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Dear Friends,
It's been a hard year for farmers, families, and many in our community. Local farmers are feeling the pinch from funding freezes, program cuts, inflation, and SNAP uncertainty. Yet even in the face of these pressures, our farmers continue to show extraordinary resilience.
At BAV, our role is to strengthen that resilience to help farmers navigate the changing landscape and find new opportunities to grow and thrive. We feel so lucky to partner with amazing farmers like Michael Gallagher of Square Roots Farm - one of the 230+ farmers BAV has worked with over the past eight years. In a recent community conversation about local farming, Michael summed up our impact on his farm: "BAV has been really huge for us."
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That makes us so proud! We love this work, and we couldn't be more grateful to serve the farmers who do so much to make our local communities healthy, fed, and connected. We are also thankful to have wonderful partners in our work - partners such as Lisa Holmes, President of the Martha and Hunter Grubb Foundation. Lisa's eloquent reflections about why her family foundation gives to BAV as part of their commitment to regenerative agriculture and environmental justice are highlighted below. Thank you, Lisa!
With the year counting down, BAV is reaching out to our community to ask for your support. If you've already given, THANK YOU! If you'd like to donate now to help BAV support local farmers, you can make a gift here.
Happy holidays from all of us at BAV!
Warmly,
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Rebecca Busansky
Executive Director
| | Photo: MX Morningstar Farm, photo by Stephanie Zollshan | | |
We are thrilled to share our interview with Lisa Holmes, President of the Martha and Hunter Grubb Foundation. This family foundation, focused on regenerative agriculture and environmental justice, has been a generous supporter of BAV for several years. Below is an excerpt; read the full interview here!
| | Lisa, what do you see as important and distinctive about BAV's work to strengthen small farms and our local food system? | For farmers everywhere, it is economic viability and access to land that are two of the biggest barriers. BAV's focus on access to capital and financial technical assistance are critical needs for small farms that don't qualify for traditional governmental and commercial agriculture financing. I appreciate the relationships and deep knowledge of the region that BAV has - which is a key element of "trust based philanthropy" - recognizing that the nonprofits on the ground are the experts in their communities, not the donors. "Giving and getting out of the way" empowers the organizations to make decisions about how to best achieve their mission. | |
In addition, BAV’s attention to infrastructure, such as critical local processing through the Local Meat Processing Support Program, is another reason I am a proud supporter of the organization. After decades spent working in the so called "food movement," it has become clear that the fundamental solution to the current disastrous paradigm is a robust regional food system, and so BAV is a key actor in promoting such a healthy, just and resilient community.
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Why is local meat processing the "missing puzzle piece" in our regional food system - and how is BAV making a meaningful impact? Learn more in this great article in the Springfield Republican, which includes perspectives from BAV's Jake Levin, our CISA colleague Margaret Christie, and amazing local meat processors Kat Chang of Reed Farm and Kate Stillman of Stillman Quality Meats.
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Our thanks to Main Street Magazine for interviewing BAV this fall. They asked great questions that spurred us to reflect on what makes BAV a crucial support for the community’s farmers and the local food system as a whole. From the interview: "Our fundamental mission is to serve farmers and food producers. ... We provide services and support to help them solve business problems, access resources and relationships, increase their resilience, and grow sustainably. By valuing and supporting farmers, our work creates a stronger and more equitable local food system."
| | COMING IN JANUARY: MARKETING WORKSHOP | As part of BAV's efforts to support and strengthen Berkshire-area farmers markets, we are offering a free workshop in January focused on marketing essentials. Geared to farmers who sell at local farmers markets as well as market managers, this workshop dives into the practical nitty-gritty of effective marketing to boost customer engagement and sales. See details below and click on the registration link to sign up! | | |
BAV was thrilled to take part in last month's fantastic Hudson Valley Nut Fest as a foundational supporter and sponsor! Nut-loving participants from our team included Dan Carr, Rebecca Busansky, Kallie Robertson, Kristen Moriarty, and Shannon Smith, as well as BAV Board member Mimi Beaven. This celebration of the diversity and resilience of regional nut species drew more than 700 attendees to beautiful Rose Hill Farm in Red Hook, NY, for a day of workshops, art-making, kids' activities, and LOTS of nut-cracking.
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Jake Levin co-presented at the 2025 MA Food System Forum last month alongside Franklin County CDC Western MA Food Processing Center. Jake shared research and recommendations about how to strengthen the local meat supply chain by investing in existing processors and expanding value-added production. Rebecca Busansky also attended the forum, which included sessions on food security, HIP messaging, food literacy, and other timely topics.
| | FARMER EVENTS & RESOURCES | | |
Workshops/Events
Tuesdays, January-March - MDAR Course
Begins January 13
Growing Your Farm Business Plan Course. Structured support to help you set goals for your farm business resulting in a written business plan with financial projections. A combination of virtual and in-person classes (location TBD); a total of six sessions over seven weeks. Cost for the course is $100 per farm for up to two owners/operators. Applications accepted until December 18.
Tuesday, January 13, 10am-4pm
Thursday, January 29, 10am-4pm
Thursday, February 12, 1-4pm
Whole Farm Climate Adaptation & Mitigation Planning Series
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for a three-part workshop series focused on building climate resilience on your farm. Cost is $25 for the three-day program. Location: CCE Ulster Office, 232 Plaza Rd., Kingston, NY.
January 28, 1-2:30pm
Marketing Tips for Selling at a Farmers Market. Free BAV workshop on Zoom - see flyer above.
January 28, 5-7pm - MDAR Winter Workshop
Creating a Pricing Strategy. Learn steps to develop an overall farm strategy for pricing products that can be used as the basis for creating price lists. On Zoom.
February 25, 3-5pm - MDAR Winter Workshop
Cash Flow Budgeting. Participants will be walked through the process of creating a cash flow budget using their historical financials. On Zoom.
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Resources/Opportunities
Sky High Farm's grant application window is open through January 20, 2026. They are offering grants to support individuals or organizations working in agriculture, food justice, and/or land sovereignty. Applications will be prioritized among those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, AAPI, or other intersectional identities.
Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT)'s grant season is open. They are offering two grants for humane farmers: Fund-a-Farmer Improvement Grant and Fund-a Farmer Systems Change and Innovation Grant. Application deadline for both is January 3, 2026.
On-farm Impacts of Climate Change - survey opportunity. The Northeast Climate Disaster Relief Network is seeking stories from farmers about how climate disasters have impacted their farms, as well as examples of climate resiliency practices they've implemented. These stories will be part of a report used to advocate for better disaster relief systems and more support for farmers.
2025 Local Food Count. Food and beverage establishments and organizations across New England are invited to participate in this regional effort to measure how much local food they buy and sell within the six-state region. Take the pledge to confirm your participation, then fill in the worksheet based on your type of business, organization, or institution.
| | We all have a stake in local agriculture! Farmers need our support more than ever - give today to be a part of BAV's vital work to serve farmers and strengthen our local food system. | | | | |
