A strong local food system keeps our communities vibrant, our economy growing, and our landscapes healthy. When we purchase local food, the benefits ripple throughout the community, helping local farms and other small businesses thrive.

For the thirteenth year, let’s shine a light on local food, farms, and our entire Monadnock Region food system during Eat Indie Local Month, a month-long nationwide celebration in August.  

We hope to inspire you to eat more locally grown, raised, and made foods, meet the farmers, growers, and chefs behind your food, and learn new skills that keep you eating locally throughout the year.

What Do We Mean by a Food System? 

Our food system is a complex network of people, resources, and processes that grow and deliver food from the farm to your plate. It includes the soil's fertility, the hard work of farm workers, the transportation networks, bustling markets, and much more. 

Please enjoy this year’s bounty of Monadnock Region food system updates!

Deepening Roots

For 20 years, the Cornucopia Project, based in Peterborough, has deepened its roots through expanded education and community service. New offerings include their student farmers growing and donating produce to area food pantries and community suppers.

They also provide low-cost shares of locally grown food to community members with limited incomes through NOFA-NH's Farm Share Program. 

Cornucopia Project's Young Farmers summer program allows middle school youth to experience everyday farm life, harvest fresh produce for their meals and snacks, and enjoy nature-based art projects.

Recently, the Cornucopia Project purchased a house next to their educational farm.  This addition means more space for nutrition education, student-run CSA sales, and other fantastic programming. The organization also developed partnerships with early childhood programs, including an innovative cooking program with Robin's Nest Nature Preschool in Peterborough. They’re visiting Robin's Nest and Dublin Community Preschool to make salsa, bringing nutrition education directly to young learners.

Student farmer Cayden Park shared that strengthening the food system "helps to build relationships and strengthen community." His vision for the future reflects the organization's broader goals: "more community gatherings where everyone eats food and there is safe space for everyone."

As the organization grows, so does its need for volunteers.  Learn more and get involved! 

Funding Local Food

In December 2024, Walden Mutual Bank, based in Concord, launched its pilot Seedlings Loan Program, supporting a loan readiness program co-developed and offered by the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship in Keene. This program serves underserved, emerging food, agriculture, and related businesses to build their credit histories. Walden Mutual Bank hopes to replicate and scale up this model with the help of other nonprofits that support small farms and businesses. 

 “A key barrier for many farmers and food producers—especially first-time or underserved borrowers—is that they are not ready to take on loan capital,” said Sara Powell, Program Director for the Hannah Grimes Center. “Our loan readiness program was designed to address that gap.”

Six food and farm businesses have participated in the loan readiness program, and three have successfully applied for loans through Walden Mutual’s Seedlings Loan Program. One participant shared, “We have gained so much confidence in understanding the financials of our business. The program instructors provided thoughtful and expert insights and created a supportive yet challenging space for us to grow. Our business is in a great place to begin the season and keep growing for years to come!”

Cultivating Farmer Resilience

The New Hampshire Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant program works to support and empower local farmers in building climate resilience. Since 2022, this program has distributed $1 million to New Hampshire farms.

Two examples of farms that received 2025 funding in our region include Picadilly Farm, a vegetable farm, and Manning Hill Farm, a dairy farm, both located in Winchester. Owners Jenny and Bruce Wooster of Picadilly Farm will purchase a stone burrier, which will improve soil health on their farm: picadillyfarm.com. Sarah Costa and Sam Canonica of Manning Hill Farm will upgrade to a more energy-efficient milking system: manninghillfarm.com. Learn more about this grant program at cheshireconservation.org/climate.

Cultivating Community Resilience

Antioch University’s Community Garden Connections (CGC) in Keene builds our capacity to grow local food and enhances well-being among those most impacted by climate change and other social, economic, and ecological injustices. CGC's education and outreach activities include the installation and cooperative maintenance of over 70 raised garden beds alongside social service agencies and nonprofits. CGC offers safe places for community members to get outside, learn, and connect through gardening. Through CGC’s one-acre organic farm in Westmoreland, they have raised over 10,000 pounds of produce since their inception for The Community Kitchen in Keene. 

Volunteer with CGC at the Westmoreland Garden Project at 193 River Road on Thursdays from 4:00-6:00 pm. Contact CGC to learn more at communitygardens@antioch.edu.

"A resilient local food system is the backbone of a healthy community,” said Ben Radcliffe from CGC.  “I am honored to be the Westmoreland Garden Project Steward this season, where I tend to our high tunnel and raised beds, and all of the produce we harvest is donated to The Community Kitchen to help get quality, organic produce to food-insecure folks in our community. Every person deserves access to fresh, nutritious food grown with care for people and the land. I hope to see a future where local food is not a privilege, but a right—where collaboration, education, and equity ensure that everyone has a seat at the table."

Attend Eat Indie Local Events

Now, get out there and enjoy our local food and farms! Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition (MFCC) invites you to the 2025 Monadnock Farm Tour, celebrating local food and farms on Saturday, August 16, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Visit working farms, meet the people behind your food, and learn about the essential role agriculture plays in our local economy, environment, and quality of life. Tickets are $10 per car, providing access to all participating farms. Learn more at https://monadnockfood.coop/event/monadnock-grown-farm-tour. 

Discover more local food and farming events at tlcmonadnock.com/NHEatLocal. 

Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies, and initiatives that continue to develop a stronger local and regional food system in our part of the state and throughout New England. Together, we’re fostering healthier citizens, communities, and economies.