On-Farm Summer Events 2026

2026 On-Farm Workshops

Learn on-farm alongside other farmers, gardeners, environmentalists, and food enthusiasts!

Please pre-register! Workshop prices vary.

We aim to keep our event prices low for everyone, but if the cost of registration is a barrier, please reach out to request a scholarship. Additionally, NOFA-VT offers the option of free registration to anyone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC) in an effort to actively work toward dismantling systems of racism that have historically disadvantaged BIPOC and continue to do so today. Learn more.

A basket of St. John's Wort, freshly harvested in a meadow at Free Verse Farm with Queen Anne's Lace also pictured in the meadow.

Sun., 7/12 | Regenerative and Ethical Wildcrafted Herbs (Chelsea)

Join us for a morning exploring the beautiful fields and meadows of Free Verse Farm, a certified organic hilltop herb farm. Attendees will begin by learning how the farm's landscape is managed to encourage a healthy diversity of wild herbs. Free Verse Farm’s co-owners will share techniques for regenerative and ethical wildcrafting of herbs commonly found in Vermont and discuss traditional uses for these wild herbs, along with ways to dry and preserve them for year-round use in remedies such as tea blends, infused oils, and tinctures. There will also be opportunities for some hands-on harvesting. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the farm once the workshop concludes, and are also welcome to visit the Free Verse Farm Shop on their way out, located just down the road in the center of Chelsea.

An ear of Zapalote Chico corn growing in a field at Tip Top Tree Crops

Mon., 7/20 | Cover Cropping Trials and Lessons Learned at Moon & Stars (South Royalton)

Through his Moon & Stars project, Nando Jaramillo has been connecting community, traditional food, and regenerative farming through heirloom corn and the arepa-making process. Nando has been working with Willie Gibson, CCA, agronomist with the White River NRCD, for several years to improve soil health on the land he leases for growing heritage corn, as well as through on-farm trials hosted in partnership with Tip Top Tree Crops. Through this partnership, this work is also exploring the role of agroforestry, creating space to test how practices like cover cropping can function within and alongside tree-based systems. Together, they have been experimenting with cover cropping, inter-seeding, strip-tilling, and reduced tillage. Come tour the farm to hear about these collaborations in action—the successes, challenges, and lessons learned—and join the conversation by sharing your own cover crop experiences and innovations. This workshop earns one RAP Agricultural Water Quality education credit and is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

Farmers from the Living Tree Alliance are seen in a circle sitting or laying around a colorful array of freshly harvested produce while smiling. There is also a dog in the photo and one of the farmers pictured is holding up a peace sign.

Wed., 7/22 | Farm Dreams: Collective Land Stewardship (Moretown)

Do you dream of starting a land-based community, connected to the seasons, with the capacity to grow food together and feed your neighbors? Join us at Living Tree Alliance to explore your vision, connect with others who have similar dreams, and grow your understanding of the process to go from dream to reality. This workshop will cover the basics and provide structured activities for you to develop your vision and take the next steps. We’ll learn from the Founders of Living Tree Alliance about how they dreamed up this place, the steps they took to operationalize it, and the challenges and rewards they have faced along the way. This workshop will provide both practical tools and inspiration for those on the path toward community living and growing, as well as connection to others on the way.

A pastoral scene at Wild Roots Farm, with goats grazing in a paddock planted with a diverse mix of perennial forage, a solar panel, some fruit and nut trees, and a high tunnel in the background.

Sat., 7/25 Building Soil with Livestock and Perennial Crops (Bristol)

Farmers and homesteaders of all scales, join for a workshop to learn about and see silvopasture in action at Wild Roots Farm. Farmer Jon Turner will explain how they've integrated livestock and crops, building up their soil organic matter through rotational grazing and biomass. Of their ten acres, about 2.5 have been planted with 300 edible trees and shrubs. Also, view their forest garden and windbreak to mitigate the effects of high gusts. Jon will go over their planning process, including zones of use, land contours, and choosing tree species. This model can be scaled up or down, and attendees will leave with some tangible ideas for holistic planning. This workshop is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

The farmers from Firefly Farm standing arm-in-arm and smiling in front of their barn

