DATE: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH
FARM TOUR  4:30 &#8211; 6:00
FARMER LISTENING SESSION &amp; DINNER  6:00 &#8211; 7:30
LOCATION: 395 CLAYVILLE ROAD
PAWHATAN, VIRGINIA

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Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

Simple Roots Farm Tour Followed by a Farmer Listening Session & Dinner

Business management and marketing are often left out of the conversation when talking about farming and agriculture, so we are excited to partner with <a href="https://asdevelop.org/programs-resources/food-hub/">Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) and the Appalachian Harvest Food Hub</a> for a Field Day to show farmers and growers what options there are for successful business management.
The Food Hub helps growers and producers connect to markets and buyers, providing distribution, training and technical assistance to farmers and is a powerful leader in supporting local and regional food and agricultural businesses.  Join us to tour the Food Hub where we will discuss business and market development for farmers and learn about how the organic certification of the Food Hub supports organic growers and those who are interested in transition to certified organic production for their own farms.

VABF Field Day at Appalachian Harvest Hub

Heritage grains offer more than unique flavors and marketable stories. As a largely untapped source of genetic diversity, they may be the solution for organic growers seeking predictable yields in an unpredictable climate. How can these old varieties help us adapt to climate change and how might their unique traits be put to work on modern farms? This workshop explores the potential of heritage grains not simply as relics of the past, but as practical tools for modern grain growers.

Making the Case for Heritage Grains: Finding Stability in a Changing Climate

For decades, farmers working with healthy soil have known something is different about their food — more flavor, better animal health, crops that seem more resilient. But translating that intuition into something measurable, communicable, and commercially valuable has remained out of reach.
This panel brings together leading researchers and experienced farmers to close that gap. Drawing on emerging science around soil biology and nutrient density measurement, the conversation will focus on what farmers can actually observe, track, and share — and what that means for the future of quality-focused agriculture. Whether you are just beginning to think about nutrient density or already measuring it, this session is designed to give you practical insight and language to take back to your farm and your buyers.
<h4>Presenters:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Andrew Smith &#8211; Chief Science Officer, Rodale Institute</li>
<li>Anne Bikle &#8211; Biologist, Author &#8220;What Your Food Ate&#8221;</li>
<li>Brita Lundberg &#8211; 4th Generation Farmer &amp; Communications Manager, Lundberg Family Farms</li>
<li>Lael Gerhart &#8211; Engagement Leader, Frog Hollow Farm</li>
</ul>
This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).

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National

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Midwest

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Northwest

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Plains

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Southeast

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West/Southwest

Nutrient Dense Food Webinar

Nutrient Dense Food: What Farmers Are Measuring and How They’re Selling It

Interested in Organic Farming?
Are you curious about what it takes to grow under organic regulations? Want to better understand the organic standards or how your current practices might align?
Join our weekly online gathering for an open discussion and Q&amp;A session! We&#8217;ll cover the basics of organic production, help you navigate the regulations, and explore what organic really means—and what it doesn’t.
Whether you&#8217;re just starting out or already using organic practices, this is a space to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with others on the journey. Everyone is welcome

Organic Support Hour (9/30)

Join NOFA NJ for our Monthly Organic Open House! On the last Wednesday of each month from 9:00-10:00 AM, we provide a platform for farmers and community members to connect, share knowledge, and discuss relevant topics in organic farming (typically via Zoom; in-person Open Houses will be announced in the NOFA NJ Weekly Newsletter).

NOFA NJ Monthly Organic Open House (9/30)

Ready to dig into the heart of food justice? 🥕✨ Join us at Shalom Farms on September 29th for an evening that’s as nourishing for thesoul as it is for the body! We’re kicking things off from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM with a farm tour, where you can see how Shalom Farms growsover 600,000 servings of produce to fight food inequity in Richmond. Once we&#8217;ve worked up an appetite, we&#8217;ll transition from &#8220;field work&#8221;to &#8220;heart work&#8221; from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM with a farmer listening session over a delicious dinner. Come for the greens, stay for thegrassroots conversation, and help us cultivate a more equitable food system—one plate at a time! 🍽️💚

Shalom Farms: Farm Tour and Farmer Listening Session & Dinner

Your farm has a story worth telling. This workshop will help you tell it well.
This session is designed to help organic farmers tell their farm story clearly, confidently, and in their own voice so they can connect with buyers and consumers, grow their business, and help others understand what organic is and why they should buy organic.
Here’s what to expect:
<ul>
<li>Articulate why you farm organically, and how to say it in a way that sticks</li>
<li>Share why buying local and domestic organic matters and how to make that case to your buyers and consumers</li>
<li>Learn how to shape your story for the audience in front of you, whether that’s a farmers market customer, a retail or wholesale buyer, or someone you just met</li>
</ul>
The Story Labs are designed and facilitated by the Organic Farmers Association and Modern Species, a creative agency focused on helping farmers, ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, brands, retailers, certifiers, and associations tell clear and compelling stories so buyers and consumers make better choices.
Webinar Panelists:
<ul>
<li>Gage Mitchell – Founder &amp; CEO of Modern Species</li>
<li>Madison Letizia – Communications Manager, Organic Farmers Association</li>
</ul>

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How to Tell Your Farm’s Story to Access Organic Markets

Join NOFA NJ and expert partners for an exploration of agroforestry design, implementation, maintenance, and more at Ironbound Farm in Asbury, NJ. This full-day intensive will include classroom workshops, field walks, hands-on engagements, and plenty of time for connection, Q&amp;A, and cider. Food and refreshments will be served.

Organic Agroforestry Intensive

Join us for a tour of Thornfield Farm and see first-hand their produce and meat productions systems. We will also discuss and be available for questions on organic certification and what that looks like for farmers who want to learn more.

Thornfield Farm Tour

Have you experienced the impacts of extreme weather on your farm in the past few years? Do you have questions about how to build resilience into your operation, or tried-and-true solutions you want to share with others? Join NOFA-NY and the Good Farmers Guild of Western NY for a farmer-to-farmer discussion. Come prepared to share what you’ve observed over the past few years, questions you have for other farmers, and practices that have worked for you!

Observing and Adapting to Weather Extremes: a Farmer-to-Farmer Discussion

This tour will focus on the farming behind farming: seed production! We&#8217;ll look at fields and discuss farming practices, but mostly we&#8217;ll focus on the concerns specific to seed production: isolation, pollination, processing, cleaning, drying, germination testing, etc. We&#8217;ll also explore our greenhouse/seedling operation and our substantial footprint of dahlia tuber production (which should be in peak bloom for this tour!).
Four Fold Farm is the agricultural-production wing of the Hudson Valley Seed Co. It grows crops for seed as well as for harvesting propagative vegetative material (bulbs, tubers, etc.). We grow on two sites in Accord and Kerhonkson, including at the seed co headquarters. We are certified organic.

Organic Seed Production (CRAFT Tour)

This event will take place at Four Fold Farm &amp; the Hudson Valley Seed Company in Accord, NY.

Organic Seed Production

Join NOFA-NY, Organic Valley and Triple Creek Farm for a discussion on pasture soil nutrients, soil health and dairy cow health. We will discuss nutrient transport off our grass-fed dairy farms and what we need to do about that! We will cover minerals (ratios/ranges), plant health and possible inputs. After lunch, graciously provided by Organic Valley, we will head out to the pasture for a lively conversation about regrowth, species composition and how our nutrients or lack of can influence what grows in our pasture.

