J.Welch MontviewCase Study

Montview Neighborhood Farm: A Case Study 2005-2011
Sean P. Walsh and Julie A.Welch • January 2012 • Northampton, Massachussetts

Acknowledgements
Deepest appreciation to Lisa DePiano, Paige Bridgens, Molly Merrett and
the entire Montview Neighborhood for providing us with the opportunity
to learn from their innovative land use model and educational wellspring.
With great respect and gratitude, we thank our tireless professors at the
Conway School for their guidance and for passing on their knowledge and
skills to us so that we can carry them with us into our work each day.
Sean Walsh and Julie Welch
Index of Pages
1. Executive Summary
2. Overview
3. Overview Cont.
4. Context
5. Site Description
6. Site Conditions
7. Aesthetics
8. Soils
9. Vegetation/Microclimates
10. Vegetation/Forest Garden
11. Access & Circulation/Zones of Use
12. Ecosystem Services Assessment
13. Conclusions & Recommendations
14. Appendix Table of Contents
15. 2005-2011 Timeline
16. Lease Agreement
17. Neighborhood Agreement
18. Design Goals
19. Grant Application/Fiscal Sponsorship
20. Grant Application for Forest Garden
21. Forest Garden Plant List
22. CSA Information
23. Soil Test Results
24. Interplanting Research
25. Workshops/Fundraising Event Materials
26. Feed Northampton Plan
27. Smith College/Ward 3 Survey
28. Fellowship Agreement
29-32. 2011 Neighborhood Meeting Notes
33. Letters of Recommendation
34. Reference Documents for Future Planning
We would like to thank our many volunteers, the Montview neighborhood,
the local permaculture community, the Northampton planning department,
the Conservation Commission, interns, and supporters, without whom none
of this would have been possible.
Montview Neighborhood Farm

Montview Neighborhood Farm: A Case Study 2005 - 2011 Sean P. Walsh and Julie A.Welch • January 2012 • Northampton, Massachussetts 1|34
The Farm Stand 2009
Produce from the annual vegetable garden CSA Share Pickup 2008
Deep Rooted Daikon Radish Plants Help Decompact Soils
Executive Summary
This study provides an examination of the
process by which a neighborhood farm on urban
conservation land was formed and the services it
provides for the surrounding community.
The urban neighborhood farm on conservation land
is an innovative model that demonstrates multiple
uses and positive advantages for public access and
stewardship of city owned land.
As challenges such as soil erosion, food security, and
reduced ecological biodiversity require ever more
innovative solutions, the neighborhood farm model
is a useful tool for building community and land
resilience in our cities and towns.
The Montview Neighborhood Farm model
integrates solutions for these challenges into
its core structure in addition to weaving in
other vital components such as educational
workshops, research, community building programs,
and ecological design concepts. Montview
Neighborhood Farm is a prototype that can be
enhanced and learned from for years to come.
This document provides a useful record of how
a neighborhood farm on conservation land can be
generated and potentially scaled up or down to fit
both larger and smaller sites in the community and
region.
The study consolidates various documents that
demonstrate how the farm was conceived and
formed, and how it has functioned since it was
founded in 2005.
The study is intended to serve as a support
document for the neighborhood farm to obtain
grant funds for improvements to the land and
implement education programs. Additionally, the
study will be used as an educational tool in classes
taught by the authors and farmers.
Ideally, the city of Northampton, and other cities,
towns and neighborhoods in the region, can use the
document as a guide to form their own local food
production and educational stewardship programs
on conservation land.
The document contains a record of the goals
and guidelines established by the farmers and
the community, grant funding efforts, fund raising
and awareness generation methods, crops grown,
research efforts, number of people the farm was
able to feed, a record of educational workshops
and programs for schools and the community, and
a set of recommendations for future planning and
stewardship.
A FEW OF THE FARM GOALS
Create a welcoming place of renewal for the
community
Demonstrate & research human powered,
organic, micro scale farming
Provide an educational site for classes and
workshops
Provide access to nutritious food for the
neighborhood
Improve the quality of the soil

Quote from an oral history project for Public Anthropology. University of Massachusetts
“The farm has started, for me, building a new sense of the neighborhood, a new sense of community.We’ve come together over the farm and over the
property that was being sold behind the farm and resisting having it just be condominiums.We really wanted it to maintain its agricultural character.”
— A Williams Street Neighbor. 2008
No-Till AnnualVegetable Beds. 2010Elderberry CropSmith College PRAXIS Interns
Building the soil for the annual beds using no-till methods. View facing west. 2006
No-till Farming
No-till farming is a way of growing crops
without disturbing soil through tillage and instead
uses a sheet mulching method.Tillage is used by
many farmers to remove weeds, mix in soil
amendments like fertilizers and prepare soil surfaces
for seeding. This can lead to unfavorable effects like
soil compaction, loss of organic matter, disruption of
soil microbes and other life, as well as topsoil erosion.
Part of the philosophy of sustainable agriculture
includes reducing the use of fossil fuels in food
production.Tilling with gas powered machinery such
as tractors or roto-tillers increases the amount of
energy used to produce food.
Overview
Montview Neighborhood Farm is part of a
larger vision, in Northampton and the region, of
sustainable neighborhood food production that
strengthens communities and reduces dependence
on fossil fuel.
The farm is a human-powered, no-till organic
research and educational garden nestled in the
heart of an old agricultural neighborhood.The
site is located in an urban edge between the
downtown and meadows district of Northampton,
Massachusetts.
Montview Farm provides this urban community
with biking and walking-distance access to fertile
land and food growing opportunities in an area that
has a great demand for shared open space. Most of
the community gardens in Northampton have long
waiting lists.
Since 2005, the farm has functioned as a hub
providing the neighborhood and surrounding
community with vegetables, fruit, medicinal herbs,
nuts, flowers, education, recreation, common space,
and a variety of ecosystem services, all of which
enable resilience building opportunities for the land
and community.
Since leasing the land and farming it in the no-till
manner, and planting crops that enrich their
soils, the farmers have improved vital nutrients, and
organic materials in the soil significantly.
The farm (at its peak) produced organically grown
vegetables, herbs and fruits (strawberries, currants,
jostaberries, and Asian pears) for15 families in the
neighborhood.
Annual vegetables are grown on about ¼ of an
acre, and another ¼ acre of perennial fruits, nuts,
herbs and ground covers surround the annual
vegetables.
For the first two seasons, crops were sold through
an on-site farm stand. From 2007-2009 (3 seasons)
Montview Neighborhood Farm operated the first
CSA in downtown Northampton. MNF has been
a catalyst and model for larger scale CSA’s to open
and serve larger portions of the urban population.
A CSA farm opened next door in 2010 and now
fulfills the need for an in-town CSA.
In addition to catalyzing urban community
supported agriculture initiatives, the Montview
neighborhood farmers spearheaded and funded
the 2010 publication of a valuable document called
Feed Northampton that surveys a variety of local,
organic food production opportunities for the city.
Rodale Institute White Paper: Regenerative Organic Farm-
ing:A Solution to GlobalWarming. 2008