Wed., 8/12 | Reading the Farm Landscape to Increase Water Resilience (West Burke)

Too much water in some places and not enough in others? Managing this common situation for Vermont farmers is becoming more important as the climate changes. Join farmer Makail Tipton and UVM’s Joshua Faulkner, Director of UVM Extension’s Center for Sustainable Agriculture, for an afternoon at Firefly Farm at Burke Hollow to understand how soils and landscape influence drainage issues and water supply constraints. Together, we’ll discuss how hydrology informs strategies and solutions to increase water quality and resilience. We’ll explore best practices for livestock and vegetable production, approaches to building soil health for years of excess precipitation, irrigation efficiencies, and key considerations when developing water sources. This workshop earns one RAP Agricultural Water Quality education credit and is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

A red Farmall tractor in front of a barn at Old Road Farm

Fri., 8/14 | Tractor Parts, Mechanics, and Maintenance (Brattleboro)

In this day-long workshop, participants will learn all the basics of tractor maintenance. In the morning, we’ll learn how to conduct daily fluid checks, explore the components and systems in the engine, and cover how the entire tractor functions, including the hydraulic system, transmission, clutch, and power take-off (PTO). In the afternoon, we will focus on tractor maintenance and troubleshooting; this includes a demonstration on how to do an engine oil change on the tractor. We will also look at different types of implements and cover their function and maintenance. Tractor safety will be discussed throughout the day. Farmer and tractor maintenance expert SG Groat will facilitate.

A stunning vista at Breadtree Farms, featuring meadows planted with a diverse polyculture of forage and tree crops against a backdrop of lush, green mountains

Mon., 8/24 | Opportunities for Integrating Tree Crops with Grazing Systems (Salem, NY)

Diversity can be a powerful approach to increasing farm resilience. Adding agroforestry systems to your farm can diversify enterprises, provide alternative fodder, improve soil health, and increase water quality and resilience. Join some of the farmers from Breadtree Farms, who manage 800 acres in the Upper Hudson Valley and Southwest Vermont, to learn how they are stewarding 20,000+ food-producing trees and shrubs—including chestnut, hickory, oak, seaberry, apple, pear, mulberry, and persimmon—in orchards grazed by sheep and cattle. Together, we’ll tour their multi-function landscapes, hear about their ongoing research projects, and learn about their mission to bolster food sovereignty and security, while fostering healthy ecosystems, biodiversity, and sequestering carbon. This workshop is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

A smiling cashier is seen standing at the farm stand at Full Belly Farm, with an array of signs behind her welcoming visitors to their farm and thanking them for shopping local, a few plants on the counter, a POS system, and a few t-shirts hanging off to the right side.

Tues., 9/1 | Farm Stand Sales Strategies: Merchandising, Collaboration, and Customer Experience (Hinesburg & Bristol)

Learn how thoughtful design and smart planning can make a farm stand more inviting and profitable. This on-farm workshop covers effective merchandising, product mix, and ways to create a smooth, customer-friendly experience. We’ll explore partnering with other farms to broaden your offerings, as well as options for payment systems like SNAP and Farm Stand Match. Attendees will visit two nearby farm stands to compare different setups, including staffed and self-serve models. Walk away with practical ideas to strengthen your stand and better connect with customers.

Four seed screens filled with four different types of seeds

Tues., 9/8 | Seed Keeping Basics: Introduction to Seed Growing and Seed Saving (Northfield)

Join us for an on-farm workshop at Homecoming Seeds! This immersive workshop will cover the skills needed to start or expand your seed-growing and seed-saving practices. Farmers and growers (including home gardeners) are welcome, and we will be covering concepts that cover introductory to advanced seed growing and seed saving skills.

