There's always something going on in the Valley—from farm festivals and seasonal events to workshops, film screenings, farm summer camps, and more. Sign up for our free monthly e-newsletter for the latest events and happenings.

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Summer BBQ
Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 5:30-8:00pm
Red Gate Farm, Buckland
A community event open to everyone! Join Red Gate for a fun evening of food and music. Children are invited to play games or visit the farm animals. Vegetarian fare available and dessert included. All ages welcome, free to all with suggested donation of $20 per family. Please contact the Farm Office to RSVP your attendance for planning purposes. 413-625-9503

Public Lands Management Tour
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010, 6:00 pm
Heyes Forest Products Sawmill, Orange.
This unique sawmill and forest products manufacturing tour is being offered by Heyes Forest Products, a company that has harvested trees and manufactured lumber products fromt eh forests of the North Quabbin region for the past 40 years.

Chef and Restaurant Field Day
Monday, August 2, 2010, 10:00 am
Red Fire Farm, Granby
The Field Day is meant for chefs, restaurant owners, cooks and servers who work with local farms and/or are interested in learning more about farming and local food. The Field Day is part of the RAFT (Renewing America’s Food Traditions) Heirloom Grow-Out, a project of the Chefs Collaborative, and is being organized with support from CISA. Red Fire Farmis a certified organic farm producing a wide variety of vegetables, flowers, fruit and plants.  The Field Day will be a fantastic chance to meet the people who bring you the fresh, high-quality ingredients you love and to learn more about where your food comes from. Please RSVP to Devon Whitney-Deal by Friday, July 30.

Northampton Ward 3 Vegetable Garden Tour
Saturday, August 7, 10:00 am- 2:00 pm
Northampton, MA
Local residents will have an opportunity to celebrate the agricultural heritage of Northampton and talk with farmers and gardeners about growing local food in this self-guided tour of 8 diverse gardens and small farms. Tickets with a map and garden descriptions are available at the A2Z Science Store, Deals and Steals, and Serio's Market, as well as the Tuesday Farmers Market. Tickets are $8 if purchased in advance and $10 if purchased on the day of the tour. For further information, contact Joanne Mackiewicz at (413) 374-0550 or at the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association website.

Mornings on the Farm
Tuesday, August 10, 10:00am-11:30pm
Red Gate Farm, Buckland
Spend the second Tuesday morning of every month exploring the farm with Red Gate staff. Education, fun and hands on activities, this month's theme is the wonderful world of water!M Make sure to bring a change of clothes. Red Gate is a non-profit, educational farm. Cost $10 adult and child plus $3 each additional child, under 6mo free. Please call the Farm Office to register, 413-625-9503.

Vegetable, Field & Energy Crops Field Day
Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 12:30- 8:00 pm
 UMass Crops Research and Education Farm
                        89-91 River Rd, South Deerfield, MA
Come and discover innovative ways to diversify your farming practices. Learn about 30+ research project being explored. Beginning farmers are encouraged to attend. This event is free and open to the public, come to as many tours as you like. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. To pre-register, contact us at umassvegetable@mext.umass.edu, 413-545-3696.
Themed tours will run concurrently throughout the day, each featuring several research presentations. All tours are offered twice. For details, please see the Field Day Brochure.

Grow Food at Schools
Thursday August 12, 2-5pm
Seeds of Solidarity, Orange, MA
This workshop features school garden and greenhouse techniques, curriculum connections, and service learning.  Gearded toward educators, though all are welcome.  PDPs available.  $20 covers materials and refreshments.  Discount for Seeds of Solidarity supporters.  Spaces limited, pre-registration required.

The Massachusetts Teat Party
Thursday, August 12, 2010, 6:30- 9:00 pm
Cook Farm, Hadley, MA
Join guests Sally Fallon Morell of the Weston A. Price Foundation and Pete Kennedy of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund for this eveneing of celebration. Enjoy local food, cheese-taskting and cash ice-cream bar. All proceeds go to support the NOFA Raw Milk Network. Price: $50 donation. Phone (978) 355-2853

Northeast Organic Farming Association 36th Annual Summer Conference
Friday- Sunday, August 13-15
UMass, Amherst
Over 200 workshops on organic farming, gardening, land care, sustainability and homesteading.  Teen and children’s program, dozens of outdoor exhibits and vendors. Keynote speakers: Sally Fallon Morrell, founder of Weston A. Price Foundation and author of bestselling book Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats.  Second keynote speaker is Dr. Fernando Funes, of the Cuban Association of Agronomists and Foresters. Dr. Funes will speak on the Cuban transition to a sustainable farming system during the Peak Oil crisis and Soviet withdrawal in the late 1980. Entertainment including dancing, country fair, live auction, and farmers’ market Dorm rooms, camping and wholesome organic meals. For more information contact the NOFA Summer Conference office at (978) 355-2853 or nofa@nofamass.org.