Soil, Pasture, and Dairy cow Health Pasture Walk

Are perennial grains a viable option for organic farms? Kernza, the first commercially available perennial grain, benefits soil ecology while yielding a harvestable grain crop for years after planting. It also produces high-quality straw that can grazed or baled as a dual-purpose forage crop. In this workshop, Cornell professor Matt Ryan will discuss the latest agronomic research on perennial grains like Kernza, as well as their current potential as a marketable food to consumers.

Opportunities and Challenges with Perennial Grains with Matt Ryan

Howard Prussack has been farming at this location since 1971. His farm was the first in Vermont to be certified organic, in 1976. He grows a dozen acres of certified organic vegetables in the field and has 30,000 sq. ft. of high tunnels. Sales are at Brattleboro farmers&#8217; market and wholesale to coops and garden centers throughout New England, delivered by the farm&#8217;s trucks and through one distributor. The focus is on a few major crops: potted herbs, garlic, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and winter squash. Howard also grows some celery, ginger, and tumeric in tunnels. Cover crops, rotations, and various ground covers are used intensively. We&#8217;ll discuss marketing, tour the fields and tunnels, talk cover crops, and see the wash/pack/storage located in a refurbished barn. Howard will demonstrate his Tilmor Super-E electric cultivating tractor and describe its performance this past season.

STORAGE CROPS, SOIL HEALTH, MARKETING, AND AN ELECTRIC TRACTOR

Interested in Organic Farming?
Are you curious about what it takes to grow under organic regulations? Want to better understand the organic standards or how your current practices might align?
Join our weekly online gathering for an open discussion and Q&amp;A session! We&#8217;ll cover the basics of organic production, help you navigate the regulations, and explore what organic really means—and what it doesn’t.
Whether you&#8217;re just starting out or already using organic practices, this is a space to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with others on the journey. Everyone is welcome.

Organic Support Hour (9/23)

Hurricane Flats grows organic vegetables, culinary herbs, dry beans, and popcorn. Sales are at their farm stand, the Norwich Farmers Market, and at a handful of nearby stores and restaurants. Farmer and co-owner Ash Loehr is committed to soil stewardship and she implements a range of practices to build soil health, grow on-farm nutrients, minimize soil loss, and improve crop productivity. Ash will talk about the many techniques for growing and managing cover crops that she has tried over the years, from roller-crimping, to interseeding, to living mulches. She will also demonstrate equipment including a roller crimper and a specially fabricated no-till toolbar to plant into high residue. We’ll discuss funding opportunities that Hurricane Flats has utilized to help obtain equipment, and how they’ve adapted to growing in a flood plain.

Interseeding, Living Mulches, and Cover Cropping Equipment

Contour Lines Corp offers free trees and technical assistance to farmers committed to soil conservation and regenerative land management. This hands-on workshop is designed to train landowners in how to efficiently and effectively transition land to agroforestry systems.
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In this field-based session, participants will learn how to:
<ul>
<li>Mark contour lines on the landscape</li>
<li>Excavate berms and swales that maximize weed control and conserve soil</li>
<li>Efficiently plant bareroot seedlings</li>
<li>Integrate nitrogen-fixing support species</li>
<li>Mulch trees and establish cover crops</li>
</ul>
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VABF Field Day at Junction City Farm: Contour Lines Agroforestry Site Design Workshop, Farm Tour & Listening Session

Join us for an exclusive tour of Blue Ox Malthouse, where centuries-old floor malting traditions meet modern craft brewing. Blue Ox is dedicated to pushing the possibilities of craft beer and spirits while supporting Maine agriculture through the production of high-quality, locally made malt. This tour is part of MGA&#8217;s ongoing series connecting organic grain growers with the markets and makers that depend on their work.

Exploring Maine Malt: Blue Ox Malthouse Facility Tour

What resources report on organic pricing and what are the gaps in this data?
Public price and sales reports have helped level the playing field between buyers and sellers of all sizes. As agricultural information becomes increasingly privatized and markets more concentrated, that public data is more important than ever for a fair, stable organic sector. Join researcher Katie Butterfield (UC Davis), as she shares findings from her new peer-reviewed article, Improving USDA’s Public Price and Volume Data for an Equitable Organic Food Value Chain, along with the broader work behind it.
Here’s what to expect:
– Where to access organic pricing data as a farmer.
– What the research found: interviews and surveys with organic producers, processors, distributors, and retailers about how price and volume data can better serve them.
– Why access matters: many farmers don’t have the resources to purchase private data sources, and improving public data access, especially smaller markets, is one of the clearest ways to close that gap.
This session is for transitioning and organic farmers, buyers, supply chain actors, researchers, and advocates who want to understand what’s happening to organic acreage and pricing transparency and how better data can support a more equitable organic value chain.

Vibrant Selection: Colorful Produce at Local Market for Health-Conscious Buyers

Organic Pricing Data: Where to Find It and What New Research Reveals about Access

Join us for a farm field day at Sasanoa Brewing – Maine&#8217;s only certified organic brewery! This event will feature a tour of Sasanoa&#8217;s brewing operation with owner Kyle DePietro, who will share insights on growing, sourcing, and brewing with organic grains, and how Sasanoa is working to create a resilient local grain economy for farmers, maltsters, and brewers alike. Following the tour, attendees can enjoy a taste of Sasanoa’s beers, brewed entirely from organic grains grown right here in the Northeast!

Grain to Glass: Celebrate Local Grains at Maine’s only Certified Organic Brewery with Kyle DePietro

Join NOFA NJ and Charlie West for a tour of West Farm in Branchburg, NJ.
Taste and learn how to grow the delicious North American Pawpaw, the largest tree fruit native to North America. Charlie West has grown pawpaws on his farm in Branchburg for over 10 years and foraged for them during his childhood on the family farm in Ohio. After a career as a college professor of Botany and Biological Sciences, he turned his attention to native fruit trees, especially pawpaws and American persimmons. The Wests will share tastes of several varieties of pawpaws and a few food items made from pawpaws. You will learn how to grow these amazing trees in backyard gardens and farms.

Pawpaw Workshop at West Farm Nursery

Organic Office Hour! Jason Perkins joined Allagash Brewing Company in 1999 as its third full-time employee, working alongside the owner after gaining experience at several small craft breweries. He now serves as Brewmaster and Vice President of Brewing Operations, overseeing Supply Chain, Brewing, Packaging, and Quality. Jason also serves on the board of directors for the Brewers Association, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation, and the Maine Grain Alliance.

Grain Expert Office Hours: Jason Perkins

Join Ben and Taryn Marcus for a farm tour and discussion of crop rotation. Conversation will include their collaboration with a neighboring dairy farm to rotate fields to produce high value forage for the dairy and discuss the benefits of long term perennial cover crops for soil health and the subsequent row crops. There will be pizza and salad!