Matt and Guy Choiniere stand smiling in front of one of their cow pastures with cows grazing in the background

Thurs., 9/10 | Building Biodiversity: Habitat, Soil, and Pasture Regeneration (Highgate Center)

This interactive workshop will introduce practical strategies for improving biodiversity on working farms using a newly developed field guide for organic producers. With expertise from farmers and in partnership with Audubon VT, participants will be introduced to a best practices tool and accompanying field guide to assess and enhance habitat on their farms for birds and other wildlife. Presenters will share real-world experience, including approaches to supporting wildlife habitat and managing invasive non-native plants. The farm tour will focus on soil health and pasture regeneration, highlighting regenerative grazing and soil-building practices that support productivity, water quality, and biodiversity outcomes. This workshop earns two RAP Agricultural Water Quality education credits and is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

A grass-free lawn, planted with a diverse range of green and flowering perennial plants

Wed., 9/16 | Breaking the Lawn: Sowing Resilience in the Subdivision (Vergennes)

Conventional subdivisions present a unique set of challenges for ecological landscaping - compacted (often clay) soils, neighborly optics, and monocultures of lawn and Home Depot shrubbery. Join Brett Towle, ecological designer and owner of Dicot Landscape Studio, for a field-based exploration of how to assess and implement ecology-forward plantings in everyday neighborhoods, with real budgets and real constraints. It's not about eliminating your lawn, but finding the right amount of it. Together, you'll walk through a recent project in a suburban yard and examine how site conditions, project goals, and landowner capacity collide to shape strategies for lawn alternatives that jive with the neighbors. Learn how a practical, place-based approach to lawn conversion can produce vibrant, ecologically rich landscapes that work for people and the planet, without waiting for the perfect conditions to get started.

Apples on a tree in a Vermont apple orchard

Tues., 9/29 | Managing Biodiversity on the Farm: Soil, Habitat, and Agroforestry in Practice (Vershire)

This interactive workshop, held on an active organic apple orchard, will introduce producers to practical strategies for improving biodiversity within working farm systems, with a focus on integrating conservation and production goals. Participants will engage with a newly developed best practices tool and field guide to assess and enhance habitat and protect natural resources. Presenters will share applied experience from organic farming and bird-focused conservation perspectives, highlighting approaches to supporting wildlife habitat, building soil health, and protecting natural resources. A key topic will focus on agroforestry, examining how tree and perennial systems can support biodiversity and farm viability, while also considering potential tradeoffs and unintended biodiversity impacts depending on design and management. This workshop is offered in partnership with Audubon VT and is supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program.

Join us for a wood-fired pizza dinner at an incredible local farm. Everyone is welcome for an evening of delicious food and joyful connection!

Gluten-free and dairy-free pizza available onsite upon request.

Please get your tickets in advance! Pizza socials are sliding scale, $0-$30

We aim to keep our event prices low, but if registration is a barrier, please reach out about scholarships.

Gus and Mollie of Glinnis Hill Farm stand smiling in their high tunnel surrounded by trays of seedlings

Wed., 7/8 | Glinnis Hill Farm (Northfield)

Come meet Gus Griffin and Mollie Podmore, the farmers behind Glinnis Hill Farm, a certified organic vegetable farm in Northfield, VT! Committed to thoughtful land stewardship, Gus and Mollie focus on overall soil health through compost, cover crops, and plastic-free soil. At Glinnis Hill Farm, they want their local vegetables to be available to everyone, demonstrated through their sliding scale CSA model that they offer to their community! RSVP and enjoy dinner baked in NOFA-VT’s wood-fired pizza oven, followed by a farm tour.

Farmers Kara and Ryan Fitzbeauchamp pose while smiling arm in arm under a wooden arbor covered in nasturtium vines at their farm

Tues., 7/28 | Evening Song Farm (Cuttingsville)

Get to know Evening Song Farm, a certified organic vegetable farm located in Cuttingsville, Vermont! Since 2010, farmers Ryan and Kara Fitzbeauchamp—along with their incredible team—have been feeding their community through their free-choice three-season CSA that allows their neighbors to access delicious local produce. Committed to helping mitigate the changes in the climate we are facing, the team uses production methods that prioritize the long-term health of the soil and are working to reduce the farm’s carbon emissions. RSVP and enjoy dinner baked in NOFA-VT’s wood-fired pizza oven, followed by a farm tour.

