Support CT NOFA
Each autumn, we reach out to you, our community, to ask for your help and support in our effort to create a more organic Connecticut. Through our programs and initiatives, we pursue our goal of making this state a more sustainable, equitable, and environmentally sound landscape, both for food producers and those who buy from them.
WHAT WE DO
TOPP
CT NOFA is a core partner in TOPP (Transition to Organic Partnership Program), an ongoing mentorship program that aids farmers with knowledge and technical expertise to help transition their operations to Certified Organic status. By connecting experienced organic farmers with mentee farmers who are looking to transition to organic practices, TOPP helps mitigate challenges that might otherwise slow down the certification process. The result is more Connecticut landscape and acreage cared for with organic principles, and more nutritious and environmentally-sustainable organic food available to us all.
Your donation will help us expand this program in 2024, offering even more pathways to organic certification for our state’s farmers.
Farm Share Program
The Farm Share Program reduces the cost of a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share for individuals in need of financial assistance by providing participating farms with funding that offsets the purchase price of the share, allowing them to offer half-cost shares to those in need, while still being paid in full. The result is a win-win: healthy, sustainably grown and raised food becomes an option for a family that might otherwise have been unable to afford it, and farms are able to expand the size of their CSA programs, ensuring their financial viability for years to come. This year, CT NOFA was able to provide $10,000 in direct funding to the program’s 14 participating farms. With an additional $9,000 that participating farms raised through their own communities to support the program, Farm Share was able to fund $19,000 worth of locally produced food for those in need of financial assistance.
Learn more about the Farm Share Program →
Your donation will help us expand the number of enrolled farms in this program in 2024, keeping nutritious food on the plates of those most in need.
Advocacy Work
Under the direction of Dr. Kimberly Stoner, Director of Advocacy, CT NOFA tirelessly champions organic and sustainability principles, both in Hartford and elsewhere. This year we advocated for putting the Connecticut Environmental Rights Amendment into our state constitution, which would secure the right to clean and healthy air, water, and soil for everyone in our state. We also lobbied in support of small farms and organic principles for the 2023 Farm Bill, a critical piece of national legislation that plots the agricultural course for our country for the next 5 years. Our presence at events and rallies throughout Connecticut (and beyond) keeps CT NOFA’s mission and directives top-of-mind, both for our elected leaders and those who elect them.
Learn more about our Advocacy & Policy initiatives →
Your donations ensure that our position is heard by legislators in the capitol, and that state policies reflect our interest and mission.
Winter Conference
Each winter, we host our winter conference ⏤ part celebration, part convention, it is our largest gathering of the year. We provide 40+ workshops across a variety of organic interests, including professional farming, homesteading, home gardening, urban farming/gardening, and organic land care, as well as policy and equity discussions related to LBGTQ+ resources, Black and Indigenous farming practices and resources, and more. The conference also serves as a social forum for our broad organic community to connect, converse, and rekindle camaraderie over discussions of shared beliefs and interests, in pursuit of stronger local food systems. Once a weekend event, conferencing technology now allows us to extend workshops across an entire week, enabling us to increase the breadth of topics we offer and connect with members of our community that might not be able to join us in-person.
Learn more about the Winter Conference →
Your donations allow us to provide a sliding-scale registration for the conference, so that no one, regardless of their financial means, is left out of our community.
Organic Land Care
Founded in 1999, our Organic Land Care program was the first of its kind in the United States, creating a professional education program and credential for landscapers who wish to provide organic land care services. Its mission has been – and continues to be – to extend the vision and principles of organic agriculture to the landscapes where people spend their daily lives, a mission that has resulted in over 2,000 accredited land care professionals here in Connecticut and across the country. In 2024, we intend to renew this program for a contemporary audience. In addition to updated branding and website presentation, we will be updating our Standards for Organic Land Care, developing new training resources and opportunities for land care professionals, and building training partnerships with organizations which share our mission and values, with the ultimate goal of extending accredited organic land care services ever further across both the U.S. and the world.
