Virtual River Talk: Sustaining Agriculture in Northwest New Jersey

March 5th, 2024(rescheduled from Feb 6th)

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (EST)

Format: Virtual Event via Zoom

Join the MWA for its first River Talk of 2024, which will take place virtually on Tuesday, March 5th, 7:00 - 8:30p.m.

How can we work toward sustaining agriculture in northwest New Jersey?  Learn about how preserving farmland benefits more than just farmers, and how some organizations are working not only to provide land and opportunities for people to get into farming, but also market access so they can make a living doing it.  Catherine Suttle of the Hunterdon Land Trust will highlight its producer’s-only farmers’ market and explore how this tool to support local farmers’ livelihoods has been changing and will continue to do so.  Tess Mullen of the Foodshed Alliance will discuss how its Sustainable Agriculture Enterprise (SagE) program helps farmers get onto lands by partnering with land trusts holding deed-restricted farmland and facilitates farmers’ access to affordable 10-year lease agreements.  Both speakers will also share stories highlighting the growing movement of providing local, responsibly grown produce in our corner of New Jersey.

Speakers: Catherine Suttle and Tess Mullen Catherine Suttle joined the Hunterdon Land Trust (HLT) in 2007. Before becoming Executive Director, she took responsibility for planning, developing and carrying out capital projects at the historic Dvoor Farm. She ran HLT’s Farmers’ Market for many years, and she has also been involved in obtaining government and foundation funding for HLT.

Tess Mullen (she/her) is a passionate advocate for environmental, social, and food justice. Prior to joining Foodshed Alliance, she was an organic farmer for 7 years both leasing land for her own small-scale farm, as well as working on larger scale organic farms. Currently working across all of the Foodshed Alliance's programming, she helps to connect local farmers, consumers, and small businesses to support one another and learn about sustainable and regenerative practices through marketing and educational initiatives.  Register here:https://forms.gle/J1NjbmjS4djWFtNm6 Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link for the event.  If you have any questions, please contact info@musconetcong.org or call our office at (908) 537-7060.