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October, 2005
In this issue...

new Development Director, who will join CISA in early October. Sara brings with her a passion for CISA’s mission, valuable fundraising experience and many community connections, specifically in Hampden County where CISA is expanding its programs. Most recently, Sara served as Director of Development and Community Relations at the Center for Human Development (CHD) in Springfield. She has been affiliated with that organization for over 15 years. Sara will replace Michele Marotta who is leaving CISA to start a family. Michele will remain an active volunteer and supporter and looks forward to working with Sara to continue to raise community support for CISA and its programs.

September 16th was a magical evening as nearly 200 supporters and Local Heroes joined us to celebrate and to Eat the View during CISA's annual fundraising feast at the Garden House at Look Park. CISA extends it's heartfelt thanks to all of our event supporters, ticket buyers, contributors, sponsors, auction, food and decors donors and volunteers. Together we raised over $37,000! These funds will be used with care and efficiency to strengthen local farms, keep our working landscape open, healthy and beautiful, and support our newest initiatives to bring more locally grown food to schools, our inner cities, and our neighbors in need.

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2005 Heritage Wool Blankets available
2005 blanket features new pattern, wool from across the state

CISA’s 2005 Heritage Wool Blankets are now available for purchase! The blankets are made from natural un-dyed Massachusetts wool. They feature a checkerboard pattern in grey with two different weaves: a twill and a basket weave. The handsome blankets will be treasured by anyone who appreciates fiber, sheep and our working looms and farms.

The popular blankets, which quickly sold out last year, incorporate the wool from 23 farms across the state, from the Berkshires to the Valley to the North Shore and many points in between. Even Doug Gillespie, Commissioner of Agriculture, sold wool to the project. The Heritage Wool Blanket project has grown from 2,000 pounds of wool gathered in 2004 to 3,200 in 2005, allowing CISA to support more sheep farmers and producing a lot more blankets to meet strong demand.

This year the blankets were made almost entirely in Massachusetts. With the exception of scouring (washing the raw wool) and hemming, all steps of the process took place in Buckland and Millbury, MA. S & D Spinnery in Millbury took the cleaned fiber and carded and spun it into yarn. Their attention to detail and years of experience yielded a high-quality yarn. We knew we were in good hands when we saw that they were also spinning high-tech fiber for makers of outdoor clothing like LL Bean!

Heritage Wool Blankets are throws that measure approximately 48” x 72”. If you would like to purchase a Heritage Wool Blanket please contact Jennifer Williams at the CISA office, 413-665-7100. Blankets cost $125 each.

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New fiber event in Franklin County

Calling all spinners, knitters, felters, and all who enjoy fiber in its many forms! Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, CISA and local fiber folks, farmers and volunteers are coming together to create a new fiber event on Saturday, October 29, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Learn about local sheep and fiber farmers, spinners, dyers, weavers and other artisans involved with fiber throughout Franklin County. Visit local fiber farms and a marketplace with fiber demonstrations at the historic Guiding Star Grange #1, 401 Chapman Street, in Greenfield. Historic Deerfield in nearby Deerfield will have a special feature for Fiber Twist attendees.
The day's events will be scattered throughout the scenic hills and valleys of Franklin County, with a number of farms and weavers offering tours at their facilities. Featured are:

• Tregellys Fiber Farm in Hawley
• Chee Chee Mamook Farm in Northfield
• Winterberry Farm in Leverett
• Foxfire Fiber & Designs at Springdelle Farm in Shelburne
• Bedfellows Blankets in Buckland
• Keldaby Farm in Colrain

For a complete schedule visit www.fibertwist.com.

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CiderDay celebrates local apple harvest

CiderDay is a community event celebrating all things apple in Franklin County, Massachusetts. 2005 marks the 11th year of this event and there will be two days of orchard tours, cider making and tastings, workshops and much more. This is for all who love apples, fresh or hard cider, apple cuisine, apple orchards or just being in New England in the fall. There is a small charge for some of the activities but there is no admission for the self-guided tour of orchards.
Highlights of this year’s schedule:

Pining for more wine during the first weekend of November?

