​Elizabeth Denny, a local artist and former marketing research partner, found her true calling at Bardwell Farm. After moving to Hatfield in 2020, she quickly became a regular at the farmstand, picking up her CSA share and forming lasting friendships with the farm team.

Retirement, being a little too quiet, transformed into a vibrant adventure. When Bardwell Farm invited her to join the farmstand team, Elizabeth eagerly accepted. With her pup, she spent her mornings arranging fresh produce and engaging with customers, finding joy in every interaction.

Beyond her farmstand duties, Elizabeth has been collaborating with the farm on various community projects, including initiatives to address hunger and support small farms.

This year, Elizabeth has taken her love for the farmstand to a new level: she's created a stunning calendar featuring her artwork inspired by her days at the farm. Each month showcases a unique and colorful drawing, accompanied by a personal diary entry from her shifts. The calendar offers a behind-the-scenes look at farm life, capturing the essence of the farmstand experience.

Your purchase of this calendar will directly support the Northampton Survival Center during the holiday season. A $25 donation will cover the calendar and shipping, with a $20 donation made in your name to help those less fortunate.

Let's come together to make a difference in our community this holiday season. Purchase your calendar today and support a great cause!

A letter from Director of Operations Sam Guerin, Amherst Survival Center.

Hey Rick, Harrison, and the rest of the Bardwell Farm family and crew,

The Amherst Survival Center is round about halfway through our Farm to Pantry project funded by MDAR’s Local Food Purchasing Agreement—a great moment to share the enormous impact that you’re making in our community by partnering with us.

In the first 9 months of this project , the Amherst Survival Center’s Food Pantry has distributed over 1 million pounds of food directly to 7,000 plus unique individuals in Hampshire and Franklin counties. In fiscal year 2024 we distributed more than 1.7 million pounds in the pantry: that’s 30% more food than in our previous fiscal year, and 175% more food than we distributed in 2020.  We couldn’t do it without the local food that we receive via donations or purchase from farms like yours.

"Thanks to MDAR’s grant program, we’ve been able to invest in our local farm communities and purchase more than 100,000 pounds of fresh, local produce, meat, and dairy from 30+ Massachusetts farmers and producers and distribute it directly to your communities."

This local food has been instrumental in helping us bridge the gap to meet the record need that we’re seeing, as well as just being, well, incredible product. From your lettuces, to your broccoli, to your hearty greens, your produce has allowed us to offer consistency, stability, and choice, in an emergency food system where those qualities are often treated as luxuries. Our participants have been ecstatic to have the opportunity to choose local when they shop, and our produce displays have never looked more abundant. Your fresh onions in particular have been a real hit, enabling folks to choose culturally relevant foods: for some, the difference between a fresh onion and a storage onion helps to create a real sense of belonging. It's also just great to watch a family head out the door with a produce bag brimming with fresh green stalks. 

This project has really been an incredible boon for us, and we hope that it has benefited you as well! If there is anything that we could do to be a better purchasing partner, we’re all ears. Additionally, any input that you can give from the farmer side of things would go a long way to helping us contextualize the impact of this project on the larger valley food system (and to advocate with MDAR to try and keep a good thing going!) And, as always, our doors are always open if you want to swing across the river and see your stuff in action. 

Looking ahead to the dog days of summer, the fall, and onward, we’re excited to keep pushing towards making a stronger food system for all: farmers and the folks they feed.

Cheers,

Sam Guerin (he/him)
Director of Operations
Amherst Survival Center
www.amherstsurvival.org
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Credit Rachel's Table | Volunteers harvesting cucumbers

In the picturesque landscape of Western Massachusetts, three organizations have joined forces to combat hunger and food insecurity. Rachel’s Table, Carrots 2 Carrots, and Bardwell Farm are working to ensure that no one goes hungry. Let’s delve into this inspiring collaboration.

Rachel’s Table: Gleaning Cucumbers
For the past couple of weeks, Rachel’s Table volunteers have been visiting Bardwell Farm, to glean larger pickling cucumbers. These cucumbers, which might otherwise go to waste, are carefully harvested and collected. Rachel’s Table’s mission is clear: to rescue surplus produce and redistribute it to those in need.

Carrots 2 Carrots: A Voice for Food Security
Carrots 2 Carrots, a passionate organization co-founded by Liz Denny, has been at the forefront of the battle against food insecurity. Liz, also an employee of Bardwell Farm, understands the importance of community collaboration. Her advocacy and dedication have amplified the impact of this joint effort.

Bardwell Farm: Cultivating Change
Bardwell Farm, nestled in the heart of Western Massachusetts, has opened its doors to Rachel’s Table and Carrots 2 Carrots. By providing access to their fields and resources, Bardwell Farm plays a crucial role in ensuring that fresh, nutritious food reach those who need them most.

Serving the Food-Insecure Community
Together, these organizations serve a diverse range of community members. From women and children to elders, veterans, people with disabilities, unhoused individuals, immigrants, and refugees, their commitment knows no bounds. The impact extends beyond county lines, occasionally reaching into Berkshire County and even Hartford County in Connecticut.

As we celebrate this collaboration, let us remember that every cucumber harvested, every meal shared, contributes to a more compassionate world. Rachel’s Table, Carrots 2 Carrots, and Bardwell Farm remind us that together, we can sow seeds of hope and nourish our communities.

To learn more about each organization and how you can get involved, visit their websites below! 

Rachel’s Table
Carrots 2 Carrots 
Bardwell Farm

Photo Harrison Bardwell | 2023 Thanksgiving Vegetable Boxes

The seeds of Carrots 2 Carrots were planted in the aftermath of the devastating 2023 floods that ravaged our region. Local farmers, including ourselves, faced unprecedented crop losses.

Inspired by a desire to help, Liz Denny, an advocate for food security, envisioned a solution. Inspired by our annual Holiday Vegetable Boxes, a program offering local, affordable produce during the festive season, Liz saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between struggling farmers and families in need. Her idea was simple yet profound: create a donation-based program to purchase surplus produce from local farms, then distribute it to local survival centers.

Liz's passion and determination grew and soon she see set her sights on other opportunities to give back. Her vision resonated deeply with us, and we were thrilled to be the first farm to partner with Carrots 2 Carrots. Her love of Hatfield and local farms led her to join the Bardwell Farm team as a valued member of our farmstand crew.

Together, we've been able to make a difference in the lives of many people. Carrots 2 Carrots is more than just a program; it's a testament to the power of one persons idea, community, and the importance of supporting local farmers and those less fortunate.

We're incredibly proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to expanding its reach in the very near future.

If you would like to contribute Carrots 2 Carrots please visit the home page or message us!

Gleaning /ɡlēn/
verb
1. : to gather grain or other produce left by reapers. 2. : to gather information or material bit by bit.

In the context of food security, gleaning is the practice of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after the main harvest. Traditionally, this was done by hand, with people gathering the remaining produce that wasn't profitable for farmers to harvest.

Gleaning helps to:

• Reduce food waste: By recovering crops that would otherwise be discarded.
• Increase food access: Providing fresh produce to those in need, particularly in communities with limited access to grocery stores.
• Support local communities: Gleaning often involves volunteers from the community, creating opportunities for people to give back and strengthen their connection to the food system.
• Complement existing food assistance programs: Gleaning can supplement food banks, soup kitchens, and other organizations working to address hunger.

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By rescuing surplus crops, gleaning helps to ensure that everyone has access to the fresh, healthy food they deserve.
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