Growing Organically Since 1982

 

NOFA Summer Conference -Now Virtual!

Climate Solutions Are Grown In Soil – 2020 Keynote speaker Tim LaSalle

Now Happening!  Post Conference Video package available!

 

Policy update August 2020: Governor signs mosquito control law, creates “21st Century Task Force”

Policy

At the time of writing (7/29/20) we are in the final days of the formal legislative session - too soon to update you all on the fate of most legislative priorities (for that, tune in next month), and current action alerts will likely no longer be relevant when this is received. For the latest updates and action alerts on bills still in play, please visit our action page. What follows  is an update on one bill of particular concern to our members, which was signed into law in July. 

As organic gardeners and farmers, we are all concerned about the overreliance on pesticides to control mosquitoes. Many of you took up our call to action in May when we called for an overhaul of Governor Baker’s initial plan for a statewide mosquito disease management program. The original bill would have allowed the Mosquito Reclamation Board to spray pesticides anywhere in the state, with no advance notice, and no clear  requirement to allow an “opt-out” process for spraying. These powers would have been granted indefinitely.

It’s August: Where are all my Weeds? And what are all these slugs doing in my garden?

gardening, Farming, Vegetables

If you had looked for my onion patch a few years back, it would have been hard to find at this time of year—overgrown with endless amounts of pigweed, crabgrass, and all manner of other weeds, lording over and crowding out my onions. Last year I radically changed my approach to onions, and this year extended that approach to most of my gardens. This year, just before harvest, you can see every onion flopped over in the row, and the weeds in a 100-foot bed number in the low dozens.

I did three main things to effect this transformation, all designed to deeply bury my prodigious bank of weed seeds.  First, I stopped tilling the garden. Second, I laid several inches of new compost on each bed. Third, I mulched everything deeply with leaves, covering beds and paths alike, only pulling the leaves off the beds at planting time.

Food Access Program: A Conversation with Two Neighborhood Gardeners

Food Access, Urban Gardening

During the earliest days of the outbreak of COVID-19, many families, particularly families of color, started incorporating gardening into their quarantine routine.  Many families desired to have fresher food more available to their households.  Over the past few months, even more backyard gardens have been started and interest in healthy cooking continues to increase.  

In this first part of a two-part article, I would like to introduce to you to some neighborhood growers. They share their reasons for gardening, what they have gained from it, and their inspiration to continue.

Ms. Audrey and Mr. Walter:

Both transplants from the south, Mr. Walter is from Georgia and Ms. Audrey is from North Carolina.  When asked how and when they were first introduced to gardening, Mr. Walter stated: “That is what we did in the south, grew our own food.  Many of us had parents or grandparents that had small garden plots.  Everyone would harvest and share what they grew.  Other families would preserve either by canning, drying, or freezing.  It was just what we did.”  Ms. Audrey remembered how she would help harvest string beans and prepare them for eating. 

See current and archived NOFA/Mass newsletters