Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market is Up & Rolling Halfway through the Pilot Program

The Berkshire Mobile Farmers market, a partnership project from Berkshire Grown, Berkshire Bounty, CHP, Berkshire United Way, BRPC, and the Rural Health Network, has reached the halfway point of its 10-week pilot season.

Since the September launch, the mobile market has made weekly visits to MCLA in North Adams, 18 Degrees in Pittsfield, and the Becket Town Hall. Attendance has exceeded expectations—the market has served over 400 shoppers, procured over $8,500 worth of local food from farmers and producers, and distributed over half of that food at no cost.

Market Manager Alyssa VanDurme sources fresh food from area farmers each week, and the arrival of fall has brought a rainbow of variety to the market. Purple bell peppers, leafy greens, deep orange squash and sweet potatoes are just a few of the recent offerings. Other popular items include feta and cheddar cheese, sourdough bread, eggs, meat, honey and maple syrup—all from local producers.

The Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market will continue its pilot season through November 16^th. The market team will spend the winter analyzing data and feedback from the pilot and planning the full season launch in the spring.

The mobile market wouldn’t be possible without community support. Visit www.berkshiremobilefarmersmarket.org to donate, view the schedule, sign up for the newsletter, and learn more.

New Season Begins November 18!

We are eagerly anticipating the launch of our next Winter Farmers Market season! Our markets are returning to the Housy Dome (Housatonic Community Center) in Great Barrington and Greylock WORKS in North Adams for a season full of local food, artisan products, and community connection.

This season, we welcome live music back to the markets! The full schedule will be announced soon, and we look forward to enjoying the talents of local musicians at each market.

Another update: we’re partnering with our North County host, Greylock WORKS, to offer a “mini maker market” of select artisan crafters throughout our two market dates in North Adams. A full vendor list will be available soon at www.berkshiregrown.org.

As always, we welcome SNAP and HIP at our markets, and we provide a SNAP match up to $30 with the support of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and their Market Match program. Visit the market manager’s table at each market to use benefits and learn more about these programs!

Berkshire Grown Great Barrington Winter Farmers Market

Housy Dome (Housatonic Community Center)

1064 Main Street, Housatonic

3rd Saturdays, 10 am–2 pm

November 18, December 16, 2023

January 20, February 17, March 16, and April 20, 2024

Berkshire Grown Williamstown/North Adams Winter Farmers Market +mini maker market

Greylock WORKS

508 State Road, North Adams

3rd Sundays, 10 am–2 pm

November 19 and December 17, 2023

Recognizing Native Heritage, On Indigenous Peoples Day and Beyond

Earlier this month, communities across the nation (including Great Barrington) celebrated Indigenous People’s Day with gatherings, ceremonies, and other events. Berkshire Grown acknowledges that the land on which we work is the traditional homeland of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok (Mohican) people. 

To learn more about the Stockbridge-Munsee Community,

please visit mohican.com

What we are reading:

The Indigenous Origins of Regenerative Agriculture

By Tracy Heim, for National Farmers Union

Images added reflect Berkshire Grown members' agricultural practices.

On the second Monday of every October, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated across the United States to honor the original inhabitants of the Americas. On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, National Farmers Union (NFU) celebrates the invaluable contributions of Native Americans and the Indigenous origins of many practices currently used in the regenerative agricultural movement.

Long before the arrival of Europeans, Indigenous populations protected local ecosystems and preserved biodiversity through land management and farming practices. European settlers did not arrive at an ‘untouched land,’ an idea known as the ‘pristine myth’ of the early Americas. Charles Mann, the author of “1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus,” notes how the pristine land myth obscures the reality that Indigenous Americans actively shaped the environment around them. As we rethink American history, we can thank Indigenous Americans for advancing practices that define sustainable agriculture and land stewardship.

Intercropping and Polycultures

Diverse farming systems are central to today’s regenerative agriculture movement – but the concept is far from new. For hundreds of years, Indigenous Americans have planted more than one crop together in a practice known as intercropping. Intercropping is based on synergy in which the physical aspects of each plant complement one another and improve each other’s health and growth. A combination of corn, beans, and squash known as the ‘Three Sisters’ was cultivated extensively by the Iroquois in the Northeast. In this system, the corn stalks provide a natural trellis for the beans to grow on, which in turn help the corn grow by adding nitrogen to the soil. At the same time, the squash vines act as a “living mulch” that maintains soil moisture and prevents weeds from growing.

Read the full article here.

A number of Berkshire Grown farm business members use these same agricultural practices.

(l.) Woven Roots Farm, in Tyringham, nurtures the land thru hand-scale, ecological farming practices including intercropping. Farmers Jen and Peter Salinetti state "their agricultural practices are centered in the ancestral ways of acknowledging nature as a part of us just as much as we are a part of nature."

