Northeast Organic Farming Association Massachusetts Chapter

THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY NOFA/MASS PROMOTES ORGANIC AGRICULTURE TO EXPAND THE PRODUCTION AND AVAILABILITY OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD FROM LIVING SOIL FOR THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES AND THE PLANET.

NOFA/MASS ORGANIZES TWO ANNUAL CONFERENCES. THE NOFA/MASS WINTER CONFERENCE AND THE NOFA SUMMER CONFERENCE.THE CONFERENCES ARE CURATED COLLECTIONS OF KEYNOTES, WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, Q & A SESSIONS, MEETUPS, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES, VENDORS, AN AUCTION, MUSIC, FILMS, DANCE AND WHOLESOME ORGANIC MEALS. EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ARE GEARED TOWARDS FARMERS, GARDENERS, HOMESTEADERS AND ACTIVISTS OF ALL LEVELS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN A FOOD SYSTEM THAT IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES AND THE PLANET.NOFA/MASS UTILIZES THE CONFERENCES TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT CURRENT AGRICULTURAL ISSUES, SHARE GROWING KNOWLEDGE FROM PEER TO PEER, AND TO BRING IN REVENUE TO SUPPORT ONGOING EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY WORK.IN 2020, THE WINTER CONFERENCE HOSTED KEYNOTE SPEAKER CAREY GILLAM, WHO SPOKE ABOUT GLYPHOSATE. THE SUMMER CONFERENCE WAS HELD ONLINE FOR THE FIRST TIME DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND ATTRACTED ABOUT 600 PEOPLE FROM THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST. TIM LASALLE, CO-FOUNDER OF THE CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE, SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REGENERATING SOIL.

NOFA/MASS ORGANIZES THE NOFA TRI-STATE BULK ORDER, A COLLECTIVE BUYING PROGRAM FOR ORGANIC FARM AND GARDEN PRODUCTS, ON BEHALF OF CT NOFA, NOFA-RI AND NOFA/MASS. WE WORK WITH A VARIETY OF COMPANIES TO OFFER AN ARRAY OF AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIES TO NOFA/MASS MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS AT REDUCED COST. WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP PRICES LOW BY ORDERING DIRECTLY FROM SUPPLIERS, WHO OFTEN PROVIDE NOFA/MASS WITH DISCOUNTED RATES. ORDERING IS OPEN FROM JANUARY 1-31 EACH YEAR AND CUSTOMERS CAN PICK UP THEIR ORDERS IN MARCH AND APRIL AT VARIOUS SITES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, AND RHODE ISLAND. THE BULK ORDER ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SAVE MONEY ON GROWING SUPPLIES, PROVIDES ACCESS TO HARD-TO-FIND CERTIFIED ORGANIC ITEMS, AND BUILDS CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY. IN 2020, THE TRI-STATE BULK ORDER SERVED OVER 270 CUSTOMERS AT 9 PICK UP SITES ACROSS THE REGION.

NOFA/MASS PROVIDES BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR FARMERS, GARDENERS, CONSUMERS AND ACTIVISTS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS RELATED TO ORGANIC GROWING PRACTICES AND HEALTHY LIVING. WORKSHOPS ARE VARIED TO ACCOMMODATE ATTENDEES WITH A WIDE RANGE OF SKILL LEVELS, BACKGROUNDS, INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE. IN THE SPRING OF 2020, WE RAN A VERY POPULAR ONLINE "RESILIENCY SKILLS SERIES" WHICH SHARED GARDENING, COOKING AND DIY SKILLS WITH OVER 1,500 ATTENDEES FROM MANY STATES.

THROUGH OUR POLICY DEPARTMENT, NOFA/MASS ADVOCATES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL POLICIES THAT STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCE OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. OUR POLICY TEAM WORKS ON ISSUES AS DIVERSE AS FOOD, AGRICULTURAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE, TOXINS REDUCTION, ECOLOGICAL HEALTH AND REGULATIONS WHICH SUPPORT ORGANIC AND REGENERATIVE FARMS. NOFA/MASS IS ALSO PART OF SEVERAL NATIONAL COALITIONS AND NETWORKS. ON FEBRUARY 12, 2020, 21 FARMERS FROM ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS DROVE TO THE STATEHOUSE TO URGE LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A MASSACHUSETTS HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAM. THERE, LEGISLATORS, STAFFERS, PRESS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL HEARD COMMENTS FROM FARMERS THAT ADVOCATED FOR THE NEW PROGRAM THAT WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO LAND MANAGERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT OR IMPROVE PRACTICES THAT PRIORITIZE SOIL HEALTH.