The Montview neighborhood’s ecological farming
approach ensures healthy farming and healthy
food by protecting soil, and water, promoting
biodiversity, and not contributing contaminants to
the environment.
Farming with biodiversity is the most effective
strategy to adapt agriculture to future climatic
conditions.A mix of different crops and plant
varieties in one field is a proven and highly reliable
farming method to increase land resilience to
erratic weather changes.
Improvements to the Montview conservation
land have progressed over time through organic
gardening, hand scything, enriching the soil
with mulch from donated leaves and an on-site
composting system, and an increasingly productive,
educational edible forest garden.
Education and research have been an integral element
of the farm’s goals since it was founded. Smith College
and the University of Massachusetts and several local
schools have participated in workshops, internships, and
tours of the site.
As part of their education mission, a one-year
fellowship was established in 2011 with a student
from the Allegheny Mountain School.The fellow
will join the Montview Neighborhood Farm in 2012
in order to study and enhance sustainable food
production and community development.
Students from the Allegheny Mountain School
are community builders, leaders and advocates
for creating strong connections to our local food
systems in our neighborhoods and schools.
This one-year fellowship is a funded position and
the AMS Fellow will be engaged in full time work
with the farm.The term of service is one full
calendar year and a full-time commitment of at least
40 hours per week.
The fellowship program furthers the Montview
Neighborhood Farm educational efforts and
provides full time land management for the site as it
transitions away from the CSA model toward a new
model that meets the criteria and goals established
by the neighborhood.
The Farm has set a precedent as one of the first
organic, regenerative Citizen Agriculture initiatives
in the area and acts as an educational model for
similar projects across the city and region.
The sections that follow describe the site, its
existing conditions as of fall 2011, an approximated
basemap of the current site design, an assessment of
the ecosystem values the farm provides, a timeline
documenting the formation of the farm in 2005 up
through its current state, a conclusion statement,
and set of recommendations for future programs on
the farm.
Mulched garden beds. 2007 Medicinal herbs in Forest Garden. 2010
Overview continued...
Food Not Bombs Zine. 2006

Context
Montview Neighborhood Farm is located in one of
the oldest areas of the city of Northampton, MA.,
the Ward 3 district.The farm is situated between a
dike, a residential neighborhood, other agricultural
tracts, and the Mill and Connecticut rivers.
The area is near an entrance into Northampton
from Interstate-91 and includes the Great Meadows
section with its farms, wildlife, the Connecticut River
waterfront, and the Three County Fairgrounds—the
oldest operating agricultural fairground in the United
States.
The farm is on a low lying site in an area of the city
that was a rich and abundant fishing site for native
Americans and later a fertile agricultural area for
early European immigrants.
Much of the agricultural land in this district has been
lost to development. Dikes and other infrastructural
changes have altered the hydrologic patterns in the
area and some of its natural streams were buried by
storm and wastewater drainage systems. Wetlands
in the area were compromised over the years by
pesticides and fertilizers used on the croplands and
stormwater runoff.
Small pockets of the early agricultural lands still exist
in the area and are now protected by conservation
regulations. Montview Farm is one of these rich,
alluvial bottomland parcels.
The 3.2 acre parcel contains a designated wetland
and a buried stream and has been managed by the
Conservation Commission of Northampton since
2000.
1895 Map of Northampton. Origianl tract in red.Williams Street Brook is delineated.
Google Topography Map. 2011. Montview Neighborhood, MNF, & Town Farm. Google Map. 2011. Montview Neighborhood Farm in red square.
Dike
Wms. St. Brook

Basemap drawn at 30’ scale from city assessors map and Google Earth measurements. A formal survey conducted by licenced
engineers is highly recommended. This is an initial basemap for approximating site design elements.
Google Maps. 2011. Montview Farm parcel in green.
Site Description
Montview Neighborhood Farm is located at the
intersections of Montview Avenue and Henry Streets
in a neighborhood just off Pleasant Street.
The Montview neighborhood is in a former
agricultural area near the Connecticut River
between the downtown and meadows districts.
The area, while somewhat residential, still has some
agricultural tracts located nearby alongVentures
Field Road.
The farm is a multi-use site of important value to the
surrounding community and ecosystem.The parcel
became conservation land in 2000, when it was sold
to the city of Northampton by the Aquadro family.
The parcel forms a horseshoe shape around the
Nash family home and property (formerly the
Aquadro property). Access to the one-acre Nash
property is from Montview Avenue.
Within the parcel, a one third acre soccer field
abuts the farm site at the southeast corner of
Henry Street and Montview Avenue.The Town Farm
property, a CSA (community supported agriculture)
operation, occupies the 1.2 acres just north of
Montview Farm.
There are two wetland habitats on the parcel,
one on the western portion of the site that has
been designated as such by the city, and along the
access road on the southeast edge of the site a wet
meadow which experiences periodic pooling.
Residential sites surround three edges of the parcel.
An access road used by both MNF and Town Farm
runs along the eastern edge and is paralleled by
Ventures Field Road.
There are four access points to the parcel, three on
Montview Avenue, and one from the access road
off Henry Street. Three access points on Montview
Avenue are pedestrian entrances to mown footpaths.
The entry point from the access road is accessible
by car or truck and is used to make deliveries of
strategic materials to the farm such as compost and
planting materials.
There is no designated parking for the site.The
neighborhood and farmers prefer, whenever possible,
that automobile traffic be kept to a minimum for
workshops and events at the site.