(r.) Foxtrot Farm, in Shelburne Falls, uses no-till systems to reduce water-runoff and soil erosion. They promote proper drainage and water-retention, meaning they irrigate less. Farmer Abby Ferla uses several adaptation techniques. Their planting beds follow the contours of their sloping fields, slowing and collecting water while preventing erosion. They also don’t till or disturb the soil structure, which increases aeration and its capacity to absorb water.

At April Hill Conservation and Education Center regenerative farm in Sheffield practices teach young adults methods for small and medium scale agriculture. Their focus on production incorporates silvopasture, agroforestry, and permaculture alongside annual vegetable production and grass-based livestock production. (Image courtesy April Hill Farm.)

A return to the past: Monument Mountain set to revert back to Mohican stewardship

A state grant will fund the return and implement tribal land strategies to combat climate change
.

By Leslee Bassman for The Berkshire Eagle

Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll (right) announces the award of a $2.6 million grant for the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans to reclaim their Indigenous homelands, including the stewardship of Monument Mountain. With the return of the parcels, the Mohican tribe will be responsible for implementing tribal conservation and forest management strategies to combat climate change. Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans President Shannon Holsey (left) listens to the speech before addressing the Stockbridge, Mass. crowd. Photo by Leslee Bassman.

Following the historic Stockbridge announcement by Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, Monument Mountain will once again belong to the Indigenous people that settled the area centuries ago.

“The North slope of the land now known as Fenn Farm on Monument Mountain will once again be stewarded by the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation,” Driscoll said to a packed Stockbridge Town Hall, part of the ancestral homeland of the Mohican tribe that’s now based in Wisconsin. “That’s not only a meaningful step forward in relation to our history, but [it] also means that Indigenous land management practices and traditional ecological knowledge are going to help us fight and adapt to an ever-growing and present-changing climate future.”

She acknowledged the work done by Stockbridge officials to affect the return of this land.

The change is promulgated by a $31.5 million grant program—the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program (MVP)—that provides local communities with funding and technical assistance to implement climate resilience projects. Along with 56 different individual municipal grantees, the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans was awarded a $2.26 million grant to reclaim 351 acres of their Indigenous homelands, while implementing tribal conservation and forest management strategies to combat climate change.

“We are celebrating the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans reclaiming land in their ancestral homeland,” Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said. “We are also celebrating the concept to have Indigenous land management as a key way to further climate resiliency in our state.”

Read the entire article here.

Apples to Apples... Local Partnerships

Berkshire Cider Project pairs with Cricket Creek Farm

Berkshire Cider Project Berkshire Cider Project creates dry, sparkling hard cider inspired by the art, agriculture and community that makes the Berkshires so special. The ciders are sparkling, naturally gluten-free and contain zero added sugar. Berkshire Cider Project ciders are an expression of the harvest - and as each harvest is different, each cider will be different.

On October 15, Berkshire Cider Project celebrated the release of a special, small batch hard cider made from wild apples gathered on Cricket Creek Farm in the fall of 2022. Berkshire Cider Project Co-owner Kat Hand explains “Last fall, we made our way up past the cow pastures at Cricket Creek to an overgrown and over productive, wild orchard. The view from there is unbeatable, and our harvest day could not have been more picturesque. There, we gathered enough apples to make one barrel (55 gallons) of cider, which we then fermented, bottle conditioned, and aged over the long winter. The resulting cider is brightly sparkling, lightly floral, and overall delightful - and it pairs perfectly with Cricket Creek Farm's artisanal, cowmilk cheeses.” 

This cider is now available for purchase at the Berkshire Cider Project tasting room located in the Greylock WORKS complex at 508 State Street in North Adams. Learn more about Berkshire Cider Project at berkshire-cider.com.

Local partnership provides second chance for damaged apples from spring frost

by Emani Payne for WRGB CBS 6News

Recently at Samascott Orchards in Kinderhook, NY, everyone was hard at work, giving many apples a second chance to serve the community.

“This is a really good way to use them because there’s not a lot of other markets for apples that look the way they do this year,” said Jake Samascott, Owner, Samascott Orchards.

The Orchard is just one of several apple growers across the state that faced lost and damaged crops due to a harsh spring frost. However, thanks to a partnership with Nine Pin Ciderworks, they’re finding new use for their damaged apples by turning them into juice and cider.

“It gives us a way to use these apples so we can keep marketing. Without a home for some of these crops we would be taking out apple trees or having to look at doing something else with the farmland. Some of these varieties get damaged much more easily in bad weather so it’s nice to have 100 different varieties, but if we didn’t have the outlet for them on bad years, then we’d be cutting out a variety of selection and really limiting it,” said Samascott.

Nine Pin, which prioritizes using local apples and fruits from New York for their ciders says it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

This is an incredible farm they grow over 100 different varieties of apples and they’re also a relatively large grower, so having lots of different types of apples and lots of apples in general is a perfect combination to make lots of quality hard cider. We provide a profitable outlet for people with damaged crops which is a huge help and it’s great to see it come into play here like this, it feels good,” said Alejandro del Peral, Co-Founder, Head Cidermaker, Nine Pin.

