| | Hello, Summer is upon us! The crops are growing in the fields, the weather is as fickle as ever, and a farmer's list of jobs grows longer by the day. Here at AFT, we have been busy organizing Women for the Land Learning Circles and are looking ahead to a busy event season (highlighted below!). Earlier this month, I wrapped up my 12th and final Learning Circle under our original funding through the US EPA that established Women for the Land programming here in New York. I can hardly believe three years have gone by so fast but I'm excited to dive into our next phase with support from the National Fish & Wildlife Federation's Sustain Our Great Lakes Initiative. With this new funding, we are establishing five women-powered Demonstration Farms in the Lake Ontario watershed. Our upcoming Learning Circles will take place at these farms, so our community can learn directly from successful, soil health-conscious farmers. AFT will provide support to analyze the economic and environmental impacts of regenerative agriculture on these diverse farms and provide outreach to understand how we can all be better stewards of the land. As part of this new phase, we welcomed a new team member, Caitlin Tucker. Caitlin is our Agricultural Stewardship Associate and will be assisting with Learning Circles and stewardship activities. We are thrilled to have her on board! Please read more about her background and goals in her new role, below. We are planning our next round of Learning Circles for later this summer and early fall. Please keep an eye out soon for invitations to those events. As always, I welcome your input to help us grow our program to best suit your needs as women in agriculture in New York. Take good care, Stephanie Castle, Women for the Land New York Program Manager |
| |  | | Welcome Caitlin Tucker to AFT! We recently welcomed Caitlin Tucker to our AFT Team here in New York. Caitlin will be playing a major role in our Stewardship and Women for the Land programs. Prior to joining AFT, Caitlin provided technical assistance to farmers in their transition to organic production as an Organic Consultant for Rodale Institute. She has also worked for the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program, where she served fresh market vegetable producers across Western New York through education, research, and crop production support. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences from the University of Missouri and is a Certified Crop Advisor in the state of New York. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Entomology with a focus on Integrated Pest Management from the University of Kentucky. Caitlin grew up on a small farm in Missouri where she spent her summers in the hayfields and developed a deep appreciation for the people that devote their lives to stewarding the land and feeding our communities. Please join me in welcoming Caitlin! Her own words, below: What drew you to want to work for AFT and be involved with the WFL program? I was not raised to become a farmer and take over the family business, largely because of my gender. Despite that, I had always had a strong connection to the land I grew up on and a desire to care for it. At the age of 16, my family’s farm was sold and since then, it has moved from place to place and from lease to lease. In that same span of time, I found myself drawn to a career in agriculture and a desire for a bit of the Earth to care for. And although I have had a lifetime of experiences and an education to lean upon, I have felt unsure and unprepared about my chosen path because I didn’t grow up seeing myself in this space. Land access. Tenure. Navigating an agricultural career as a woman. These issues are personal for me that is why I am thrilled to work for an organization that not only supports women farmers and farmland owners see themselves in agriculture, but one that is dedicated to supporting farmers’ ability to access and stay connected to the land that sustains us. In what direction do you hope to see the WFL program grow in NY? I love the balance of networking and knowledge/skills-sharing that the WFL Learning Circles facilitate, and I look forward to expanding our programming to cover topics like navigating markets, urban land access, conservation biological control, and to expand our hands-on learning opportunities. Over the years, I’ve observed (and experienced personally) that many service providers and educators that identify as womxn or gender non-conforming experience barriers establishing themselves as resources within agricultural communities and I think there’s an opportunity for the WFL program to expand support to these folks in addition to the farmers they serve. Caitlin's email is: ctucker@farmland.org |
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|  | Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District is Hiring a Conservation Technician Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District is expanding their team! Ontario County SWCD is a public service agency dedicated to the conservation of natural resources in Ontario County. District staff and Board of Directors members are committed to providing technical assistance and education to the residents of Ontario County to ensure the wise use of soil, water, and other natural resources. This work involves the responsibility of performing technical activities related to conservation best practices on private and public properties and water resources and for conducting field surveys, design and supervision of related conservation projects. Employees will engage in the planning, implementation and maintenance of best management practices, soil and water management programs and community outreach to encourage conservation practices in the community.
Please visit Ontario County Civil Service Employment Portal for more information and to apply:
https://ontario-portal.mycivilservice.com/
Application Deadline: June 30, 2023 |
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 | LAST CALL! GLOW Traditions is Looking for Family Recipes Food traditions are a big part of our agricultural life, with recipes passed down from generation to generation, usually by women. The Genesee Valley Council of the Arts is compiling a cookbook of regional food centered around farmworkers, farmers, and families through the end of June. If you would like to submit your story, click on the linked photo above, or scan the QR code. An example story is below: At Thanksgiving my grandmother always made creamed baby onions. We all gathered at my aunt's house every year, which was on the property adjoining my grandfather's orchard, less than a quarter mile away. Nevertheless, for the very short drive, my grandmother would wrap the onions in newspaper and tie it with a string to keep them warm. Now, my mother makes the dish and brings it to my house, newspaper and all. Last Thanksgiving my son, who lives in Seattle, called to ask for the recipe to take to his dinner. In a way it ties him to his great-grandmother, even though they never met. For more information, contact glowtraditions@goart.org. Submit stories and recipes by June 30th. |
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| |  | Soil Health & Climate Resiliency Field Day Series from the New York Soil Health Alliance New York's agriculture community is gearing up for an exciting and educational event series this June to September. The 2023 Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Field Day Series, coordinated by the New York Soil Health Alliance and the New York Soil Health Initiative, will feature eight field days across the state. Mark your calendars for this unparalleled opportunity to learn and engage with experts in the field. Online registration is now open! Secure your spot in the 2023 Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Field Day Series by visiting fielddays.newyorksoilhealth.org. Scholarships are available for eligible veterans to participate in the field day series. Take advantage of this opportunity to network, learn, and empower yourself with the latest insights and practices in soil health. Collaborators and Partners for the 2023 Field Day Series include American Farmland Trust, Cayuga SWCD, Clinton SWCD, Cornell CALS, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Small Farms, International Biochar Initiative, King's AgriSeeds, Miner Institute, NOFA-NY, NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets, Seneca SWCD, Suffolk SWCD, Tompkins SWCD, USDA-NRCS, and Western NY Crop Management Association. For more information about each event, their locations and to register, please visit fielddays.newyorksoilhealth.org. |
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| | | See You There! We are working on our schedule of Learning Circle events for the year and will post a full schedule with locations and dates on our website soon. Our tentative schedule is below, please reach out if you have questions or suggestions! Late July: Biological Farming Methods & Composting Learning Circle at Zeliff Farms in Middleport September: Chainsaw and Tractor Safety Course for Women with Ontario SWCD at Firecreek Farms in Livonia October: Wetland & Stream Restoration Showcase at Boston Valley Farms in Hamburg Winter: Beginning Farmer Resources & Mentorship at Wild Hill Farm in Ionia  Photo by Rebecca Drobis |
| | | Contact AFT American Farmland Trust
info@farmland.org |
| | No Farms No Food® is a trademark of American Farmland Trust |
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