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Photo at Shady Corner Farm in Holliston

Dear Friends,

It is nearly time to say farewell to 2023 and welcome in the new year. Like many before, this was hardly an easy year for our farmers. They faced a wide array of challenges, including increased impacts of climate change, ever-growing deer pressure across our region, land access and preservation issues, supply chain and labor crunches, and so much more. Nevertheless, they worked hard to bring you the best local fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood they could all year. For that, we at SEMAP - and we hope all of you - are immensely grateful.

Now, looking ahead to next year, mark your calendars for Sunday, February 4, when SEMAP and other partners will host the Southeastern New England Agricultural Conference and Trade Show at Bristol Aggie in Dighton! If you've been to SEMAP conferences in the past, you'll find all the usual resources here, but with a bigger, more regional twist. With the help of so many other great organizations, we are excited to bring our in-person conference back better than ever! More details to come this month, but for now, make sure you bookmark this page to keep with announcements.

For a longer look into the future, check out the recently-released Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan, the state's outline of the needs and solutions to preserve farmland and farming across the Commonwealth. The plan lays out three major focus areas: farmland protection, access and viability. We have heard farmers across our region voice concerns in each of these areas, and encourage you all to give this a read so we can all continue to advocate for the future of Massachusetts agriculture.

Warmly,

James Lehner

Communications & Outreach Coordinator

jlehner@semaponline.org

An Evening with Jenny Slate: Readings from “Little Weirds” & Beyond

Join world-class writer, actress, filmmaker, and stand-up comedian Jenny Slate for an evening of live readings and Q&A!

New York Times best-selling author, creator of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, and star of such movies as Obvious Child and The Sunlit Night, Jenny Slate will read from her latest book, Little Weirds. Author and award-winning documentary filmmaker Sadia Shepard (The Girl from Foreign) will then lead a conversation and Q&A session with Jenny. It’s sure to be a cozy, heartwarming, hilarious evening! Tickets are $40 and are limited, so get yours today!

This event is a benefit for the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership. All proceeds go towards supporting our work to build a resilient, sustainable local food system in southeastern Massachusetts. 

Other Farm and Food Events This Month:

• December 11: Climate Record Keeping: Breakeven Analysis and Scenario Planning, virtual
• December 12: Keep 'Em Coming Back: Strategies for Customer Retention with Good Egg Marketing, virtual (Hosted by SEMAP)
• December 16: Farmer Learning Circle on Non-Traditional Bookkeeping, Beverly
• December 17: 4th Annual Tiverton Holiday Market, Tiverton, RI

Take a look at a few of the currently open grant, reimbursement, and award programs below, then check out a complete list on our webpage.

• Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant: To help Northeast US dairy farmers prioritize long-term farm viability and climate & economic resilience.
• Deadline: December 7th



• Discrimination Financial Assistance Program: To provide financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who experienced discrimination by the USDA’s Farm Loan Programs (administered by FSA) prior to 2021.
• Deadline: January 13th

• Massachusetts Dairy Co-Packing Start-Up Grant: To help launch new farm-branded value-added dairy lines for dairy producers and dairy processors in Massachusetts
• Deadline: January 19th

Holiday Bazaar at RTB Open Farm Day, December 16

Round the Bend Farm's final Open Farm Day on 2023 is coming up on Saturday, December 16. This event features a a holiday bazaar filled with great local vendors carrying all of your gift-giving needs! There will also be an ornament decorating session available for children of all ages, so bring your little ones along too!

Rodrigues Farm Seeking Help with High Tunnel Construction

Rodrigues Farm in Berkley is putting up their first high tunnel! They are looking for help building it, especially from farmers who've constructed a Rimol tunnel before, and especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Weather dependent, they hope to put it up ASAP and would be grateful for any support!

If you're able to lend a hand, send them a message on Facebook or Instagram, or call/text them at (508) 345-8826.

Customer Retention Workshop with Good Egg Marketing, Tuesday, December 12

Join SEMAP and Good Egg Marketing next Tuesday, December 12, to learn all about ways to keep your business flourishing. This interactive workshop will demonstrate five strategies for boosting customer loyalty, including knowing your customers’ wants and needs, providing stellar customer service, implementing loyalty programs, clarifying your brand, and creating compelling communications. You’ll see examples of what successful farmers are doing to keep loyal customers and share stories about what’s working for your farm. You’ll leave with new ideas for cultivating a customer base that keeps coming back for more.

The presenter, Myrna Greenfield, is a farm and food marketing consultant at Good Egg Marketing and a frequent speaker at conferences and events. She’s the author of the book, Marketing Your Farm: A practical guide to attracting loyal customers and increasing sales.

The main presentation and discussion will last 90 minutes, followed by 30 minutes for additional Q&A.

SEMAP Farmer Celebration - Thank You For

Celebrating With Us!

Before we look ahead to the end of the year and 2024, we also want to thank everyone who joined us for last month's Farmer Celebration! We had such a great time seeing many friends new and old, and taking a break from the late fall and early winter chores that take so much time these days. We are excited to make this a s SEMAP tradition in years to come, so keep your calendars open!

Special thanks to our hosts, Buzzards Bay Brewing, and to all of our other sponsors: Vineyard Farm, Lees Market, Tupelo Hill Farm, Treaty Rock Farm, Karen Schwalbe, Jocelin Hamblett, Tim Mahoney, Deedee Shattuck and John Duke - we could not have made this happen without your generosity!

As we hunker down for winter, we offer up a new book to immerse yourself in over the next month, and the chance to engage with fellow readers and the authors as well!

From Nicole Civita and Michelle Auerbach comes "Feeding Each Other: Shaping Change in Food Systems through Relationship," a new guidebook for how to rebuild our food system for the future. Through research, insights, and experience, they share their vision for a food system that not only feeds us today, but fuels our bodies and economies well into the future.

As part of the book's release, North American Food Systems Network is hosting a book club with readers across the US! If you read the book by January 27, you can attend their virtual celebration to discuss the book, hosted by Lin Diaz Maceo. This is a fantastic way to engage with big-picture food systems work over the winter, and connect with advocates and others working to build a better system as well!

We are always looking for suggestions on content to share, especially heading into the winter. With even a bit more time to reflect and learn during the coming months, we hope to bring resources to you that support you as a farmer and in your overall wellbeing. Please send any recommendations by email to jlehner@semaponline.org.

Fresh crops are here in Southeastern Massachusetts! As farm stands and markets get rolling and CSAs are underway, keep your eyes open for some of our favorite local foods, including:

• Apples
• Beets
• Bok Choy
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Chard
• Collards
• Cranberries
• Garlic
• Kale

• Leeks
• Lettuce & Greens
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Pumpkins
• Radish
• Scallions
• Spinach
• Sprouts
• Turnips
• Winter Squash

Year-Round Farm Crew w/ Housing at Skinny Dip Farm in Westport

Farm and Land Stewardship Manager at Grow Food Northampton in Northampton

Communications Administrator at NOFA Interstate Council, remote

Multiple Positions at Boston Farms Community Land Trust in Mattapan

Advisory Committee Members at MA Farm to School, Remote