News and blog
The Farm Institute Receives Support from NESARE for Pilot Parcels Project
Contact: Jon Previant 508-627-7007 or 305-582-0399 jon@farminstitute.org
The Farm Institute was notified last week that it has received funding from the USDA’s Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education to support Island farmers who want to experiment with innovative crops or processes. The Pilot Parcels Project will help Martha’s Vineyard farmers explore new ideas in an area of extremely limited access to land and high production costs.
With only 900 acres of the Island’s 47,000 acres in food production, the demand for locally grown products is strong and expanding. However, there are great challenges to farmers trying to advance Island goals for food self-sufficiency and little room for exploration.
Pilot Parcel Project will invite farmers from all backgrounds and experience to apply to use one-acre plots at The Farm Institute for either innovative crop production or innovative practices. The project would provide a low-risk environment for answering participant’s enterprise questions, such as: Is it feasible to grow our own hops for beer? Could I raise my own grain for locally grown chickens? The Farm Institute will ask its own questions about whether successful projects can be expanded through ongoing partnerships.
An application form will be available on the Farm Institute website by March 1 for interested farmers. Selection criteria will include the potential of gathering new ideas to share with the farm community, the feasibility of the plan, and the goal of having a mix of farm experience and crops in the project. The Pilot Parcels Project will provide chosen participants with help with soil preparation, educational events and consultations to support the projects, as well as a small budget for seed, equipment rentals or other supplies.
The Pilot Parcels project is part of NESARE’s Sustainable Community grants program.
What an amazing night! Many thanks to Chris Fischer of Beetlebung, Todd Christy of Chilmark Coffee Co., and the Athearn family of Morning Glory Farm for an awesome community event. Over 100 people came to enjoy a local meat dinner and view "American Meat", directed by Graham Merriwether. Click here to read all about it!
I’ve been thinking about the cows all day today. Early this morning during chores they let out a chorus of moos expressing their desire for some yummy hay. The ground was covered with snow and they couldn’t forage around the pasture looking for that previously overlooked patch of dried alfalfa. So they all started walking towards the area where the hay bales get served up. I watched them get into their single file line and walk their cow path to their breakfast. Creatures of habit, they walked with their heads down following each other and sometimes nudging each other forward. Vocal and eager for something to eat they marched passed me intently all the while calling out to each other, summoning the other cows to join them on their march to food.
I am not a winter gal. I’ll take sun and surf over skis and snow any day of the year, except maybe Christmas. And even then I’m tempted. There was something familiar about the cows and their marching in line today that reminded me that I can become a little monotonous in the winter. Get up, make tea, get dressed, work, make dinner, knit, go to bed. Do it again the next day. Sometimes I throw in “go to yoga” or “dinner with friends” if I really want to spice it up. So I’m particularly excited that we have an event coming up on February 3. We have teamed up with Morning Glory Farm to show the film American Meat at the Morning Glory Farm Stand. A local meat dinner prepared by chef Chris Fischer of Beetlebung Farm will be available for purchase starting at 6 pm with hot drinks provided by Chilmark Coffee Co. The film will start at 7 pm. I hope you can make it. It will be nice to see our farm friends in the cozy and welcoming environment of the MoGlo farm stand.
Lambs are being born every few days. Their cuteness overwhelms me. Stop by for a visit—they’re worth the trip out to Katama. Couple it with a sunny late afternoon and enjoy one of the finest sunset vistas on the island. There’s something special about the space and the air out here in Katama. Some days it’s like a being in a fishbowl of color.
It’s almost time to start onions and leeks. Meredith and I have been harvesting beets, carrots, tatsoi, lettuce, chard and salad mix from the greenhouse for the Falmouth Farmer’s Market each Saturday and for MV Produce Connection which delivers our greens to island schools. Our new garden manager, Rebecca, will be joining us in the next few weeks and the cycle will start all over again. Come by and see the greenhouses in action and say hello to Rebecca—we’re really glad she’s making the move from western Mass to join us out here on the rock.
Stay warm and enjoy the lengthening of days.
Whew! It's been a great year. I'm amazed and grateful of all that we've accomplished this year. Our meat operation continues to grow--we've just added a Winter Meat CSA for the first time. The new farm stand is a great addition to our campus, allowing us to have a permanent retail structure here at The FARM. And I really can't say enough about our new walk-in freezer. Hallelujah! No more digging through chest freezers looking for that perfect steak for our customers.
As the days grow shorter, and afternoon chores start at 3 pm, I'm reminded of how quiet The FARM can be. The long, hot, dusty days of summer are filled with the constant chatter of kids on The FARM. The polarity between seasons seems more extreme here on the island for some reason. I retreat to my knitting and crocheting and wonder if it's ever actually going to snow or get cold this year. Sixty degrees in December? I'm not complaining, but it does seem odd.
After a long season of budgeting and planning, and a successful (although still ongoing) Fall Appeal I look forward to the quiet stillness winter in Katama has to offer.
Stay warm and be well!