Pioneer Valley

  • Pioneer Valley Summer of Solutions is based in Greenfield and Turners Falls, MA, two towns in western Massachusetts along the Connecticut River.  These towns were rooted in manufacturing industries and are traditional crossing points for the surrounding communities, as far back as when the Pocumtuc tribe lived on the land.
  • Pioneer Valley Summer of Solutions addresses the unique challenges and assets of rural communities in New England.  We seek to build a prosperous future in Greenfield and Turners Falls, through increased food production and access, community education and improved energy infrastructure. Working in a community which has been abandoned by many commercial industries, we work to build a sustainable economy that is rooted in the area’s natural assets.  We work to provide a model for how rural areas can address peak oil and climate change as opportunities to create a more thriving community.
  • Pioneer Valley Summer of Solutions prioritizes building connections between youth and community resources and creating more opportunities for youth to thrive.
Planting seeds at the Snack Garden, Summer 2011

Projects

  • Harvest Moon Farm: We started a “work-share” in 2011, helping with Gwen and Eric’s crops in exchange for a quarter acre plot of our own.  We’ll be expanding to grow more vegetables to sell, and expand options for Greenfield residents to eat healthy, affordable and local food and be a part of its production. We also will be using the Greenfield Community Kitchen to develop our own prepared food product.
  • Community Education: In 2011 we helped start the Summer Workshop Series, hosted at the Brick House Community Resource Center in Turners, which was made up of dozens of free classes on topics from wood-working to self-defense to herbal medicine.  We will continue this partnership with the Brick House, including the Snack Garden on-site.
  • Working with other community partners such as Greening Greenfield and Co-op Power.

Program leaders

Martha Pskowski and Erika Linenfelser
pioneervalleysolutions@gmail.com
413-489-1805

pioneervalleysolutions.org