Crop Rotation and Soil Health Farm Tour

Come join us for an immersive farm tour experience led by <a href="https://wildwoodsfarm.us/about.htm">Vickie Shufer</a>. A naturalist, herbalist, forager and author of the book The Forager’s Garden: Cultivating Wild Plants for Food &amp; Medicine. This guided tour will focus on Virginia native plants as well as learning how medicinal plants are cultivated, harvested and used.
<div>Light Refreshments Provided. Please wear comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather and a farm environment.</div>

Farm Tour at Wild Woods Farm: Native and Medicinal Plants

Organic Support Hour (9/16)

On September 16th, the Hudson Valley Apprenticeship cohort of 17 apprentices will attend a Crop Rotations for the Organic Grower class, hosted by Crystal Stewart-Courtens, a Regional Vegetable Specialist with the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program. Participants in this class will learn about the benefits of crop rotation to soil health and pest &amp; disease management, and how to plan for successive plantings. The class will also dive into how to put together a crop plan for a farm and look at examples of crop plans from the educator&#8217;s own farm.

Crop Rotations for the Organic Grower

Rodale Institute’s Markets team is convening a Rye Working Group focused on developing diverse markets for organic rye.
Several significant rye initiatives already exist. Rather than duplicate them, our intention is to uplift the work already underway, increase shared learning, identify new opportunities, and explore strategies that require more coordination than any one organization can achieve alone. Rodale is convening and facilitating this group to support moving this work forward together.
While this working group focuses on rye, we recognize it is part of addressing a larger systemic need to build markets for the winter grains that make up healthy organic cropping rotations.
This working group intends to bring together growers, processors, millers, distillers, brand buyers, breeders, and researchers from across the rye supply system to coordinate efforts, share market intelligence, and find concrete ways to grow demand for organic rye.
We will be hosting two introductory meetings (September 14 and September 28) where we will share:
– Introductions and a chance to hear what everyone’s already working on
– The working group’s purpose and scope
– Systemic challenges and opportunities for rye markets
In Session 3 (October 5), we will get to work on collective action.
Conveners: 
Will Glazik, Rodale Institute
Bridget Gilmore, Rodale Institute
Rachel Kastner, reNourish Studio
Lauren Tucker, reNourish Studio

Young, green ears of rye, agricultural background of growing ears of cereals of wheat in sunset sunlight, plantation in sunset rays, soft focus, selective focus

Rye Working Group – Session 1

This Mini-Conference will focus on using cover crops to improve soil health, improve bio-diversity, and supress weeds.

Under Cover Cropping Mini-Conference 1 and 2

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<div class="tec-events-elementor-event-widget__datetime">September 9 @ 4:30 pm &#8211; 5:30 pm</div>
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Free Farmer-led Farm Tour, Discussion and Dinner Series 
Join your fellow farmers as they open up their farms for this series of tours. There will be plenty of food and time to talk shop and connect over the season at hand.
Deer Fence and Getting a Loan for Critical Infrastructure Farm Tour 
Stonecipher Farm 
Wednesday, September 9th, 4:30 p.m.
Join Ian Jerolmack on a tour of his new deer fence and a discussion on getting a loan for critical infrastructure. Ian received a loan from CEI, and has some great information and insights to share on how he made this all work. Whether folks want to build a greenhouse, or buy a truck, he can touch on debt ratios and risk assessment. There will be food and folks can tour the farm, see greenhouses, and follow their noses.
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Deer Fence and Getting a Loan for Critical Infrastructure Farm Tour

Welcome to Sankofa Community Orchard &#8211; Where History, Heritage, and Hope Take Root
Come experience the magic of Sankofa firsthand! Walk through the orchard, learn about the trees, meet growers and community members who make this green space special, and discover how you can be part of this growing movement. Whether you&#8217;re curious about fruit trees, interested in community food systems, or simply want to connect with other farmers and growers who care about the land and each other, this tour is for you.
We look forward to seeing you!
<div>Light Refreshments Provided. Please wear comfortable clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather and a farm environment.</div>

Farm Tour at Sankofa Community Orchard: Regenerating Soil with Soul!

Organic Support Hour (9/9)

Sales Channels for Certified Organic Farm Products

Join NOFA-NY staff and fellow farmers at this informal virtual gathering featuring conversation and community. Bring your questions about organic certification, Organic Certification Cost Share reimbursement, inspections, recordkeeping, and other farming topics while connecting with other producers and learning about NOFA-NY programs and resources.
Whether you’re certified organic, considering certification, or simply interested in organic farming, we hope you’ll join us!

Organic Producer Community Gathering

Organic Support Hour (9/2)

Organizers and Technical Assistance Providers from Glynwood, Cornell Small Farms Futuro en Ag, Cornell’s ENYCHP, CCEOC, and Cornell Integrated Pest Management will come together to host a Bilingual Farmer Field Day, the second in a series of two, on August 31st. The focus of this event will be on organic whole tomato production and post-harvest handling, in response to the needs of the farmer cohort that works closely with CCE Orange County and Cornell Small Farms programs. The location and timing of the event will be set at our next collaborator’s meeting in July, with simultaneous interpretation provided throughout the event.

Bilingual Farmer Field Day

Organic Support Hour (8/26)

Jess Purks and Connor Self grow a 1/2 acre of certified organic vegetables and flowers at a human-powered scale, with minimal tillage. They sell their products through two farmers’ markets, a farmstand and wholesale accounts. Since starting their farm in 2022, they utilized resources such as the NOFA Journey Farmer program and NRCS funding to help build their business. Please join us as we tour the farm to learn about their flower and vegetable production practices. During the tour, we will explore NRCS practices implemented on the farm such as high tunnels, low tunnels, reduced tillage, and pest management. We will end the tour with a hands-on activity guided by UVM and Xerces scientists to scout for insects on the farm.

Reduced, Tillage, Insect Scouting and NRCS Practices on a Small Scale Diversified Vegetable and Cut Flower Farm

Be one of the lucky ones to see the magic happen at Luckyfoot Ranch! Farmer Matt will show us around and answer questions on growing following sustainable, organic practices, feeding a community, managing a staff and more. 
This workshop is co sponsored by TOPP as part of NOFA RI&#8217;s technical education and community-building grant.
A potluck will follow the farm tour. If you&#8217;re able, please bring something to share and your own plate/cutler

On-Farm Workshop at Luckyfoot Ranch

Organic Support Hour (8/19)

Join us at FarmerJawn on August 18th for a field walk and farm tour!
FarmerJawn is a 128-acre working farm, building a model that enables regenerative organic food production by and for underserved communities. That makes them the largest Black-woman owned regenerative organic produce farm in America.
FarmerJawn provides access to fresh, chemical-free foods within food deserts and the community at large through our storefronts. Education on the how and where food comes from is offered through on-farm and in-class school-based programming and adult agri-business training.
Come tour the FarmerJawn’s Westtown location to learn about all things FarmerJawn, vegetable production, Certified Organic and Regenerative Organic, and much much more!

FarmerJawn Field Walk

Join soils consultant Leslie Lewis and the owners of Butterbee Farm and learn the value of compost and healthy soils on a regenerative farm. Participants will get a broad view of the farm as well as hands on experience, including:
&#8211; A farm tour, where you will get an overview of regenerative flower farming, including high tunnel production, field production, and perennials.
&#8211; A hands-on compost making demonstration, where you will get your hands dirty while going through all of the steps to make perfect compost.
&#8211; A start-to-finish preparation of a no-till bed.
You will leave this event with the ability to make your own compost on-farm, and put it to use immediately in your beds!

No-Till Bed Prep and Compost Butterbee Farm

Back for the 8th year, FesTomato! is an annual event hosted by NOFA NJ to highlight and promote NJ’s favorite crop and the amazing farms and farmers that grow them.
Free and open to the public, FesTomato! events are fun for the whole family, with tomato tastings, farm tours, agricultural and culinary demonstrations, live music, local vendors, and more.