Don’t feel blue, drink blue! Blueberry wine, that is, during Chester Hill Winery’s New Blue Weekend, Nov. 5-6. noon-4. Celebrate the new wines with music, food, friends llamas and fun! Get all the details here.

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Local Hero Snap Shot: North East Alpacas
By Kelly Coleman

From the top of Mount Sugarloaf you can just see the top of a converted tobacco barn. At one time it was part of a fully functioning tobacco farm, and then, for a night, the reception room for Lisa and Howie Beaudry’s wedding. Now it houses nearly half of the Beaudrys’ 24 alpacas at their farm, North East Alpacas, in Whately.

The Beaudry’s bought the land several years ago with Howie’s brother Michael and sister-in-law Marion. Together the two couples have 20 acres, half of which is rented to an organic farmer. An assortment of barns and alpaca sheds and two houses form the rest of the farm. The couples split their time caring for the animals in between their day jobs (Howie is a firefighter) and make most of their farm-based money selling live animals and charging breeding fees.

The alpaca farm idea was first proposed as a financial investment (Howie was ready to sell off his three Subway restaurants) but now it is equally a labor of love. All of the animals are named by the Beaudrys and somehow they can still remember and pick out each one by name. Even the alpacas’ wool, which is renowned for its softness and natural coloring (there are 22 colors of alpacas), is spun individually, so that the yarn can be tracked back to the animal.

The Beaudrys welcome visitors to their farm. To find out more about North East Alpaca’s and schedule a visit.

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NEWS

Senior FarmShare Program Visits the Farm
by Kelly Coleman

“There is something you need to learn about working with seniors,” an older woman told me as she got out of the van at Riverland Farm on Thursday, “we always arrive early.” In this case, the nearly 25 seniors from Holyoke, mainly participants in CISA’s Senior FarmShare program, were half an hour early.

They had come to Riverland Farm for the first time, along with participating seniors in Springfield and Sunderland, to meet farmers Scott Reed and Ferdene Chin-Yee and to tour the farm fields. Through the FarmShare program 50 low income seniors from Hampden County and 20 from Franklin County receive a free 10-week “share” of a Riverland Farm’s summer harvest, a value of $100 dollars. An additional 134 seniors receive shares in Franklin County from one of 8 other participating farms.

Although the farm tours at Riverland Farm started out as well-organized van rides, they quickly evolved into picking free-for-alls, as seniors gleaned cherry tomatoes, wax beans, and flowers straight from the field. They returned to the city laden with vegetables and full of farm-memories. Roberta Clark of Chicopee, told the Gazette that the trip reminded her of her childhood home in Vermont: “It’s been a great day out.”

To keep the program strong and growing, CISA is looking for additional funding options for next year. Click here to contribute to CISA’s Senior FarmShare program.

The 2005 FarmShare Program is funded by CISA’s community and farm members and by grants from agencies including the Bridge of Flowers 10K Road Race, Citizens Bank, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Raymond E. and Mildred G. Clark Fund, Frank Stanley Beveridge Foundation, GE ELFUN Society, and Greenfield Savings Bank. Special thanks to Hampden County partners, The Holyoke Food Policy Council, Holyoke’s Council on Aging and Springfield’s Mason Square Senior Center for organizing the tour.

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New England apple supply abundant during harvest
Despite a smaller crop, there are plenty of apples now available for picking

Consumers throughout New England should rest assured that there are plenty of fresh apples now available for picking, and the next few weekends are the time to do it. Reports of a smaller New England crop have led some to assume that apples would not be available if they were to visit their nearby orchard or farmstand, when in fact there are abundant supplies of all varieties. Any impact of the smaller crop will not be felt until late spring or early summer, rather than now, the peak of the harvest season.

McIntosh, Cortland, Gala and Honeycrisp are just some of the varieties now available, with Empire and Macoun in some areas.

The quality of the crop is considered outstanding, according to Russell Powell, executive director of the New England Apple Association, a non-profit trade group representing the region’s growers. “Color, flavor and texture have been excellent so far,” says Powell, “and it is a very clean crop, since the region experienced little or no hail damage.”

