The Natural Farmer
About Us
Photo Credit: Judith Prins
About The Natural Farmer
For more than thirty years, The Natural Farmer (TNF) has been the quarterly, in-print newspaper of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA). In alignment with NOFA’s mission, TNF features organic farming techniques, certification issues, environmental developments as they impact farmers and growers, issues of food justice and other topics of interest to the Northeast organic community.
TNF intends to serve both as a voice of NOFA and to raise awareness within the NOFA community about important and timely issues related to organic agriculture. TNF is the only publication, electronic or in print, that is distributed to all seven NOFA state chapters as well as National and International subscribers. The paper is published and mailed quarterly on the solstice/equinox in March, June, September and December to a readership of more than 6,000 households.
TNF's Team & Advisory Committee
The Natural Farmer’s Advisory Committee helps guide the paper’s decision-making processes, develops editorial guidelines, expands our methods of promoting equity and racial justice, and broadens the paper’s reach.
Elizabeth Gabriel (NY)
Editor
Elizabeth (she/her) is a mom, a farmer, and an activist. As a director of two farmer training nonprofits, she redesigned their structures to integrate equity into their programs, leadership and culture. She is passionate about perennial food and medicine production and chainsawing with other women. Besides working for TNF, Liz is an organizational equity consultant, a member of the Soul Fire Farm Speakers Collective, facilitates Talking Circles on Race & Racism and runs Wellspring Forest Farm with her family in the Finger Lakes, on land originally stewarded by the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ Indigenous people and who still reside here today south of and surrounding Cayuga Lake.
Melanie Espinal (NJ)Communications Administrator
Melanie (she/her) is a writer, marketer, and lover of the natural world. Enchanted by the wonders of the natural world, Melanie's upbringing was steeped in the legacy of her mother, who was raised on a farm in Puerto Rico. Captivating stories and Melanie’s experiences working on farm coops in Salt Lake City fueled her passion to contribute to organizations championing sustainable futures.
With a background in cross-cultural communications and arts & culture journalism, Melanie hopes to work to build relationships with TNF and readers across diverse backgrounds, industries and communities to expand NOFA’s awareness and support.
Xóchitl Ahtziri (CT)
Advisory Committee
Xóchitl (she/her) is from the Nutmeg state where she grows organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers for a non-profit in New Haven. She loves agriculture because she can both spiritually connect to her indigenous ancestors and provide sustenance to neighborhoods that have limited access to healthy produce.
Bobcat Bonagura (NY)
Advisory Committee
Bobcat (he/him) is a farmer, musician, educator, new father, and more. He is a co-owner of Main Street Farms, a diversified organic vegetable and hemp farm in Cortland, NY. Bobcat recently served 3 years on the NOFA-NY board of directors and serves on the education committee.
Angela (she/her) has practiced herbalism for over 20 years and is in the process of getting her Permaculture Design Certificate. She loves to cultivate weeds, forage and use what’s naturally growing around her for food, medicine and crafts.
Christa (she/her) is the founder and Director of CAN Cooperative Media, the Learning Farm, and Khuba International. She has over 20 years of filmmaking and storytelling experience, as well as 12 years of experience in nature, farm and garden-based, equity-focused education. Through her organizations, as well as with community organizations such as Black Farmers United, Christa prioritizes increasing equitable access to food, land, and nature for displaced youth and families and sharing stories that center BIPOC people in dignity-affirming ways.
Leila (they/them) is a farmworker and aspiring seed grower currently based in western Mass, Pocumtuc and Nipmuc land. They are excited about agrobiodiversity, farmworker organizing, queer- and POC-centered agricultural projects, building a regional open-pollinated seed system, and seed rematriation. They are thrilled to serve on TNF’s advisory committee and learn from other folks who love working with land, plants, soil and community.
Richard (he/him) is a full-time vegetable and Christmas tree farmer at Hopestill Farm and part-time science writer, from Sherborn, MA. He has helped edit TNF for more than a year.
Angela Highsmith (MA)
Advisory Committee
Christa Nunez (NY)
Advisory Committee
Richard Robinson (MA)
Advisory Committee
Leila Rezvani (MA)
Advisory Committee
Chris (he/him) is a Soil and Water Conservation District Technician in Onondaga County, NY. He is a graduate of SUNY ESF with a BS in Plant Biology and a Masters in Environmental Management. In 2022 he and his wife launched a cut-flower production for the first time!
Holli (she/her) first apprenticed on an organic farm in 2005 and has since immersed herself in organic agriculture as a farmer, advocate and writer. She is the editor of The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, the quarterly publication of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), and resides in rural Maine.
Elizabeth (she/her) farmed at Peacework Farm in Wayne County, New York, producing organically grown vegetables for one of the first CSAs in the country. She co-chairs the NOFA-IC Policy Committee, and represents NOFA on the Board of the Agricultural Justice Project and as the delegate to IFOAM-OI. She serves as Honorary President of Urgenci, the International CSA Network.
Chris Travis (NY)
Advisory Committee
Holli Cederholm (ME)
Advisory Committee
Vacant Seat
Advisory Committee
Elizabeth Henderson (NY)
Advisory Committee
Vision
Coming Soon!
Photo Credit: Rock Steady Farm, NY.
Equity Statement
Coming Soon!
TNF is developing a racial justice statement. While the statement is a work in progress, NOFA/Mass has a Working Racial Equity Statement that speaks to the TNF’s position.
NOFA Chapters
The Natural Farmer is the newspaper of the NOFA Interstate Council and the seven NOFA chapters.
Reprints
We want you to pass along the work of The Natural Farmer. Out of respect and recognition of our farmers, writers and photographers, please contact us first. Email your request to our editor: tnf@nofa.org.
Include in your email the issue date and title of the article or photograph you would like to reprint.