The site is relatively flat and level across the
entire parcel with an average spot elevation of
approximately 110’ above sea-level. Seasonal water
table heights need to be measured on the site, and
a formal survey of the site by licensed engineers is
recommended so that contours and topography can
be accurately documented on a basemap.
Thanks to the farmers’ sheet mulched beds and no-
till practices, the planted areas capture and disperse
rainwater across the beds effectively and eliminate
puddling.Wood chips on the surrounding paths retain
excess water on the site.
There are two distinct wet areas on the site. One
is a narrow strip of wet meadow adjacent to the
access road, approximately 45’ wide by 260’ long.This
area serves as a retention basin, mitigating floods by
capturing storm water runoff.Water tends to pool
in this area periodically and typically drains within 24
hours. Spot elevation in the wet meadow is 109’ with
the access road and the soccer field on either side
being approximately 1’ higher in elevation.This wet
meadow has no official designation as a wetland.
The other wet area is on the northwest portion of
the site and is approximately 90’ wide x 260’ long.
This area is constantly wet and is designated as an
official wetland by the city and state. Spot elevation
in the western wetland is 110-111’. Interestingly,
the topography slopes downhill from the wetland
to an area along the property boundary with spot
elevations of 108-109’ before begining a steeper
ascent up towards Williams Street.
This phenomenon of a relatively elevated wetland
indicates a change in soil type and may also be related
to a hydrological regime disrupted by the rerouting of
the brook and the development of the dike and other
infrastructure.
The Williams Street Brook used to flow through this
depression and drain into the Mill River, but was
repurposed for stormwater drainage and buried in
the 1980’s.
Both of the wetland, and the wet meadow areas need
to be measured in an official survey in order to define
appropriate wetland buffer zones.
There is an area at the center of the farm site that
is potentially suitable for a well.This area has been
marked and noted by the farmers.A buffer area
around the well would need to be designated to meet
legal zoning regulations if city regulations would allow
for a well on the site.
Rain barrels capture water runoff from the shed roof
and rainwater is used to hydrate the gardens in the
summer.
Site Conditions
Zoomed in view of site facing north. Google Earth. 2010
Wet Meadow
Soccer Field
Nash Lewis Property
Wetland
Annual Beds
Forest Garden
Debris covered storm drain in the wetland.View into Wetland facing west.

Aesthetics
Montview Neighborhood Farm is flanked by
residential tracts and neighborhood streets on the
southern and western sides, a one-acre organic farm
to the north, and an elevated dike road to the east.
When standing on the site, one can hear faint sounds
of urban traffic in the distance mixed with sounds of
resident children playing on the soccer field, chickens
clucking, and occasional bleats from the goats on the
adjacent Town Farm property.
Colorful flags and sheets of sheer burlap float in the
breeze between the black locust posts of the open air
classroom and community gathering space.
Two mature Maple trees at the site’s westernmost
entry point on Montview Avenue form a graceful
archway into the wetland.
The gardens are lush in-season and the site has an
immediate calming effect for visitors and neighbors
alike.The farm is visible from the surrounding
residential properties and neighborhood streets.
Views of the Seven Sisters mountain range can be
seen facing east from several points on the site.
Residents enjoy gathering spontaneously on the farm
as they walk their dogs and watch their children play
on the soccer field.
The Gardens in growing season. 2010Interplanted vegetables. Research plot. 2006Resident chicken. 2007 Neighbors enjoying chestnuts. 2007
Access road entrance 2010
MNF farm stand. 2011

Soil Types
WilliamsSt
Ventures
Fld
HawleySt
HenrySt
Holyoke St
PleasantSt
Mont View Ave
ValleySt
Hockanum Rd
Eastern Ave
Isabella St
RailroadAve
Short St
Kary St
BelangerPl
tu5
8A
98A
744A
96A
96A
8A
8A
695710
695710
695780
695780
695850
695850
695920
695920
695990
695990
696060
696060
696130
696130
696200
696200
696270
696270
696
696
4687470468754046876104687680468775046878204687890
0 300 600 900150
Feet
0 90 180 27045
Meters
±
42° 18' 52''
42° 19' 7''
72°37'32''72°37'32''
Map Scale: 1:3,360 if printed on A size (8.5" x 11") sheet.
Soil Map—Hampshire County, Massachusetts, Central Part
(Montview)
Natural ResourcesNatural ResourcesNatural ResourcesNatural Resources
Conservation ServiceConservation ServiceConservation ServiceConservation Service
Web Soil Survey
National Cooperative Soil Survey
1
P
Soils in the open areas on the site are predominantly
Winooski silt loam, a soil typical for local floodplains,
on a 0-3% slope, and are moderately well drained.
Soils in the more vegetated areas of the site are
Limerick silt loam, typically found on alluvial flats,
on 0-3% slopes and are poorly drained. Soils in the
western wetland area are Handley-Winooski-Urban
Land Complex, typical of developed floodplain areas,
on 0-3% slopes and well drained.
The soil types reflect the underlying geology of the
area which is an alluvial floodplain underlain with
glacial till.These alluvial bottomlands provide some
of the finest agricultural land in New England.
Soil tests were conducted for the site in 2005 and
again in 2009 in order to measure the impact of the
organic and no-till farming practices.
The 2009 tests showed a marked 2.7% increase in
organic matter, a notable increase in macronutrients
phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, and an increase
in the cation exchange capacity in the soils as a result
of the organic farming efforts and the no-till method
used by the farm group.
Given the excellent results of the comparative soil
tests, Montview Neighborhood Farm can serve as a
model for regenerative soil improvement techniques
on conservation land.
Testing and monitoring of the soils in both the
wetland and wet meadow habitats has been initiated
as of the fall of 2011. Continued study of the soils
and vegetation in these areas is recommended.
Building living soil is a key goal for sustainable land
and food security. Healthy soils provide sustained
nutrients for all members of the ecosystem while
absorbing and retaining water for longer periods.
A recent survey of Northampton’s Ward 3 residents,
conducted by the Smith College Landscape
Studies Program and the Ward 3 Neighborhood
Association, regarding the role of open space in
defining neighborhood quality of life, revealed one
of the top priorities in the district as “conserving
as much farmland and agricultural soil as possible.”
See reference page for the survey in the appendix
section of the document.
Montview Neighborhood Farm has helped support
the farming and soil conservation priorities and
goals of their Ward 3 district, the city’s Open Space
and Recreation Plan as well as their Sustainable
Northampton Plan.
Interplanting research plot. 2007 Rich soil by the compost area. 2011 Soil Map of Montview Farm. NRCS 2011.