2010 New England Raw Milk Symposium
Friday, August 13, 2010, 9am-noon
Umass, Amherst, Cape Cod Lounge, Student Union
Admission is $20 for NOFA members and $25 for non-members. For more information, contact Winton Pitcoff.

Women on the Farm
Saturday and Sunday, August 14-15, 2010
Red Gate Farm, Buckland
Join Red Gate and other women to experience a weekend in the beautiful foothills of the Berkshires. You can learn to work with oxen, drive a tractor, do a little gardening, harvest and cook a fresh healthy meal, and even learn to give yourself a fresh herbal and honey facial (fresh from the farm). Lodging is not included, but you can bring a tent, or Red Gate can help you find a local B&B. Adult women only, $200 per person, includes five meals and all needed materials and supplies. Please call the Farm Office to register 413-625-9503.

CISA's 7th Annual Local Hero Restaurant Days Celebration
Tuesday-Wednesday, August 17-18, 2010
Dine out for an evening to support local agriculture! Participating Local Hero restaurants throughout the Valley will highlight delicious dishes which feature locally grown products. Contact Devon for more information 413-665-7100 ext. 22.

Volunteer Training Session
Thursday, August 19,  7-9pm
CISA Office (1 Sugarloaf St., South Deerfield)
CISA is hosting a training session for anyone interested in being a community outreach volunteer and representing CISA at local farm festivals this summer and fall. This is a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of CISA as well as help spread the word about our local farms.

20th anniversary celebration of Williamsburg Market
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Williamsburg Market, Williamsburg
Come to the store to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the market. There will be free raffles throughout the day as well as free hot dogs and hamburgers as a special thanks to all the customers that have supported the market over the past 20 years. Stop in and help this independent Local Hero grocery store celebrate.

Earth and Spirit Retreat for Youth
Friday August 20-Sunday August 22
Seeds of Solidarity
A weeked retreat for young people ages 15-18 to inspire skills and vision for surving and thriving.  Call (978)544-9023 for information.

Open House
Saturday, August 21, 11-12:30pm
Nuestras Raíces Farm, Holyoke, MA
Come for a tour to learn about Nuestras Raíces Farm project and related businesses.

Energy Efficiency Tools for Year-Round Cooler Use
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010, 6:00-8:00 pm
Real Pickles, Greenfield
Come learn about energy efficient refrigeration systems and other retrofits for your farm or food business to save energy and money. As Dan Rosenburg leads us through the Real Pickles facility Gerry Palano (MDAR), FreeAire Refrigeration, and Jess Cook (MFEP) will review energy efficiency upgrade options that can apply to farm refrigeration and facilities, public utility support, and funding resources for farms. Funded by the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program (MFEP), a joint project of Berkshire-Pioneer Resource Conservation & Development Area, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. Snacks will be served. Suggested donation $5. Contact Devon with any questions.

10th annual Red Fire Farm Tomato Festival
Saturday, Aug 28, 2010 12-5pm
7 Carver Street Granby, MA 01033 (map)
5k Tomato Trot- runners and walkers make their way through our organic fields and meadows to the finish line, where a delicious array of farm products await the winners. Live Music- bands and dancing all afternoon. Live Cooking Demonstrations- stunning professional chefs and food preservers inspire us to eat well and eat local. Tomato Tasting- 100 varieties of our organic tomatoes, both hybrids and heirlooms, are available for tasting. Also: Food Vendors, Local Artisans, Hayrides, and Pick Your Own Tomatoes -- And don't forget to visit the CISA booth! COST: $5 admission for non-CSA members; $15 pre-registration for the Tomato Trot race, $18 at that door (includes admission to festival)

NE Wild Flower Society: Intro to seed saving
Saturday, August 28, 2010, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
Nasami Farm, Whately, MA
Learn the basics of harvesting, processing, cleaning,
and storing a wide spectrum of native plant seeds in this hands-on workshop. Instructor Kate Pawling starts with a discussion about the timing of collection, plant identification, determining ripeness, harvesting methods, processing techniques, and proper storage to maintain seed viability. Then venture out into the Nasami Farm Sanctuary for some botanizing and seed collection. Return indoors where we try our hands at
cleaning and processing various types of seeds. Bring home the seeds that you clean, and learn first hand the tremendous benefits that seed-saving brings to the willing gardener. Fee: $49 ( NEWFS Member) / $57 (Nonmember).

