Hilltown Families 
Grow Food Northampton
Meg Taylor of Williamsburg, MA writes:
Grow Food Northampton envisions a community farm to include CSA's, microdairy, farming microenterprises, farm store, community garden plots, apprentice trainings, workshops, community celebrations, school programs and camps right in Northampton, MA. You can help to make this happen!
Some of you may already know about the local nonprofit, Grow Food Northampton, and their plan to purchase 117 acres of prime farmland in Florence (walking distance from town center, near Meadow and Spring Sts.). If you read the Gazette, it is starting to get some press and you will see more in the upcoming months. The vision is to create the Northampton Community Farm on this land which will include a vegetable/flower CSA (which plans to sell shares for spring 2011), potentially a grain and meat CSA, microdairy, other farming microenterprises, a farm store with local products, and community garden plots. The vision also includes a farmer apprentice training program, adult workshops, community food celebrations, school programs, and future farm camp site. In addition, the abutting land will have hiking/biking trails along the Mill River connecting to Look Park and recreation fields for youth sports. This new public space will have a significant positive impact on the Northampton community as well as throughout the region.
I have been involved with Grow Food Northampton since last fall and I am writing to encourage you all – but especially those folks who live in Florence, Northampton, Leeds, or Williamsburg/Haydenville to make a donation (of any size!) towards the purchase of this agriculturally and historically rich land. Grow Food Northampton is 1/3 of the way to reaching their fundraising goal of $461,000 by January 31, 2011. If the remaining funds are not raised, the Northampton Community Farm and its programming will not happen as envisioned. Every donation counts! It’s easy to donate on their website.
Opportunities like this do not come around too often for a town and this is one you can be sure will leave a lasting impression on the food, farming, and community landscape of Northampton. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like more info or would like to become involved with the exciting work of Grow Food Northampton. Volunteers for upcoming events are always welcome! And please forward to anyone you think might be interested.
Learn more at: growfoodnorthampton.com
Just one correction to my post. The total fundraising goal to purchase the land for the Northampton Community Farm is $670,500, not $461,000 as stated. Thanks so much to those of you who have already donated, volunteered your time, or even just talked about this inspirational project with others.
Grow Food Northampton is having their LAUNCH EVENT on SAT OCT 2nd at the Elk’s Lodge in Florence. 4-8pm. There will be a historic walking tour at 4pm at the Historic Ross Homestead at 123 Meadow St. in Florence. At the same time there will be kids activites, family music, and time with the farmers at the Elk’s lodge. At 5pm dinner will be served and there will be speakers and more live music and dancing to follow.
Learn more, get inspired, and have a great time building community together! This is a free event with encouragement to donate what you can to help GFN meet its fundraising goals.