Growing Specialty Crops & Natural Dyes: Organic Diversification & Soil Decision - Aug 2026

📅 6 August 2026 | 📍 Hilltop Farm and Fiber Arts, 1 Partridge Rd., Lanesborough, 01237, United States

If you’re curious about growing more than just vegetables, or want to explore how diverse crops can enhance both production and soil health, this field day is for you. We’ll focus on natural dye plants—annual and perennial species that often also serve as cut flowers—alongside garlic, rhubarb, and seeds, showing how multiple enterprises can fit into a practical organic farm system. This is a great opportunity for farmers, homesteaders, and growers interested in soil-building practices, adaptive farm management, and how to integrate it all into an Organic Systems Plan (OSP).

During this on-farm field day at Hilltop Farm & Fiber Arts, we’ll explore how the farm’s management systems have evolved over time and how those changes shape day-to-day soil and crop decisions whilst referencing a soil test. Hilltop Farm once integrated livestock but now sources composted manure off-farm, offering a practical example of adapting nutrient management while maintaining fertility and organic certification. We’ll also discuss how scale, labor, and cost considerations influence decisions about which practices to keep, modify, or replace.

Through a farm tour and discussion, participants will:

Visit the certified organic processing areas used for dried plant material and seed handling

See how the farm’s OSP guides everyday soil health and crop management decisions

Explore production strategies for natural dye plants alongside garlic, rhubarb, and seeds in niche organic markets

Enjoy a locally sourced lunch

Observe low-till bed preparation with a rototiller, cover-cropped beds, and techniques for maintaining soil structure

Learn how soil test results can be interpreted and applied to real-world fertility management

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About:

Hilltop Farm& Fiber Arts is a small but diverse, certified organic farm growing natural dye plants, flowers, garlic, rhubarb, and seeds. We’re all about building healthy soil through organic methods and exploring unique markets beyond veggies—like natural dyes, flower-based products, and specialty crops.

Lisa has over 35 years of experience growing vegetables and spent more than 20 years raising sheep for both fiber and lamb. A fiber artist and natural dyer, she now focuses on dye plants, flowers, garlic, and rhubarb at Hilltop Farm & Fiber Arts. Lisa teaches natural dyeing workshops and enjoys helping others explore the creative and economic potential of plant-based color in small-scale farming. Her work is grounded in organic practices and informed by training in Biodynamics.

Accessibility:

The farm is not wheelchair accessible and has sloped, rough ground. Location is not accessible by public transportation, but carpooling is encouraged. The dedicated rideshare site for this event is available here.

Capacity:

Capacity for this event is limited to 30 people. Register ahead of time to secure your space!

Refund/Inclement Weather Policy:

The rain date for this event is scheduled for August 11. For information on our refund and inclement weather policy, click here.

Register Online Now

Questions?

Contact Hannah at hannah@nofamass.org