Vegetation/Microclimates
Vegetation in the wet meadow next to the access
road includes some young Black Walnut, Elderberry,
Mulberry and Rosa Rugosa in a matrix of grasses and
wildflowers.
The farmers designed and planted vegetated swales
next to the meadow to enhance the water storage
capacity of the basin.
The vegetated swales consist of Jostaberry, Nanking
Cherry, Black Currant, High Bush Blueberry, Joe Pye
weed, and ground covers of Dwarf Comfrey, Red
Clover,Violets and Strawberries planted along a
system of contoured mounds and basins.
An edible hedge, planted in 2010, along the edge
of the soccer field will protect the vegetable plots
and cold frame boxes from flying soccer balls as it
matures while producing fruit, nuts, and spices.The
hedge consists of Hazelbert, Juneberry, Spicebush,
Elderberry, and Mountain Bush Honeysuckle.The
plants were donated to the farm by a local nursery,
Nasami Farms.
Sumac, Catalpa, volunteer Black Locust, and Stinging
Nettle are growing in and around the western
wetland. Curly Dock, Red Osier Dogwood,
and other wetland indicator plants are also growing
in this vitally important area of the site, a full plant
inventory of this area is needed.
Elm and Maple trees are present across the sight
along with a Sassafras tree planted on the eastern
edge north of the forest garden by a local family in
memory of their daughter.
The Sumac is a pioneer species that grows in islands
along the as yet unplanted northern edge of MNF
that abuts the Town Farm property.
Microclimates on the site need to be studied and
monitored across the year. General observational
notes indicate that winter winds out of the
northwest are somewhat blocked by mature trees
on the western portion of the site, the center of the
site is open and receives ample sun in the growing
season, the eastern edge of the site is shaded by a
mix of deciduous trees during the growing season
but the beds still receive ample sunlight.
Vegetated Swales
Edible Hedge
Section Sketch of Edible Swale from Edible Forest Gardens, Jacke and Toensmeir © 2005Installing the vegetated swales. Permaculture Design Course. 2008
Design Concept Edible Hedge. Not to Scale
Wet Meadow
Forest Garden

Zoom in on basemap of educational edible forest garden
Vegetation/Edible Forest Garden
The northeastern edge of the site is a ¼ acre edible
forest garden.
Using the forest as a metaphor, a forest garden
consists of a diverse mosaic of productive plant
communities mimicking the structure and functions
of different stages of forest succession.
These plant communities mimic the properties,
principles, patterns and processes of a natural
ecosystem to build fertility, manage pests, and
produce food and other useful products for humans
and all members of the garden habitat.
The beds in this garden are planted with a robust
variety of perennial fruits, nuts, medicinal herbs, and
berries.A plant list can be found in the appendix
section of this document.
‘A permaculture forest garden is a perennial
landscape that is four-dimensional, that grows
through multiple seasons and provides an almost
continual yield and habitat.‘ (Adapted from Claudia
Joseph, Environmental Programs Director Old Stone
House, Brooklyn, NY).
.
‘Forest gardens are generally comprised of big
trees, smaller trees, vines, shrubs, herbs, root
crops, fungi and groundcovers, all functioning in
thriving relationships that reduce demand for water,
fertilizer, and labor.‘ (Adapted from Claudia Joseph).
MNF is using small trees in order to maintain views
across the site.
The abundant planting scheme and diversity of
plants provide ample herbs food and nutrients
for the the entire ecosystem and will enhance the
resilience of the land upon which it is growing.
There is opportunity on the site to continue the
garden along the edge all the way into the wetland
portion of the parcel.
The educational example provided by the edible
forest garden at Montview Farm is highly replicable
and a valuable resource to the community.
The farm’s annual vegetables are grown in 4’ beds
on a central, ¼ acre portion of the site and consist
of many fruits, herbs, and vegetables. Many student
groups, interns from Smith College and workshop
volunteers have helped establish the garden since
2005.
The crops at Montview Farm are an abundant
resource throughout much of the year.
Sketch of forest garden concept. Adapted from Edible Forest GardenVolume 2.. Jacke and Toensmeir ©2005

11|34Montview Neighborhood Farm: A Case Study 2005 - 2011 Sean P. Walsh and Julie A.Welch • January 2012 • Northampton, Massachussetts
Access and Circulation/Zones of Use
There are four access paths to the site: three
pedestrian access points via Montview Avenue and
one vehicular access point via the access road.
The two access points near the soccer field are
where the farmstand was set up during the growing
season.
The access paths throughout the farm gardens and
at the access road entrance are wood chip and
clearly delineate the planted areas.The paths allow
easy access into the garden beds from all sides.
Measurements of existing pathways need to be
obtained so that continuation of paths for the next
phase can be implemented.
There are mown circulation paths between the
soccer field, outdoor classroom, and wetland areas
and the garden. The mown paths are maintained by
volunteers in the neighborhood.The wood chip paths
are maintained by volunteers working in the farm
gardens.
The vehicular entrance via the access road provides
the means to deliver strategic materials and is marked
by a sign.The other entrances are not marked.
There is no designated parking for the site and
visitors are encouraged to arrive on foot or by
bicycle.Workshop attendees are encouraged to
carpool whenever possible. Classes typically are
smaller than 20 people.
The outdoor gathering space, located in Zone 2,
at the center of the site is used for community
gatherings, classes and demonstration workshops.
Zones of use for the site are roughly based on a
permaculture site design concept in which elements
are grouped based upon frequency of use. Zone 1 is
the area closest to the access road and is where
the compost bins are placed for ease of materials
delivery and use throughout the site. Zone 2 consists
of the edible gardens and hedges and is located near
the access paths to the farm stand and
open-air classroom and community gathering space.
A potential well sited has been designated within
Zone 2 for ease of access to water to wash produce
and water the beds when necessary.
Zone 3 is the wilder, less used area close to the
wetland where less maintenance is required. Zone
3 is also the area best suited for wildlife habitat
preservation and enhancement.
The sign for the site is hand painted and hangs from
a locust wood post. It has weathered over the years
and the neighborhood is working on ideas for signs
to mark each entry point. A traffic calming sign was
installed on Montview Ave. in 2010 to alert drivers
that they are approaching an open space.
2009 Design Concept. Not to scale.
Maple Tree Archway
Vehicle Access Point
Zone 3
Zone 3
Zone 2
Zone 1
Access Road Entrance Sign. 2011 Traffic Calming Sign on Montview Avenue. 2011Boardwalk in wetland. 2011
Farmstand Entrance

