Join Just Roots and NOFA/Mass for a farmer-to-farmer field walk exploring how soil health practices can take shape on a small, diversified production farm. We’re coming together to share practical knowledge and experience. This is an opportunity to share real-world experience—what’s working, what isn’t, and what we’re all still figuring out.

Together, we’ll walk the farm and look closely at a few of our current experiments & systems, including:

• No-till beds within a mixed till/no-till production system
• Native pollinator plantings as part of a soil-building strategy
• Perennial hedgerow strips (apple, dogwood, beach plum)integrated into annual fields 
• Trial-and-error lessons from running a high-value small farm while building soil

This is a casual, farmer-led exchange. Come with questions, ideas, and your own experiences to share.  After the tour, we’ll gather for a light dinner & a conversation about how this work connects to the Healthy Soils Action Plan.

About

Just Roots creates equitable access to healthy local food in western Massachusetts and works toward just, vibrant, and sustainable farm and food systems. Founded in 2008, we operate the 61-acre Greenfield Community Farm on permanently protected land owned by the City of Greenfield. The farm includes diversified vegetable production, a historic barn that serves as a regional food aggregation and distribution hub, community garden space, and land leased to small scale farm businesses.

Over fifteen years, Just Roots has grown from a grassroots farm into an organization working at the intersection of agriculture, public health, and community development. We grow food, aggregate from regional farms, and distribute to households across Franklin County and statewide. Our infrastructure supports production, healthcare referrals, enrollment systems, delivery logistics, and outcome tracking. Income, transportation, or health challenges should not prevent families from accessing fresh, locally grown food.

About the Instructors:

Meryl Latronica: 

Meryl joined Just Roots in 2017 to become the Director of Farm Operations and in 2024 became one of the Co-Executive Directors.  She helped to build the CSA program, increasing its reach from 150 members to over 400 in her first four seasons; increased production from by 50%, oversaw multiple infrastructure improvements including building three new high tunnels, one new greenhouse and managed a full overhaul of an aging barn which is the centerpiece of all production and distribution at Just Roots, a $500,000 project over three years.  Meryl has been a key team member in building the Just Roots Local Food Hub, which supports their Food Is Medicine work, with a focus on ensuring top quality procurement from over twenty-five local farms. Meryl leads with a deep commitment to community voice, ensuring that programs are responsive to the needs of the people they serve. 

Lincoln Fishman: 

Lincoln Fishman is the founder and director of Momentum Ag, a Massachusetts-based organization that coordinates farmer-led research on sustainable, climate-smart agricultural techniques, particularly clover living mulches. Formerly, Lincoln was the owner/operator of Sawyer Farm in Worthington, MA. 

About the Project:

This event is sponsored by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and co-sponsored by NOFA/Mass. This workshop is also funded with generous support from the Massachusetts Healthy Soils Initiative (EEA).  

Accessibility:

The event will include portable toilet facilities and on-site seating. Please note that the program will include a walking tour of Just Roots, which takes place on uneven and potentially wet ground; participants should plan accordingly.

At this time, additional accessibility services such as wheelchair-accessible pathways, public transportation options, and language interpretation are not formally provided. If you have specific accessibility needs, please reach out in advance so we can do our best to accommodate you.

Refund/Inclement Weather Policy:

The event is rain or shine. For information on our refund and inclement weather policy, click here. 

Capacity:

Capacity for this event is limited to 25 people. Register ahead of time to secure your space!

Questions?

Contact Hannah at hannah@nofamass.dreamhosters.com with any questions

Partners and Sponsors