Annual Report 2014CT NOFA

Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut , Inc.

Dear CT NOFA friends,

We are proud to present our first ever Annual Report highlighting our 2014 accomplishments, special events and on-going programs. Since 1982 CT NOFA has been working to grow the viability of organic agriculture and land care to achieve our vision of an Organic Connecticut founded on ecologically and socially just principles. We are not alone in this important work. Together with organic farming associations across this country and globe, including the seven chapter Northeast Organic Farming Association we are part of, we have a loud voice.

Our collective voices are still saying what organic pioneer J.I. Rodale said so well way back in 1954: “Organics is not a fad. It has been a long-established practice much more firmly grounded than the current chemical flair. Present agricultural practices are leading us downhill.”

That was 1954, yet still today our increasingly industrialized food system is using more chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and now, genetically modified organisms. These practices are making our soil, us and our planet sick. Rodale Institute emphasizes that we are also facing uncertain and extreme weather patterns, as well as other issues, and there is a need for farming systems that can adapt, withstand or even mitigate these problems while producing healthy, nourishing food. We agree with Rodale that the farming system that can do that is organic, regenerative agriculture.

Our CT NOFA community actively supports our vision of an Organic Connecticut in ways ranging from managing organic farms and engaging consumers who are passionate about local food, to advocating for GMO labeling. Please join us in 2015 at the many activities planned across our state, listed on ctnofa.org. We hope to connect with you soon in person and online via our CT NOFA and NOFA Organic Land Care FaceBook pages, and please follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @ctnofa.

Thank you all for building a better Connecticut and a better planet!

John Turenne Eileen HochbergPresident Executive Director

A word from ourExecutive Director & Board President

Eileen Hochberg, EDJohn Turenne, President

2014 Annual Reportctnofa.org 203-308-2584126 Derby Ave, Derby, CT 064182

Initiatives & Accomplishments

Online Organic Lawn Care CertificateCT NOFA’s Organic Land Care program offered its very first online course beginning in August 2014. The NOFA Online Organic Lawn Care Certificate Course is held throughout the year on an open enrollment basis and is aimed at educating lawn care professionals, landscape architects, environmental educators and homeowners on how to manage their lawns organically. Fifteen students completed the course between August and December.

Healthy Farms, Healthy Food, Healthy PeopleThis new educational marketing campaign launched in 2014 and supports the viability of Connecticut agriculture by providing information for consumers, farmers, supporting businesses and partner organizations to use in their social media, websites, newsletters and other means of communication. The new webpage, ctnofa.org/healthyfarms, features lots of great information all in one place on healthy eating, Connecticut

producers and sourcing local food in Connecticut. This project was funded in part by matching funds from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture through the Community Investment Act, 05-228.

Beginning Women Farmers ProgramIn 2014 CT NOFA, in partnership with Holistic Management International, completed the fifth year of its Beginning Women Farmer (BWF) Program, geared towards women with fewer than ten years of farming experience. Over the course of five years fifty women have graduated with training in whole farm planning. The program is funded through the USDA/NIFA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program.

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Technical Assistance ProgramThis new (and free) Technical Assistance Program, Coming Together, connects experienced organic farmers from around the state with beginning farmers to provide short-term technical assistance and consultations. The program is building a social community of organic farmers and kicked off in December 2014 with a social gathering at Two Roads Brewery in Stratford attended by 64 beginning and experienced farmers. A Technical Assistance Consultant Directory provides beginning organic farmers with a tool for checking out the backgrounds and experience of expert organic farmers with whom they can connect once they join the free program.

ProgramsBeginning Farmers ~ Apprenticeship to IndependenceIn 2014 CT NOFA completed its third year of Cultivating The Next Crop Of Northeast Organic Farmers From Apprenticeship To Independence in partnership with NOFA-NY and five other NOFA chapters, the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (MOFGA), and Law for Food. This regional effort was funded under grant 2011-00974 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture. As part of this program CT NOFA hosted an online apprentice-to-farmer matching tool, conducted a Journeyperson program, held a Beginning Farmer track at Winter Conference, provided scholarships for twenty Beginning Farmers to attend NOFA conferences, and conducted eight on-farm workshops. Journeyperson Program A main feature of Cultivating The Next Crop Of Northeast Organic Farmers, this program fills the gap between apprentice and independent farmer, and develops the skills necessary for becoming independent. Each Journeyperson is matched with an experienced farmer for hands-on, mentored training shaped by the interests and goals of each Journeyperson. It also provides Journeypersons with stipends for education, technology and professional services, and complimentary access to CT NOFA educational events. In 2014, with additional

support from a private funder, three Journeyperson-Mentor pairs finished year two of their program, and three pairs began the two-year program.