Ecosystems Services Assessment
The renowned professor, biologist, and winner of the
National Medal of Science, Edward O.Wilson states
in his book The Diversity of Life, that “Biological
diversity is the key to the maintenance of the world
as we know it.”
The biodiversity of a site’s ecosystem is one of
the primary factors that determines the health of
our public, private, and conservation lands and the
communities that surround them. Biodiversity in an
ecosystem means the degree of variation in life forms
within the system. A diverse ecosystem is more
resilient and healthy.
According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture
Forest Service, an ecosystem is defined as
a community of people, plants, animals, and
microorganisms interacting with one another and
their environment i.e., water, soils, nutrients, and air.
Ecosystem services are commonly defined as the
benefits all members of an ecosystem obtain from it
such as food, fresh water, wood, fiber, medicine, clean
air, groundwater recharge, erosion control, pollination
of crops, soil formation, recreation, education, health
and well being, and habitat for wildlife such as nesting
and foraging. Ecosystem services can also be defined
as the services provided by natural processes that are
required for human survival.
Alluvial floodplains like the Montview Farm parcel
are vitally important to the ecosystems in which they
exist.They tend to be highly productive and fertile,
and support the production of food, protect nearby
water bodies by capturing and absorbing flood waters,
and aid in erosion control and soil formation.
In the case of Montview Farm, its ecosystem
services are many-fold. It contains a wetland that
filters stormwater runoff before it enters rivers and
streams, the wet meadow captures flood waters and
protects other areas of the site from flooding and
erosion.
Wetland ecosystems are under tremendous pressure
and are among the most threatened and degraded
systems across the planet.They are rich in plant and
animal species that benefit local and regional genetic
diversity.
The farmers at MNF have mimicked healthy
ecosystems in their grouping of companion plant
communities that improve growth for their
neighboring plants and enrich the soils around them.
In fact, they have leveraged the value in this urban
edge land by making it productive and useful while
enhancing its biodiversity.
The enriched soils enhance the crop yield, the
nutritional value of the crops and the cation exchange
capacity thereby allowing greater nutrient reserves
for plant roots. Healthy soils are vital for robust
ecosystems.
The farm provides a significant food and nutrient
resource, medicinal herbs, pollinator habitat,
recreation, education and an overall improved health
and well being for the community.
These are just a few of the vital services the farm
provides for the local ecosystem.
Healthy nutritious food for the community. 2011
Artwork from C3 in outdoor classroom. 2011 Healthy pollinator habitat. 2008

Montview Neighborhood Farm demonstrates
the positive impact of citizen agriculture and
stewardship on city owned conservation land.The
improvements to the ecological integrity of the site
have enhanced the ecosystem resilience for the
foreseeable future.
A 2010 survey conducted among residents of
the Ward 3 district showed that the top priority
for open space in the area was to “conserve as
much farmland and agricultural soil as possible.”
Other top goals of the district were to “protect
the wetlands and wooded areas.” MNF has helped
achieve multiple Ward 3 district goals.
The land on the site has witnessed geologic
forces since time immemorial and experienced
tremendous human impact in more recent times.
Through it all, this land has continuously provided
sustenance for ancient and modern life forms. It
still does so today even under the pressures of
development.
As early as the 1930’s one scientist declared that
“people have become a geologic force that is
shaping the planet’s future.” (VladimirVernadsky, a
Russian Geoscientist). In a 2002 article published
in the NewYork Times, the author of the article,
Andrew C. Revkin, wrote:“Communities and
countries will face choices over the next decade
that will impact quality of human life and the
environment well into the 22nd century.”
That decade has just come to a close.The
Montview community did their part during that
decade from 2005 until now and made a positive
contribution to the quality of human life and the
environment in their district.
Recommendations
Recommendations for the farm are general and
require further definition by the neighborhood as
they enter the next phase of programming for the
site. Our recommendations are based on broad
observations recorded during three site visits in
November 2011.
Metrics
Consistent data over a three-year period of time
would provide the additional scientific support
needed to verify the ecosystem improvements.
Consistent data is one of the most important
priorities for scientists and economists alike as
we calculate human and planetary needs for an
ecologically sound future.
Continued measuring and recording of crop yields
in the annual and perennial gardens will help
document the site’s capacity for food production.
Monitor
Research efforts on the site were initiated in
2007 to explore the growth patterns of plant
communities providing high sources of protein.
Additional research plots were established on the
farm to study root establishment of perennial
polycltures and nitrogen fixing shrubs.This is an
excellent use of the site for educational research
purposes.
Monitoring the conditions of the wetland is
an important educational and stewardship
component for this site.The wetland provides
intricate ecosystem services and needs to be
protected. Full understanding of how to enhance
and protect a legal buffer zone around the wetland
will ensure greater vitality for the overall site and
better protect the larger water bodies nearby.
Test
Soil tests of the wet meadow along the access
road are recommended. Samples from the wetland
on the west side of the parcel should be obtained,
tested and compared to those of the wet meadow.
Conditions of both areas should be monitored
over time and inform the design and maintenance
regimes of both of these vital natural resources.
Assess
An inventory of the plant community currently
growing in the western wetland area is
recommended. A design plan for how to enhance
the plant community is essential to the long-term
ecological integrity of the wetland and the overall
site.
An assessment of the drainage system on the
western edge of the site where the buried Williams
Street Brook still flows is highly recommended.
The city drainage grate appears to be covered with
debris. Ideally, a feasibility study for daylighting the
brook could be conducted and perhaps restore
the natural hydrologic flow in the area and better
recharge nearby ground water.
Reference documents are listed in the appendix
section for precedents and models that could be
useful for Montview Farm planning.
Educate
Educational programs are one of the key areas
for any conservation site. A continuation of
educational programs is vital to the health and
well being of the site. Internships, fellowships and
workshops empower the community.
The educational edible forest garden is an excellent
living example of a productive, regenerative
agricultural model. Smith College interns, U-Mass
Amherst Soil Sciences classes, neighbors and
fellows alike have learned from this site through
garden tours and workshops since it was planted
in 2006.The edible forest garden will produce food
and nutrients for many generations to come if
properly managed and preserved..
Review Easment language
Certain lease and conservation easement terms
could enable the farm to perform additional
services, for instance, if structures such as
greenhouse were allowed on the site, seasonal
extension of crops could be achieved. If temporary
solar electric fencing were allowed, livestock
could graze on the site and assist in ground cover
and weed management. Both of these and other
recommendations can be found in the Bleiman
Property Agricultural Plan cited in the references
section of the the appendix of this document.
Reference & Planning Documents
Several excellent documents endoresed by
the Conservation Commission are listed in
the appendix section of this doument.These
documents can help inform future planning.
Conclusions & Recommendations
“In Nature Nothing Exists Alone.” Rachel Carson Silent Spring
Recommendation Summary
Research: Metrics/Monitoring/Testing/Assessing
- 3-year data collection of ecosystem functions (including wetland
health monitoring)
- Continue to measure and record crop yields
- Continued monitoring and documentation of results from
perennial polyculture plantings (illinois bundleflower, yarrow)
- Document social benefits to neighborhood (and beyond) (i.e. figure out
a way to collect qualitative data about the impact of projects on the land)
- Obtain, tests and compare soil samples from wetland on west side and
wet meadow on the east side. Monitor conditions over time to
inform design/management regimes
- Create a plant inventory for wetland; establish plan for enhancing
plant community
- Assess the drainage system around buried Williams Street Brook; make
sure drainage grate is clear
- Look into existing feasibility study for daylighting the brook to
restore hydrological flow, recharge groundwater
Education
- Continue collaborative academic programming and educational workshops
- Make sure to educate leaseholders/stakeholders about wetland ecology
and legal obligations
CR Language
- Clear definitions of language used in conservation easements so
that everyone understands what’s legally allowed and what’s not