The pair say while the apples are taking a different path than originally planned, they’re glad the route is still leading back to fueling the community.

“They taste just as good, there’s no worms inside, they’re not rotten, which is the biggest fear, they’re still perfectly fine inside, taste delicious and can still be eaten,” said Samascott.

18 Types Of Squash and How to Use Them

By Tess Koman and Felicia Lalomia for Delish

Squash—who doesn't love it?! You can mash it, puree it, stuff it, slice it...you get the idea. But there are a lot of different varieties out there, and figuring out how to best use them in the kitchen can be overwhelming. We spoke with chefs from around the country about their favorite squash and how they like to cook with it. So, here's a comprehensive breakdown of some of the most popular and versatile squash around.

Read the article here.

Looking for fresh locally grown winter squash for your favorite recipe? Use the Berkshire Grown Searchable Map where you can find many varieties of squash, from Delicata to the mighty Hubbard, at farmers market or farm stands, food cooperatives and grocery stores in the Berkshires. A lot of farms, like Caretaker Farm (pictured below), include winter squash in their winter CSA shares. Search the same Map for farms offering winter CSA shares.

What's Happening:

Food In Sheffield: A Community Conversation

Thursday, October 26 at 7 p.m. at Dewey Hall.

The season of thanksgiving and the beauty of our region give us much to share and celebrate. Let's talk about our experience of local food, our farms and gardens, as well as an awareness of how we each experience being here and what that means to us in a spirited and civil conversation. Communication guidelines will be discussed and agreed to in the room. Light refreshments provided. Learn more here. Register here.

 8TH Annual MA ThinkFOOD Conference

10th Annual ThinkFood Conference-Making local farms work

Bard College at Simon's Rock, Great Barrington

The Center for Food Studies at Bard College at Simon’s Rock presents it's 10th annual ThinkFOOD conference on Saturday, November 4. ThinkFOOD will give you new perspectives on food, farming, and resiliency offering interactive sessions with practical takeaways and new ideas from experts in the Berkshires and beyond.

Ashley Randle, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) will give the keynote address.

The conference is free for all students. Tickets are $25 for access to all sessions, $15 for half day, or $10 for keynote only; lunch tickets are $10. Discount tickets available; please email thinkfood@simons-rock.edu for details. Register to attend the Conference.

This event is sponsored by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures with promotional partners Berkshire Grown, Great Barrington Agricultural Commission, and Guido’s Fresh Marketplace.

Tribal Medicines

Saturday, November 18, 11am-12pm, at The Mission House, Stockbridge

Join Misty Cook, a traditionally trained Stockbridge-Munsee herbalist, as she explores and explains the use and history of the plants in the Mission House medicinal garden. This workshop is free, but registration is required as space is limited. The workshop will be held outside. In the case of heavy rain or inclement weather the event will be held indoors. Seating will be limited and available on a first come first serve basis, you are welcome to bring your own lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Please email kknisley@thetrustees.org with any questions. Register here.

In November, proceeds from Hannaford’s Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquets will benefit Berkshire Grown’s Share the Bounty food access program. $1 from each bouquet sold at the Hannaford store, 32 State Route 82, Hudson, NY, will go to support farmers and gives members in the community who otherwise may face challenges accessing fresh locally grown food.

Berkshire Grown's Share the Bounty program purchases CSA shares from farms in the winter months, tiding them over with funds to help purchase seeds and supplies. During the harvest season these farmers provide fresh, locally-grown food to community members experiencing food insecurity.

Find locally grown food and products from Berkshire farms in the 2023 Guide to Local Food & Farms

The 2023 Guide to Local Food & Farms remains the region’s most comprehensive guide to local farms, farmers markets, and restaurants offering local foods.

Use it to find farm stands, CSA farms, pick-your-own farms and orchards, as well as locally sourced value-added products like charcuterie, preserves, and fermented foods and locations and hours of food pantries spread across the county.

Get ready for holiday cooking and look for farms selling pasture raised turkeys and meats and other favorite foods. You can also find the best in locally grown food and products near you by using Berkshire Grown's searchable map!

Shop the Berkshire Farmers Markets

Some markets extend their season into winter. Each one is unique.

Meet your local farmers and shop for food grown on nearby farms. They offer everything from veggies, fruit, eggs, and meat to seasonal plants, yarns and maybe even some knife sharpening! Add music, egg sandwiches and grilled sausages and your local winter farmers market becomes a gathering place that brings the community together. Visit the Berkshire Farmers Markets and shop for seasonal favorites.

Use SNAP or HIP, WIC or Senior Coupons? Many of the markets offer Market Match and other budget-boosting programs. Visit Berkshire Farmers Markets for dates, locations, and more information on where SNAP, HIP and other benefits are honored. Click here to learn about HIP program basics and frequently asked questions.

Make a difference for local farmers today.



Your membership Keeps Farmers Farming and helps support a thriving, equitable, and resilient local food system. Thank you for your support!

www.berkshiregrown.org