Gleanings E-Newsletter
March  2017 


Membership Matters! 
Join, renew, or donate online today and be a part of our community of farmers, gardeners, land care professionals, educators, chefs and consumers committed to growing Connecticut organically.
Your donations and up-to-date membership fuels our work growing an organic Connecticut with organic edge education, advocacy and special events that celebrate local foods, farmers and heroes.
 
Send a check today or donate online to support of our important mission. Thank you!

 
 
Introducing the 2017 Farm & Food Guide!
 
 
CLICK HERE to peak inside and discover new farms & businesses near you.  
We are pleased and proud to announce that the newest edition of our Connecticut Farm & Food Guide ~ the 2017 edition ~ is now live online & in print! This edition features an impressive list of local farms and supporting businesses! At last count, we had
262 farm members and 132 business members! And growing every day!    
Pick up a printed copy at the Winter Conference this weekend!
  
 

March 11 & 12, 2017
 Western Connecticut State University
Danbury, CT

CT NOFA's Annual Winter Conference is the premier event where farmers, landscapers, foodies, gardeners, and community leaders convene to learn innovative practices, share ideas, and network with other enthusiasts! 

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR SATURDAY AT THE DOOR: Workshop and Lunch Tickets are available in the gymnasium! Registration starts at 8 am and first workshop at 9 am. Don't be late!

RSVP &/OR PAY FOR SUNDAY ONLINE: RSVP for the FREE Ag Re$ource Fair on Sunday (9am-12 noon ) &/or the 3-hour workshop with Bryan O'Hara starting at 12:30 pm on Sunday. BYO lunch or buy offsite. All Sunday events hosted in the WCSU Student Center. Register in Lobby.     
All WC 2017 details are online:  
 QUESTIONS? [email protected] 
 
 
  Ag Re$ource Fair
This Sunday - March 12, 2017
Western Connecticut State University
9:00 am - 12:00 pm (FREE!): 

Ever wondered what it's really like to access funding for farmers in CT? Sponsored by UConn and featuring agriculture-related loan and service providers. Farmers & Service providers pair up to give the real details on how hard the paperwork actually was, which eligibility requirements were the toughest to meet, what the surprises there were along the way. The presenters include:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program: Seth Lerman Resource Conservationist, USDA & Farmer Steve Munno from Massaro Farm

Farm Transition Grant: Jiff Martin, Sustainable Food System Educator, UConn Extension & Farmer Lars Demander from Clover Nook Farm

Farmland Restoration Program: Kip Kolesinskas, Land Use & Conservation Specialist, UConn Extension & Farmers Jennifer & Trout Gaskins from Farming 101

FSA Microloans: Ron Clark, Farm Loan Manager, FSA & Farmers Jonathan Janeway And Charlotte Ross from Sweet Acre Farm

Sponsored by UConn and featuring agriculture-related loan and service providers from across the state. 

CT NOFA & the Hartford-Area Chapter of the Bionutrient Food Association present: 

Nutritionally-Dense Orcharding Workshop
with Master Orchardist Michael Phillips!

Saturday, April 1, 2017
9AM - 5PM
Meridan & Rockfall

 Come learn the nutritional side of holistic orcharding through the lens of healthy plant metabolism with Michael Phillips. Join us for this introduction to a whole-system based approach for producing nutritionally-dense fruits and berries by this nationally recognized guru of holistic orchard management.

Seating capacity is limited! All welcome and this program has 4 NOFA AOLCP C.E.U.s. 
For details and registration info, please visit:
http://bionutrient.org/events/michael-phillips-nutritionally-dense-orcharding    

Advocacy: For All things Organic!


Clean Energy & Open Space Lobby Day  

On March 8, CT NOFA participated in a day of listening and lobbying at the Capitol with our partners in the environmental movement. The particular issues we focused on were:  
  • Repeal the Ratepayer Pipeline Tax (HB6546); this bill will repeal the tax passed in 2015 which allows electric suppliers to charge us for pipelines they want to build.
  • Support Clean Energy Goals (SB630); this bill will set goals for the percentage of the state's electricity that comes from renewable energy. Currently the goals end with 20 percent in 2020.
  • Protect Open Space Land (SJ39); This bill requires a public hearing before the state can sell or transfer a piece of state-owned land.

 

Bill Duesing, CT NOFA Founder and Jeff Cordulack, CT NOFA Executive Director are collaborating to create a more organic Connecticut via  written and in-person testimony. Click here for a 3-minute VIDEO of Jeff's testimony on the two bills below. The April edition of the newsletter will provide an update on these two and many others. Keep an eye out for calls to action as bills like these progress through the Capital Building in Hartford.

DRAFT BILLS:  
Highway Pesticide Ban 
Carbon Content in Soil

Additionally, here is some video from Sen. Murphy event at Wesleyan!   
To learn more about what is happening at the Capitol visit www.cga.ct.gov

On "Keeping the Soil in Organic"  

The controversy about including hydroponic systems in the organic certification label continues. These two are part of the organic movement to keep the organic standards rooted in soil.   

Organic Certification Cost Share Program

An Initiative by USDA Farm Service Agency

 
This program provides organic producers and handlers with financial assistance  
to reduce the cost of organic certification. For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/organic
Bobolink Project
If you have a hayfield in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Connecticut that is 10 acres or more and is possible habitat for breeding bobolinks, you may be eligible to receive $100 to be a part of a 2-hour workshop. Workshops will take place in several locations in February. For more information, call Anwesha Chakrabarti at 312-259-1337  or send an email to  [email protected]  with a copy to  [email protected]  and "Bobolink Project" in the subject line.

UCONN's Solid Ground Farmer Trainings:

Strengthening Our Farms Across Connecticut 

BF 105: Fruit Production for Small Scale Farming 
  • Thursday, March 16, 2017 (9:30am-12:30pm) at Community Farm of Simsbury - 73 Wolcott Rd, Simsbury, CT
  • Wednesday March 15th, 2017 (5-8pm) at Knox Inc. - 75 Laurel St, Hartford, CT
  • Saturday March 25th, 2017 (10:30am-1:30pm) with GVI at Bridgeport Public Library - 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT
To register or for more details on Solid Ground Farmer Trainings, contact: Charlotte Ross at 860-875-3331 or visit their website here!   
Do You Want to Volunteer Internationally? 
Check out NGOabroad to find countless opportunities. Experienced farmers and students wanted. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. 

GHANA: Teach at Agricultural College
Ghana is one of the drumming-est, most friendly countries in Africa!  No teaching or university experience necessary.  What is needed are farmers with a strong background  in organic farming, permaculture and/or sustainable agriculture. Mentor in the field and "download" your skills.  Your knowledge so important to farmers in Ghana they will put you on the radio!


COSTA RICA: Permaculture
This organization is helping to nourish land that has been deforested.  You do not need to already know permaculture, but it certainly helps.  The director is a font of knowledge on permaculture and loves to teach.  Surf or go to the beach on your days off. See Costa Rica's wonders. Spanish helpful but not required.


INDONESIA: Organic Farming
This farming organization on Sumatra aims to help people out of poverty by improving farming methods.  Can you mentor farming skills? e.g. composting, mulching, rain water harvesting and/or chickens? We need you!

For more information, click HERE!

In the News...
 
Health benefits of organic food, farming outlined in new report. Harvard School of Public Health. Feb 8 2017
 
Hydroponics is not organic - it's not even agriculture.  Matthew Hoffman , Fulbright Scholar, Norwegian Centre for Rural Research. Jan 22 2017