Pre-registration is necessary, please contact the registrar at 508-877-7630, ext 3303. 

NE Wild Flower Society: East Mountain hike
Sunday, August 29, 2010, 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Westfield, MA
East Mountain is part of a long trap rock (basalt) ridge that extends from central Connecticut just west of Hartford to Mt. Tom in Holyoke, Massachusetts.   Many sections of this ridge support a rich and diverse flora, with a high number of uncommon or rare plant species.  Instructors Arieh Tal Nancy Goodman help us explore one section of this ridge --  the
beautiful, upland oak-hickory forest along the Westfield/West Springfield town line.  Among the many species we hope to find are Aureolaria pedicularia, A. virginica, Viola pedata, both species of Chimaphila, Asplenium platyneuron, numerous different Desmodiums, and a wide variety of Asteraceae. Fee: $40 (NEWFS Member) / $45 (Nonmember). Pre-registration is
necessary, please contact the registrar at 508-877-7630, ext 3303.

Massachusetts Food Preservation Workshop Days: NOFA
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Locations around the state
Preserving food that we grow or purchase locally can save money, increase our self-reliance, and enable us to enjoy the wonderful flavor of local organic produce year round. These workshops will focus on various topics such as lacto fermentation, pickling, water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing, drying, culturing, and root cellaring. All workshops are $50, some discounts may apply. Contact Ben Grosscup, 413-658-5374

Nutrient Dense Farming Training with Dan Kittredge
Sunday September 12, 9am to 4pm
Enterprise Farm, Whately MA
Part 5, Working with Plants, of 6-part series (contact organizers if you missed earlier sessions).  Principles and practices for growing nutrient dense crops will be discussed and demonstrated throughout the series.  The course is based on the premise that if all of the environmental factors are ideal for the crop that is being grown, it will perform to the potential of its DNA.  This series will also help farmers to network and share their experiences using these techniques in the western Mass and New England region.  For more information:  www.realfoodcampaign.org, davepays@gmail.com.

Cheese Making Workshop: Making soft cheeses
Saturday, September 18, 8am-5pm
Uppingil Farm, Gill, MA
This day long workshop is part of a cumulative NOFA series, instructed by Cliff Hatch, a raw milk dairy farmer. Participants will learn to select the right quality milk, to discern what kinds of milk are appropriate for each type of cheese, and o choose what kind of bacteria to use as a starter for each cheese. This workshop focuses on making Camembert, Farmer's Cheese/Cream cheese, Brie, and Blue Chevre. $80.

Massachusetts Food Preservation Workshop Days: NOFA
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Locations around the state
Preserving food that we grow or purchase locally can save money, increase our self-reliance, and enable us to enjoy the wonderful flavor of local organic produce year round. These workshops will focus on various topics such as lacto fermentation, pickling, water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing, drying, culturing, and root cellaring. All workshops are $50, some discounts may apply. Contact Ben Grosscup, 413-658-5374

Taste the View -- CISA's Annual Fundraising Gala
Friday, September 24,
Three County Fair Grounds, Northampton 
Save the date! As always, the event features tantalizing treats from local farms to tempt your taste buds.  An event not to be missed.

Brattleboro Wheat Workday and Celebration
Saturday, October 1, 2010, 10:00 am
SIT Farm, Brattleboro, VT
Help harvest almost-extinct ancient wheats, einkorn and emmer, delicious Rouge de Bordeaux French Heritage Wheat and robust Banatka from Eastern Europe. Harvesting begins at 10. and ptluck with watermelon, cheese and einkorn bread begins at 12:30. For details, contact Eli Rogosa at growseed@yahoo.com.

12th Anuual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts festival
Saturday October 2-Sunday October 3rd, 10am-5pm
Foster's Farm, Orange, MA
 The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival was voted second best festival among hundreds of great local events in the 2010 Valley Advocate readers poll. Follow your heart (and nose) to this fabulous fall destination in Orange MA, where there’s something for everyone in the family. Amazing art, agriculture, and skills for lving.  At our tent, enjoy garlic-growing workshops then choose from a unique selection to plant or eat.  Savor farm fresh cuisine served by our SOL garden teens. Admission is still only $5.00 per day for adults, weekend pass $8.00, kids 12 and under free.

