Off the Shelf Farm started in 2018 with 750 hens, 150 broiler chickens and 13 lambs with a hand shake lease for 30 acres and no infrastructure. In 2024 the farm will support 2800 laying hens, 4500 broiler chickens and 30 lambs all rotationally grazed on pasture. It will for the first time have a […]
Register here! Make sure your farm stand and farmers’ market staff are ready to accept SNAP this summer by having them attend this SNAP employee training. Employees will learn SNAP basics including what EBT cards look like, what items are SNAP eligible, how to run a SNAP transaction, and the differences between SNAP and HIP. […]
Register here! There’s a time in every homesteader’s life when some carpentry is needed to build or repair something made of wood. This workshop will provide a solid grounding in getting started. Very basic questions will be explored in a setting that requires no knowledge of woodworking. Topics will include: how to select the right […]
Cricket Creek is a grass-based dairy farm managed by a small team of collaborators. The entire farm is comprised of about 500 acres, about 150 of which is hay fields, just over 100 is pasture, and the rest is wooded. We are one of the oldest dairy farms in the region, but infused with new […]
Join us for a tour of this pasture based diversified livestock farm. Learn firsthand from owner Sara Davis about the economic analysis and decision-making processes she employs. Hear about the strategies she implements that are crucial for the longterm success of her business. For more information, visit https://livestock.extension.uconn.edu or contact Rachel Bespuda, Project Director at […]
Register here! Please join us on Wednesday June 26th at 6pm at the Hadley Senior Center for a workshop on ditches and storm water management in agricultural settings. This workshop is intended for farmers and members of conservation and agricultural commissions. We will hear from the MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on the agricultural […]
Register here! With each year that passes, extreme weather events become more frequent and erratic, and it becomes harder and harder to make a living as a farmer. In response to climate change, many farmers are experimenting with a range of ‘climate-smart’ practices that increase the diversity, resilience, and adaptability of their operation. Some particularly […]
In our visit, we will tour the Agricultural Learning Center and discuss the Student Farm's approach to pest management. We will briefly discuss Integrated Pest Management, its meaning, and how it is applied on our farm. We will also discuss management roles on the farm, specifically around the role of our IPM management role taken […]