The roadside sign for Cedar Circle Farm in the foreground with the farm stand and several other outbuildings in the background

Tues., 8/4 | Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center (East Thetford)

Join us at Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center, a non-profit educational organic farm situated along the Connecticut River in East Thetford! The team at Cedar Circle is deeply committed to regenerative organic agriculture and providing opportunities for the community to engage with a resilient local food system. The farm grows certified organic vegetables, berries, greens, herbs, and cut flowers on their 25 acres, and they also offer a variety of agricultural education programming and training to their community with the hope of building connections between food, ecosystems, and community. RSVP and enjoy dinner baked in NOFA-VT’s wood-fired pizza oven, followed by a farm tour.

The farmers from the Farm Upstream are pictured in their high tunnel surrounded by lush veggie and herb seedlings

Thurs., 8/27 | The Farm Upstream (Jericho)

Come visit the team of farmers that make up The Farm Upstream, an organic vegetable farm and native plant nursery! Since 2021, Jake Kornfeld, Cory Froning, Jacqueline Huettenmoser, and Spencer Hardy have been building a community-centered farm focused on sustainability and collaboration. The farm hosts both a veggie and native plant CSA for their neighbors in Jericho. With support from a 2024 NOFA-VT Resilience Grant and a 2024 Vermont Family Farmer of the Month award, they continue to deepen their commitment to their community through continuous improvements to their farmstand. RSVP and enjoy dinner baked in NOFA-VT’s wood-fired pizza oven, followed by a farm tour.

cows grazing on lush green pasture at Sweet Rowen Farmstead with mountains in the background and a low, bright yellow sun.

Thurs., 9/3 | Sweet Rowen Farmstead (East Albany)

Come meet the cows of Sweet Rowen Farmstead, a grass-based farm in East Albany operated by Paul Lisai! The herd of Vermont Heritage Linebacks, a heritage landrace breed, produces the milk that the team at Sweet Rowen Farmstead crafts into amazing cheeses, yogurts, dips, and spreads. Sweet Rowen Farmstead has always been committed to farming with sustainable and regenerative practices and is now in the process of transitioning the farm to certified organic! RSVP and enjoy dinner baked in NOFA-VT’s wood-fired pizza oven, followed by a farm tour.

Jay Malouf of Chantry Farm is seen smiling while processing medicinal herbs and laying them on a screen to dry

Thurs., 9/10 | Chantry Farm (Brattleboro)

Come get to know farmers Margrit Mikulis and Jay Malouf, who run Chantry Farm, an organic herb farm that was newly certified in the fall of 2025! The pair has been working on their land since 2017 and completed NOFA-VT’s Transition to Organic Partnership Mentorship Program in 2025. Margrit and Jay are committed to sustainable cultivation as they grow a range of medicinal herbs, including ashwagandha, schisandra, saffron, mint, among others. Come learn more about how these farmers connect to their land and community through their work! RSVP and enjoy dinner baked in NOFA-VT’s wood-fired pizza oven, followed by a farm tour.

2026 Farmer Olympics

Farmers participate in a water pouring relay as part of the 2025 Farmer Olympics at High Meadows Farm

Wed., 8/19 | Farmer Olympics (Fairlee)

Farmer Olympics has become an annual tradition for NOFA-VT, and we’re excited to host our 11th year of the games at Root 5 Farm in Fairlee. Farmers, start putting together a team today! This fun-filled event brings together farm crews from around the state for a silly mid-summer break from work. Join us for friendly competition, delicious pizza, and camaraderie. Farm teams come up with names and costumes or team t-shirts, and compete in both physical and brainy activities. Dinner from the NOFA-VT pizza oven closes out the night!

Have a question? Please reach out to NOFA-VT Events Coordinator Medina Korajkić at [email protected] or our office at 802-434-4122.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Funding for this summer's on-farm event series was made possible by Mascoma Bank; One Hive Foundation; Stonyfield Farm, Inc; The Alchemist Brewery, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Farmers Market Promotion Program; USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Organic Market Development Grant; USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Transition to Organic Partnership Program; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Clean Water Initiative Program; USDA/NIFA Northeast Extension Risk Management Education; and the WaterWheel Foundation.

If you'd like to become a sponsor of NOFA-VT's On-Farm Summer Event Series, please contact Erin Buckwalter, Deputy Director of Engagement and Development, at 802-419-0043 or email [email protected].

Check out the full calendar of events from NOFA-VT and our partners

All Events