TomatoFest at Ironbound Farm

Organic Support Hour (8/12)

Join Farmer Connor Horne to learn about the benefits that native plant diversity can bring to a vegetable farm. Participants will – 
– Tour the vegetable farm, native plantings, and you-pick operation. 
– Learn about common vegetable and berry pests, as well as Pearlstone’s integrated pest management strategies. 
– Learn about strategies and funding opportunities for implementing native planting strips on your own farm.

Native Plantings for Pest Management at Pearlstone

Organic Grain &amp; Hay Production will take place at Stonehouse Grain, the region’s primary source for organic grain, hay, and livestock feed for certified organic livestock producers. Stone House Grain is comprised of 3,000 acres of organically managed pasture, hay, and grains, growing corn, peas, soybeans, wheat, barley, oats, sunflowers, flax, and cover crops in a long-term rotation that supports a healthy regenerative ecosystem and local grains economy. Their on-farm mill cracks and grinds the grains into balanced animal feed rations. With a deep-rooted commitment to sustainable agriculture, they strive to provide farmers, distillers, and millers with the grains they need to thrive. The tour at Stone House will explore their systems and will discuss an overview of growing organic grain and hay while incorporating a diverse crop rotation. Stone House will also discuss the growing practices that allow them to provide high quality animal feed to their regional customer base.

Organic Hay Production

Organic Support Hour (8/5)

Amy Halloran is the author of The New Bread Basket: How the New Crop of Grain Growers, Plant Breeders, Millers, Maltsters, Bakers, Brewers, and Local Food Activists Are Redefining Our Daily Loaf profiled people and groups making new food and farming routes for grains. In the decade since her book came out, she&#8217;s become an advocate for regional grain systems, and is eager to share what she&#8217;s learned to help brainstorm strategies for helping food grade grain enterprises succeed.

Office Hours | Story Selling Regional Grains: How to Explain and Champion Distinct Crops & Foods

Walk Rhode Island’s only USDA-organic hemp farm, and hear two lectures on cannabis, with local beer, light fare, and live music.
Join Lovewell Farms for an after hours farm tour. It&#8217;s an evening of cannabis agriculture, history, education, and community at Rhode Island’s only USDA-organic hemp farm.
This outdoor summer gathering begins with a guided walking lecture through Rhode Island’s largest outdoor cannabis farm, where guests will learn about hemp farming, regenerative agriculture, specialty crop production, organic aersol extraction, cannabis policy, and the realities of running a small independent farm in Rhode Island.
After the field walk, guests will gather for local beer (21+), light fare, and a seated lecture exploring the history of cannabis cultivation in Rhode Island from colonial hemp and herbal medicine to prohibition, criminalization, and the modern hemp movement.
The evening closes with live acoustic music and networking on the farm.
This is event is funded thanks to funding from USDA grants from the Sustainable Agriculture Research &amp; Education (SARE) program and Transition to Organic Partnership (TOP) Program, as well as from the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of Rhode Island (NOFA-RI).

On-farm workshop at Lovewell Farm

Join us at <a href="https://www.farbungalowfarm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Far Bungalow Farm</a> for a farm tour and discussion of pest and disease management of cut flowers. Far Bungalow Farm, owned and operated by Sage Devlin, is located on the historic Rocklands Farm in Leesburg, Virginia. With parts of their production site affectionately referred to as a &#8220;bog,&#8221; Sage has a variety of strategies for managing fungus and bacteria, including building soil health and using strategic organic sprays and drenched. We&#8217;ll begin the day with lunch and a demonstration of how to mix your own treatments and preventatives, talk about some pest management strategies, and take a walk throughout the fields to view the farm in action.
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Cut Flower Pests and Disease

This interactive workshop, held on an active organic apple orchard at <a class="ext" title="(opens in a new window)" href="https://www.flaghillfarm.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-extlink="">Flagg Hill Farm</a>, will introduce producers to practical strategies for improving biodiversity within working farm systems, with a focus on integrating conservation and production goals.
Participants will engage with a newly developed best practices tool and field guide to assess and enhance habitat and protect natural resources.
Presenters will share applied experience from organic farming and bird-focused conservation perspectives, highlighting approaches to supporting wildlife habitat, building soil health, and protecting natural resources.
A key topic will focus on agroforestry, examining how tree and perennial systems can support biodiversity and farm viability, while also considering potential tradeoffs and unintended biodiversity impacts depending on design and management.

Managing Biodiversity on the Farm: Soil, Habitat, and Agroforestry in Practice

Under the tutelage of CT NOFA Soil Health Program Manager, Monique Bosch, Soil Health 3-Ways participants will attend three virtual classes (via Zoom) that cover the three main properties of soil – physical, chemical, and biological – in the lead-up to an in-person, practical application class. This 4-class course is intended for both commercial farmers and home gardeners to help them work with nature to produce healthy plants and nutrient-dense food.
A single registration for this event includes access to all four classes in the course (descriptions, dates, and times detailed below). Zoom links for the virtual classes will be provided after registration. Attendance is limited to 22 participants.
<h3>Class Details</h3>
<h5>Practical Application (In-Person @ Assawaga Farm) – September 26th, 1:00pm-4:00pm</h5>
The course will conclude with an in-person, practical application meeting at Assawaga Farm in Putnam, CT, putting to use many of the skills and topics we have covered in the previous virtual sessions. We will perform physical testing of soil, including methods that you can apply to your own land or garden. To help determine the life in soil, we will have microscopes on-hand to study various soil/compost samples. Together, we will explore how we can work with nature to create healthy, living soil.

Soil Health 3 Ways: Practical Application (In-Person @ Assawaga Farm)

Under the tutelage of CT NOFA Soil Health Program Manager, Monique Bosch, Soil Health 3-Ways participants will attend three virtual classes (via Zoom) that cover the three main properties of soil – physical, chemical, and biological – in the lead-up to an in-person, practical application class. This 4-class course is intended for both commercial farmers and home gardeners to help them work with nature to produce healthy plants and nutrient-dense food.
A single registration for this event includes access to all four classes in the course (descriptions, dates, and times detailed below). Zoom links for the virtual classes will be provided after registration. Attendance is limited to 22 participants.
<h3>Class Details</h3>
<h5>Biological Properties (virtual) – September 24th, 6:00pm-7:30pm</h5>
We will study the ‘Soil Food Web,’ learning about the living organisms in our soil, from the visible to the microscopic. Using a microscope, we will zoom in to study the microbial communities that live in our soils and compost. With an understanding of the complex trophic structure of life in our soils, we can determine aggregate structure, fungal/bacterial ratios, as well as nutrient cycling, all influenced by our soil management practices, as well as the chemical and physical make-up of our soils.

Soil Health 3 Ways: Biological Properties

Join us for a farm tour at Gaining Ground highlighting no-till vegetable production at scale. Gaining Ground has expanded vegetable, flower, and cover crop production from 3.5 acres in 2023, to around 4 acres in 2024, 5 acres in 2025, and 8 acres in 2026. Farming in partnership with Minuteman National Historical Park, the Gaining Ground team has transformed former parkland into a highly productive vegetable operation rooted in soil health principles. This event will center on the team’s approach to growing at scale while staying rooted in no-till principles. This will include a discussion of Gaining Ground’s processes for putting new land into production, their staffing structure and volunteer programming, as well as their general systems for bringing beds from seed to harvest to rest.
During the tour, participants will hear about the evolution of the farm’s systems and staffing, key decisions that have shaped production and expansion, and lessons learned during this first season growing on all 8 acres that they have in production. They’ll briefly touch on the unique experience of farming on public land before wrapping up with shared food and open networking time to connect with fellow farmers and growers.
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Registration opens July 15th.

