C  R  A  F  T
GOOD HANDS FOR A GOOD EARTH                             in  Western  Connecticut
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 Policies
Bylaws
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Purpose

CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) in Western Connecticut is an organization of farms dedicated to providing farm education and training to its farm apprentices and employees. We do this by organizing farm field meetings which are attended by the apprentices or employees of member farms.

History

The original CRAFT group was organized by farmers in eastern New York and western Massachusetts in 1994. Since that time the concept has become popular nationwide. CRAFT in Western Connecticut was organized in 2004.

Organizational Geography

CRAFT in Western Connecticut farms are located within the boundaries of the Western Connecticut Craft program, which are from the NY/MA borders to Long Island sound, with the eastern border being the Connecticut River.

Member Farms

Member Farms will gather twice a year. The spring meeting will be the last Wednesday in February, and the fall meeting will be the second Wednesday in November. A quorum of two thirds of current participating farms must be present to make changes in the bylaws. Bylaws can be amended at either the fall or spring meeting. Organizational meetings are followed by a potluck (optional).

Fall Meeting tasks
  • Review the season and make any necessary adjustments.
  • Choose a leader for a one year term. There are no term limits on the leader.
  • Hear sponsorships and vote on any farms in our geographic region which wish to be part of the CRAFT program.
Spring Meeting tasks
  • Set the calendar for the member farm field visits.
  • Announce any new Provisional Members to the group
A farm within the above listed boundaries may apply for membership. Such farms will be known as Provisional Members. New farms must indicate their interest in Provisional Membership in CRAFT in Western CT to the current leader by February 15 of the season at hand. Apprentices or employees of the Provisional Farms may then attend meetings, but will not be represented at CRAFT organizational meetings and will not host CRAFT field visits. After a Provisional Member has attended meetings for one season, that farm may apply as a full member. The Provisional Member needs to be 'sponsored' by a current Craft farm. At the fall farmer meeting, the sponsor will describe the farm and a simple majority vote will be taken to admit or deny admittance to the candidate farm. 		Field Meeting Attendance

CRAFT field meetings are open only to apprentices and employees of member and provisional farms. After the spring meeting, attendance of individuals other than those listed above is only by permission of the individual farmer hosting the meeting, who must be contacted at least one week in advance.

Field Meeting Specifications

The Craft Field Meeting Calendar will be created and distributed at the spring meeting.

Field meetings will begin promptly at 3:00 PM and will end around 5 PM, followed by a potluck supper.

Field meetings will be comprised of a tour and general description and history of the farm, and then a more in-depth discussion of an area in which the farmer has some expertise. The majority of the farm meeting must be delivered by a principal of the host farm, although experienced farm employees may also contribute.

Field meetings are intended solely for farm employees. CRAFT farmers are welcome to listen in on the farm tour and topic discussion, but they ARE NOT to ask questions or make comments. Generally speaking, two bantering farmers greatly dampens participation by apprentices. Farmers leading a tour should more than gently remind anyone in a tour group who might need a refresher on this policy.

At a minimum, a year end survey will be distributed to farm apprentices to gather feedback on the program. Individual farmers may also distribute surveys on or shortly after their visit.

      Adopted February 23, 2011,
      at Roxbury, Connecticut.

An Independent Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training in Western Connecticut

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