The Chicken or the Egg: Raising Backyard Chickens
Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 6:30pm-8:30
GCC Downtown Center, 270 Main St, Greenfield
Part of the Foodies of Franklin County series, this free workshop is led by Meg Taylor of the Pioneer Valley Backyard Chicken Association and Andrew Beals of Poulin Grains. Register today with Greenfield Community College, by email or phone (413-775-1803).

Cheese Making Workshop: Making hard cheeses
Saturday, October 16, 8am-5pm
Uppingil Farm, Gill, MA
This day long workshop is part of a cumulative NOFA series, instructed by Cliff Hatch, a raw milk dairy farmer. Participants will learn to select the right quality milk, to discern what kinds of milk are appropriate for each type of cheese, and o choose what kind of bacteria to use as a starter for each cheese. This workshop focuses on making chedder and monteray jack. $80

Preserving Food: Canning, Freezing, Drying, Storage
Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 6:30pm-8:30
GCC Downtown Center, 270 Main St, Greenfield
Part of the Foodies of Franklin County series, this workshop is led by CISA's Margaret Christie.  Register today with Greenfield Community College, by email or phone (413-775-1803).

Solidarity Saturday
Saturday October 23rd, 10-11:30am
Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, Orange, MA
Expereince our farm, home and education center that integrate solargreenhouses, energy efficient buildings, abundant market gardens, solar electric and hot water sysem, biodiesel vehicles. Free!  If you wish, bring a potluck lunch then stay for the afternoon workshop.

Growing Community
Saturday October 23, 1-3pm
Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, Orange, MA
We will do a neighborhood tour that includes a goat dairy, and innovative energy efficiency in new costruction and a renovated farm house.

Extending the Season: Hoop houses, cold frames and more
Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 6:30pm-8:30
GCC Downtown Center, 270 Main St, Greenfield
Part of the Foodies of Franklin County series, this workshop is led by Daniel Botkin of Laughing Dog Farm. Register today with Greenfield Community College, by email or phone (413-775-1803).

When E. coli Hits the Fan: Food Safety Basics for Farm Stands
Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 6:30pm-8:30
GCC Downtown Center, 270 Main St, Greenfield
Part of the Foodies of Franklin County series, this workshop is led by Jeff Brandenburg of JSB Group. Register today with Greenfield Community College, by email or phone (413-775-1803).

Apple Pie without Cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze
Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 6:30pm-8:30
GCC Downtown Center, 270 Main St, Greenfield
Part of the Foodies of Franklin County series, this workshop is led by Tom Clark of Clarkdale Farms, and Ricki Carroll, "The Cheese Queen", New England Cheese Making Supply Co. Register today with Greenfield Community College, by email or phone (413-775-1803).

It Takes a Region: A Conference to Build our NE Food System
Saturday and Sunday, November 12-13
                  Desmond Hotel and Conference Center, Albany, NY
This conference will look at exciting efforts underway in our region. There will be updates from work groups established at last year's conference, including alternative supply chain networks, research and food system assessments, infrastructure initiatives, and policy advocacy. New participants are welcome, and pressing new issues will be addressed. 

Cheese Making Workshop: Making dipped curds, Italian, and Swiss cheeses
Saturday, November 13, 8am-5pm
Uppingil Farm, Gill, MA
This day long workshop is part of a cumulative NOFA series, instructed by Cliff Hatch, a raw milk dairy farmer. Participants will learn to select the right quality milk, to discern what kinds of milk are appropriate for each type of cheese, and o choose what kind of bacteria to use as a starter for each cheese. This workshop focuses on making Parmesan and Swiss. $80

Nutrient Dense Farming Training with Dan Kittredge
Sunday November 14, 9am to 4pm
Enterprise Farm, Whately MA
Part 6, Working with Plants, of 6-part series (contact organizers if you missed earlier sessions).  Principles and practices for growing nutrient dense crops will be discussed and demonstrated throughout the series.  The course is based on the premise that if all of the environmental factors are ideal for the crop that is being grown, it will perform to the potential of its DNA.  This series will also help farmers to network and share their experiences using these techniques in the western Mass and New England region.  For more information:  www.realfoodcampaign.org, davepays@gmail.com.

Click here to sumbit your event for this calendar. Preference is given to CISA members and supporting organizations.