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Local Agriculture: Spring on the Farm

Farm life follows the path of the seasons. In March and April it’s a time of new life on the farm when animals are born. The most place-based of local baby animal-learning resources in Western Massachusetts are of course our local farms, many of which allow visitors to meet the animals they raise and rely upon both for food and for farm tasks. And at living history museums, folks can visit baby animals each spring such as newborn lambs, calves, and piglets while learning about historical farm practices.

Category: Supplement Tags: Agriculture, Farms, Learning Ahead 28, Learning Ahead Seasons Mar Apr, Mass Humanities

Raspberry Hill Community Garden: A Valuable Education Resource for Families

Raspberry Hill Community Garden offers families an opportunity to grow their own food while strengthening a sense of community. Gardeners of all ages and abilities are encouraged to connect, create, and collaborate to promote sustainability and self-sufficiency with this new community resource located in the heart of the Hilltowns!

Category: Collaborative Consumption, Community Based Education, Hampshire County, Local Food Tags: communal gardening, community garden, educational workshops, Farms, raspberry, skill sharing, Workshops

Locally Grown Farm Products Guide

CISA’s 2012 Locally Grown: Farm Products Guide Released this week, CISA’s 2012 Locally Grown: Farm Products Guide provides a wealth of information and inspiration to families in Western MA eager to buy local farm products, eat local food and support local farms in the Pioneer Valley. The Guide is full of resources to help everyone find local food and farm products and help our communities scale up the local food system. CISA’s… Read More

Category: Local Food Tags: agritourism, Farms, local food. CISA, Pioneer Valley, western massachusetts

Q&A: Share Your Love for Your Local CSA

QUESTION AND ANSWERS Have you signed up for your local CSA yet? CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) are great ways to get fresh local fruits, vegetables and other farm products while supporting local farming. Tell us about your favorite CSA here in Western MA, and what you love about your local farm share. Tinky Weisblat writes, “We go to Wilder Brook Farm in Charlemont. It feels like family—and you can pick your own… Read More

Category: Question and Answer, Questions and Answers Tags: Berkshires, Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, Farms, Hilltowns, Local Food, Pioneer Valley, Western Massachuetts

Q&A: Family-Friendly Farms for Pumpkin Pickin’ in Western MA

QUESTION AND ANSWERS Where’s a good place to pick pumpkins with the kids in Western MA? Patricia McCarthy Krutiak recommends, “Whitney’s Farm Stand. Route 8. Cheshire, MA.” (Berkshire Co.) Heather Dunham Katsoulis recommends, “Westview Farms Creamery in Monson (Hampden Co.); Austin Brothers Valley Farm in Belchertown (Hampshire Co.); and Fletcher Farm in Southampton (Hampshire Co.). Jessica J Logsdon recommends, “Whitney’s Farm in Cheshire.” (Berkshire Co.) Nancyjo Craig Rongner recommends, “We always go… Read More

Category: Question and Answer, Questions and Answers, Video Tags: Farms, Pumpkins

Strolling of the Heifers Supports Local Family Farms

The 9th annual Strolling of the Heifers Weekend Just over the board in Brattleboro, Vermont, the first weekend of June is always Strolling of the Heifers weekend — three days of events packed with fun for the whole family, but with a serious purpose: connecting people with the food they eat, so that family farms in the region can survive. The weekend’s theme will be “Milk ‘n Jazz: A Moo-sical Extravaganza,” so… Read More