Connecticut FarmLink

02/11/2025

Your insider view of farms - Cat Wang, CFT's Conservation Coordinator, with "Notes From the Field - 9/17/2024"

Ever wonder what the inside of a to***co shed looks like? Well, I have been wondering since when I first stepped foot on a to***co farm in Enfield, CT in 2023. Last year I monitored this farm after the to***co leaves had already been dried and moved away, meaning all the sheds were empty and had their doors closed for the season. This year however, the sheds were open and (to my delight) the to***co leaves were still hanging to dry. Curiosity killed the Cat for this trip - errr I mean, I needed to take a more thorough look around the farm for its annual inspection - and I eagerly entered the shed to quite an amazing sight!

(P.S. The last picture is what I was able to see inside the shed from a crack in the barn wall last year.)

08/23/2024

RSVP by 8/30! Farmer friends, you can learn more about government and nonprofit programs offering farmland conservation and farm viability supports in CT on Sunday, 9/8 from 3 to 5 pm at Graywall Farms in Lebanon. There will be a farm tour and food too!

The event is no charge, but an RSVP is required by 8/30. To RSVP, simply email Amy Chesmer at achesmer@farmland.org; or reach her by phone at (860) 969-1043. Support is out here for farms and farmers, let's make some good connections. See below for details on the event.

06/06/2024

Last week, we held our first ever FarmLink Open House in Milford, and it was a huge success!
By the end of the day, CFT’s Farmland Access Coordinator, Kae Vargas, was able to match two groups of farmers to a beautiful farm in Milford.

FarmLink plans on hosting more Open Houses in the future to connect local farmers to local farmland. Don’t forget to subscribe to the FarmLink newsletter to read the full story on these two most recent matches, as well as future opportunities to attend an open house near you!

06/06/2024

We are proud to be a part of facilitating this great match!

05/17/2024

Jimmy and Jami Gore have a small farm in Seymour, CT where they currently farm 10 acres of land. They are a first-generation farm and have been farming for 7-10 years.

Gorgeous Acres Farm sells and raises registered Irish Dexter Cattle. The 4-6 cows they milk each season produce A2 Milk. The farmers are currently working with the State to sell their raw milk.

Jimmy and Jami are looking to expand and acquire more pasture or hay farmland in New Haven and Litchfield Counties to add more cows to their herd. Jimmy and Jami have all their own milking equipment, tractors, and haying equipment. Please visit the CT FarmLink website if you or someone you know is a match!

05/17/2024

Coming this Tuesday 5/21 to New Haven vía Arts & Ideas. Screening of Farming While Black - featuring Leah Penniman. Free registration at the link below.

From the Arts & Ideas page:

“Explore the deep historical roots of African agrarianism and discover how a new generation is reclaiming their heritage to cultivate a brighter future for us all.”

Join us for a special screening of a powerful feature film highlighting the inspiring journey of young Black farmers, featuring Leah Penniman, the 2023 Visionary Leadership Awardee and author of “Farming While Black.” From the heyday of Black-owned farms in 1910 to their decline today, Leah and ...

05/16/2024

Hey Farmers!

Are you looking for info on beginning to manage poultry? Are you interested in some of the food safety that you need to consider to process poultry on your farm? UConn Extension's Food Safety expert is partnering up with chicken experts and the CT Dept of Ag to help you understand some of these questions!

Register here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=fqjxFyUqqk65351DkDSwgNZanTad9-9Dn7seLDfhFntUNTQ5N1hDVEg3TFRRNDBITjZBV0YxUVA2Ui4u

05/14/2024

Apply NOW

Climate-Smart Agricultural Assessments. NCLC will award up to $50,000 for the implementation of climate-smart agricultural mitigation activities.

NCLC is accepting applications now through May 31.

Direct all questions to Shelley Rose, Agricultural Program Manager, at shelley@ctland.org.

05/13/2024

Did you read our May e-newsletter? Here is a sneak peek at upcoming events featured in the May issue!

If you haven't already, subscribe to the e-newsletter for farm resources, grants, and events across CT: https://ctfarmlink.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8fe6c80ee779b2adfa41829e9&id=690655553c

05/07/2024

Only 3 days left! Farmers, check out this beautiful conference agenda about the intersection of healing and growing. Dr. Ruiz has assembled a conference with national experts right here in CT on 5/18 available to you AT NO CHARGE, prioritizing your health and wellbeing. Details in their post for signing up.

04/29/2024

The 2024 Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development - CT RC&D Scholarship application is open through Friday, May 17th at midnight.

The two scholarships available are the Norma O'Leary Agricultural Scholarship for a student pursuing a post-secondary technical school or college career in agriculture and the Linda B. Krause Conservation Scholarship for a student pursuing a post-secondary technical school or college career in conservation. Each scholarship is $500.

More info: https://ctrcd.org/about-us/scholarships-awards/

04/12/2024

Rooted Solidarity: A CT Food Justice Gathering is a place for intergenerational knowledge exchange amongst community members engaged in food justice work and people who’d like to learn more. There will be opportunities for individuals and groups to connect and share resources related to their projects.

The event is hosted by The Bailey College of the Environment at Wesleyan University, Conservation Law Foundation, The Foodshed Network, and The CT Food System Alliance.

Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeG-wZDqZ56TeIElzAcpdi1JtQV-ialocMPHaUCBvMWinp1fQ/viewform