Scaling No-Till Vegetables: Farm Tour & Networking Event

Join us at Winter Street Farm in Claremont, NH, for a field day with organic farmer Jonathan Hayden as he shares his experience designing and building a greenhouse on his small, diversified CSA farm.
Jonathan will walk participants through the intentional planning, construction, and purpose behind the above-ground structure due to the moisture content in the ground. We will also talk about the pros and cons of the structure, costs, lighting, etc.
Learn how this greenhouse design can support season extension, crop protection, and year-round growing in northern climates. Learn how Winter Street Farm is adapting and troubleshooting many unforeseen issues as they build it out. Jonathan shares how they are learning about this beautiful building to really understand it more.
This field day is a great opportunity for farmers, gardeners, and community members interested in innovative growing systems, organic production, and resilient farm infrastructure.

Field Day: Winter Street Farm-The Making of a Deep Winter Greenhouse

This season&#8217;s Eastern CT Craft is better than ever! CT Craft stands for Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training. Each month join farmers of all levels on a CT farm highlighting a farmer focused topic.
TOPIC: Compost &amp; Microscopy- Bring your own soil/compost sample and we&#8217;ll look at it under the microscope together.

Meetings start at 4pm with the host farm giving a general tour of their farm (~1 hour), then have a panel discussion (~1 hour) and then a potluck (~1 hour). The potluck social is a great opportunity to spend time with other farmers in the region!

Eastern CT CRAFT- Assawaga Farm: Compost and Microscopy

Under the tutelage of CT NOFA Soil Health Program Manager, Monique Bosch, Soil Health 3-Ways participants will attend three virtual classes (via Zoom) that cover the three main properties of soil – physical, chemical, and biological – in the lead-up to an in-person, practical application class. This 4-class course is intended for both commercial farmers and home gardeners to help them work with nature to produce healthy plants and nutrient-dense food.
A single registration for this event includes access to all four classes in the course (descriptions, dates, and times detailed below). Zoom links for the virtual classes will be provided after registration. Attendance is limited to 22 participants.
<h5>Chemical Properties (virtual) – September 17th, 6:00pm-7:30pm</h5>
We will learn how to interpret a chemical soil test, analyzing macro and micro-nutrients, pH, Cation Exchange Capacity and Organic Matter content, and how these values affect our soil’s ability to grow healthy plants and nutritious food. Using regenerative farming methods, we will address issues of nutrient deficiency, chemical imbalance, and excesses.

Soil Health 3 Ways: Chemical Properties

This event supports current and aspiring organic farmers through hands-on workshops, practical technical assistance, and meaningful opportunities to connect with peers across the food and farming community. Whether you&#8217;re just beginning your organic journey or looking to deepen your expertise, you&#8217;ll gain real-world insights you can apply right away
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<h3>MORE THAN A CONFERENCE</h3>
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Enjoy two full days on the farm:
<ul>
<li>Guided field walks</li>
<li>Wagon tours of the farm</li>
<li>Hands-on workshops</li>
<li>Live music</li>
<li>Local food trucks</li>
</ul>
This is your chance to learn, connect, and celebrate organic agriculture in a vibrant and welcoming setting at the Rodale Institute!
<div class="text-left">🌾 WHO SHOULD ATTEND?</div>
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<li>Aspiring organic farmers</li>
<li>Currently certified producers</li>
<li>Farmers transitioning to organic</li>
<li>Agricultural professionals and service providers</li>
</ul>
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Northeast Growing Together Conference

Join NOFA/Mass for our monthly soil health calls, where we explore the on-farm processes and practices that shape resilient, thriving soils. Our facilitators will guide participants through practical strategies that influence soil integrity in organic systems. Each session offers space to ask questions, discuss specific methodologies, and learn directly from peers about what’s working on their farms.
Topics range from organic amendments, cover cropping systems, reduced tillage and compaction mitigation strategies, nutrient cycling, soil biology and microbial life, organic systems plans, and other stewardship practices designed to strengthen the long-term health and productivity of your farm

Soil Health in Organic Systems Monthly Calls- NOFA/Mass (9/16): Putting your Soil to Bed: Fall Cover Crops and Winter Prep

Join us at Rattle Root Farm for a field-based conversation focused on the realities of starting a no-till farm from the ground up. While farm apprenticeships offer invaluable experience, they don’t always answer the bigger question: how do you actually get to this point yourself? At this event you’ll meet the three young farmers that began Rattle Root and hear how they approached starting their farm, adapting systems that they had learned working on other farms.
This day centers the nuts &amp; bolts of early farm development—building a business with sustainability in mind, making infrastructure decisions that last, and shaping production systems that reflect your values and capacity.
At Rattle Root, each of the first four seasons brought its own extreme challenges—from saturated fields to late frosts. In response, the farm has evolved practical, adaptable systems that increase resilience in the face of uncertainty. We’ll explore both the big-picture thinking and the small, DIY strategies that make a difference over time.
Registration Launches July 31, 2026
Throughout the day, we’ll…
<ul>
<li>Build practical knowledge of core farm systems &amp; how they function together</li>
<li>Explore applied no-till, cover cropping &amp; mulching systems</li>
<li>Understand fertility as a holistic, evolving strategy—integrating compost, soil biology, inputs &amp; observation over time</li>
<li>Look at water management strategies, including drainage &amp; culverts</li>
<li>Develop a clearer framework for farm finances, infrastructure &amp; early investments</li>
</ul>
Participants will also leave with practical resources from the farm, including a sample crop plan, equipment list, and soil health materials to support decision-making beyond the event.
Schedule/Agenda:
10:00am – Welcome &amp; Detailed Farm Tour
12:00pm – Lunch
1:00pm – Building a Farm: Finances, Planning &amp; Systems
2:30pm – Soil Health, Fertility &amp; Field Practices
3:30pm – CSA, Markets &amp; Distribution Discussion
4:00pm – Wrap Up &amp; Thank You
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Starting from Scratch: Soil, Farm Systems & Sustainability

Maine-grown rice? You heard that right!
This tropical grain may seem out-of-place here in the Northeast, but Ben Rooney of the Maine Rice Project has been proving otherwise for over a decade.
Join us September 12th at Ararat Farms to see ripening rice crops up close (both upland and paddy varieties) and learn how you can organically cultivate and process this grain crop right here in Maine.

Growing Rice in Maine with Ben Rooney

This interactive workshop at Choiniere Family Farm will introduce practical strategies for improving biodiversity on working farms using a newly developed field guide for organic producers.
With expertise from farmers and in partnership with Audubon VT, participants will be introduced to a best practices tool and accompanying field guide to assess and enhance habitat on their farms for birds and other wildlife.
Presenters will share real-world experience, including approaches to supporting wildlife habitat and managing invasive non-native plants. The farm tour will focus on soil health and pasture regeneration, highlighting regenerative grazing and soil-building practices that support productivity, water quality, and biodiversity outcomes.

