CT NOFA Kicks Off Fall Fundraising Campaign

Thirty years ago, in 1991, our founder Bill Duesing already identified the need for adaptation and local self-reliance in his book, Living on the Earth., With the lack of urgency in national policy regarding climate change, Bill understood the need for local, diverse, and more stable systems of food and energy, well before this was a national debate.

The inertia of human behavior and of our economic system, with its reliance on massive fossil-fuel and nuclear-energy flows, tends to keep us going in the same direction – towards less self-reliance anywhere, and greater dependence on large entities and distant sources everywhere…what we do know is that local, diverse, small-scale systems are likely to be more stable and less prone to catastrophic failure than large, centralized ones.

I am amazed that this book, written over 30 years ago, so clearly identifies problems that the national consciousness is only now beginning to take stock of. At CT NOFA, we see the importance of adaptation and understand that our farmers, gardeners, and landscapers are on the front lines of this adaptation. 

Consider the type of world, the type of New England, and the type of Connecticut you want to live in. What actions can you take, and can we take together as an organic community, to build the diversity and stability we need? Perhaps it’s building life in your soil or changing your landscape to be more organic and resilient. Perhaps it is fortifying our food system through the protection of pollinators, or ensuring healthy food access to all while supporting the needs of our farmers.

CT NOFA is singular in our advocacy for an enduring, organic future. There is no other group that shares our resolve for truly restorative and regenerative land management and organic solutions to climate change. 

Here is what we do:

• Ecotype Project: Fortifying our food system by restoring native habitat across Connecticut.
• Soil Health: Free and discounted soil health and microscopy education and consulting, empowering farmers and gardeners to take the life of the soil into their own hands.
• Organic Certification Assistance: A free consulting service for farmers who are transitioning to or applying for organic certification.
• Organic Land Care Program: Training the next generation of landscapers in organic methods and changing the landscapes of public and private land.
• Beginning Farmer Education: Peer-to-peer learning and resources for new farmers.
• Education: Free or sliding scale registration for all our workshops and conferences throughout the year. We intend to continue this in 2023 – turning no one away for lack of resources.
• Farm Share Program: This year, we will set aside a portion of each gift to directly support our organic farmers and their communities by subsidizing the cost of a CSA share by 50% for an individual or family in need.

While I have been with CT NOFA for 8 years, this is my first as Executive Director. I’ve been lucky to serve under excellent leadership with a strong mission, dedicated to legislative and community-based advocacy for broad organic principles. I firmly believe, now more than ever, that CT NOFA’s presence in Connecticut is crucial to the sustainability and longevity of our food system.

And we cannot continue our critical work without your support.

Today, we embark on our Year-End Campaign. There is an urgent need for funding across all our programs. Our goal is to raise $50,000 by December 31, but we can’t do it without help.

CT NOFA Executive Director, Jeremy Pelletier

Would you be willing to make a special year-end contribution to help fund our programs in 2023 and beyond? You may make a general donation that will be used to fund various programs, or, if you have a particular interest you would like to champion, you can indicate which program or area (from the above list) you would like to see your donation invested toward.

Please join us by making your gift through our online donation form. (Find additional ways that you can support CT NOFA on our website.)

Your donation will help us continue the mission that Bill Duesing started CT NOFA on, so many years ago. Thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Jeremy Pelletier
Executive Director

P.S. On our website, you’ll find information about our many programs, including the 2023 Winter Conference (registration now open), where our theme is “Building Resiliency in a Changing World.” You can learn more about the critical work your donations make possible by checking out our website, or visiting us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also keep up with CT NOFA news by joining our email newsletter list.