Farmer Update: November 2022 |
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Dear Farmers and Food Producers: |
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Alongside being one of the busiest times of year on New England farms, this week's holiday holds a deep significance to Southeastern Massachusetts. It was on our shores that the myth of the First Thanksgiving began 401 years ago, in Wampanoag homelands. Today, we know this day was actually the dawn of the incredible loss of land, knowledge, and lives for the many Indigenous communities that once (and still!) resided here. For many of us, Thursday is a day of mourning.
We also know that this harsh truth does not preclude us from spending some time this week in intentional gratitude. Many of us will sit down to a table of locally-sourced food tomorrow, come together with loved ones, and take a brief rest from the chaos of fall agriculture. For this, and many other treats, we are so thankful. We are grateful for YOU: the farmers, farmworkers, fishers, market managers, land stewards, educators, providers, community members, and friends that make our neck of the woods so special.
Tomorrow is a time to connect & share thanks, as well as grieve & organize. Please join us in reflecting on these dual realities this year.
We're keeping it brief today so you can get back to your holiday week, however you choose to spend it. In this email you'll find information on:
- Our recent land transfer event and annual meeting
- Grant programs for food producers
- State farmland available for license
- Educational events and workshops
- Winter markets seeking vendors
- The Food Security Infrastructure Grant
- Local farming jobs
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With gratitude,
Shannon Hickey (she/her)
Program Coordinator
(781) 908-4466
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SEMAP's Land Transfer & Succession Planning Summit and 2022 Annual Meeting |
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Last Thursday, SEMAP hosted our first Land Transfer & Succession Planning Summit alongside our friends at Land for Good, MDAR, Legal Food Hub, Wildlands Trust, and Martha's Vineyard Mediation Program. We had a great turnout of farmland seekers and farmland owners alike! Thank you so much to all who attended, as well as to all who helped make this event happen, including Cranberry Vine Catering, Fred Ames, Karen Schwalbe, and so many others.
Weren't able to make it? Don't fear! We recorded each session. You can find all recordings and resources at the button below. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions or to inquire about one-on-one assistance with land transfer processes! |
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We followed up the Summit with our Annual Meeting, where we reflected on 2022 at SEMAP, charted out where we're headed in the coming year, and recognized some outstanding local agricultural leaders. We were so thrilled to be back in person for this annual event, and to share delicious local food, drinks, and conversation with all who attended!
Though we didn't record this portion of the day, we're happy to chat directly with anyone who's curious about our year in review! Additionally, we are always ready to hear feedback from the Southeastern Massachusetts community about where we're meeting or missing the mark. Please get in touch with us! |
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Take a look at a few of the currently open grant, reimbursement, and award programs below, then check out a complete list on our webpage!
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Massachusetts Food Ventures Program: To increase access to healthy, affordable food options and improve economic opportunities for low to moderate income communities.
- Deadline: December 5th
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Dairy Food Safety and Certification Grant: To improve the safety of dairy products, create access to new markets, and increase the overall marketability of dairy products in the Northeast.
- Deadline: January 19th
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Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program: To offer financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years in 2022 or 2023.
- Deadline: January 31st
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REMINDER: SEMAP can assist Southeastern Massachusetts farmers in grant applications. We can help you determine your eligibility, walk through the application together, review before submission, offer a letter of support, or any combination of these! Apply for assistance here or email Shannon at shickey@semaponline.org with any questions.
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State Farmland Availability in Lakeville |
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Three tracks of land (parcels 2, 3, and 7 in above image) have been re-released for proposals at the state-owned land on Bridge St in Lakeville. Up to 21 acres of prime ag soils are available in total, and you may apply for one, two, or all three parcels. Land is not currently served by any utilities, though MDAR is expecting to drill irrigation well and install deer fencing in the coming months. Applications for a 4-year license are due by 3pm on December 2nd. Priority will be given to historically underserved farmers and those working towards the MA Local Food Action Plan. |
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Virtual and In-Person Courses & Workshops for Food Producers |
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Beginning Farmer Institute: This selective year-long course is offered by the National Farmers Union, and participants will discuss business planning, labor laws, building credit, and so much more. Owning an operation is NOT required. This FREE course includes a mix of in-person and virtual classes, as well as one-on-one work. Applications are due on December 1st and can be submitted online or by mail.
Accessing Farmland Together: Join Land for Good and Cultivemos (formerly called NE-FRSAN) to learn about group farmland access concepts, collective growing, and a newly developed resource addressing the intricacies of collaborative farming! A webinar for service providers will be held Monday, Dec 12th at 1pm; a webinar for farmers will be held Wednesday, Dec 14th at 1pm. Register for either or both here.
36th Annual NOFA/Mass Winter Conference: This year, our friends at NOFA/Mass are focusing their flagship event on cooperative foodways with more than 30 workshops, a community seed swap, free soil health consultations, and more. This hybrid event will be held on January 14th and 15th on Zoom and in Worcester. Registration is open now!
Farm Succession School: Land for Good is hosting a three-day winter course (January 26, March 2, and March 30) for senior farmers looking to transfer their farm business and/or farmland to a successor (identified or unknown, family or unrelated). This course will be in-person in Wrentham and one-on-one support will be provided. Register ASAP and by January 6th at the latest.
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Winter Farmers' Markets Seeking Vendors, plus Other Winter Plans |
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Many winter farmers' markets across the state are seeking vendors! MDAR maintains and regularly updates a list of these opportunities, as well as contact information interested vendors can use to apply. Markets in Hingham, Marshfield, New Bedford, and Natick are among those on the list seeking produce, seafood, dairy, and other vendors. Many Boston-area markets are also searching for food businesses to participate in winter markets.
If you are a market manager seeking vendors and you're not yet represented on this list, contact David Webber at david.webber@mass.gov.
If you have other winter plans (markets, on-farm events, festivals, open CSA shares, etc.) that we should know about and/or share with our audience of 5,000+ local consumers, let us know here! |
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Food Security Infrastructure Grant: An Important Survey and Looking Ahead |
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The Commonwealth's Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) is conducting an anonymous survey in order to better understand the impact of the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) and identify areas for program improvement. The committee is hoping to learn how this program benefitted recipients and how it could be improved to better serve applicants and awardees going forward. Your voice matters here, especially as we anticipate another round of FSIG funding to be announced in the coming months!
If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Shannon Emmett, Research Director for ENRA, at shannon.emmett@mahouse.gov. Please complete this survey by Friday, December 16th. |
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For more workshops, webinars, and other opportunities, check out our event calendar!
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SEMAP maintains a Local Food Jobs page on our website! You'll find local food and farm job listings relevant to Southeastern Massachusetts. Here are a few picks currently on the page. Want to share a listing? Email info@semaponline.org.
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Consider registering as a SEMAP Business Member. Membership with SEMAP helps us continue to provide promotion and technical assistance to farmers across Southeastern Massachusetts and beyond.
Business members receive a host of benefits, including...
- Member Spotlight on SEMAP's blog
- Access to business development resources
- Discount ads in Local Food Guide
- Free boosted Facebook posts
Membership is available at several levels. Come join us!
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PO Box 80625,
S. Dartmouth, MA 02748
Executive Director:
(508) 524-2601
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