Building Biodiversity: Habitat, Soil, and Pasture Regeneration

Under the tutelage of CT NOFA Soil Health Program Manager, Monique Bosch, Soil Health 3-Ways participants will attend three virtual classes (via Zoom) that cover the three main properties of soil – physical, chemical, and biological – in the lead-up to an in-person, practical application class. This 4-class course is intended for both commercial farmers and home gardeners to help them work with nature to produce healthy plants and nutrient-dense food.
A single registration for this event includes access to all four classes in the course (descriptions, dates, and times detailed below). Zoom links for the virtual classes will be provided after registration. Attendance is limited to 22 participants.
<h5>Physical Properties (virtual) – September 10th, 6:00pm-7:30pm</h5>
You will learn to interpret what type of soil and conditions you are working with, using simple tools and methods. We will explore management practices for best structure, texture, and tilth. Understanding the physical properties of soil will help with many aspects of soil health that are often ignored. Rather than relying just on a chemical soil test, physical testing will give us a better understanding of the actual make-up of our soils. This class will give you the ability to use simple tools to perform physical tests on soil to determine compaction, soil texture, structure and permeability.

Soil Health 3 Ways: Physical Properties

Kolrose Farm is a certified organic farm on 4 acres of leased land from Brandmoore Farm. Alex will guide us through the process from chicks to sales. Learn what is involved when pasturing both chickens and turkeys for meat. Timetables for ordering, raising, when to move them onto pasture and when to know when it&#8217;s time, you know, to go to freezer camp.
We will dive into how pasturing is improving the pasture, how to determine stocking densities, when and how to move them, feed them, while keeping the labor to a minimum.
Alex will discuss his collaboration with another organic farm for on-farm processing, and talk about what is involved and why.

Field Day: Kolrose Farm- Pastured Poultry for Small Farms

Join us for Elevating Grain, a regional gathering designed to strengthen connections across the grainshed, including stakeholders from production and processing to procurement and policy.
This interactive fair brings together growers, millers, bakers, food producers, institutional buyers, and decision-makers to build relationships, exchange knowledge, and showcase the diversity and potential of using regional and organic grains.
Two interactive skill building workshops will be followed by a panel of experts representing all parts of the supply chain including perspectives on market access and opportunities for regional and organic grain producers. We will wrap up with an “eat and greet” mixer featuring vendor samples and drinks all highlighting local and organic grains allowing attendees to sample potential products they could use in their meal programs and operations.
The event will feature vendors representing mission-aligned producers and organizations, with attendees/buyers from across the regional food system.

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Elevating Grain: A Hudson Valley Grain Fair Connecting Purchasers, Processors, and Producers

Join us at Benson’s Pond Farm for a look at building on-farm fertility through fermented plant &amp; fruit inputs. This casual, educational and networking session will explore how these foliar fertilizers and amendments are made on-farm, applied, and tracked over time using both mineral and biological testing. We’ll dig into the methodology, pricing, and observed benefits after five years of use in a transitioning system: what’s changed, what’s worked, and what’s still evolving. Out in the bog, we’ll observe plant &amp; soil conditions as indicators of biological activity and health.
We’ll touch on shared water considerations and the realities of moving toward organic certification, and close with time to connect, share experiences, and continue the conversation with fellow growers. This session is designed for fellow cranberry growers as well as anyone who is interested in developing on-farm fertility strategies rooted in biology.

On Farm Fertility & Ferments: Farmer Networking Session

Bring in your soil or compost sample and we’ll put it under the microscope to identify the microbial life within and explain what it all means. You’ll learn more about your sample’s:
<ul>
<li>Soil structure</li>
<li>Aggregate formation</li>
<li>Bacterial/fungal ratio</li>
<li>Predators</li>
<li>And more!</li>
</ul>
You’ll leave knowing better what your soil is currently best suited for, as well as how you might amend it to better suit it for other growing applications. This event is intended for both commercial growers as well as home gardeners.

Microscopy: The Doctor is In!

NOFA NJ Monthly Organic Open House (8/26)

Diversity can be a powerful approach to increasing farm resilience. Adding agroforestry systems to your farm can diversify enterprises, provide alternative fodder, improve soil health, and increase water quality and resilience.
Join <a class="ext" title="(opens in a new window)" href="https://breadtreefarms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-extlink="">Breadtree Farms</a>, who manages 800 acres in the Upper Hudson Valley and Southwest Vermont, to learn how they are stewarding 20,000+ food-producing trees and shrubs—including chestnut, hickory, oak, seaberry, apple, pear, mulberry, and persimmon—in orchards grazed by sheep and cattle.
Together, we’ll tour their multi-function landscapes, hear about their ongoing research projects, and learn about their mission to bolster food sovereignty and security, while fostering healthy ecosystems, biodiversity, and sequestering carbon.

Opportunities for Integrating Tree Crops with Grazing Systems

Opportunities for Integrating Tree Crops and Grazing Systems

Soil Health in Organic Systems Monthly Calls- NOFA/Mass (8/19)

For sustainable soil health from design to care through the seasons
Visit Gemmo Forest and the Well -Seeded Gardens within the city limits of Keene, NH  to see a new paradigm in growing emerge.
The Gemmo Forest is a 12.5-acre permaculture laboratory, growing plants, trees, and shrubs for not only their medicinal benefits but also for the vitality and well-being of all who interact with it. Through intentional experimentation, we model accessible practices that invite everyone to engage in new and meaningful ways with this land we all share.
In its fourth growing season the Gemmo Forest integrates cultivated permanent no till beds of polyculture plantings into the wildscape. Some of the experiments in which we are actively engaged include transitioning fields into beds with minimal soil disturbances, an intentionally planted feathered edge serving dual purposes as a protected wildlife corridor and production of trees and shrubs of medicinal value, a tea garden of hugelkultur beds, and an fruit orchard guild.
Well-Seeded Gardens, the adjoining .33 acre homestead field of the Hubele family is a young model for urban micro-farming. What began as six raised beds in the summer of 2023 with a few plant sale starts is now home to 90 permanent beds, a young fruit orchard, and 18 x 40 sq foot high tunnel all within the Keene city limits. 100% no till the soil health is supported by onsite composting, intensive intercropping and support planting as well as late summer and fall cover crops. On a corner lot with high viability the Hubele&#8217;s project serves as an accessible model for the Gemmo Forest&#8217;s More Food Less Lawns initiative.
Come and reflect on your connection to land, nature, and your role in ushering in a kinder and gentler future for growing.
Wear shoes appropriate for walking in forested and garden land.

Field Day: Gemmo Forest-Using Permanent Beds and Polyculture Plantings in the Garden and the Forest Farm

Do you grow and sell small and alternative grains? Looking to find new business partners to buy U.S. grown feed-grade ingredients?
Join the Organic Trade Association and our partners for our Virtual Buyer-Seller Mixer on August 13, 2026 as a part of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).
What is a Virtual Buyer-Seller Mixer: An online event for organic buyers and sellers &#8211; think online speed dating to support expansion of the U.S. organic supply chain! Participants&#8217; schedules will be created to connect sellers and buyers based on registration information and scheduling availability. For this buyer-seller mixer, we&#8217;re focused on organic and transitional small and alternative grains.
What do we mean by SMALL and ALTERNATIVE GRAINS? We&#8217;re targeting businesses buying or selling grains like oats, barley, rye, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, rice, and others.
Who Can Register: Any business (buyers) sourcing U.S.-grown small and alternative grains, and any farmer/producer of U.S.-grown organic or transitional small and alternative grains (sellers).  