Appendix/Reference Materials
15. 2005-2011 Timeline
16. Lease Agreement
17. Neighborhood Agreement
18. Design Goals
19. Grant Application/Fiscal Sponsorship
20. Grant Application for Forest Garden
21. Forest Garden Plant List
22. CSA Information
23. Soil Test Results
24. Interplanting Research
25. Workshops/Fundraising Promotional Materials
26. Executive Summary for Feed Northampton: First
StepsToward a Local Food System
27. Smith College/Ward 3 Survey
28. Fellowship Agreement & Goals
29-32. 2011 Neighborhood Meeting Notes
33. 2012 Letters of Recommendation from NOFA &
University of Massachusetts Soil Sciences Department
34. Reference Documents for Future Planning

15|34Montview Neighborhood Farm: A Case Study 2005 - 2011 Sean P. Walsh and Julie A.Welch • January 2012 • Northampton, Massachussetts
Timeline
-2005,A group of farmers from the neighborhood procured a three
year lease and license from the Conservation Commission of the city
of Northampton for the purposes of small-scale organic farming and
educational workshops related to organic farming and building resilient
communities.
-Late 2005,An agreement was formed between the farmers and the
neighborhood.
-2005: Adjacent land next to the farm site was for sale.The farmers
attempted to purchase the land, but a real estate developer outbid the
group and purchased the land with a plan to build condominiums on the
site.The neighborhood group gathered forces and was able to stop the
development.
-Early 2006: Goals for the site were presented at a neighborhood
design charette.A site design plan was developed at the charette with
community input.
-Late 2006:The farmers collaborated with a non-profit organization
called Creative Thought and Action, Inc. on a grant application for a
public, educational, edible forest garden. Creative Thought provided fiscal
sponsorship for the farm.
-2006-2007:The neighborhood held Contra Dance events to raise funds
for creating the farm.The farm was part of Garden Tour across the city
of Northampton.
-2006-2007: Dave Jacke planted a research plot to study beneficial
insects on yarrow. Molly Merret designed and documented a test site of
interplanted plant species in order to study and document how various
combinations of plants provide benefits for one another, the soil and
produce phased crop yields.
-2006-2007:The neighborhood group operated a farm stand on the site
and sold their produce to neighbors from Northampton and adopted a
CSA model that ran through 2009.
-Early 2007:A grant was obtained from New England Grassroots
Environment Fund for the educational edible forest garden.
-Spring 2007: Edible forest garden was installed.The garden was sheet
mulched and planted by groups participating in educational workshops
led by the farmers.
-2008-2011 The farm piloted an organic food scraps collection service
(via bicycle) for neighbors as a means of studying the feasibility of
composting on site.
-2009-2011:An experimental garden plot was established by Food Forest
Farms to study perennial polycultures and nitrogen fixing shrubs, Illinois
Bundle Flower seeds, and the resistance capacity of Sea Kale to the flea
beetle.
-2007/2008:The land next door was sold to a young family who formed
a CSA called Town Farm.Town Farm now serves a community of over
100 members.
-Summer 2007: Jackson Street Public School Tour
-2007 Backyard Chicken Tour
-2008: U-Mass Sustainability Class Tour & Workshop
-Summer 2011: U-Mass Plant & Soil Science Class
-Fall 2011:Amherst Commons School Tour & Student Project
-2010 and 2011: MNF hosted 2 interns each summer from Smith College
PRAXIS program.“Praxis:The Liberal Arts at Work” pays stipends
to Smith students who work at qualified, unpaid summer internships
related to their career and/or academic interests.
-Late 2011:An educational fellowship position was established for the
year 2012 with the Allegheny Mtn. School.
-2011 The organization Artist in Context funded a placemaking project
in order for the farm to create a community gathering space for
storytelling and music sharing as well as classes and workshops.
-From June-November 2011, the Montview neighborhoods met to
discuss next steps for the site and formed a steering committee.
Discussions on the topic of establishing a formal cooperative or
collective committee of neighbors who will oversee the next phase of
the site when the new lease is signed. See meeting notes on pages 29-32.
-A presentation of this document and a review of the ecosystem
services the land provides the neighborhood will be made to the
Northampton Conservation Commission in February 2012.

Lease from Conservation Commission

Neighborhood Agreement

Community Input Session: Design Goals

Grant Application Form and Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement

Educational Edible Forest Garden Description for Grant Application

Educational Edible Forest Garden Plant List for Grant Application

Montview Neighborhood Farm was the first CSA
in Northampton. The farm was a catalyst for other
farms to become established, and provided a small-
scale model that other farms followed and scaled up
in size.
The goals of the CSA and the neighborhood farm
were informed by those of the Sustainable
Northampton and Feed Northampton Plans
endorsed by the Conservation Commission of the
city of Northampton.
Quote from Sustainable Northampton Plan:
“Citizens of Northampton work toward “locally and
regionally – the advancement of sustainable practices
that manage land use for long-term benefits, reduce
dependency on nonrenewable fuels, reduce consumption
of resources without offsetting benefits, and improve our
impact on the environment.”
Quote from Feed Northampton Plan:
“There is little data showing how much local food is
currently consumed in Northampton.The manager of
the BigY supermarket in Northampton reported that
just 1% of all food stocked there comes from within 100
miles (BigY manager, Northampton, MA).Thirteen CSAs
from Hampshire County provide food to Northampton
seasonally (www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/csa.htm),
each possibly supplying fifty shares to Northampton
homes feeding 650 families with locally raised food
(approximately 2,600 people). Drawing form these and
other sources, it is likely that a small percentage of all
food consumed in Northampton has been grown or
raised locally.”
Montview Neighborhood Farm CSA Information

23|34
Montview Neighborhood Farm:A Case Study 2005-2011 Sean P. Walsh and Julie A.Welch • January 2012 • Northampton, Massachussetts
Soil Test Results from 2005 and 2009 showing an increase of 2.7 % in Organic Matter from 4.8% to 7.5 %.

