Are you excited about the possibility of growing climate resilient tree crops for our local food system?  Do you have dreams of a perennial, climate resilient, dynamic agroforestry farm, but are struggling to take the steps to put your aspirations into action?

Join Nutwood Farm and NOFA/Mass to explore a small commercial hazelnut orchard and learn what it takes to transition land to tree crops, from developing a site plan, testing your soil, clearing land, selecting species of plants and animals, to working with mistakes and thinking ahead. They’ll walk us through how they got started and where they’re headed next, including embarking on investing in processing infrastructure and developing value-added food products as well as other marketable agroforestry products.

 

Throughout the day we will:  

• Tour the farm to see hazelnut hedgerows, earthworks, and livestock 
• Ask critical and inspiring implementation questions
• Engage in rich discussion about agroforestry development in the Northeast
• Review the various entities and organizations that have supported this work
• Meet and mingle with others who might also be in your shoes!

 

Schedule/Agenda:

2:00pm – Gather & Intros

2:30pm – Hazelnut Field and Farm Tour

4:00 – Break-out Discussion groups: establishment, soil health & species selection

5:00pm – Wrap Up & Thank You

 

About :

Seva and Kalyan started Nutwood Farm on an abandoned overgrown former Christmas tree farm in 2015. Nine years later, they have established hazelnut and chestnut orchards, a unique off-grid solar home, and diverse perennial homestead gardens. They saw a niche gap in the local food system and the exciting potential of growing nut trees on marginal farmland in the Hilltowns. They both share a love of homegrown food and a desire to feed their community and develop a regional food culture around perennial staple crops, building soil and connecting people to place.

 

About the Project:

MDAR Specialty Crops

This Project was supported by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture through grant AM22SCBPMA1163. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

 

Accessibility:

Parking is available on the side of the road. A composting toilet is available on site. Please bring a hat and water bottle, and possibly a chair if you prefer to sit. 

Portions of our farm tour will cover uneven terrain.  We want to make sure your accessibility needs are met during the event. Please share with us your needs regarding (but not limited to): physical accessibility, allergies, noise, scent, gender, intellectual accessibility, and any instructions or tips to help you fully participate. 

 

Refund/Inclement Weather Policy:

For information on our refund and inclement weather policy, click here. Rain date is July 27.

Capacity:

Capacity for this event is limited to 40 people. Register ahead of time to secure your space, and consider carpooling if possible.

 

 

Questions? 

Contact Ruben at [email protected]