BCFA brings farmers together for our annual Farmers’ Forum, a lively gathering that celebrates the people who grow our food. The forum features guest speakers, collaborative brainstorming around shared challenges, and ample time to network, reflect on the past growing season, and plan for the next.
This year’s event was held on March 4 at Heritage Conservancy’s Aldie Mansion in Doylestown. More than 30 farmers representing 20 local farms came together to learn and connect before the busy growing season gets underway.
The theme of this year’s Forum was Local & State Grant Opportunities. Presentations on these topics were given by:
- Bucks County Conservation District
- The Office of State Representative Tim Brennan
- BCFA’s board, which spoke about our Small Farm Grant
The farmers learned about state programs such as the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) and Federal programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Both the Bucks County Conservation District and Representative Brennan’s office offered to assist the farmers with their grant applications.
Following the presentations, farmers gathered into small groups to discuss topics important to their work, including:
- Extreme Weather — Managing Shifts in Weather Cycles
- Maximizing Non-Traditional Crop Land — Agroforestry & Silvopasture
- Navigating Farm Labor — Recruitment, Training & Housing
- Marketing Best Practices — Engaging the Local Community
- Pest Management
The event was a wonderful success, and we look forward to gathering again next year. Since the event, BCFA has received six requests for small farm grants and the BCCD has received three requests for assistance with grant applications. A special thanks to the Heritage Conservancy for providing such a beautiful venue for this event! Thank you to all of our farmers for everything you do!
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