For information on Local Hero apple growers visit the ‘Find a Local Farm’ page on CISA’s website and enter ‘apples’ into the search engine.

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US Agriculture Department may close over 700 local offices
More than 30 percent of the nation's Farm Service Agency offices would close under a plan released Friday by the Agriculture Department. The agency also is trying to reduce its payroll by up to 655 jobs. However, the effort already faces reluctance on Capitol Hill. Read more here.

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WORKSHOPS, EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS

New program funds forest preservation
Massachusetts Forest Viability Grant program offers technical assistance and grants for forest landowners with forest-based businesses

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs has announced a new program for forest landowners - the Forest Viability Grant Program. Eligible landowners may receive up to $5,000 in technical assistance for the preparation of a Forest Viability Business Plan for their property in return for a 5-year covenant protecting the land from development. Landowners with a Forest Viability Plan may also be eligible to receive grants worth $250 per acre, up to $20,000, for implementation of the plan in return for a 20-year covenant. The program will be administered by the Forest and Wood Products Institute at Mount Wachusett Community College, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. The program is open to any private, non-industrial forest landowner who currently operates a forest-based business or would like to establish a business on their property. Applications will be available in October at www.comm-pass.com. The application deadline is November 18, 2005. For more information please contact:

Joseph Smith, The Forest and Wood Products Institute, Mount Wachusett Community College. 978-630-9360 jsmith@mwcc.mass.edu or Bill Toomey, Westfield River Highlands Project, The Nature Conservancy, btoomey@tnc.org 413-623-0275.

Massachusetts Forest Viability Grant Program
INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Tuesday, October 11, 2005 6 PM, Room 101, Franklin-Patterson Hall, Hampshire College, Rte. 116 Amherst.

The Mass. Forest Viability Program will provide technical business planning assistance and grants for forest landowners with forest-based businesses. The program is open to any private, non-industrial forest landowner who currently operates a forest-based business or would like to establish a business on their property. The application deadline is November 18, 2005. For more information please contact: Joseph Smith, The Forest and Wood Products Institute, Mount Wachusett Community College, 978-630-9360, or jsmith@mwcc.mass.edu

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Wine at the movies

Pothole Pictures and the Shelburne Falls Wine Merchant present Mondovino, a film about wine and how and where it is produced. Friday and Saturday October 14-15 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls. The film explores the tension between place-based wines (the French call this terroir) where the final product is controlled by the soil, climate and grape variety with minimal intrusion by the winemaker and mass market branded wine, which is adjusted for consistency and appeal in the wine cellar.

Before the Friday night showing CISA director Annie Cheatham and local wine makers will comment at both screenings about the importance of place – terroir – and local sustainable agriculture. A local winemaker will also be present on Saturday night.

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2005 New England Farmers Market Coalition meeting and workshop

Friday, November 4th from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and all day Saturday,
November 5, 2005
Cole Hall, University of New Hampshire, Durham

Farmers and farmers market managers and supporters are invited to attend this two day workshop featuring valuable information and training on skills building workshops for farmers' market professionals and supporters. Other workshop topics range from liability insurance, EBT, board development, fundraising, marketing, zoning, education of policy makers and other issues pertinent to New England agriculture.

Who should attend? State association members/ potential members; farmers' market managers; markets' board of directors/committee members; market vendors; interested community people who want to start markets; educators.

Cost will be $45 and includes lunch on Saturday. To register contact Ed Maltby, FMC coordinator, FMC/NAFDMA, 30 Keets Rd, Deerfield, MA 01342. Tel: 413-772-0444 Fax: 866-554-9483 or fmc@nafdma.com.
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Farmers invited to attend grass-based beef tour
Farmers interested in learning about grazing beef cattle are invited to attend a free tour of River Rock Farm in Westport (note the town; not River Rock in Brimfield), Massachusetts, on Saturday, October 15. The tour is designed for grazing enthusiasts and skeptics alike who would like to know more about raising beef on pasture for a premium market.

