Join us on Thursday, October 20th from 10 am – 2 pm in Concord, NH for a Climate-Smart Farming Practices Tour and Discussion with New England Farmers of Color.
Expand your Knowledge of Climate-Smart Farming Techniques and network with producers who are implementing soil health practices, cover crops, water catchment and conservation systems, high tunnels, and more. Attendees will receive a tour of the farm, meet with farmers, learn about conservation practices, share a meal, and engage in discussion about the opportunities and benefits of climate-smart agriculture to a resilient local and regional food system. The Farm Tour will take place from 10 am – 12 pm and will be followed by Lunch at 12 pm. Following lunch, engage in a facilitated discussion with Farmers of Color across New England to build community and learn from one another. The farmer discussion will take place from 1-2 pm.
ORIS (Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success) works to aid the resettlement of refugees and immigrants in New Hampshire by providing assistance, training, resources, and opportunities that promote self-sufficiency. ORIS launched the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project (NASAP) in 2008 to assist new Americans to build sustainable farm enterprises. ORIS believes that income opportunities which honor the skills, culture, and business experiences that refugees and immigrants bring to this county are vital for their economic integration. NASAP farmers strive not only to be successful farmers but also to be leaders in strengthening sustainable food systems throughout New Hampshire. These New American farmers farm on ORIS owned and leased land in Dunbarton and Concord, New Hampshire, as well as at several smaller scale community gardens. NASAP participants sell their produce under the Fresh Start Farms NH collective brand. Learn more about Fresh Start Farms and ways to purchase produce at www.freshstartfarmsnh.com.
Other project partners include the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (New Entry) and the Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative (SNEFCC). New Entry was founded in 1998 and is an initiative of Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Massachusetts that works locally, regionally, and nationally to strengthen local food systems by supporting new farmers. New Entry provides farmer training courses and workshops, access to land on an incubator farm, aggregates and distributes fresh food through its food hub, and offers capacity building services to other experiential land-based training programs across the country. SNEFCC is a nascent organization that supports farmers of color to be ready for new opportunities that will arise, and to provide them with the necessary skills and capabilities to build and sustain successful farm enterprises now and in the future.
All activities will take place at 84 Silk Farm Road in Concord, NH 03301 (the first left turn after the Audubon). The event is free, with a suggested donation for lunch of $15. Donations will be accepted at the event, or you can make a donation at: https://www.refugeesuccess.org/donate/.
The event is part of a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Racial Equity Cooperative Agreement.