TOPP: Organic Management of Vegetable Pests

Online

Since the organic pesticide toolbox is limited is size and efficacy, cultural controls are very important tools. Learn how to use cultural practices like crop rotation and variety selection to minimize pest pressure, use mechanical controls to avoid pests, how to harness the power of beneficial organisms for biocontrol, and safely and effectively use OMRI-approved pesticides when necessary. How do you determine when it is necessary to spray? How do you go about doing that? What are the options if you are certified organic?

2024 Microscopy Training

Online

CT NOFA is offering microscopy training in 2024. Participants will view various soils and composts, looking at the different soil structures and the microbes that thrive in healthy soil. Demonstrations include how to prepare a slide for viewing, what you might find and how to evaluate your findings. Participants will be trained to analyze the following:

$600

Demystifying Organic Certification for BIPOC Farmers: Making the Leap

The Village 4 King St., Worcester, United States

Organic certification can sound daunting and dry. After hosting a series of networking sessions for farmers of color across the state, and from the personal experience of some of our staff members, NOFA/Mass knows that the certification process can be particularly burdensome for farmers of color, new farmers, and farmers whose first language is not English. This workshop will help you find answers to the questions,  how do you make the leap to organic certification, and is it right for me and my farm?

Free

Desmitificar la certificación de granja orgánica para agricultores BIPOC (por sus siglas en inglés Negros, Indigenas y Personas de Color)

The Village 4 King St., Worcester, United States

Conseguir la certificación de granja orgánica puede sonar abrumador y difícil. Tras llevar a cabo una serie de sesiones para crear redes para agricultores/as racializados/as en todo el estado, y también a través de la experiencia personal de algunos de nuestros/as empleados/as, NOFA/Mass es consciente de que el proceso de certificación puede ser especialmente pesado para algunos agricultores/as de color, para nuevos/as agricultores/as y para agricultores/as cuya lengua materna no es el inglés. Este taller les ayudará a encontrar respuesta a las preguntas: ¿cómo dar el salto a la certificación orgánica? y ¿es esto la mejor opción para mí y para mi granja?

Free

Invasive Plant Walkabout!

Lampson Brook Farm 275 Jackson St., Belchertown, United States

Identification and marking of invasive plants. We will focus on the more pernicious species, such as multiflora rose, prior to leafing out. We will discuss options for control, according to plant type, morphology and growth strategy. Control options will be consistent with an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. Conventional and mechanical (organic-friendly) methods will be discussed.

NOFA NH Organic Gardening Series – Native Perennial Food Plants For Your Edible Landscape

Online

When placed in habitats that meet their needs, native plants tend to be well adapted to our climate and have few pest, disease or maintenance problems. This illustrated talk will describe the growth habit, preferred habitat, care required, food value, other users, aesthetic appeal and propagation techniques for over 25 native perennial plants you can include in your edible landscape. The plants range from trees to bushes, groundcovers, roots and even vines. If you want to create an edible hedge, an edible bed, a foundation planting, a you-pick venue, or a forest garden, you will discover there are a variety of native food plants to choose from to fill you space.

$10 – $20

Compost Tea: Is it right for me?

12 Randall Lane, Mattapoisett, MA 12 Randall Lane, Mattapoisett, United States

Interested in making compost teas and extracts for a living soil? Discover efficient methods to introduce and multiply the beneficial microbes found in high quality compost into your growing spaces. Join us for a presentation and discussion on brewing techniques and how to apply them. Understand the biological needs of the soil you work with and the plants that your soil supports. Learn to assess compost and additional ”food” for the microbes within compost.

$30 – $70