The tour will start at 10:00 am at River Rock Farm, 236 Fisherville Lane in Westport, Mass. The tour is expected to end by noon. Highlights will include a demonstration of an ultrasound technique for evaluating meat quality and a discussion of transitioning to organic farming.

The tour is sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the New England Small Farm Institute, the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, University of Massachusetts Extension, conservation districts and local graziers. For more information, contact Barbara Miller, NRCS, 413-253-4380 or barbara.miller@ma.usda.gov.
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Seed, Squash and Song: The New England Seed Conference
Bring your seed to clean and exchange! Bring your heirloom squashes to display and taste! Oct 29th 9-5 and 30th 10-4 at Bramble Hill Farm, Pleasant Street (Route 116), Amherst, Mass.

Ever wonder how generations of farmers without degrees grew their own seed and developed the foods of today? 'Restoring Our Seed', funded by NESARE, is a network of organic farmers and gardeners, cooperative extension and plant breeders working together to renew the arts of seed-saving and ecological plant breeding in New England. Click here for registration and more info.
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Greenhouse Tomato Conference

The University of Connecticut in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts and NESARE is sponsoring a “Greenhouse Tomato Conference” to be held at the Tolland County Agricultural Center at 24 Hyde Avenue (Route 30) in Vernon CT on Thursday, November 10, 2005.

This all day conference will address topics of interest to both the beginner and more experienced greenhouse tomato growers. Among the speakers at the conference are: Vernon Grubinger, from the University of Vermont who will be speaking on Organic Greenhouse Tomato Production; Richard McAvoy from the University of Connecticut who will be speaking on Managing Greenhouse Tomatoes for Consistent and Optimal Yields, Cathy Thomas from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture who will be speaking on BioControl of Insect Pests. Robert Wick, from the University of Massachusetts will be speaking on Greenhouse Tomato Diseases and their Management, and John Bartok, Extension Professor Emeritus, from the University of Connecticut will be speaking on Selecting the Best Structures, Environmental Controls and Energy Conservation Measures. In addition, there will be a grower panel on Marketing Greenhouse Tomatoes and a demonstration plus question and answer session on Grafting Tomatoes.

A preregistration fee of $25.00 is due by November 3rd. If postmarked after November 3rd, the fee is $30.00 per person. Please make checks payable to the University of Connecticut and send to Leanne Pundt, University of Connecticut, Litchfield County Extension Center, 843 University Drive, Torrington, CT 06790. Cost of admission includes: handouts, lunch, snacks and beverages during break. Three pesticide recertification credits will be offered for attendees from CT, RI, MA, ME, NH and VT (pending state approval). For a program brochure, contact Leanne Pundt (860-626-6240), email: leanne.pundt@uconn.edu or visit the web site.
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A fall harvest of farm and food events

Local Hero members are busy gathering the fall harvest and there are many events and activities you can attend to celebrate with them!

Cook Farm Pumpkin Patch. Weekends in October and Columbus Day too! Pick your own pumpkin at our field on Bay Road; farm made ice cream at the stand. Live oldies music Sat. 10/8; cow milking demo Sunday and Monday 10/9 & 10/10. Flayvors of Cook Farm, 129 South Maple St., Hadley. Info: 413-584-2224.

Scarecrow Workshops. Weekends 10-5, through Oct. 23. Atkins Farms Country Market. Info: 253-9528 or www.atkinsfarms.com

Great Pumpkin Adventure! Weekends in October 11-5. Open Columbus Day. Fini’s Plant Farm, Agawam. Info: 413-786-1012.

Corn maze! Open every weekend 11-5 thru Oct 30. This year featuring Albert Einstein! Mikes Maze, Sunderland. Info: www.Mikesmaze.com or 665-8331.

Fiber & Foliage Open Barn, Oct. 8 & 9, noon - 3:30. Foxfire Fiber & Designs at Springdelle Farm, Shelburne. Info: 625-6121 www.foxfirefiber.com

Annual Columbus Day Llama Photo Weekend, Hickory Dell Farm, Sunday and Monday, October 9 - 10. Info: www.hickorydell.com

Pumpkin Festival and tag your own landscape tree weekend. Oct. 15-16 10-5. J. Kinchla Farms, Route 2, Charlemont.. Info: 413-237-0727

Fall Festival. October 15th & 16th; Fall Events every weekend, Randall's Farm, Ludlow. Info: (413) 589-7071.

