About
Our Mission Statement:
The mission of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (NESFP) is to assist people with limited resources who have an interest in small-scale commercial agriculture, to begin farming in Massachusetts. The broader goals of NESFP are to support the vitality and sustainability of the region's agriculture, to build long term economic self-reliance and food security among participants and their communities, and to expand access to high-quality, culturally appropriate foods in underserved areas through production of locally-grown foods.
The Agriculture, Food, and Environment (AFE) Program of the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University initiated NESFP, and the project continues to be an integral part of the school's academic program. NESFP provides opportunities for student involvement via internships, directed study, and research, while AFE faculty foster curriculum connections in class discussions, coursework, and hands-on laboratories in the fields.
NESFP staff are employees of Tufts University and Community Teamwork, Inc., but the project extends well beyond these institutions. Project partners include federal and state government agencies, universities, local farmers, and multiple community-based organizations.
NESFP provides services for beginning farmers such as locating farmland, education, training, business/enterprise development, and production and marketing assistance. The project provides opportunities for economically disadvantaged farmers, preserves farmland, and promotes New England agriculture. The NESFP Programs section and the NESFP Organizational Structure 
provide more detail on specific initiatives.
NESFP began in 1998. NESFP is one of the first initiatives nationwide to assist immigrants and refugees to develop commercial farming opportunities. Our work focuses primarily in the Lowell and Worcester sections of Massachusetts because of their population makeup, a strong interest in agriculture among immigrant and refugee residents, and the support of community organizations.
NESFP has worked with farmers from a number of countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Lebanon, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Burundi, Vietnam and Puerto Rico. Nearly 60 farmers, primarily Hmong, Khmer, and African, have graduated from the NESFP Farm Business Training Course in the past few years. Currently the project supports immigrant farmers on farm sites in Dracut, Sutton, Westford and Wayland Massachusetts. One NESFP graduate has even developed his own commercial farm enterprise in Pennsylvania!
NESFP has received local, national, and international media coverage for its work with immigrant farmers. NESFP also creates its own periodic newsletter. See our newsletter archives for all prior newsletters.
A Special Note Regarding John Ogonowski
John Ogonowski was the pilot on American Airlines flight 11 to Los Angeles that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. John is most remembered for his contributions to the farming community in Massachusetts, and particularly for his dedication to immigrant farmers from Cambodia whom he assisted as part of the NESFP. John served as NESFP's first mentor farmer and dedicated acreage of his property to help Cambodians begin farming. He gave production advice, helped put up a shed and greenhouse, and often did not collect the rents. He is survived by his wife, Peggy, and their three daughters. Peggy and John's brother, Jim Ogonowski, are still actively involved in the project and assist to keep the farmers on their land to preserve John's memory.
