Winter Farmers Market on Sat, March 16 - Don't miss our first March market!

Berkshire Grown's Winter Farmers Market

Saturday, March 16, 10am-2pm

Berkshire Grown's Winter Farmers Market

Berkshire Grown's Winter Farmers Market f eatures the freshest locally grown and produced foods and gifts, including vegetables, cheeses, meats, breads, preserved foods, plus the yummiest grilled sausages, egg sandwiches, and lamb kebabs. These tremendously popular events take place on the 3rd Saturday of the month - November through April.

Shoppers can find their favorite farmers and vendors from 10 am to 2 pm at Monument Valley Middle School in Great Barrington. The markets feature fun activities for kids, food for lunch, and live music. Admission is always free and SNAP/EBT is accepted at all markets.

For more information about this and upcoming markets, visit BerkshireGrown.org/FarmersMarket .

Berkshire Grown's Spring Supper

Monday, April 8, 2019 at 6:00pm

The Country Club of Pittsfield

This year's Spring Supper features the talents of Host Chef Alex Hammond from the Mezze Restaurant Group, Chef Jim Lowe from the Country Club of Pittsfield, Chef Daire Rooney from Morgan's at the Interlaken Inn, Chef Peter Platt from The Old Inn on the Green, and Chocolatier Doria Polinger from H.R. Zeppelin Fine Handmade Chocolates.

This delicious event is a benefit for Berkshire Grown and our program, Share the Bounty . Following cocktails and dinner, guests will have the opportunity to bid on an eight course tasting dinner with wine pairings at Old Inn on the Green and to sponsor shares in Share the Bounty . Funds raised will help feed hungry members of our community through Berkshire Grown's purchase of farm shares at local farms and the donation of that food directly to the food pantries, soup kitchens, and families who are in need.

For more information, to purchase tickets, or to make a donation, visit BerkshireGrown.org/SpringSupper .

Forgotten Farms Screening - FREE

Saturday, March 9, 3 PM - 5 PM

Mount Everett High School, S heffield, MA 01257

If you haven't seen "Forgotten Farms," make sure to get to Mount Everett High School on Saturday, March 9. The documentary tells the story of farmers largely left out of the local food movement - dairy farmers.

This program is free, open to the public, and is followed by a guided discussion with area dairy farmers, policy experts, state officials, dairy cooperative representatives, and local land trusts.

Berkshire Grown, Sheffield Land Trust, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Bushnell-Sage Library, Sheffield Agricultural Commission, Berkshire Farm Bureau, and Agri-Mark Cabot Dairy Cooperative are the event's sponsors.

For more information about the film, visit ForgottenFarms.org .

A Remembrance and Thank You to Annette Grant

Annette's passing last month was a loss to everyone who knew her. She was a kind, fascinating person who met life and its challenges with curiosity and determination.

As a member of the Berkshire Grown board and a community member committed to our local food economy, Annette left her mark in many ways.

More information about Annette can be found in this remembrance in The Berkshire Edge .

What We Are Reading:

Animal agriculture in winter: What farmers do when they’re not growing greens

By: Hannah Van Sickle for The Berkshire Edge

Farming in the winter presents humans and animals with a different set of challenges. Hannah Van Sickle visited some farms in our region to find out how everyone stays warm and watered during these months of cold weather.

Find out more about your favorite farmers and their winter animal care here .

How to Build a Straw Bale Garden

By: Nicole Controneo Jolly for Modern Farmer

These longer days and bright sunshine afternoons have many of us longing for spring. If you are planning your own backyard garden this year, why not try using bales of straw as your planter?

This step-by-step guide will walk you through the prepping, planting, and producing steps!

Learn more about this technique by reading this article .

Great Barrington Farmers Market:

Sharing Stories to Expand Food Access

Save the date for the Great Barrington Farmers Market's first ever fundraiser! Join your friends and neighbor farmers on April 27, for a night of storytelling at The Mahaiwe. Tickets go on sale Feb 14 and all proceeds go towards the summer Market's Nutrition Assistance Programs - doubling SNAP, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market checks.

This is a chance to help support this important effort to bring nutritious local food to your neighbors' tables while also supporting local farms and small businesses.

Visit GreatBarringtonFarmersMarket.org for more information about the market and upcoming events.

Indoor Farmers Markets

While Berkshire Grown is hosting more Farmers Markets than ever this year (a total of 8 markets between November and April), other markets have moved inside for these colder months. Check out pages 4 & 5 of this year's Guide to Local Food and Farms to find your market and subscribe to our calendar to always know when food events are happening.

Berkshire Grown's Great Barrington Winter Farmers Market is on the 3rd Saturday of each month November through April at Monument Valley Middle School, 313 Monument Valley Road, Great Barrington. Saturdays, 10AM-2PM - March 16 and April 20.

Don't forget: Amenia, Bennington, Copake, Millerton, New Lebanon, Norfolk, North Adams, and Pittsfield Farmers Markets are indoors for the colder months - most of them throughout the winter!