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Claire takes Monte and Kaliis to visit Nordica Street Community Farm in Springfield, where they talk to farmers Anne Richmond and Todd Crosset and some of their volunteers and supporters about: 

Nordica Street Community Farm’s farm stand is open Wednesdays 1 – 6pm beginning June 18 through the end of October. Learn more about what you’ll find here. 

Learn more about their public trails and other projects here.

In Massachusetts, about 10% of locally grown food is sold straight from farmer to eater. How does the other 90% get from farm to plate? Claire brought Cathy Stanton from Quabbin Harvest Food Coop in Orange and Nick Martinelli from Marty’s Local in South Deerfield into the studio to talk about it with Monte and Kaliis. 

Did you know? 

Both of these businesses won Local Hero Awards from CISA for the important work they do so well! Learn more about both of their roles in creating a vibrant local food system here: 

Claire takes Monte and Kaliis out to Natural Roots in Conway, a CSA farm and recipient of a Local Hero Award from CISA in 2025. They talk to farmer David Fisher about:

“Natural Roots is not an example of how if you do everything right you’ll be protected against hardship. It’s not an example of how one person, or business, can solve global problems all on their own. But it stands as a source of inspiration for each of us: what is in my control? What can I make better? What do I have to offer to my patch of earth, and my community? For that, CISA is proud to present David Fisher and Natural Roots with a Local Hero award.” –> Read the full award presentation remarks here.

Who is CISA’s new(ish) executive director, Jennifer Core?

What does CISA’s mission look like at this particularly chaotic moment?*

Why is it healthy for baby lambs to bounce around like they have springs on their feet?

Monte, Kaliis, and Jennifer herself discuss these and more of life’s (or CISA’s) essential questions on this week’s Local Hero Spotlight.

*”CISA makes it a little easier to do a very hard thing, which is to run a farm in this part of the world.” – Jennifer

Jacob takes Monte and Kaliis to visit BABY LAMBS with Barbara Goodchild, one half (with her husband Eric) of Barberic Farm in Shelburne. They talk about:

This summer, look for Barberic Farm at these farmers markets: