Thank you for participating in
Rooted in Abundance :
38th Annual
NOFA/Mass Winter Conference
on February 1st, 2025
at UMass Amherst
🌱
We gathered for
🦉 An exploration of regional soil health and food access through regenerative and organic practices
🎊 A celebration of community resilience
🤝 And an opportunity for connection and skill building!
And a full day of dynamic content and community connections.
Morning Plenary: Soil Health as A Foundation of Resilient Food Systems
Soil isn’t just dirt—it’s a living, vital foundation for growing food, supporting local farms, and building a resilient future in the face of climate challenges.
Big Picture Perspective: Learn how healthy soil can make food systems more resilient to droughts, extreme weather, and environmental stress.
Local Impact: Discover how investing in soil health benefits farmers, communities, and local economies while providing more nutritious food.
Actionable Takeaways: Leave with new ideas, resources, and connections to strengthen your area’s soil health efforts and food systems.
A panel of soil health experts & enthusiasts will address soil as a fundamental pillar of their work and what investing in soil can do for food production, security, environmental stewardship, and community health.
During this panel discussion, we’ll explore practical solutions to improve soil health, whether on the farm or in the state house.
Panelist Speakers
Piyush Labhsetwar
Land Stewardship Manager
Grow Food Northampton
Piyush Labhsetwar has been working in the field of regenerative agriculture since 2017 on projects like developing perennial grains, integrating them in agroforestry, and perennial ground cover. He currently works as Farm and Land Stewardship Manager at Grow Food Northampton, a community farm in Florence MA. He also works as technical assistance provider in Western MA for the Climate Smart grant for Pasa, which provides funds for farmers to adopt climate resilient practices, and as Research affiliate with environmental science and policy at Smith College.
Dago Driggs
Senior Policy Advisor
NOFA/Mass
Dago serves as a community organizer and environmental lobbyist, working to promote regenerative (agri)culture and climate justice. With over 13 years of experience in food and climate policy, he was a driving force behind the creation of the Massachusetts Healthy Soils Program (2021) and advised on the state’s Healthy Soils Action Plan (released 2023). He continues to be active in the Massachusetts legislative arena as the Sr. Policy Advisor to NOFA/Mass, while coordinating the National Healthy Soils Policy Network (a project of CalCAN).
Dr. Ashley Keiser
Dr. / Assistant Professor
UMass Amherst
Farming, Gardening and Food Systems Workshops: For growers of any size
From growing mushrooms to protecting livestock and exploring innovative farm practices, there’s something for everyone who cares about food, farming, and sustainability.
NOFA/Mass and Freed Seed Federation invites you to this year’s Seed Hub, an exciting afternoon dedicated to seed swapping and knowledge sharing. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a curious beginner, or someone who loves plants, this is the perfect place to connect, learn, and grow together.
Seed Swap: Bring seeds to share and trade for new ones to take home. Whether you are a farmer, gardener, or simply passionate about growing, this is an excellent opportunity to discover unique varieties, strengthen your growing spaces, and connect with your community. Seed swappers of all kinds are welcome!
Seed Saving Support: Have questions about saving seeds? Stop by to chat with experienced seed keepers and gain tips to improve your skills.
A place to break apart systemic inequities within the food system alongside colleagues and friends.
There are two breakout groups for transformational dialogue, one for BIPOC community members and another for white allies, facilitated by NESAWG.
BIPOC Caucus
We will be coming together in a circle to share the stories of our Ancestors and the impact they have had – and continue to have – in our lives, helping us build a farm and food system rooted in Abundance. This session is the seeding of a longer-term relationship and work.
Please bring an item that represents the memory of your Ancestor who has influenced you the most in your life or an item that represents your Culture and your Roots.
White Ally Caucus
We will gather in a circle to share the stories of our ancestors, who have greatly influenced our lives and helped us develop the skills needed to support racial equity work in a farm and food system rooted in love and abundance.
Led by Bessie Jones, the founder of the Sow Well Tots Early Childhood Outdoor Nature Program (2011-present). SWT is a mixed-age, 100% outdoor program thriving in all four seasons. Bessie Jones has been facilitating programs aligned with the experiences of the natural world for families and children for 30 years. Co-facilitated by Nourishment Coordinator Cristina Garcia of the Farm School in Athol, MA. Ages 5-12
This year’s programming includes Ample Apple Activities where we’ll dive into the various ways we can process and enjoy apples, alongside handwork such as sewing herbal sachets & felted wool soap. Our collaborators at Mothers Out Front Healthy Soils Action Group will be joining us for Scraps to Soil is a Solution workshop. Children will learn how composting keeps our Earth in balance and all creatures Rooted In Abundance. Explore the oodles of critters ready to decompose our scraps and plenty of everyday actions we can take to help them do their job with this hands-on discovery of how food scraps turn into soil!
Stop by the Exhibitor Fair to connect with organizations and community partners working toward shared goals. Whether you’re looking for new ideas, resources, or collaborations, this is the place to build connections and get inspired.
Get ready to place your bids on some of the community’s finest offerings—everything from compost to candles and handtools to hot sauce!
Proceeds from the auction go directly to supporting Winter Conference programming, so it’s a win-win: you get something extraordinary while helping make this event possible.
$250: Covers your registration and another attendee’s
$175: Covers your registration and a portion of another attendee’s
$130: Covers event costs
$90: A reduced fee made possible by other attendees and donor contributions
$50: A super reduced fee made possible by other attendee and donor contributions
$10: Admit one for the Children’s Conference (Ages 5 – 12)
Read more about the advantages of sliding-scale ticketing.
I’d love to carpool. How do I find others who are going?
Access the Winter Conference Carpool site
Click on the vehicle icon at top left to get started
Is there an online option?
Not for this event. Workshop recordings will be available after the conference.
Are meals included in my ticket?
Coffee and tea will be provided in the morning; lunch is not included. Plan ahead by bringing your lunch or choosing from the variety of options that UMass has to offer, such as Worcester Dining Commons or Harvest Cafe. At the end of the day, you can stay on campus for dinner, or check out our local recommendations once you register.
Are workshops going to be recorded?
A selection of the workshops offered are scheduled to be recorded.
How will I know when workshop recordings are available?
You’ll receive an email 2-3 weeks after the conference with a link to view the full set of Winter Conference 2025 videos.
How do I register someone in my group who doesn’t have an email?
The registration platform requires a different email address for each attendee, and this can pose a challenge when registering others. You can provide a variation on your own valid email address for a kid, neighbor, or elder who doesn’t need to receive important updates, arrival information, or workshop recordings.
How do I join NOFA/Mass as a member?
Head to the NOFA/Mass membership website for details!
Want email updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter (be sure to select ‘Upcoming Events’)
Thank you for your interest in sponsoring the 2025 NOFA/Mass Winter Conference. While we are not able to accommodate additional sponsors and vendors at this time, we are still accepting contributions to our scholarship fund, and auction.
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors
Presenter level
Partner level
