Nominate an Outstanding Organic Achiever for the 2027 ‘Organic Living on the Earth’ Award

Bill Duesing founded CT NOFA, The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, in 1982, and when he announced that he was facing the final chapter of his life, he said, “I trust my colleagues in this mission will continue their efforts to realize a sustainable and joyful future for all.” Bill passed on July 12, 2018.

In his honor, Bill’s many friends have joined with CT NOFA to carry on his legacy through the creation of The Bill Duesing Organic Living on the Earth award.

Bill’s passion for conservation, organic farming and land care, activism and advocacy, and education can be seen throughout Connecticut in his life’s work. From the expansion of organic farming and landscaping, to the founding of CT NOFA and Common Ground High School, to the legislative efforts that led to tangible impacts on the environment (such as the statewide ban of synthetic pesticides on school grounds), we honor Bill by continuing his unfinished work through education and advocacy. Read about previous award winners, here, and more about Bill Duesing, here.

This award is for a recipient who has demonstrated the advancement of organic living on our earth with a project, innovation, action, or lifestyle that supports the continuation of the life work of CT NOFA’s founder, Bill Duesing – for all to live on this earth in a society in harmony with nature. The accomplishment must contribute to the advancement of organic living in Connecticut in a demonstrable way and be a current or recent accomplishment that reflects Bill’s devotion to organic living and his wish that this critically important work be continued by his friends and colleagues.

Nominees for this award are suggested by our community – that’s you! We’re currently looking for nominees for the 2027 award that fall into any of the following categories:

• Organic farmer/farm (examples: new, young, and/or seasoned farmers added new revenue sources to secure the farm’s future; expanded availability of organic food in the community; added carbon sequestration measures on the farm, e.g. cover-crops, no-till)
• Organic land care professional / business (examples: new, young, and/or seasoned land care professionals transitioned from conventional to organic land care; added carbon sequestration measures, e.g. replacing lawn with meadow, etc.)
• Organic advocate (example: spearheaded a change in their local school system, worked to promote organic legislation, or supported healthy soil legislation)
• Organization (example: farmers market became 100% organic; the advancement of farmworkers’ rights; created organic-based social media group)
• Researcher (examples: developed innovative techniques for organic farming and/or land care; demonstrated the value of organic practices for human health, environmental health, biodiversity, and/or carbon sequestration)
• Educator (example: developed new ways to add organic food and agriculture to school curriculum)
• Mentor (example: developed process for passing along organic knowledge and skills to new farmers or land care professionals)
• Media specialist (examples: used digital media including blogs or social media, or traditional media such as radio or print, to spread the word about organic living in Connecticut; the life work of Bill Duesing and his enduring influence; current organic initiatives, etc.)

Nominate an outstanding individual who or group that has made achievements in any of these categories! You may make a nomination in your name or anonymously. Nominations must be submitted by February 1, 2027. Winner to be announced and celebrated at our winter conference on March 13 at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.

Click here to make a nomination