Why: Support the domestic supply chain by sourcing small and alternative grains from domestic producers to meet your business needs in 2026 and beyond!
How: <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YDF8S7C">Register here</a>. Our team of experts will craft a custom schedule for each registrant. Complete schedules will be shared with registrants by July 31, 2026.
Register by July 30. Space is limited &#8211; sign up today!
REGISTER NOW: <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YDF8S7C">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YDF8S7C</a>
This mixer is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).

Virtual Buyer-Seller Mixer for Small & Alternative Grains

Too much water in some places and not enough in others? Managing this common situation for Vermont farmers is becoming more important as the climate changes. Join farmer Makail Tipton and UVM’s Joshua Faulkner, Director of UVM Extension’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture, for an afternoon at <a class="ext" title="(opens in a new window)" href="https://www.fireflyfarmburkehollow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-extlink="">Firefly Farm at Burke Hollow</a> to understand how soils and landscape influence drainage issues and water supply constraints.
Together, we’ll discuss how hydrology informs strategies and solutions to increase water quality and resilience. We’ll explore best practices for livestock and vegetable production, approaches to building soil health for years of excess precipitation, irrigation efficiencies, and key considerations when developing water sources.

Reading the Farm Landscape to Increase Water Resilience

Join us for an exclusive tour of Blue Ox Malthouse, where centuries-old floor malting traditions meet modern craft brewing. Blue Ox is dedicated to pushing the possibilities of craft beer and spirits while supporting Maine agriculture through the production of high-quality, locally made malt.
This tour is part of MGA’s ongoing series connecting organic grain growers with the markets and makers that depend on their work.

Processor Visit | Blue Ox Malthouse

Calling all farmers and stakeholders who live in the Northeast &amp; Mid-Atlantic region! Join us for an in-depth discussion of an updated “Advancing Regional Organic Markets: A Farmer’s Toolkit”, a resource designed to strengthen regional organic economies. This toolkit provides farmers and stakeholders with data, insights, and opportunity analysis to help expand regional production of high-demand organic crops, reduce reliance on imports, and increase economic opportunities for U.S. farmers. During this Advisor Call, we’ll discuss the Toolkit’s improvements since it was first launched in December 2025 and explore how to use the toolkit to identify key market opportunities in the Northeast &amp; Mid-Atlantic region, support resilient supply chains rooted in local identity, and foster stronger connections between producers, processors, and buyers.
This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).

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Advisor Call Advancing Regional Organic Markets: A Farmer’s Toolkit (Northeast & Mid-Atlantic)

Calling all farmers and stakeholders who live in the United States! Join us for an in-depth discussion of an updated “Advancing Regional Organic Markets: A Farmer’s Toolkit”, a resource designed to strengthen regional organic economies. This toolkit provides farmers and stakeholders with data, insights, and opportunity analysis to help expand regional production of high-demand organic crops, reduce reliance on imports, and increase economic opportunities for U.S. farmers. During this Advisor Call, we’ll discuss the Toolkit’s improvements since it was first launched in December 2025 and explore how to use the toolkit to identify key national market opportunities, support resilient supply chains rooted in local identity, and foster stronger connections between producers, processors, and buyers.
This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).

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Advisor Call Advancing Regional Organic Markets: A Farmer’s Toolkit (National)

If you’re curious about growing more than just vegetables, or want to explore how diverse crops can enhance both production and soil health, this field day is for you. We’ll focus on natural dye plants—annual and perennial species that often also serve as cut flowers—alongside garlic, rhubarb, and seeds, showing how multiple enterprises can fit into a practical organic farm system. This is a great opportunity for farmers, homesteaders, and growers interested in soil-building practices, adaptive farm management, and how to integrate it all into an Organic Systems Plan (OSP).
During this on-farm field day at Hilltop Farm &amp; Fiber Arts, we’ll explore how the farm’s management systems have evolved over time and how those changes shape day-to-day soil and crop decisions whilst referencing a soil test. Hilltop Farm once integrated livestock but now sources composted manure off-farm, offering a practical example of adapting nutrient management while maintaining fertility and organic certification. We’ll also discuss how scale, labor, and cost considerations influence decisions about which practices to keep, modify, or replace.
Through a farm tour and discussion, participants will:
<ul>
<li>Visit the certified organic processing areas used for dried plant material and seed handling</li>
<li>See how the farm’s OSP guides everyday soil health and crop management decisions</li>
<li>Explore production strategies for natural dye plants alongside garlic, rhubarb, and seeds in niche organic markets</li>
<li>Enjoy a locally sourced lunch</li>
<li>Observe low-till bed preparation with a rototiller, cover-cropped beds, and techniques for maintaining soil structure</li>
<li>Learn how soil test results can be interpreted and applied to real-world fertility management</li>
</ul>
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Registration opens June 11.

Growing Specialty Crops & Natural Dyes: Organic Diversification & Soil Decision

This season&#8217;s Eastern CT Craft is better than ever! CT Craft stands for Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training. Each month join farmers of all levels on a CT farm highlighting a farmer focused topic.
Meetings start at 4pm with the host farm giving a general tour of their farm (~1 hour), then have a panel discussion (~1 hour) and then a potluck (~1 hour). The potluck social is a great opportunity to spend time with other farmers in the region!

Eastern CT CRAFT-Hidden Blossom Farm: Silvopasture & Livestock Production

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Join us to learn Organic management strategies to work with microbes to strengthen your soil!
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PICK YOUR DAY &amp; LOCATION! There is a complex, unseen world of microbes, bacteria, and fungi that can work together in symbiosis with your plants to enhance growth, disease and pest resistance, soil fertility, and much more. Come learn ways to become a &#8220;microbe herder&#8221; to improve the microbiome on your farm and let The Little Things do some of the hard work for you!
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Saturday, August 1 &#8211; 1PM &#8211; 6PM &#8211; RIVERHAWK FARM &#8211; 508 Nicolette Rd, Parkersburg, WV 26104
Sunday, August 2 &#8211; 1PM &#8211; 6PM &#8211; APPALACHIAN CELLAR &#8211; 1117 Simpson Rd, Flemington, WV 26347
Featured presenter:
Dr. Matt Kleinhenz from The Ohio State University
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THE LITTLE THINGS: The hidden superpowers of the soil microbiome

Are you considering USDA Organic Certification but need more clarification about the requirements and process?  Becoming a Certified Organic farm is a significant commitment, but it can have tremendous advantages, from increased market competitiveness and improved recordkeeping to accessing additional funding and technical assistance from service providers.
<div>JOIN US for an informal discussion on organic certification and have a chance to network with farmers, a certifier and others who can answer questions and provide resources for your journey through transitioning to organic production.</div>

Demystifying Organics Workshop & Farm Tour @ Loving Cup Vineyard and Winery

Microplastics are an increasing concern in agriculture, with potential implications for soil health and food systems, and both ecosystem and human health. This webinar is designed for farmers who want to better understand microplastics in agricultural soils, as well as anyone concerned about the future of our food system and the health of the environment. Much of the research on this topic remains locked behind science journal paywalls or is communicated through highly technical language. The goal of this webinar is to make current research more accessible, to raise awareness of this emerging issue, and to help growers and community members leave with a clearer understanding of where microplastics come from, how they affect agricultural systems, and what actions can help address the problem.
In this webinar, we will:
<ul>
<li>Learn about common pathways through which microplastics enter agricultural systems</li>
<li>Cover the impacts of microplastic contamination</li>
<li>Explore strategies for reducing, mitigating, or preventing contamination</li>
<li>Discuss priorities for research, policy, and practical action to address microplastic pollution over the long term</li>
</ul>
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Microplastics in Agriculture

Join CT NOFA at The Hickories in Ridgefield on Wednesday, June 24 from 1:00pm-3:00pm for microscope analysis of your soil!
Bring in your soil or compost sample and we’ll put it under the microscope to identify the microbial life within and explain what it all means. You’ll learn more about your sample’s:
<ul>
<li>Soil structure</li>
<li>Aggregate formation</li>
<li>Bacterial/fungal ratio</li>
<li>Predators</li>
<li>And more!</li>
</ul>
You’ll leave knowing better what your soil is currently best suited for, as well as how you might amend it to better suit it for other growing applications. This event is intended for both commercial growers as well as home gardeners.

