NOFA’s 50th Anniversary Documentary
April 11, 2022
NOFA’s First 50 Years and a Vision for the Future
In 1971, as Vietnam, Racial Discrimination and Nuclear protests raged, a group of Back to the Land counter-culturists gathered with a few ecological growers to form what is now called the Northeast Organic Farming Association – NOFA. Farmers, gardeners and conscious eaters from northeast states, discovered this growing movement. The founding NH and VT chapters were soon joined by chapters from five other northeast states, creating a community based on good clean food, good work and care for the earth. As you might expect, there were and still are trials, tribulations, varying motivations and memorable experiences.
NOFA’s growth from a small gathering on a Vermont hillside to an organization with over 5,000 members in seven state chapters, and two certification agencies, is now documented in the film “Organic Roots – 50 Years of the Northeast Organic Farming Association” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrqiRKdEpYA . In addition you can hear more ”Thrilling Tales of Yesteryear” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQGrEGP2lGY&t=246s in a lively panel discussion of dynamic early members who laid the groundwork for NOFA. Finally, in “The Next 50 Years of NOFA” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYYl-DoJ7k&t=23s, three founding farmers and four younger organic activists turn their gaze to the future of our movement to create a way of life centered in just, equitable and diverse communities.
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Advocacy News: May 2026
The Good News: CT Senator Chris Murphy has introduced a bill (bipartisan and bicameral) to increase funding for Agricultural Management Assistance to $30 million and to expand the eligible uses for these funds to include “soil health improvements, composting, implementing organic farming, and food safety certification in addition to existing authorized uses such as water management structure and soil erosion control.” Let’s thank Senator Murphy for introducing this bill!
The Bad News: The Farm Bill passed the House of Representatives on April 30, despite 320 food, farm, and conservation organizations, including CT NOFA, voicing our opposition to a bill that does not fix SNAP, does not support new and beginning farmers, and does not adequately support conservation programs or organic agriculture. Now it goes to the Senate and we need to urge both of Connecticut’s Senators to reject this Farm Bill.
Our Vision for a Future of Resilient, Plentiful, Healthy and Locally-Grounded Farming and Food
In concluding its annual retreat, the Northeast Organic Farming Association Interstate Council (NOFA IC) reaffirms the values that have grounded our work for 55 years.
Our vision is that every person is able to live their life with healthy food, clean water and air, community, livelihood, dignity, and purpose within the means of our life-giving planet. We seek that vision on every level, from our households and farms to our communities, states, bioregions, nation, and world. For that vision to be fulfilled, every person, no matter their origin or circumstances, must have all their basic human needs met without degrading the air, water, soil, ecosystems, and climate which we have been given and on which we depend for our lives.