The Resources section is a comprehensive description of:
• NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL FARM ORGANIZATIONS
• STATE GOVERNMENT AND UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
AND PROGRAMS
• NATIONAL AND STATE FARM ORGANIZATIONS
• POLITICAL ADVOCACY FARM GROUPS
• VERMONT UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES -SUSTAINABLE FARMING
• OTHER SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES
• BOOKS
• TELEVISION
• NEWSLETTERS
• VERMONT PUBLICATIONS
• FILMS
NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL FARM ORGANIZATIONS:
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The Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA), Shelburne Farms, and Food Works are described in PART II - The Battle of the Bulge. The chapter Clamor in the Classroom focused on the program FEED (Food Education Every Day), in which these three organizations participate.
1. THE NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMERS ASSOCIATION OF VERMONT
NOFA VT began in the early 1970s by helping set up farmers' markets throughout Vermont. Since then, it has grown by leaps and bounds and is now one of the oldest organic farming associations in the U.S. The mission of this non-profit association of farmers, gardeners, and consumers is to promote an economically viable and ecologically sound Vermont food system for the benefit of current and future generations.
I have been a member of NOFA off and on since its inception in 1971 in Putney. It has grown from a small number of people to 1000 members in Vermont. There are seven NOFA chapters in the northeast along, with an interstate council. I consider NOFA Vermont to be the most influential and dynamic farming organization in Vermont.
I remember those early days at High Mowing Farm with Samuel Kaymen, Howard Prussack and the other young hippies who now have gray hair like me. Samuel was a preacher of sorts, espousing the benefits of organic farming. He went on to start Stonyfield Yogurt in New Hampshire. Samuel was involved with the annual summer NOFA conference for New Hampshire and Vermont, co-sponsored by the Biodynamic Association. At that time, there were only 2 NOFA chapters. Today, there are 6 and the annual Northeast NOFA summer conference is held in August in Amherst, MA.
For more information, go to www.nofa.org.
There are NOFA chapters in:
Connecticut -- ctnofa.org
Massachusetts -- nofamass.org
Hew Hampshire -- nofanh.org
New Jersey -- nofanj.org
New York -- nofany,org
Rhode Island -- nofari.org
Each state has a newsletter along with a winter conference except Rhode Island.
For more information on programs in Maine, visit the MOFGA website at www.mofga.org. MOFGA, now in its 36th year, stands for Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener Association. They have an informative quarterly newsletter that describes many of their activities as well as the Common Ground Fair, held in the fall of each year. For the past 31 years the Common Ground Fair has provided a venue of alternatives and practical examples (orchards, greenhouses, workhorse demo's, etc. It is considered the largest and best fair of its kind in New England and the northeast. I agree as I've attended the fair.
NOFA Vermont
PO Box 697, 39 Bridge St. Richmond, VT 05477 (802) 434-4122
www.nofavt.org info@nofavt.org NOFA Vermont puts out an informative quarterly newsletter, called NOFA Notes.
The Natural Farmer is the northeast publication for all the NOFA chapters. It is published quarterly in a 32 to 40 page newsprint journal. The paper covers news of the organic movement nationally and internationally as well as on farming issues in New England, New York and New Jersey. Each issue contains a special theme. The editor is Jack Kittredge. Jack has published 67 issues as of 2006. Before then, the paper was spotty at best. This is the best organic publication in the Northeast, with much in-depth information. Back issues are available.
The Natural Farmer
411 Sheldon Rd.
Barre, MA 01005
Themes of some back issues: On-Farm Equipment, Bees, Beginning Farmers, Access to Land, Youth & Agriculture, Transition to Organic, Renewable Energy on Farms, The Organic Consumer, and Can Organic Feed the World?
NOFA Vermont Programs:
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Agricultural Education - Over 700 people attended the 23rd Annual NOFA Vermont Winter Conference at Vermont Technical College in 2005. It always seems to snow the day of the event. The conference is filled with the idealism of youth and the practicality of experience. Hundreds of workshops have been given over the years. Each year, there is a theme. In 2007, the topic was "The Road Less Traveled: Choosing the Road to Food Security in Vermont."
NOFA sponsored 16 on-farm summer workshops in 2005 as well as provided consultation to 57 schools through the VT FEED project. These projects focused on food service training, school garden planning, and connecting local farmers to schools. NOFA developed the Apprentice and Willing Worker Directory, bringing apprentices and farms together.
Promotion and Marketing: NOFA coordinated the Vermont Farmers' Market Collective, organized 16 Youth Farmers' Markets, produced and distributed the Vermont Organic Farmers Directory, organized the in-store promotion of certified organic products, and received funding to develop a value-added Vermont Farmers' Pizza. Sounds good to me, but I need a taste test first.
Community Food Security (CFS): The goals of CFS are to increase access to local and organic food for limited-income Vermonters and to provide public education in linking farm, food and hunger issues. In 2005, NOFA provided, through the Vermont Farm Share and Senior Farm Share Program, subsidized food shares to 636 limited-income seniors and 34 senior housing sites from 20 CSA farms. The annual Share the Harvest fundraiser was supported by NOFA along with 74 restaurants which contributed a percentage of one-day sales to support a number of limited-income families.
Organic Certification: This program certifies organic farms by verifying organic practices. In 2005, NOFA increased the number of certified organic farms and processors to 49,000 acres of Vermont farmland with gross sales of $48 million dollars. NOFA also worked to maintain the integrity of national organic standards.
Technical Assistance Programs - The goals are to create economically viable farm models in Vermont through technical information and services for commercial organic growers, including research and on-farm workshops.
• The Dairy Technical Assistance Program included 9 on-farm technical workshops, 2 dairy transition workshops and on-farm consultations for farmers switching from conventional to organic dairy farming.
• Collaborated with the University of Vermont to provide 21 farms with technical assistance on grass management.
• Provided assistance to 6 dairy farms and 5 vegetable farms to develop business plans as part of the Farm Viability Enhancement Program of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.
• Developed farmer mentor relationships for 29 livestock producers on soils, grazing, marketing and animal health.
• Collected data on 14 Vermont organic dairy farms as part of a collaborative project with the University of Vermont and the Maine Organic Producers Association to research what it costs to produce organic milk.
• Launched the Northeast Organic Producers Alliance
• NOFA loaned money to small farmers for equipment and operating expenses through the NOFA Revolving Loan Fund Program.
Social Action
The goals are to educate the community on current social and political issues that have a direct impact on organic farmers in Vermont. Current issues include concern over genetic engineering, regulatory obstacles to on-farm sales, and national organic standards. Members are informed through e-mails, NOFA notes and public presentations.
Vermont Farm Viability Enhancement Program (VFVEP)
NOFA participates in VFVEP where farmers receive free financial and business planning help from NOFA, the Extension Service and the Intervale Center.
Green Mountain Growers Revolving Loan Fund
NOFA-VT accepts applications for the loan fund. Loans range from $2,000 to $15,000 for equipment, working capital, and improvement of business management.
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