1. Why should someone join NOFA? (i.e. what are the benefits?)
Benefits of NOFA-VT membership include:
- NOFA Vermont Winter Conference—Members save $15 per day for our annual three-day conference
- NOFA Summer Conference—Members receive a 20% discount on registration for the annual regional conference in MA
- On-Farm & Other Educational Workshops—Members save $5-$10 per workshop throughout the year
- Classified & Calendar Listings—Members receive free classifieds and events listings on our website
- Other—Free listing on our apprentice/farm worker web page
Members also get subscriptions to several NOFA publications, including:
- NOFA Notes—NOFA Vermont’s quarterly seasonal newsletter, chock-full of Vermont farming and gardening information, local foods resources, opinion pieces, analysis of public policy initiatives, recipes, and event listings.
- The Natural Farmer—a Northeast regional quarterly newspaper covering news of the organic movement nationally and internationally, and featuring stories about farmers from New England, New York, and New Jersey.
- Vermont Organic Farm and Food Directory—NOFA Vermont’s annual guide to the certified organic food producers in Vermont including where to find farm stands, CSAs, and farmers markets. Certified organic farmers and processors receive a free listing.
- Monthly e-newsletter—providing current information, policy updates, and farming and gardening advice.
2. How does NOFA currently work to increase membership?
We have been somewhat increasing the number/type of outreach events we participate in, as well as working harder to push membership and encourage people to join when we host our own on-farm workshops and social events throughout the summer. Once we have a dedicated membership coordinator position (starting April 1) we also plan to consistently send membership invites to people who contacts us through various programs and outreach.
3. Who is your current target audience? What demographic makes up current members?
Current members of NOFA-VT are primarily farmers, gardeners, homesteaders, food/farming activists and local food lovers. This has generally been our target audience, but we know we're not currently reaching all people in VT who fall into one or more of these categories.
4. What specifically is your team looking to us for help with?
I don't have all of the background on what you've discussed with Kim (and maybe others here at NOFA) but from my perspective, we would love helpthinking of creative ways to expand our reach beyond those who are already aware of/involved with NOFA. How can we grow our membership base andfurther engage/involve those who are already part of our community?
5. Would you consider developing unpaid internship positions to continue any efforts we may begin to establish?
Yes!
6. What is NOFA's story? How can we better tell it?
From our website (you may have seen this):
NOFA Vermont was founded in Putney in 1971, making it one of the oldest organic farming associations in the United States. Today, we are proud to have 1200 members throughout the state and to certify close to 600 farms and processors to the USDA National Organic Program standards. We are passionate about increasing the acreage of certified organic land in Vermont while also increasing the access of local organic food to all Vermonters.
All our programs strive to meet these goals, whether it involves working with schools to bring local foods into the cafeteria or providing business planning services to farmers to ensure their businesses stay viable. Whether you are a Vermonter who gardens, farms, eats local food, or enjoys our rural communities, NOFA Vermont welcomes you!
Our Mission—The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont is a nonprofit association of farmers, gardeners, and consumers working to promote an economically viable and ecologically sound Vermont food system for the benefit of current and future generations.
As far as telling it better - that's what we would love your help with! We do so many things here that it's sometimes hard to focus in and give a great "elevator pitch" without trying to say too much. We need to learn how to tell our story in a way that engages and inspires people to want to be part of what we're doing, whether that means becoming a member, donating, volunteering, or coming to our events.
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