Field Walk at Stone Acres Farm: Stonington, CT on May 27
WHEN: May 27, 4 – 6 pm | Optional pizza dinner 6 - 7 pm
WHERE: Stone Acres Farm, 393 North Main St, Stonington, CT 06378
Join us to discuss reduced tillage experiments at Stone Acres Farm in Stonington, CT, a 63-acre vegetable and flower operation. Farm Manager Pete Higgins will walk us through the farm’s transition to reduced tillage strategies, including tarping and strip tillage into cover crops. We'll look at side by side trials and enjoy peer to peer conversation among farmers on challenges and successes in reducing tillage.
Field Walk at Bardwell Farm: Hatfield, MA on June 12
WHEN: June 12, 4:30 pm – 6 pm
WHERE: Bardwell Farm, 49 Main St, Hatfield, MA 01038
Join us on Bardwell Farm where Harrison Bardwell will talk about the evolution of their planting system for cucurbits, lessons learned from no-till trials and how they are addressing disease challenges in 2025. Bardwell Farm utilizes limited tillage, zone tillage, no-till and cover cropping to enhance soil health and resiliency and address weather extremes. Matthew Karas of the Hampden Hampshire Conservation District will then demonstrate how farmers can analyze soil characteristics and better understand opportunities to improve their own soil health through the In-Field Soil Health Assessment (IFSHA) framework.
Soil Health Field Walk: No Till and Microbial Layers: Hadley, MA on June 18
WHEN: June 18, 4 pm – 6:30 pm | Refreshments provided
WHERE: Astarte Farm, 123 West St., Hadley, MA 01035
Join AFT and NOFA-MA at Astarte Farm, where we’ll be reviewing soil management techniques, complemented by revealing their microscopic allies. Astarte Farm has been no till since 2014 and will provide insight into various aspects of their system, highlighting trials using leaf mulch to reduce weed pressure and use of plastic mulch. NOFA MA will collect soil samples and analyze them on-site using microscopes, microbiometers (low-cost soil testing kits), and other biological tools.
Field Walk at Adamah Farm: Falls Village, CT on July 1
WHEN: July 1, 4 pm – 6 pm | Optional pizza dinner 6 pm - 7 pm
WHERE: Adamah Farm, 116 Johnson Rd, Falls Village, CT 06031
Join us at Adamah Farm in Falls Village, CT to discuss SARE project trials comparing tilled vs no-till zucchini, and other reduced tillage experiments the farm has implemented. Farm Manager Janna Siller will walk us through what has worked well and what has been a challenge as they work to increase the soil health through tillage reduction while maintaining or increasing yields on their three-acre vegetable operation. Learn from your farmer peers and enjoy a robust discussion on the practicalities of reducing tillage.
Climate Adaptation Field Walk at Scott Farm Orchard: Dummerston, VT on August 19
WHEN: August 19, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
WHERE: Scott Farm Orchard, 707 Kipling Rd, Dummerston, VT 05301
Adapting to climate change looks different on every farm. This field walk will explore the range of climate risks impacting orchards and diversified farms, from changing rainfall patterns to extreme temperature fluctuations. Scott Farm Orchard farm manager Simon Renault and orchardist Erin Robinson will share insights into the diverse strategies they're using to adapt to these challenges, with a focus on business planning and preventative management.
Click here to learn more and register!
This event is sponsored by American Farmland Trust's Planning for Adaptation & Resilience to Climate Change Program in collaboration with NOFA-VT. Thank you to our funders: NRCS-Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Farms and Markets
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Past Events
No More Normal Roundtable: Northbridge, MA on March 31
WHEN: March 31, 11 am – 1:30 pm | Lunch provided
WHERE: Foppema’s Farm 1605 Hill Street, Northbridge, MA
Join American Farmland Trust’s New England Climate and Agriculture team and Ken Foppema of Foppema’s Farm for a farmer roundtable discussion of farming in a time of climate change, and the strategies that support successful adaptation. This is a free, farmer-focused, peer-to-peer event geared towards all types and scales of farms. Please RSVP to let us know you’ll be attending.
No More Normal Roundtable: Middlefield, CT on March 24
WHEN: March 24, 2 – 4:30 pm
WHERE: Star Light Gardens, 85 School St, Middlefield CT
Join American Farmland Trust’s New England Climate and Agriculture team, CitySeed, Jenny Hill and Joel Smith of Star Light Gardens for a farmer roundtable discussion of lived experience farming in a time of climate change, and the strategies that support successful adaptation. Please RSVP by March 21.
Women & Non-Binary Learning Circle: High Tunnel Soil Health and Nutrient Management
WHEN: February 11, 2025, 9:30 am to 3 pm
WHERE: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
Join us for a day of information sharing and community connection. We’ll discuss the challenges and practices that support soil health and nutrient management in high tunnels, with a presentation from Becky Maden of UVM extension. Lunch, featuring local food, will be provided. In the afternoon we’ll walk over to the Hampshire Farm high tunnels and have time for conversation and peer learning.
