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Keyword search: Agriculture

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

With the start of October right around the corner, some squash and pumpkin farmers in the Pioneer Valley and North Quabbin are bearing the burden of Phytophthora capsici — a soil-based disease described by one farmer as being “like the plague” for...

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — The public hearing on a second proposed BlueWave Solar project on Pine Meadow Road was continued again to Oct. 24, as the company continues to address the Planning Board’s questions.BlueWave representatives appeared before the board for a...

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

ASHFIELD — A local nonprofit is helping convert a Kentucky coal mine into a farm and teach Hawaiian farmers how to run prosperous, resilient businesses in the face of climate change.Regenerative Farms, founded by Ashfield resident Mary Johnson in...

SHELBURNE — Learn some tricks of traditional trades at Fabric of Life’s annual agricultural skills fair, Barnfest, on Saturday, Oct. 5.Fabric of Life, at 80 Bassett Road, is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and passing on traditional agricultural...

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — In response to concerns aired at May’s public hearing for a second proposed BlueWave Solar project on Pine Meadow Road, the company presented revised plans Tuesday evening, although concerns from residents and the abutting family remained...

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND — Two local farms opened their doors to Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer on Monday morning to talk about the challenges brought on by climate change, as well as opportunities for future investments in the industry.The state’s first-ever climate...

By JACOB NELSON

CHESTERFIELD — Three people. Two businesses. One piece of farmland. Countless ways that climate change is making farming harder.And yet, plenty of hope, because these farmers have a plan. With support from peers, nonprofits and even Uncle Sam, they’re...

By CHRIS LARABEE

BOSTON — While Kitchen Garden Farm’s Pink Jazz tomato was honored with third place in the heaviest category at the 39th Annual Tomato Contest in Boston earlier this month, don’t expect to find this form of tomato among the farm’s produce.Weighing in...

By PHILIP KORMAN

 As I am poised to leave my job after 16 years as executive director of CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), naturally, I’ve started to reflect. My takeaways so far are: Local farms are still challenged to keep farming, maybe even more...

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — As demand for berries from growers, gardeners and resellers rises, a new structure at Nourse Farms on River Road is rising to meet the moment.The nearly 90-year-old farm’s extensive expansion project, which got underway in October 2023, is...

By ADA DENENFELD KELLY

A total of $141,600 in grant funding is coming to two Franklin County organizations as part of more than $1 million awarded statewide by the Healey-Driscoll administration to protect soil health.The Franklin Conservation District received $75,000 and...

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — After serving as executive director at Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) for the last 16 years, Philip Korman is stepping down from his position at the end of August with the hope of welcoming a fresh perspective to...

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The community shares offered by the Quabbin Harvest Food Co-op used to consist of local produce, but little in the way of meats, dairy and eggs. Enter, “protein bundles.” The co-op has partnered with Quabbin Food Connector — a nonprofit...

By CHRIS LARABEE

After a frantic emergency response to save animals and equipment on July 10, 2023, David Fisher and Maggie Toran assessed their farm field as memories of Hurricane Irene came flooding back.At their horse-powered, community-supported agriculture (CSA)...

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Health Director Michael Theroux joined the city’s newly revived Agricultural Commission at its meeting this week to outline the Health Department’s role in enforcing and educating the public on the city and state’s agricultural...

By LEAH VERESS

Alice Colman recalls the day a routine fennel harvest turned into a wake-up call. As she stood in her field, carefully examining a plant’s feathery leaves, she felt herself growing increasingly frustrated with the crop’s appearance. When she kneeled...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

SUNDERLAND — Following wetlands violations and erosion that stemmed from tree clearing on 3 acres of land, Falls Farm owner Dr. James Arcoleo is continuing to discuss a restoration and mitigation plan with the Conservation Commission.Tuesday’s meeting...

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — Fresh off awarding $222,000 in no-interest loans to farmers affected by 2023’s flooding, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) has also reached its $1.8 million goal in its Growing Resilience capacity-building...

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — With the execution of two separate conservation restrictions by Historic Deerfield and the Antonellis family, more than 200 acres of land in Deerfield will remain permanently accessible for agriculture.In early May, Historic Deerfield...