Looking to make the shift to or improve your organic growing, but don’t know where to start? Join our Growing Organic Together monthly calls! This is a supportive, welcoming space where people of all backgrounds come together to learn, share, and grow. Each month, we explore new ways to incorporate organic and sustainable practices into our growing spaces, with guidance from a variety of experts and a community that encourages growth and connection. Whether you're small or large scale farming, looking to improve your Organic Systems Plan or simply interested in the organic movement, you’ll find inspiration and support here. We will be centering topics of transition to Organic.

Farm fertility can be a puzzle - whether it’s assessing your farm’s soil, building an on-site composting system, or configuring your Organic Systems Plan (OSP). Join us as we walk through some of the considerations and unique approaches to soil health solutions available to farmers. During this 2-part event, we’ll start by exploring your own role in testing your farm’s soil, learning about a variety of tests and how to interpret them. Some of these tools include, refractometer, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) meters. We’ll take a look at the standard soil tests, discuss how to interpret them as well as which information is the most valuable to you and management practices. In the second part of this event, we’ll focus on soil management practices at Late Bloom Farm. Farmer Anna Kelchlin will guide us through their process in moving from deep mulch composting systems to investing in vermi-compost teas as a fertility solution. Deep mulch composting can be labor intensive and may not deliver the biological activity that is necessary for delivering nutrients for robust plant health. You’ll also learn about Late Bloom Farm’s inspiring experiments with cover cropping seed mixes as a part of their soil health investment plan.

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6IBWJPcsSf6myPPPPl2YBA  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Go Nuts is our informational and conversation-rich agroforestry call. During this call which takes place every other odd month, we will discuss all things related […]

Embark on a captivating exploration of soil biology in our Biological Diversity workshop. Journey into the dynamic world of soil microbes, organic matter, and decomposition as we unravel the essential role of biological processes in soil health. Through hands-on activities and insightful demonstrations, participants will gain a deeper understanding of microbial communities and their impact on soil fertility and resilience. This workshop will cover microbial collections techniques that the NOFA/Mass soil technical team employs to assess and enhance biological diversity in their agricultural systems. Whether you're a farmer, gardener, or environmental enthusiast, this workshop offers invaluable knowledge and practical skills to cultivate thriving soils and sustainable landscapes.

Every grower knows that successful cultivation is more than just planting a seed and waiting. It’s a dynamic blend of art, science, and deep connection with the living ecosystem beneath our feet. NOFA/Mass invites you to explore one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — tools for creating thriving gardens and farms: the microbial life in your soil. In this interactive workshop, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of the Soil Food Web — the bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microscopic allies that form the foundation of soil health. You'll learn how to assess and establish a healthy baseline of microbial life, and discover practices that bring soil biology into balance to support long-term organic fertility. This workshop is for growers of any experience who wish to learn more about soil microbes.

Planting and designing an agroforestry-based farm is both a science and an art. It’s easy to get stuck in your head when approaching a site, and mulling over choices, such as whether to leave a section of land for pollinators, or how to select the most suitable trees for sun exposure and soil […]

Join us at Small Farm to either begin or perfect your production plan for four seasons of organic growing in high tunnels. In this workshop, we’ll be discussing everything from planning to washing during the shoulder and “off”-season, as well as how to optimize fertility and watering in your high tunnels. We’ll also discuss on-farm efficiency and affordability, where Small Farm will share their experience with both soil-moisture sensors and post-harvest tools  to make dollars go further.

Looking to make the shift to or improve your organic growing, but don’t know where to start? Join our Growing Organic Together monthly calls! This is a supportive, welcoming space where people of all backgrounds come together to learn, share, and grow. Each month, we explore new ways to incorporate organic and sustainable practices into our growing spaces, with guidance from a variety of experts and a community that encourages growth and connection. Whether you're small or large scale farming, looking to improve your Organic Systems Plan or simply interested in the organic movement, you’ll find inspiration and support here. We will be centering topics of transition to Organic.

We are excited to invite you to our bimonthly Soil Health Calls! These calls are designed to provide a platform for farmers, researchers, and experts to share their knowledge, experiences, and insights on soil health.  Our aim is to create a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about improving soil health. Our calls will cover a range of topics related to soil health, including soil biology, organic matter, nutrient management, and any topic of relevance to the NOFA community and beyond. We will also have guest speakers who will share their expertise and insights on the latest developments in the field.

Sat and Sun August 16/17. 10 am to 4.30 PM both days.

Come learn to use a variety of hand and power tools, and gain or expand your building skills, so helpful to farmers, artists, or to increase your own DIY skill set. Proper tool use and techniques can inspire you to make furniture, a shed […]

Discover the ancient art of fermenting liquids right in your own kitchen. From fizzy sodas to wild-crafted vinegars, this hands-on intensive workshop will guide you through the process of turning simple ingredients into extraordinary concoctions. 

Discover the power of plants and learn how to create your own herbal remedies. In this hands-on workshop, you'll delve into the world of medicinal herbs and learn how to grow, forage, and process them into soothing and delicious remedies.

Join us for a walk around Just Roots identifying our bio-regionally abundant medicinal herbs that come into season in the fall. We'll learn identification, medicinal uses, harvesting techniques, medicinal preparations and more. Participants will be given time to do some foraging of their own and we'll end our walk by sharing some medicinal wild food dishes Jade will prepare ahead of time to share. Recipes will be shared!

Enjoy a guided walking tour of our site with abundant no-till gardens, solar greenhouses, energy efficient structures, and inspiring conversation along the way.  Free, no-preregistration, just be on time.