Celebrating all things local at our Barn Raising with Farm Aid

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Last Friday night, Farm Aid threw an all-local party in Boston! The first-ever “Barn Raising with Farm Aid,” presented by Whole Foods Market and St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, was a celebration of Massachusetts’s family farm food, the strength of the food movement in our community and the sounds of some of the best hometown talent.

For two hours, folks gathered at the Boston Public Market for HOMEGROWN skillshares from some of the Boston’s food and farm groups:

Before an eager crowd, John Hopkins of Five Way Foods, an entrepreneur from CommonWealth Kitchen, shared the benefits of bone broth and simple ways to incorporate it into a healthy diet. Photo © Michael Basu Photography

Urban Farming Institute’s Bobby Walker and Nataka Crayton demonstrated the importance of heirloom tomato seed saving. Photo © Michael Basu Photography

Solomon Montagno, Michele Kaufman and Maggie Notopoulos of CitySprouts taught the audience about the New England tradition of cider pressing before sharing samples from Boston Public Market vendor Red Apple Farm. Photo © Michael Basu Photography

In between skillshares, folks were able to catch the lovely sounds – and the rhythm of the cajón – from the Nella Rojas Trio.

The Nella Rojas Trio at the Barn Raising with Farm Aid. Photo © Michael Basu Photography

Following the early evening demonstrations, guests gathered in the KITCHEN space at the Boston Public Market for delicious local food from Chef Will Gilson of Puritan & Co. and the chefs at Season to Taste, all of Cambridge. Chef Gilson cooked and served up hot incredible stuffed quahogs, a New England staple.

Photo © Michael Basu Photography

Guests also enjoyed braised lamb and risotto-stuffed delicata squash, an heirloom tomato and mozzarella bar, local apples and cheese from Whole Foods Market and fresh and warm apple cider donuts from Red Apple Farm. The bar was stocked with selections from St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Prairie Organic Spirits, DRY Sparkling, and Samuel Adams.

After dinner, folk artist Avi Jacob closed out the evening with a beautiful set of tunes that harkened back to his time spent working the land as a farmer in Western Massachusetts.

Avi Jacobs at the Barn Raising with Farm Aid

Thank you to our sponsors, chefs, artists and guests for making Barn Raising with Farm Aid a great success. We are grateful for your generous support! Be sure to check out the wonderful folks below. We hope to see you at our next event in Boston!