also learn about Late Bloom Farm’s inspiring experiments with cover cropping seed mixes as a part of their soil health investment plan.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6IBWJPcsSf6myPPPPl2YBA  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Go Nuts is our informational and conversation-rich agroforestry call. During this call which takes place every other odd month, we will discuss all things related […]

Sat and Sun August 16/17. 10 am to 4.30 PM both days.

Come learn to use a variety of hand and power tools, and gain or expand your building skills, so helpful to farmers, artists, or to increase your own DIY skill set. Proper tool use and techniques can inspire you to make furniture, a shed […]

Discover the ancient art of fermenting liquids right in your own kitchen. From fizzy sodas to wild-crafted vinegars, this hands-on intensive workshop will guide you through the process of turning simple ingredients into extraordinary concoctions. 

This August is the 20th Annual Harvest Supper hosted by Stone Soup Café in Greenfield, MA.

The Harvest Supper is one of the longest-standing events in Franklin County that invites the entire community—regardless of income—to enjoy a farm-to-table feast for 1,000 community members on the Greenfield Town Common. It’s a joyful, community-powered celebration of local farms, […]

Discover the power of plants and learn how to create your own herbal remedies. In this hands-on workshop, you'll delve into the world of medicinal herbs and learn how to grow, forage, and process them into soothing and delicious remedies.

At Picadilly Farm, soil fertility management is central to the farm’s long-term sustainability goals. The team is committed to leaving the land as healthy (or healthier) than it was upon their arrival, while producing highly nutritious, top-quality vegetables.

In this workshop, Bruce will guide participants through a full year of fertility […]