Accreditation for Organic Land Care ProfessionalsCT NOFA’s Organic Land Care Program held two thirty-hour Accreditation courses, which culminated with an exam and the accreditation of 109 Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals (AOLCPs). In 2014 CT NOFA had a total of nearly 500 professionals who became accredited for the first time or renewed their accreditation.

Classroom Organic Lawn Care CertificateIn August 2014 CT NOFA completed a year-long program funded by Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF), providing classroom education to one hundred professionals in organic lawn care practices with the goal of decreasing the amount of fertilizers ending up in Long Island Sound. This training was aimed at municipal and school groundskeepers, lawn care professionals and town committee members. The program also brought the course online in partnership with Three Rivers Community College, and created an Organic Fertilizer Fact Sheet to assist with properly measuring and quantifying fertilizer applications.

2014 Annual Reportctnofa.org 203-308-2584126 Derby Ave, Derby, CT 064184

Getting Started in Organic Farming ConferenceOver 80 aspiring organic farmers gathered to hear how to begin or transition to organic production. 2014’s 9th Annual Conference taught the importance of being certified organic, how to become certified, as well as how to find credit, access land, manage soil, and adhere to legal, zoning and insurance issues.Saturday, January 18

Annual Winter ConferenceCT NOFA’s Winter Conference continues to grow, with the 32nd Annual in 2014 attracting 900 farmers, gardeners, homesteaders and land care professionals. Fred Kirschenmann, certified organic farmer, Distinguished Fellow for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University and President of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York delivered the keynote address.Saturday, March 1 at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury

Willie Nelson Birthday Bash Black Lodge Industries volunteered to present this fun evening for the benefit of CT NOFA, and over $800 was raised to fund our mission.Friday, May 9 at Arch Street Tavern in Tavern

A Weekend of Food and FarmingWinvian Resort and CT NOFA partnered on two fabulous events in July 2014. The events raised $36,000 to support CT NOFA’s important work for an Organic Connecticut.

A Special Culinary Fundraiser and Award PresentationThis event was held on a gorgeous Friday evening with over 140 in attendance. Chef and restaurateur Claire Criscuolo of Claire’s Corner Copia and Basta Trattoria in New Haven, was the recipient of our Organic Leadership Recognition Award. The following day at A Summer Gathering, Growing Food, Farms & Community, over 400 attendees enjoyed a day of interactive children’s activities, educational workshops for young adults on new food related career opportunities, and keynote addresses by Joan Dye Gussow, Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, long-time organic gardener and writer, and Richard McCarthy, Executive Director, Slow Food USA. Friday, July 18 & Saturday, July 19 at Winvian Resort and Farm in the Litchfield Hills

NOFA Summer ConferenceOver 1200 attendees from all 7 NOFA chapters celebrated the 40th anniversary of this NOFA-wide weekend long Conference. The program included over 150 adult workshops on organic farming, gardening, land care, nutrition, food politics, activism, and more. Kids and teens bonded at educational and fun workshops with others from throughout the Northeast. Music, dance, films, games, animal rides, meet-ups and delicious, and wholesome organic meals added to the experience. Friday, August 8 - Sunday, August 10 at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst

Events

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2014 Annual Reportctnofa.org 203-308-2584126 Derby Ave, Derby, CT 064186

WorkshopsAmong 2014’s best workshops were the two Homesteading Workshops held on one day in October at CT NOFA Chief Administrator Officer Deb Legge’s suburban Homestead, attended by 42 enthusiastic folks.

A Walk Through A Connecticut Backyard Homestead captured CT NOFA’s Homesteading Hero on film.