Learn more about the Organic Land Care Program →
Your donation helps us continue to expand the reach of our Organic Land Care program and increase the amount of environmentally-friendly landscape here in Connecticut and across the U.S.
Beginning Farmer Programs
In partnership with the New Connecticut Farmers Alliance (NCTFA) and UCONN Extension, CT NOFA is proud to offer educational and social resources to aid new farmers in our state. Farmer Circles form the heart of this program, acting as peer-to-peer learning communities for farmers interested in sharing obstacles and strategies in a small, semi-structured, supportive environment. Each project year, participating farmers join a circle focused on a topic or issue that interests them, then explore this topic together. In addition to digging into a particular topic together, these circles provide Connecticut farmers with a social network that they can rely on to counter the stresses and risks of farming. Covering topics such as financial planning, crew management, crop planning, mental health and well-being, and more, these groups provide a vital social and educational structure for our state’s new farmers.
Learn more about our Beginning Farmer Programs →
Your donations allow us to provide stipends to the facilitators of each Farmer Circle, helping us continue this support program that welcomes new farmers into its ranks, each year.
HOW TO SUPPORT CT NOFA
DONATE
Your tax-deductible donations support everything we do, from farmer education, to lobbying and advocacy, to food system equity programs, and more. Your generous gifts provide us with the means to continue supporting a more organic future for Connecticut.
BECOME A MEMBER / RENEW MEMBERSHIP
Membership fees support all aspects of our organization, and members enjoy membership benefits, including a complimentary subscription to The Natural Farmer, discounts on our annual bulk order program, and more.
Membership Levels
Student
or Senior
$30
Individual
$50
Family
$60
Farm, Organization, or Business
$125
Supporting
$200
Lifetime
$2000
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
- The satisfaction of belonging to a growing movement supporting healthy and sustainable living
- The opportunity to learn from and contribute to a network of people active and knowledgeable about organic food, farming, gardening, land care, and food system and environmental policy
- A one-year subscription to The Natural Farmer, a quarterly publication on organic agriculture in the northeast
- Monthly CT NOFA Gleanings eNewsletter
- Discounts on the annual NOFA Bulk Order, featuring discounted farming, gardening, and landscaping supplies! (orders open each January)
- Discounts to educational events like the
- On-Farm Workshops & Foodie Events
- CT NOFA Winter Conference
- NOFA Interstate Summer Conference
- Organic Land Care Annual Gathering
- Business profile on our members map (for farm and business members only)
- Free organic certification consulting (for farm members only)
FARM MEMBERSHIP (for all CT farms)
CT NOFA membership is perfect for all USDA Certified Organic or other farms who share our organic values and are striving for sustainability on their farms.
CT NOFA Farm Members enjoy all the benefits of Business Membership including the opportunity to be listed on the CT NOFA Farm & Food Guide website, guide.ctnofa.org. Benefits for farms include:
- Free listings on CT NOFA’s Classified and Community Board webpage
- Consulting for those who need help with their planning and application for organic certification for crops, livestock, poultry, eggs, wild crops, mushrooms, sprouts, processed products, and cranberries. The first 4 hours of help are free and are paid for by the generosity of CT NOFA Donors.
*FARMERS: Business membership ($125) brings many proportional benefits and the dues are essential for our operations and our ability to maintain the most complete list of organic and sustainable farm in Connecticut. That said, if memberships dues are a challenge, we still want you listed on the Farm & Food Guide website. Simply go ahead and renew your farm at our lower levels ($50/$60). Thank you for farming in Connecticut!
BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP
For restaurants, processors, and other businesses who share our sustainable principles.
All the benefits of membership plus
- A Business Member Profile in our Gleanings eNewsletter
- Free listings on CT NOFA’s Classified and Community Board webpage
WANT TO AUTO-RENEW?
Contact us at the office or by email and we will set that up!
Support Us
You can support CT NOFA by making a tax-deductible donation, fulfilling one of our important volunteer roles, or making a purchase in our online store. We are grateful for your support.