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Photo at Holly Hill Farm in Cohasset

Dear Friends,

Despite some unusual heat and sun over the past few weeks, autumn has arrived in southeastern MA, albeit on a day-to-day basis. Days are getting shorter, nights are colder, and summer favorites have made way for root crops and squashes. We'll be launching our seasonal guide in the coming weeks, so if your farm or market is preparing for any of these events or something else, please fill out this three-step Google Form so we can include your business! While we say goodbye to our summer favorites, we encourage everyone to embrace this change and try to eat with the season over the coming months.

November is a time for recognizing our farmers in a number of different ways. Firstly, next weekend is Veterans Day. Many proud veteran farmers contribute to our agricultural community, continuing their service back home as food producers. SEMAP is proud to support our veteran farmers and their continued selfless commitment to the health of their neighbors. USDA offers a variety of programs to assist veteran farmers, and SEMAP is happy to assist in finding the best fit for your business whenever needed. Of course, Thanksgiving is also just a few weeks away. Perhaps the most celebrated meal of the year by many, Thanksgiving is a time to show appreciation and gratitude for our local farmers by sourcing as much of your dinner locally as possible. Farmers work hard all year long, and now is the perfect time to say thank you.

Even in these colder, slower months, SEMAP is here to help in any way we can. Whether you need help with business planning, grant applications, or something else, never hesitate to reach out, and we will do what we can.

Warmly,

James Lehner

Communications & Outreach Coordinator

jlehner@semaponline.org

Come celebrate the end of another growing season with us! This event is all about celebrating agriculture together, and showing our thanks and appreciation for the farmers across Southeastern MA. You've done incredible work bringing us delicious local food all year – come party with us!

The event is kindly being hosted at Buzzards Bay Brewing in Westport, where we'll have delicious food and beer, live music, games and more! We can't think of a better way to get together, show our thanks for farmers, and connect with friends, new and old!

Thank you to all of our event sponsors: Buzzards Bay Brewing, The Livestock Institute, Lees Market, and Vineyard Farm. Sponsorship opportunities are still available through the ticket ordering page.

Other Farm and Food Events This Month:

• November 15: Twilight Workshop, Garlic at Scale at Shady Corner Farm
• November 16: SEMAP Annual Meeting at Oakes Ames Hall
• November 17: Urban Growers Gathering at Eastie Farm
• November 20: Plymouth Harvest Market at Plymouth Waterfront

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.

• Northeast SARE Farmer Grant: To explore new concepts in sustainable agriculture conducted through experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations or other research and education techniques.
• Deadline: November 14th

• Farmland Access, Succession, and Transfer Microgrant: To assist farmers in Eastern New England with financial barriers to accessing land, farm succession/transfer planning, and adoption of regenerative farming practices
• Deadline: November 21st

• Farmers’ Market Sustainability Grant: To enhance Massachusetts farmers’ markets through marketing, promotion, consumer education, planning, and infrastructure.
• Deadline: November 29th. 4 p.m.



• 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 January 1, 2021.
• Deadline: January 13th

RTB Open Farm Day to Support Elements Learning Collaborative

Round the Bend Farm is hosting their next Open Farm Day on Saturday, November 18th! Bring your kids to the farm for a holiday card and wrapping paper craft activity. Open Farm Days are free and open to all.

This month's event will also feature hayrides around the farm to support Elements Learning Collaborative, a holistic, nature based education program run at RTB Farm. Rides will be offered at 10 a.m. & 12 p.m., and proceeds will support Element's Scholarship Fund.

SEMAP Annual Meeting, Thursday November 16

Join us for our 2023 Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 16!

This year's event will be a potluck dinner at Oakes Ames Hall in Easton. We’ll take a look at what SEMAP’s been up to in 2023, and what’s in store for the year ahead. SEMAP staff will report on finances and programming, and new board members will be nominated. We welcome your feedback and your company at this annual wrap-up!

Bring your favorite seasonal dish and come on by for a fun meal and to help us prepare for 2024!

Help SEMAP Build Our Holiday Guide!

SEMAP is currently working on our virtual guide to winter and holiday farm and food events across the region, and we need your help! We want to hear from you about what your farm, market, or other food business is doing this season.

Hosting or attending a holiday market? Special hours, sales, or holiday openings on your farm? Visits from Santa? Whatever you have in store, SEMAP is here to help spread the word!

Please complete this very brief Google survey to tell us the hours, location and theme of your events, and we will include it in our virtual winter guide on social media and our website.

We can't wait to hear about your winter plans, and look forward to being able to share them with our entire network!

With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, we want to dedicate this space to a couple of resources to help think about this holiday critically. While this is widely considered a time of celebration, for many indigenous folks in our region and across the country, it is a painful reminder of a long and traumatic history.

If you are unsure where to begin, we recommend this short video from the New York Times, which discuss native identity in America. Then, for a more food systems approach, we recommend you listen to the Spirit Plate podcast from Whetstone Radio. Hosted by Shiloh Maples, this nine episode series features interviews with indigenous folks across the country who are working to preserve and revitalize their traditional foodways. From their website:

"Through interviews with seedkeepers, chefs, farmers and community members, this podcast will share what food justice and sovereignty looks like for Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island."

As you gather with loved ones this month, we ask that you also consider the other truths about Thanksgiving. This history is important for everyone to understand, but is particularly relevant to us in food and agriculture, as we actively tend the land that native people stewarded for centuries before the arrival of Europeans.

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
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Chard
• Collards
• Cranberries
• Garlic
• Kale

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

Greenhouse Manager at Freedom Food Farm in Raynham

Farm Manager and Assistant Farm Manager at Needham Community Farm in Needham

Farm to School Marketing Coordinator at Northampton Public Schools in Northampton

Assistant Grower and Farmers' Market Team Member at Zeigler's Market Garden in Norfolk

Policy Director at NOFA/Mass, Remote