Also highly attended was December’s Organic Hops Growing Workshop at Two Roads Brewing Company. John Suscovich of Camps Road Farm in Kent, which grows hops for their on-farm Kent Falls Brewing Company, showed 64 attendees the ins and outs of organic hops production.Saturday, October 18 at Deb Legge’s Homestead in Wallingford and Thursday, December 11 at Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford

The Sustainable Food RevolutionCT NOFA President John Turenne and CT NOFA Executive Director Eileen Hochberg participated on an interactive panel with Claire Criscuolo of Claire’s Corner Copia and Mark Rutkowski of Urban Oaks Organic Farm to discuss local, organic and sustainable food and farming.Thursday, October 23 at Mercy by the Sea in Madison

Annual GatheringOver 150 Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals gathered for their annual get together, this year called “The Future of Organic Land Care”. In addition to a valuable day of networking the AOLCPs were educated on Permaculture, Urban Landscape Architecture, Organic Lawn Care and Native Plants, earning them 6 Continuing Education Credits.Wednesday, December 3 at HillsPoint Hotel in Windsor Locks

CT NOFA extends special thanks to our 800+ members, including over 170 Business Members. We are also grateful to our 200+ individuals, foundations, businesses and organizations who so generously supported our mission in 2014 with their donations.

Thank you to our 2014 Program & Operations Funders:

� Connecticut Department of Agriculture through the Community Investment Act

� Hunter Grubb Foundation � Long Island Sound Futures Fund � MFUNd, Inc. � Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc.

� Patagonia � UConn Sub-award USDA Risk

Management Agency � USDA National Institute of Food

and Agriculture Beginner Farmer and Rancher Development Program (in partnerships with prime recipients NOFA-NY and Holistic Management International)

� Camilla Landscape Design, LLC � Compostwerks, LLC � Connecticut Land Conservation Council � Country Organics, Inc. � Farm Credit East � Farm Family Insurance Company � Frank Crandall Horticultural Solutions � Green Earth Ag & Turf, LLC � Green Village Initiative (GVI) � Harringtons’s Organic Land Care, LLC � High Mowing Seeds � Johnny’s Selected Seeds � Lancaster Ag Products

� Lisa Holmes � Mark and Lauren Booth � Millstone Farm � Next Step Living, Inc. � Organic Plant Magic � Osborne Organics � Stonyfield Farms � Tech-Terra Organics, Inc. � The Hartford Provision Company � The Land Trust of Danbury � Tollgate Hill Inn � University of Connecticut

Special Thanks to our 2014 Annual & Event Sponsors

Donors & Partners

Financials

2014 ExPEnSES

Personnel and Contractors 305,160 Food for Events/Programs 16,636 Printing/Copying 16,219 Workshop Presenters & Speakers 14,006 Travel/Lodging/Meals 11,379 Office Rent 10,350 Event Facility Rental 9,395 Event Coordinator 7,065 Credit Card Processing Fees 6,740 Office Supplies 6,240 Bank/Finance Charges 5,003 The natural Farmer Quarterly 4,744 Postage/Electronic Mail Services 4,498 Website 4,105 Liability Insurance 3,131 Public. Editor/Writer/Coord. 3,097 Phone/Internet 2,412 Accounting Services 2,332 All Other Expenses 8,421 TOTAL ExPEnSES 440,931

BALAnCE SHEET 12/31/2014

Cash + CD 56,360 Inventory 3,518 Pre-paid Expenses 10,127 Accts. Receivable 2,092 Other 1,000 TOTAL ASSETS 73,097 Accts. Payable 20,740 Deferred Rev. 25,853 Payroll Payable 8,088 Loans Payable 35,875 Other 360 TOTAL LIABILITIES 90,916 Unrestricted net Assets (22,884)2014 net Income 5,065 nET ASSETS (17,819) LIAB. + nET ASSETS 73,097

2014 Annual Reportctnofa.org 203-308-2584

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Staff & Board

From left to right:Stephanie Berluti, Program and Events Manager, Jeremy Pelletier, Organic Land Care Program Coordinator, Eileen Hochberg, Executive Director, Jenna Messier, Organic Land Care Program

Director, Deb Legge, Chief Administrative Officer, Teresa Mucci, Program CoordinatorMissing from photo:

Debbie Semonich, Administrative Assistant, Rita Schlitter, Bookkeeper

John Turenne President

John Carlson Agnes Walton Tom Morris Morgan White Ujjval Patel Timila Dhakhwa

Steve MunnoVice President

Howard ShaferTreasurer

Rosemary MorrettaSecretary

John Pittari Lori Cochran-Dougall Patrick Horan

STAFF

BOARD MEMBERS

2014 Annual Reportctnofa.org 203-308-2584126 Derby Ave, Derby, CT 06418