NCAT’s specialists in Keene, New Hampshire, provide technical assistance and educational programming to agricultural communities in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic states. Regional specialists are dedicated to: Supporting regenerative agriculture in the region by helping new and established farmers utilize their talents and resources most effectively Developing community-based food systems and creating new economic engines… Continue Reading
THE NCAT MISSION
Helping people by championing small-scale, local
and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, promote
healthy communities, and protect natural resources.
Helping people by championing small-scale, local
and sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, promote
healthy communities, and protect natural resources.
Staff
Andy PressmanNortheast Regional Office Director
andyp@ncat.org
Andy has been with NCAT since 2007, helping farmers in the fields of whole-farm planning, small-scale intensive farming systems, organic crop certification, urban agriculture, and community food systems. Andy has a MS degree in Sustainable Systems from Slippery Rock University with an emphasis in agroecology and Permaculture design. He has extensive experience in market farming and in working with appropriately-scaled tools and equipment for the small farm. Andy and his family also operate Foggy Hill Farm, a small diversified farm and CSA located in Jaffrey, NH.
Daniel PrialCommunity Foods Outreach Specialist
danielp@ncat.org
Daniel joined NCAT in 2017 as a Community Foods Outreach Specialist for NCAT’s Northeast Regional Office. Daniel has a bachelor’s degree in Peace and Conflict Solutions and a master’s degree in Environmental Studies. Prior to joining NCAT, he served in the Peace Corps in West Africa, worked for the National Park Service at the home of John Muir, in CA, and started his own consulting business for community-based projects in NH. Daniel works to build connections and projects for NCAT in the local food and sustainable agriculture movements in the Northeast.
Lee RinehartSustainable Agriculture Specialist
lee@ncat.org
Lee has been writing and educating on sustainable agriculture for over 15 years, focusing on livestock, pasture, and organic certification. He has worked as an organic certification educator, a cooperative extension agent, and a cattle ranch manager. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Lee holds a BS in Animal Science and an MEd in agricultural education. He lives in Dallas, PA where he enjoys reading, writing, and sailing.
NCAT Northeast 2019 Recap
A Time for Contemplation The thermometer reads well below freezing in Keene, NH, and your NCAT Northeast gang is feeling sentimental about the year that now comes to a close. 2019 kept us all very busy with travels across the country, with projects that ended and with more that began. Meanwhile, Andy, Lee, and Daniel… Continue Reading
NCAT Northeast: Year in Review
2018 was a full year for us. Join NCAT Northeast Regional Director Andy Pressman as he takes a short look at some of our major successes and what we have in store for the coming years. Continue Reading
Re-Introducing Sustainable Agriculture
By Lee Rinehart, 2018 We have neglected the truth that a good farmer is a craftsman of the highest order, a kind of artist. Wendell Berry, The Gift of Good Land: Further Essays Cultural and Agricultural A craftsman is a master of her work, and has a keen knowledge of tools and processes. More importantly,… Continue Reading
What, Pray Tell, are Intermediated Markets?
Small Farmers, Scaling Up Imagine a Pioneer Valley farmer just down the road from our New Hampshire office. She’s been in business for a while now and she cultivates five acres of her fifteen acre property. She’s been selling on the side of the road and at farmers markets for years and she’s pretty regularly… Continue Reading
Armed to Farm NH Builds Knowledge, Camaraderie
Armed to Farm NH With a light wind blowing the American flag, 35 people lined up next to the swimming pool at East Hill Farm with Mount Monadnock standing proudly in the background. There were 28 military veterans from all over the northeast United States, plus seven NCAT staff and interns. None of them left… Continue Reading
Armed to Farm Comes to New Hampshire: Helping Military Veterans Transition to Agriculture
Military veterans are a special breed. Women and men all over the country leave the services with dreams for their future. Perhaps she sat in a Humvee jotting down notes or drawing maps of a future farm. Or perhaps he talked to his squad members about his idea of starting a small vegetable farm in… Continue Reading
New Office, New Hire, New Start
NCAT’s Northeast Team is rearing to go in 2018 with a new office in New Hampshire. They brought on an outreach specialist and have plans to do work in helping farmers expand to new markets and help veterans find opportunities in agriculture. Continue Reading
Applications Available for Armed to Farm in New Hampshire
Deadline to Apply is April 27 The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is bringing its Armed to Farm training to New Hampshire. Armed to Farm gives military veterans an opportunity to learn about transitioning to a farming life. Armed to Farm combines engaging classroom sessions with farm tours and hands-on activities. Participants learn about… Continue Reading
A Plan’s the Thing: NCAT Specialists to Lead Farm Planning Workshop
Join NCAT Agriculture Specialists Lee Rinehart and Andy Pressman at the Kentucky State University Third Thursday Thing to learn farm planning strategies that can lower risks, increase profits, and improve production. The workshop will take place on Jan. 19 in Frankfort, KY, and will partially coincide with a workshop scheduled on growing grapes. Attendees at… Continue Reading