Free Soup and Game Night. October 17th from 6-8pm, A Bottle of Bread Cafe & Pub, 18 Water Street Shelburne Falls. Info: 625-6502.

Trick or Treat Wine Dinner, Deerfield Inn, Sunday, October 30th, 5:30 pm. Info here.

New Blue Wine Festival, Chester Hill Winery, Chester. Sat & Sun Nov 5 & 6, noon to 4pm, info: www.blueberrywine.com.

Local Organic Thanksgiving Store at The Food Bank Farm, Hadley MA: From organic cranberries to organic fresh baked pies and everything in between. November 22-23 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. for more information Foodbankfarm@yahoo.com.

Volunteers needed for strawbale building. Hanging Mountain Farms 413-527-0710 www.hangingmountainfarms

Dufresne's Sugar House open every day, all maple products available. Call 413-268-7509.
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Classified

Certified organic locally grown red winter wheat available. Three kinds: seed for planting, wheat for livestock feed or wheat for your kitchen. Seed and human consumption wheat is $20 for 50 pounds. Livestock feed is $15 for 50 pounds. Call Clifford Hatch, Upinngil, 413-863-2297.

Winter cropping venture in the Berkshires. Land and apartment available for farmer willing to join winter cropping venture in Berkshire County. Elliot Coleman style production envisioned. Looking for someone willing to join our collaborative experiment. If the right synergy comes together, financing will be available to build the greenhouse. Call Tanya van Breevoort, 413-644-0209 or email tvbdesigns@adelphia.net.

Help wanted: Farming Technical Assistance Coordinator sought in Lowell, MA
The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (NESFP) assists immigrants and refugees with farming backgrounds to develop viable farming operations in Massachusetts. Community Teamwork, Inc. and Tufts University sponsor the NESFP, along with multiple partner organizations such as University of Massachusetts, USDA Farm Service Agency, and MA Department of Agricultural Resources. See http://www.nesfp.org for more information on the project. RESPONSIBILITIES: The candidate’s main responsibilities will be to provide technical assistance to new and continuing immigrant and refugee farmers on multiple aspects of farm enterprise development: finding and leasing/buying farmland; recordkeeping, business plans, marketing strategies, coop participation, and various farming operations. QUALIFICATIONS: BA/BS degree; advanced degree preferable. Agricultural degree and/or relevant training and experience in multiple aspects of farming and farm enterprise essential.
Effective in communications with diverse constituencies, most with limited English language and literacy.
Works independently but as part of a team including staff, partners and interns. Available to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends. Local travel required - must have reliable transportation for travel around Eastern Massachusetts. LOCATION: Position based in Lowell, Massachusetts at Community Teamwork, Inc., NESFP office. SALARY: $35,000 - $40,000 based on qualifications, full benefits. BEGINNING DATE: October, 2005 preferably TO APPLY: Send cover letter and resume to: Human Resources Department, Community Teamwork, Inc., 167 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01852 or by email to Mary Ann Coffin mcoffin@comteam.org. For more information about the position, contact Hugh Joseph or Jennifer Hashley.
Deadline to apply: Until filled. Community Teamwork, Inc is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Help Wanted: Farm manager sought for CSA in PA
Pennypack Farm Education Center for Sustainable Food Systems is a 3-year old non-profit educational organization with a demonstration CSA project located 30 minutes north of Philadelphia. Acknowledged in Montgomery County’s annual report as a new model for farmland development, this 21 acre farm is organically certifiable, with 14 acres currently under partial cultivation. The successful applicant will have a minimum of 2 years experience managing an organic CSA or market garden, possess good mechanical and tractor skills, and have an interest in our educational programs. Additionally, the farm manager must communicate well with
CSA members and an active board of directors, as well as hire farm workers. Possessing a creative, entrepreneurial spirit is a plus. Benefits include salary and medical insurance. Respond as close to October 15 as possible for a December start. Visit http:www.pennypackfarm.org/ for more details about the farm and this position, or contact us at pennypackfarmcsa@aol.com or call 215-591-1551.