Microscopy: The Doctor is In! (7/29)

NOFA NJ Monthly Organic Open House (7/29)

Join us for an on-farm workshop hosted by a recipient of the NOFA-NH Resilience Fund as we explore the use of combined, deep compost mulch and organic no-till in organic vegetable production. Participants will tour permanent raised beds receiving a 4-inch application of finished compost and learn how this practice supports soil health, weed suppression, moisture retention, and reduced fertilizer and irrigation needs.
Drawing from successful on-farm trials in 2024 and 2025, this workshop will look at how deep mulch compost applications can improve soil organic matter, biological activity, tilth, and pH while supporting no-till production and long-term land stewardship goals. We’ll discuss soil test results, compost selection, and how compost-based systems can address challenges such as soil crusting, weed pressure, low water retention, and nutrient availability.
Attendees will also see the practical side of implementation, including compost handling, bed preparation, and planting techniques designed to maintain weed suppression by minimizing soil disturbance. This workshop offers an opportunity for farmers and gardeners to learn about a scalable, soil-building approach to organic vegetable production that can improve crop resilience while reducing workload and erosion over time.

Field Day: Wildhollow Farm-Deep Compost Mulching in Organic No-Till Production

Farmers and homesteaders of all scales, join for a workshop to learn about and see silvopasture in action at Wild Roots Farm. Farmer Jon Turner will explain how they&#8217;ve integrated livestock and crops, building up their soil organic matter through rotational grazing and biomass.
Of their ten acres, about 2.5 have been planted with 300 edible trees and shrubs. Also, view their forest garden and windbreak to mitigate the effects of high gusts. Jon will go over their planning process, including zones of use, land contours, and choosing tree species. This model can be scaled up or down, and attendees will leave with some tangible ideas for holistic planning.

Building Soil with Livestock and Perennial Crops

The course will conclude with an in-person, practical application meeting at The Hickories Farm in Ridgefield, CT, putting to use many of the skills and topics we have covered in the previous virtual sessions. We will perform physical testing of soil, including methods that you can apply to your own land or garden. To help determine the life in soil, we will have microscopes on-hand to study various soil/compost samples. Together, we will explore how we can work with nature to create healthy, living soil.

Soil Health 3-Ways: Practical Application

The Farm Upstream is a collectively owned, certified organic farm and native plant nursery established in 2021. Located on 20 acres along the Lee River, the farm focuses on sustainable practices, riparian protection, and community-centered agriculture, offering a popular veggie CSA, farm stand, and locally sourced native shrub nursery.
We will take a tour to observe and discuss the farm’s management approaches to soil health and pollinator support. We’ll explore cover cropping, mulching, compost additions, and pollinator support in annual, biannual, and perennial production systems.

Soil Health and Pollinator Support on a Diversified Organic Farm

We will study the ‘Soil Food Web,’ learning about the living organisms in our soil, from the visible to the microscopic. Using a microscope, we will zoom in to study the microbial communities that live in our soils and compost. With an understanding of the complex trophic structure of life in our soils, we can determine aggregate structure, fungal/bacterial ratios, as well as nutrient cycling, all influenced by our soil management practices, as well as the chemical and physical make-up of our soils.

Soil Healthy 3-Ways: Biological Properties

Join us on July 23 in Skowhegan, Maine for a producer-led conversation and evening gathering focused on strengthening markets for regionally grown grain through collaboration, connection, and shared opportunity.
We will kick the day off with a producer-led panel discussion on building strong markets for locally-grown organic grains, moderated by Kim Butz of the Rodale Institute!
Panelists Amber Lambke, Joel Alex, Kerry Hanney, and Kyle DePietro will share where demand is growing, what makes grain market-ready, and how growers can enter and expand into new markets.
Then stay for The Grain Social, a grower-buyer mixer featuring regional food, drinks, and conversation designed to strengthen relationships across the grain economy.

The Kneading Conference

Growing Grain Markets: Buyer Panel & Grain Social

Participants will learn how to make their own compost tea in a 5-gallon bucket and have an opportunity to borrow a compost tea brewing kit to use at home, including a bucket, aerator, mesh bag, and all needed amendments to brew your own batch of compost tea to add to your favorite plants. Pick up your kit, brew some compost tea, and return the equipment after 3 days.
This event is intended for both commercial growers as well as home gardeners.

Compost Tea Brewing Workshop

The Kneading Conference brings together grainiacs and bread buffs from all over the country. Farmers, professional and home bakers, brewers, chefs, cooks, grain researchers, maltsters, food entrepreneurs, and wood-fired oven enthusiasts gather to educate one another about the art and science of growing and milling grains, baking artisan breads, and brewing delicious beer. Whether you are a professional, or just yearning to know more about the craft, this event is for you.

The Kneading Conference -organic sessions

Farmers are constantly juggling recordkeeping, compliance requirements, crop planning decisions, and soil health management, often across multiple spreadsheets, notebooks, and disconnected systems. Whether you’re certified organic, transitioning toward certification, or simply looking for better ways to organize your farm data, this workshop at Farming is Life will introduce their new platform, FAHM (Farm App Hub and Manager), designed to simplify farm management and strengthen decision-making. Together, we’ll explore how FAHM is already being used on working farms to streamline compliance, automate recordkeeping, manage soil health data, and support long-term planning. Participants will also get a look at tools emerging from the farmers at Farming Is Life around soil monitoring, greenhouse automation, and grower distribution networks, along with guidance on setting up profiles and accounts.

Streamlining Soil Health on the Organic Farm

You’ve transitioned to organic—or you’re considering it. What comes next?
Presented by Rodale Institute and the Organic Trade Association as part of the National Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), this webinar is designed for farmers thinking beyond certification. Transitioning to organic is one step; building a viable business around it is another.
Danielle and Steven of TendWell Farm will share how they approached that challenge. Danielle will walk through how they developed a brand, identified market opportunities, and explored value-added products and alternative revenue streams for their diversified vegetable system. She’ll also discuss a key but often under-addressed reality: while organic can command a price premium, capturing that value depends on clear positioning and a thoughtful market strategy.
This session is a practical conversation with farmers who have navigated these decisions. Come prepared to listen, ask questions, and consider how their experience might apply to your own operation.
This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).

Certification and Compliance

Farm Business and Market Access

Mentorship and Research Materials

Pest, Weed, and Disease Management

Soil Health and Inputs

Events

Regional Partners