Interplanted Research Plot
Various plant combinations were selected for their root structure, above ground architecture, and harvest timeframes in order to
study and experiment with which leaf and root structures work best with one another and how each plant type grows throughout
the seasons. Results of the study were recorded.
“The sheet mulch method of garden bed preparation is
quite labor and resource intensive, so our garden space
started out small and grew slowly each season. When we
planned the annual vegetable gardens, we knew we had very
rich soil but also very limited space. We experimented
with several biointensive methods of vegetable production,
including interplanting and companion planting.
Interplanting is when 2 or more crops can be grown to-
gether in the same bed, optimizing space and irrigation ef-
forts. Companion planting is when 2 or more plants grown
together provide an additional beneficial effect for each
other, such as deterring pests or improving flavor.
We kept track of our interplanting and companion planting
attempts in a spreadsheet. We found that some combina-
tions worked well and others not as well. The following
chart describes the combinations that worked well. Our
favorite combinations were carrots and radishes in alternat-
ing rows, and brassicas (such as broccoli and kale) planted
in 2 rows with a row of alliums (leeks, scallion, onions)
down the center.
The radishes are fast maturing and the carrots are slow ma-
turing. By the time the radishes are ready for harvest, the
carrots are still small and not in competition for space. The
alliums down the center of the brassicas utilized unused
space, and the alliums have pest deterrent properties that
may have helped deter aphids and cabbage worms. Their
roots also occupy different zones in the soil, brassicas are
deep rooted and alliums are shallow rooted.”
— Molly Merrett Montview Farmer

Building Resilient Communities:
mONTView farm WORKSHOPS 2010
PERMACULTURE FUNDAMENTALS, April 3,10-5
Permaculture is a design system that provides for human needs while increasing the health
of the ecosystem. It gives us a lens to observe and assess what is happening in the natural
landscape and use those principles to design food, buildings and communities that work
together to use less energy and produce higher yields. Students will walk away with a
framework for understanding the connection between social and ecological health as well
as a process for designing solutions that come from being able to “read” a landscape. Each
fundamentals session is tailored to the particular season. Ask about discounts for taking all
three. Sliding scale $60-$100, vegetarian lunch provided. With Lisa DePiano
GARDENING 101, April 18, 10-12
Want to have your own garden but don’t know where to start? In this workshop we will
cover everything you need to know to get going. We will cover soil testing, site prepara-
tion, planting schedules, weed and pest management and more. With Molly Merrett
MUSHROOM LOG INOCULATION, April 24,1-4
Come learn how to grow your own shitake mushrooms. Take home a log of your own.
With Jonathan Bates
PERMACULTURE FUNDAMENTALS, May 8, 10-5 (see above description)
RAINWATER CATCHMENT, May 16,1-4
We can harvest rainwater off of our homes, garages, and even our chicken coops and use
it to water our gardens while keeping it from overfilling our sewer systems and flooding
our basements. Come learn how to calculate how much water we can harvest, learn safe
harvesting methods and build a two barrel system.
MYCOSCAPING: MUSHROOMS IN THE EDIBLE LANDSCAPE, May 29, 10-4
Even if you’re an avid gardener, if you are only gardening plants, you are missing out! There
is a whole other kingdom to explore - and eat! How can we incorporate delicious,
nutritious fungi in our veggie gardens, food forests, lawns, and landscaping? In this work-
shop, we’ll learn some of the options available to us, and even try one or two! We’ll learn
how to look at mushroom crops through a holistic, permaculture lens, and find the niche
in the landscape where they can peform useful ecological functions, even as they produce
food and medicine for us. We’ll review common and less-common mushroom crops, and
different cultivation techniques. We’ll also talk about how to be smart and safe when
dealing the mushroom kingdom. $60-$100 sliding scale. With Rafter T. Sass
SPRING/EARLY SUMMER PLANT WALK, June 6, 1-3
Join us for a stroll around Montview Farm and learn how to identify the local edible and
medicinal herbs, trees and shrubs growing abundantly right here in the Pioneer Valley! We’ll
focus on methods of identification and harvesting, and discuss easy ways to turn these
common “weeds” into powerful medicine!
BACKYARD COMPOSTING AND COMPOST TEA BREW, June 13, 1-3
Everything you wanted to know about building, maintaining and using your own backyard
compost pile but were afraid to ask. Topics include bin size and construction methods,
proper ratios of materials, to turn or not to turn, what to add and how, how to rescue a
pile gone astray, when is it finished and the story to decomposition. We will end the
workshop by learning how to brew and apply aerated compost tea.
PERMACULTURE FUNDAMENTALS, July 11, 10-5
HERBAL SALVE AND TINCTURE-MAKING, August 29, 12-3
Making your own medicine is fun, empowering and easy! In this workshop all participants
will have the opportunity to experience the medicine-making process for salves and
tinctures from start to finish. We’ll start with a short herb walk around Montview Farm to
decide what we want to harvest. From there we’ll process the herbs and make some
medicine! Participants will all leave with at least one homemade salve and one tincture.
Workshop and Fundraising Event Materials
Fundraising Event Poster
Educational Workday Poster
Educational Workshop Calendar 2010

26|34Montview Neighborhood Farm:A Case Study 2005 - 2011 Sean P. Walsh and Julie A.Welch • January 2012 • Northampton, Massachussetts
Feed Northampton Plan Sponsored by Montview Neighborhood Farm
In Northampton, there is a growing awareness of the over-reliance on the global food system. The
Northampton Food Security Group, an organization of local farmers and activists concerned about the
future of Northampton’s food supply in the face of diminishing oil availability, climate change, and loss of
farmland, asked the Conway School of Landscape Design to help them develop a comprehensive vision for
local food that promotes food security, sustainable practices, small-scale farming ventures, and increased
vitality in the local economy.
Northampton historically was able to grow much of its own food. Today there are several challenges that
may inhibit Northampton’s ability to do so again. In the past fifty years, the amount of developed land
within the city limits has increased by 50%. Much of this development has been on flat, cleared land that
was well-suited for food cultivation, most of which housed former farming operations. People interested
in starting new farms are challenged by a lack of affordable land that is appropriate for food production.
Homeowners are restricted by zoning laws that prohibit certain agricultural practices, notably raising
livestock of any type on small parcels. Lastly, Northampton’s temperate climate has a shorter growing
season than places like California or Florida, and consumers have come to expect an assorted selection of
produce throughout the year. These social and economic challenges pose obstacles to boosting local
cultivation efforts.
The specifics of Northampton’s natural and built environments pose additional constraints to agriculture.
Soil fertility, topography, and urban form all help determine what can be grown or raised, with what
strategies and yields, and where. This report identifies alternative land and strategies for growing food in
the agricultural, urban, suburban, and rural areas of Northampton, using unconventional sites, small spaces,
and cooperative efforts that reduce fossil fuel input. The project suggests how more of the city’s food
could be grown within its boundary and makes recommendations for supporting diverse local cultivation
methods, the particular focus of this report.
Looking beyond cultivation, there are limited distribution systems in the Northampton that serve
producers, distributors, and buyers. There is a lack of food system infrastructure such as processing
centers, storage facilities, and waste management sites. Existing and potential sites in Northampton are
suggested to serve as infrastructure nodes, supporting the various types of local food production
recommended in this report.
This report does not attempt to envision the complete replacement of a complex global food system with
local ones. However, the findings of this report may help Northampton initiate cultivation and post-
cultivation efforts to reduce residents’ dependence on the centralized food system in the transition
towards greater participation in and reliance on its own local food system.
While the focus of this project is on Northampton, the tools used here to engage the public, analyze the
land, and develop concepts for a local food system may be helpful to other communities that have similar
goals of increasing self-sufficiency through local food production and consumption
Feed Northampton Plan: Excerpt from Executive Summary
The Montview Neighborhood Farm was a prototype example featured in the
report. The plan was written about in The Advocate newspaper in 2010.