Help wanted. Goat Rising in Charlemont seeks someone interested in working with their animals and in the creamery. For more info contact John Miller.

Land for rent in Feeding Hills. Approximately 10 acres of land with an apartment for farmer seeking to start a commercial organic farm. Land is fairly open (former hayfield). Contact Bill at 786-5081 and leave a message.

Equipment for sale: Case 730 Tractor w/loader almost all new parts $5,000; Holland Transplanter raised bed shaper and mulch layer can be one piece, currently two pieces $1,500 ea. – lightly used for one season; Planet Jr. 5 gang seeder with extra parts & plates on double tool bar $2,000. 60” Howard Rotovator - good tines $1,000. Assorted cell trays, pots, plastic mulch, Remay, etc. Digital pictures available. River Valley Farm, Lenox, MA (413) 822-9621 or email: petricca1@adelphia.net.

Sheep for sale. Registered Cormo starter flock (1 ram, 2 ewes, 1 wether); assorted Cotswold and Merino/Dorset/Corriedale crossbred ewes; California Red Sheep ram lambs, California Red Sheep yearling ewe (fleece animal only) sheep priced from $125-$350 each. Digital Pictures available. River Valley Farm, Lenox, MA (413) 822-9621 or email: petricca1@adelphia.net.

Land for rent. 0.8 acre of prime land in Hadley available for rent. Please call Kathy at 413-584-0784.

Reserve Your Grass-finished lamb for October - Barb Parry of Foxfire Fiber at Springdelle Farm is taking orders for pasture-raised lamb available in mid October. To reserve a freezer lamb or for more information about cuts available at the farm, contact Barb at (413) 625-6121 or barb@foxfirefiber.com.

Free composted manure, loaded into your truck or trailer! Barter/trades welcome but not required. Contact: Ellen B. Prosser, Yenneveldt Farm Llamas & Alpacas, NELR & Poultry In Motion. 413/624-3032. Colrain, MA yenne@mtdata.com.

Hay for sale: Round bales of first-cutting 2004 mixed grass silage. Great for beefers, dry cows, heifers, sheep, etc. Approximately 1,100 lbs per bale. 40 plus bales available. $35 per bale loaded at the farm. Sorry, no delivery available. Call Bill at 413-335-5275 or e-mail bill@sheepscapes.com.

Nancy L. Dole Books & Ephemera -- a used book shop in Shelburne Falls -- has a large section devoted to AGRICULTURE. Gardening, dairying, birding, beekeeping, soil, etc. etc. etc. The shop is located at 32 Bridge Street, 2nd floor, in the village of Shelburne Falls. Open 6 days; closed Mondays. ndole@crocker.com (413) 625-2210 or (413) 625-9850 Open year round. Browsers welcome!

Land available for farming in Pelham at the General Store on Route 202. Potential for small farm with roadside stand at store. Approximately 1 acre open; more available for clearing. Possible greenhouse. Flexible arrangements. Contact John Rathbun, 413-253-1314 or email jr@themallatmoorescorner.com.

Pasture land for rent. 30 acres located in Granby, MA. All proposals will be considered. Land is suitable for immediate organic certification and is fenced. For more information please contact Ryan at Red Fire Farm. 413-467-7645 or redfirefarm.@juno.com.

Land for rent: 15 open tillable acres for low rent in Buckland with barn space for organic growers (certified or not). Also about 20 mature apple trees on site. 4-5 miles from Shelburne Falls. Contact Michael Garfield-Wright, 413-625-8300.

Got Wood? If you have over 20 acres of forest land and would like to discuss your management options with a licensed forester, please call Shane at Cowls: 413-549-1403.

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Thank you to our 2005 Prime Season Sponsors:

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Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture
1 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield MA 01373
Tel: 413-665-7100  Fax: 413-665-7101
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