Keep Farming in the Hilltowns

Hilltown CDC has received a Local Food Promotion grant from the U. S. Department of Agriculture to support local agriculture with “Keep Farming in the Hilltowns.” Farmers, residents, and business of Ashfield, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington are invited to participate in the initiative.

“Keep Farming in the Hilltowns” will engage the community to develop a plan of action with strategies to strengthen the regional food system. Volunteers will develop an inventory of farms in the region and survey residents, stores and institutions to determine the level of demand for local food and the kind of infrastructure that is needed to support local farms.
Hilltown CDC’s partners in this project will be the Old Creamery Cooperative, and town Agricultural Commissions.

“Keep Farming in the Hilltowns” is based on a community-led planning process developed by Glynwood, in Cold Spring, NY, that has been successful in empowering over a dozen communities in the Hudson Valley to save farming. The program was recently implemented in Berkshire County, with guidance from Melissa Adams. For more information about Glynwood’s Keep Farming Program, see www.glynwood.org/programs/keep-farming.