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Workshops
Join us for Berkshire Grown farmer workshops, giving farmers opportunities to learn from experts on everything from farm production, business management, marketing, and more.
Read about our past workshops below, and sign up for our farmer newsletter to learn about future events.
Is there a specific topic you would like to see a workshop cover? Please click the button below to submit your ideas and requests.
Presented by
Cynthia Flores
Overview
Improving body movements in everyday farm work for health and longevity.
Labor-Movement believes that when you move well, you work well. Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health + wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career
- August 4th
-
Approximately 5 – 7:30 pm – come when you can!
5 pm – Beginning Farmer Focus Group
6 pm –Dinner Served
- 200 North Plain Road, Great Barrington, MA
Description
Join us for a relaxed evening of good food and great company at our Farmer BBQ! Enjoy a delicious meal featuring pasture-raised meats from Off the Shelf Farm, seasonal vegetables from Indian Line Farm, and other locally sourced dishes that celebrate the best of the season.
Come when you can! Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM, followed by plenty of time to connect and relax. All farmers and food producers are welcome (families and partners included) – we hope you’ll join us around the table!
Are you a beginner (10 years or less operating a farm business)? We invite you to join us for a Beginning Farmer Focus Group at 5:00 PM, facilitated by Laura Fries from Fertile Ground. Your experiences and feedback help inform our work and the impact our programs for grant reporting purposes. We anticipate ~45 for the focus group. To thank you for your time, focus group participants will receive a small locally-sourced gift.
Please email alyssa@berkshiregrown.org by July 28th to RSVP for dinner and/or the Beginning Farmer Focus Group.
Thank you to our event contributors!
SOLD OUT
Food Safety Farm Tour at Red Shirt Farm with Lisa McKeag (UMASS Amherst) and Ben Comeau (MDAR)
Presented by
Cynthia Flores
Overview
Improving body movements in everyday farm work for health and longevity.
Labor-Movement believes that when you move well, you work well. Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health + wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career
- August 31st
- 4 -6 pm (tour) | 6 – 7 pm dinner & networking
- Red Shirt Farm - 60 Williamstown Rd, Lanesborough MA
- $20 Berkshire Grown Members, $30 non-members (sliding scale tickets available)
Description
Following good agricultural practices starts with understanding the potential hazards to
fresh produce and assessing the risks they might pose on your farm. At this meeting Lisa
McKeag, from UMass Extension, will talk about the basics of farm food safety—why we
care about it and what to look for and think about when conducting a risk assessment,
including common risks related to land, water, wildlife, hygiene, equipment, and harvest
practices. Ben Comeau, from the MDAR Produce Safety Program will share insights from
his own experiences as an inspector for the FSMA Produce Safety Rule as well as an
auditor for Massachusetts voluntary certification program, Commonwealth Quality (CQP).
LINK TO PAY (not used register!)
SOLD OUT
Taller Sobre Inocuidad Alimentaria y Visita a la Granja con Lisa McKeag (UMASS Amherst) y Ben Comeau (MDAR)
Presented by
Cynthia Flores
Overview
Improving body movements in everyday farm work for health and longevity.
Labor-Movement believes that when you move well, you work well. Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health + wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career
- Agosto 31st
- 4-6pm
- Granja Red Shirt 60 Williamstown Rd, Lanesborough, MA
- $20 miembros de Berkshire Grown, $30 no miembros (precio según escala móvil disponible)
Description
Seguir buenas prácticas agrícolas comienza con comprender los peligros potenciales para los productos frescos y evaluar los riesgos que podrían representar en su granja. En esta reunión, Lida McKeag, de UMass Extensión, hablará sobre los fundamentos de la inocuidad alimentaria en la granja: por qué es importante y que buscar y considerar al realizar una evaluación de riesgos, incluyendo los riesgos comunes relacionados con la tierra, el agua, la fauna silvestre, la higiene, los equipos y los practicas de cosecha. Ben Comeau, de Programa de Inocuidad de Productos Agrícolas del MDAR, compartirá sus experiencias como inspector de la Norma de Inocuidad de Productos Agrícolas de la FSMA, así como auditor del programa de certificación voluntaria de Massachusetts se llama Commonwealth Quality (CQP, Calidad de Mancomunidad).
