Past Research
Read about our past students' research with the NESFP.
Shannon Nally, MS AFE '04
Shannon developed a database of media coverage on the project, assisted with grant preparation and research, and provided technical support for marketing projects.
"I was able to grasp a more detailed look at farming in this region and some of the ways in which it is distinct from other areas—the proximity to markets due to the population density, smaller farms, a lot of greenhouse crops. I enjoyed learning how the concepts from the NESFP fit in with trends in US agriculture and it has made me very curious as to how the project will develop over the next few years."
Guy Koppe, MS FPAN '03
Guy Koppe (MS FPAN '03) conducting a cooking demonstration at the farmers' market
Guy used his cooking expertise to create an Asian crop and recipe guide that includes photos, nutritional information, background and history of the crops, as well as culinary uses. Guy also developed a survey that looked at the farmer participants' knowledge around pesticides and how well they have taken in NESFP pesticide training. In addition, Guy was responsible for setting up a database program that monitors the project.
Tufts Students
Gretchen Miller, MA AFE '08
Gretchen participated in NESFP's 2006-2007 Winter Training Course for beginning farmers as an instructor and by providing administrative support.
Simca Horwitz, MS AFE '08
Simca prepared a plain language "Value Added Processing Guide", to be used by low-literacy farmers. The guide will be used by NESFP farmers, and distributed to other regional immigrant farming projects for use by their farmers. Simca also participated in NESFP's 2006-2007 Winter Training Course for beginning farmers as an instructor and by providing administrative support.
Stephanie Bostic, MS MPH
Stephanie Bostic compiled photographs and recipes of the crops, which NESFP farmers produce, and organized them for posting to the Ethnic Crops section of this site. Also, Stephanie supplied content for inclusion in the weekly 2007 CSA newsletters, distributed to all shareholders. In addition, Stephanie assisted in compiling data for the updated NESFP curriculum training manual.
Vanessa Bittermann, MA UEP '07
Vanessa Bittermann, MA UEP '07, selling produce for World PEAS Coop at the urban farm stand, at Mellon Bank, in Medford, MA.
Vanessa was responsible for packing and distributing shares to members of the CSA program. She also prepared the weekly CSA newsletter, which includes farmer profiles, recipes and coop news. Vanessa also assisted with preparation and sales at farmers markets. In addition, she broadened NESFP outreach efforts to connect with new farmers by posting PSA announcements in local media outlets. Vanessa has also created farmer -training materials for beginning farmers. She is currently preparing a plain language FSA Loan Application Guide for low-literacy farmers.
Christine Lee, MS/MPH '07 (AFE & Environmental Health)
Christine participated in NESFP's 2004-2005 Winter Training Course as an instructor
and by providing administrative support. She taught various topics such as Organic Certification and assisted farmers with development of their business plans. Additionally, Christine has contributed numerous articles to NESFP newsletters.
In the spring of 2006, Christine drew on her experience with the training course to develop a Course Curriculum Training Manual that is intended to serve as a guide for projects similar to NESFP.
Cheryl Milligan, MS FPAN, assists World PEAS Coop with sales at the Lexington Farmers Market, in Lexington, MA
Jericho Bicknell, MS AFE '07
Jericho compiled information from surveys collected from area farms in order to create a list of agricultural employment opportunities for refugees and immigrants hoping to farm in New England. This has been a great resource for those wishing to learn about agriculture, while also earning a bit of income too. Additionally, Jericho compiled information sheets about each country that is represented by New Entry farmers, which include facts such as agricultural practices and traditional foods.
Jody Biergiel, MS AFE '06
Jody contributed to, edited, and formatted the seasonal program newsletter, conducted research on the feasibility of livestock operations in Massachusetts, and ordered seed catalogs for NESFP farmers. Jody also developed templates for weekly CSA newsletters.
Cheryl Milligan, MS FPAN
Cheryl prepares for and conducts sales at the Farmers Markets. Cheryl has also conducted farm inspections for the purpose of selecting crops for market, she has provided technical assistance in marketing and has been responsible for all general marketing logistics.
Britt Lundgren, MA AFE '06, mowing around the hoophouse at White Gate Farm
Britt Lundgren, MS AFE '06
Britt's work with NESFP focused on the acquisition of farmland in Massachusetts and the wider New England area. Britt searched out farmland for NESFP's new training farm site and developed a list of farm sites available for rent for NESFP farmers and training graduates who are ready to begin their own farming enterprises. Britt also contributed articles to program newsletters.
Larissa McKenna, MS AFE '04
Larissa assisted with soliciting farmland from local landowners and farming organizations.
Hilde Petersen, MS AFE '04
Hilde offered farmers' market assistance, worked on development of an Asian Vegetable Guide, and designed NESFP promotional materials.
Erin Michele Boyd, MS FPAN '04
Erin assisted with administrative activities, including creating media packets, updating resource guides, creating photo archives, and spearheading the NESFP newsletter.
Isabelita Mendoza, MS FPAN '04
Isabelita reviewed footage in the development of a comprehensive pest management training video.
Shannon Nally, MS AFE '04
Shannon developed a media database, assisted with grant preparation and research, and provided technical support at the farmers' markets.
Shakti, MS AFE '03
Shakti edited significant video footage for the project.
Nora Murphy, PhD AFE '03
Nora provided research on foundations and fundraising activities, compiled "Needs Assessment", and coordinated donations for the Spectacle Island pipe event.
Kristina Hartell, MS AFE '04
Tina developed a script for a video on common pests, their lifecycles and intervention strategies. She also assisted with curriculum development and course materials for NESFP winter training.
Molly Damon, MS NutComm '02
Molly scripted a training video on how to construct a "hoop house" for NESFP participants, and worked on additional video projects.
Valerie Gatchell, MS FPAN '02
Valerie helped develop the "Needs Assessment" survey instrument used to accurately target participant needs, and took part in a number of survey interviews.
April (Heideman) Merleaux, MS AFE '02
April assisted in land acquisition and the development of a land resource database. She also acquired a SARE grant to conduct ethnographic research on Hmong perceptions of pesticide use.
James Patton, MS Fletcher '02
James was involved in developing training workshops, grant writing and providing technical support. Following his experience with NESFP, James accepted an internship in Cambodia.
Hind (Merheb) Khodr, MS AFE '01
Hind worked closely with the UMASS Extension to design a NESFP demonstration plot for the Dracut farm sites. She also created a resource guide for Southeast Asian farmers.
Claire Kozower, MS AFE '01
Claire assembled educational resources and materials that could be developed into formats appropriate to the culture, language, and literacy of the populations that NESFP serves.
Lynn Dinniz, UEP Certificate, '02
Lynn served as Project Evaluator and worked on several assessment documents and record keeping forms.
Michelle Markesteyn, PhD AFE
Michelle worked on the development of a national resource guide for Southeast Asian immigrant farming projects.
Non-Tufts Students
Sharon Chan Edmiston, MS MIT '02
Sharon assisted Hmong farmers at the Brookline farmers' market.
Cedar Pruit, EdM Harvard '02
Cedar worked on an hour-long training video on pesticide safety, and contributed helpful multimedia expertise for further video development.
Michelle Baracyzk, Museum School '03
Michelle sound edited the Pesticide Safety video and worked on improving still image quality.