“Here are the top five responses to Question 7 (among the 94 respondents who answered the question correctly):
If you could tell the City three things that we needed in Ward 3 that would make it better from
an open space and recreation point of view, which of the following would you choose to say?
1.We need to conserve as much farm land and agricultural soil as we can
2.The tree-lined streets are an important part of the Ward 3 experience and should be maintained and replanted
when needed
3.The wooded areas should be protected because they provide natural play space for kids, habitat for wildlife, and
give Ward 3 character
4. Protect the remaining wetlands in Ward 3
Smith College and Ward 3 Association Survey
Excerpt from Survey
To the members of the conservation commission,
I am writing to share my experience with the conservation commission in relation to Montview
neighborhood farm. For a little over 2 years I spent one morning a week or more volunteering for the
previous leaseholders of Montview neighborhood farm. At the time I lived on 39 west street and had no
access to any land for growing food. Montview farm was my first experience with farming or growing
food. It was the first time that I took a vegetable out of the ground and went home to cook it instead of
buying it at a store.
Montview neighborhood farm is a valuable learning experience for someone like me who has
never had the opportunity to grow food or understand the importance of growing food. The growing of
food in your own backyard which is a main theme in the goal to leading a more sustainable lifestyle is
out of the reach of the average low income renter both because of a lack of land space to grow food and
lack of exposure to permaculture or even agriculture. The model of operation of Montview farm created
a friendly and open environment for people who are interested in learning how to farm with limited
means. In addition to that Lisa, Paige and Molly have shown an active interest and respect for the
ecology of the land and for the use of sustainable farming methods which has in turn passed that
interest to me and to others as well.
Montview neighborhood farm was a deciding factor for my girlfriend and I to move to where
we live now, down the road from the farm. Where I live now I have land that our landlord is allowing
us to use for growing food and we will be looking to plant food there as well as continue to volunteer at
Montview. Montview neighborhood farm is both a valuable resource for the neighborhood and a
reflection of the commitment of the local community to the land. Montview neighborhood farm not
only presents a starting point for people to learn about growing food in Northampton but also a sense of
community, home and stewardship of the land that will continue to be an important part of our culture
looking at a more sustainable future.
Jesus Leyva
37 c Holyoke st, ward 3
Northampton MA
Excerpt from 2011 Letter from a Ward 3 neighbor

1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
1.
2.
3.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
Allegheny Mountain School Fellowship

September 2011 Neighborhood Meeting Notes

September 2011 Neighborhood Meeting Notes continued

November 2011 Neighborhood Meeting Notes

November 2011 Neighborhood Meeting Notes continued

Northeast Organic Farming Association
37th Annual Summer Conference
August 12-14, 2011
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
www.nofasummerconference.org
Ben Grosscup
Northeast Organic Farming Association/ Massachusetts Chapter
67 North Whitney St Apt 4
Amherst, MA 01002
Home Office: 413-549-1568
Cell: 413-658-5374
ben.grosscup@nofamass.org
Attn: Lisa DePiano
38 Henry St.
Northampton, MA 01060
To The City of Northampton,
I am writing in reference to the future of Montview Farm. I understand that there are some important decisions that
City of Northampton officials need to make about the future use of the farm and I want to convey my knowledge, as
the coordinator of the NOFA Summer Conference, about the enormous educational contribution that this farm and
the people who are currently running it provide for the community.
The NOFA Summer Conference is organized by the Northeast Organic Farming Association. In 2011, we had our 37th
consecutive conference on August 12-14. Since 2008, the conference has been held at UMass Amherst. Last year we
drew 1,400 participants to the conference, and during each workshop slot, participants had at least 20 different
workshops to choose from. Some of the workshops at our conference are tours of farms within driving distance of
UMass. The off-site workshops are normally popular, but by far the most popular tour in 2011 was of Montview
farm, where 40 participants from all over the Northeast gathered at the site to learn about “Permaculture in the
City.” The presenters of the workshop were Lisa DePiano and Molly Merrett.
Among the comments we received on the evaluation were “Fun and inspiring.” Another participant noted that they
found it very useful to see “permaculture practices in action.” Another person remarked how impressed they were
about how many people came, “given the remote site and rainy weather.” Despite the challenges of that particular
day, this person observed that people still really enjoyed it. Another person remarked on the presentation, “Very
well done.”
Montview Farm runs many other workshops providing educational resources to the local community as well. What I
see through the lens of the NOFA Summer Conference is that additionally the farm is also effectively demonstrating
agricultural innovations happening in Northampton to people from all over the Northeast.
Letter of Recommendation

The Bleiman Plan was written for a parcel of land in the same area of Northampton as Montview Farm.The Bleiman document contains useful planning tools such a decision matrices for determining best attributes of a site, and suggested language for improved
conservation easements that would enable lands like Montview Farm and others to utilize beneficial elements that would enhance organic farming and achieve greater regeneration of the land. The City of Northampton Open Space Plan quotes large sections of the
Bleiman Plan and contains a great deal of language that is consistant with the goals of the Montview Farm.The Open Space plan provides a framework for further expansion of Montview Neighborhood Farm as a model that represents the City’s larger vision for equitable
and innovative use of public open space. The Sustainable Northampton Plan supports all of the programs represented in the other three documents and reiterates the framework used to develop the Montview Farm stewardship, education, design, and food production
programs.The Feed Northampton Plan was sponsored by Montview Neighborhood Farm and supports a sustainable, citizen agriculture movement already underway in the city and the region. The plan provides an excellent study of many aspects of the current food
production systems in Northamtpon.Visit the addresses listed below to access digital copies of the plans.
Recommended Reference Documents for Future Planning of Civic Agriculture and Ecological Design
www.mosaicfarm.com/upload/Bleiman%20Management%20Plan.pdf
www.northamptonma.gov/aboutNorthampton/Sustainability_Plan/
http://www.northamptonma.gov/opd/uploads/listWidget/2904/
Open%20Space%20Plan%20as%20of%2012%2029%202010.pdf
http://www.csld.edu/projects/student-projects/food-security-farm-
land-protection/

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