LINK TO PAY (not used register!)
Presented by
Cynthia Flores
Overview
Improving body movements in everyday farm work for health and longevity.
Labor-Movement believes that when you move well, you work well. Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health + wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career
- September 22
- 10 am - 2 pm (lunch provided!)
- Random Harvest- 1785 State Rte 23 Craryville, NY 12521
- $20 Berkshire Grown Members, $30 non-members (sliding scale tickets available)
Description
Farming can be one of the most dangerous occupations. That’s why the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) is dedicated to improving the health of agricultural workers and enhancing safety for farm owners and workers. This training will provide an overview of the health and safety risks that farmers face, how to prevent them, and what to do should an emergency arise. This training will touch on basic first aid, working safely in the elements, injury Prevention, personal protective equipment (PPE), and more.
Presented by
Cynthia Flores
Overview
Improving body movements in everyday farm work for health and longevity.
Labor-Movement believes that when you move well, you work well. Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health + wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career
- Septiembre 22
- 10am-2pm (¡incluye almuerzo gratis!)
- Random Harvest- 1785 State Rte 23 Craryville, NY 12521
- $20 miembros de Berkshire Grown, $30 no miembros (precio según escala móvil disponible)
Description
La agricultura puede ser una de las ocupaciones más peligrosas. Por eso, el Centro de Medicina y Salud Agricola de Nueva York (NYCAMH) se dedica a mejorar la salud de los trabajadores agrícolas y a fomentar la seguridad tanto de los propietarios de las granjas como de sus empleados. Esta capacitación ofrecerá una visión general de los riesgos para la salud y la seguridad que enfrentan los agricultores, como prevenirlos y que hacer en caso de emergencia. Se abordarán temas como primeros auxilios básicos, trabajo seguro a la intemperie, prevención de lesiones, equipo de protección personal (EPP) y más.
SOLD OUT
Chainsaw Safety for Women, Female Bodied, Nonbinary & Trans Folx with Women’s Tree Climber Workshop (WTCW)
Presented by
Cynthia Flores
Overview
Improving body movements in everyday farm work for health and longevity.
Labor-Movement believes that when you move well, you work well. Our mission is to help farmers, fishermen, landscapers, and industrial athletes to improve their movement health + wellness, increase efficiency and extend longevity in a season or career
- October 24, 2026
- 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
- Roots Rising Farm & Education Center, 923 Barker Rd, Pittsfield MA 01201
- $157.50 ($150.00 + $7.50 booking fee)
Farmer Discounts:
A limited number of discounted tickets (total $101.50) may be available for farmers who are members of Berkshire Grown. If interested, contact Alyssa at Berkshire Grown to inquire: alyssa@berkshiregrown.org
Details:
Lunch included, equipment provided. Dress in long pants, sturdy over the ankle boots, and preferably long sleeves.
Dress for weather and bring your water bottle.
Other Details:
- Chainsaws and safety equipment will be provided.
- If you have your own, you are encouraged to bring to class
Chainsaw Safety Course (Level 1 & 2):
Classroom: Safety Statistics, Chainsaw Use at work vs. home
- Identify the parts of a chainsaw – including its safety features
- Chainsaw PPE, fitment, and why
- How to prepare a chainsaw to run (power source, oil, chain tension)
- Identifying reactive forces of the chainsaw
- Starting, operating, and maintaining working order
- What tools & equipment to have while you operate a saw
Lunch Break - Thank you to our sponsors!
In the Field: Bucking & Cutting
- Tools & cut types to aid and/or relieve binds while bucking wood
- Learning reactive woods: tension & compression
- Class will be divided into groups to work on chainsaw skills: bucking; limbing; small tree felling; accuracy; notches and more.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Berkshire Grown
John Field Tree Service
Bartlett Tree Experts
Shire Electric Arborwear
RBI Shelter Tree
DGP
Aspen Fuels
