2015 Spring Appeal

April 2015
Dear CT NOFA Friends,
We are so proud of what we
achieved in the first quarter of
2015:

January - over 60 new and
beginning farmers raved
about our 10th annual
Getting Started in Organic
Farming Conference at
Connecticut College in New
London AND the 6th year
of our Beginning Women
Farmers Program took
place at Goodwin College
and farms statewide

February - In Hartford our
voice was heard and
continues to be heard on
the pesticide ban, GMO
labeling on baby food, and
the Community Investment
Act AND almost 50
landscapers took our gold
standard Accreditation
Course in Organic Land
Care at Three Rivers
Community College in
Norwich AND our Green
Stormwater Infrastructure
Project got its start at Three
Rivers Community College
in Norwich and Naugatuck
Valley Community College
in Waterbury

March - Our 33nd Annual
Winter Conference at
WCSU in Danbury was the
place to be according to our
800 attendees AND our
2015-2016 Farm and Food
Guide was ready for
distribution AND our onfarm workshop series
began with our 1st days of
spring Greenhouse
Workshop at Wayne's
Organic Garden in Oneco
AND our Permaculture
Design Charrette was held
at Jenna Messier's home in
West Haven.
Spring is finally here and with it comes some of our most important activities including
our Spring Appeal, which is so important for funding our important programs.
Right now we're busy planning and implementing our on-farm workshops, choosing
our next journeyperson class, making sure beginning organic farmers know about our
new Technical Assistance Program, and getting the word out on our new online
Organic Lawn Care Certificate Course. We’re also distributing 12,500 copies of our CT
NOFA 2015-2016 Farm and Food Guide to households and businesses statewide. This
year's Guide has new information and an exciting "Dining Out, Farm to Plate and
Bottle" section, illustrating how going out provides delicious and fun opportunities to
eat and drink well and support our local farmers at the same time.
Our Spring Appeal is more important than ever. Thanks to YOUR financial support
we're able to present our acclaimed programs throughout the state. Check out the
sidebar for a sampling of what we've done so far - and it's only April! None of these
programs would be possible without the financial support of individuals like you who
are passionate about organic agriculture, organic food and organic land care.
Please participate in our Spring Appeal by sending payment in the enclosed
envelope, or by clicking on the Donate button at ctnofa.org. Your generous support
will enable us to continue our critical work for the remainder of 2015. Please be
as generous as you can!
As many of you already know, with mixed emotions I am moving on to a new position
at the March of Dimes, an organization I worked for previously. The board has formed
a search committee to find my replacement who I’m certain will lead our organization
to even greater heights. Personally, I am going to remain an active and contributing
member of CT NOFA. Please join me in donating to the Spring Appeal! Each week
donors of $100 or more will be placed in a drawing with special prizes such as lunch
with our board President and new Executive Director, embroidered CT NOFA polo
shirts, books, manuals, and more.
Thank you for your support of local and organic farming, gardening and land care,
Eileen Hochberg
Executive Director