Care Farming Network National Conference
“Pioneering a movement, growing a community”
Conference Dates
Monday, January 13th (1 PM)- Wednesday, January 15th (12 PM)
Location
University of Massachusetts- Amherst
Campus Center Building
1 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01002
Registration Fee
The Care Farming Network National Conference registration fee is $295 and includes access to all sessions, meeting materials, and meals
Scholarships
To ensure our conference is accessible to all, we are offering need-based scholarships for those who require financial support to attend. Applications for scholarships are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. If you require financial support to attend, please fill out the Scholarship Application.
Priority will be given to applicants who are currently working on a care farm in the northeast US, as well as to individuals with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
We encourage early submission, as funding is limited and scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis.
Getting To The Conference
The conference will be hosted on the picturesque campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) within the Campus Center building. On Monday, join us for Farm Tours and a Welcome Reception at Prospect Meadow Farm in Hatfield, just outside of town. If you’re traveling without a vehicle, we’ve got you covered with our complimentary shuttle services. Continue reading for more details on how to take advantage of our transportation options.
Hotel Accommodations
Hotel UMass is conveniently located within the UMass Campus Center Building, where the conference will be held on Tuesday 1/14/25 and Wednesday 1/15/25. Comfort Inn & Suites is located nearby as an offsite option. To reserve your room, simply use the “BOOK HERE” links below. Space is limited at Hotel UMass, so we encourage you to book early!
Onsite at Hotel UMass | BOOK HERE (Room rate $179 and up)
- Address: 1 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003
- Check-In Location: Hotel Lobby on 3rd Floor of UMass Campus Center
- Website: Hotel UMass
- Phone: (413) 549-6000
- Email: hotel@umass.edu
Offsite at Comfort Inn & Suites | BOOK HERE (Room rate $118 and up)
- Address: 400 Russell Street, Hadley, MA, 01035
- Distance to UMass (driving): 8-10 minutes (This hotel does not provide shuttle service to the conference)
- Website: https://www.choicehotels.com/massachusetts/hadley/comfort-inn-hotels/
- Phone: (413) 341-1556
Complimentary Conference Shuttle Service
A heartfelt thanks to our Conference Co-Host, Prospect Meadow Farm, for making complimentary shuttle services available throughout your stay. Whether you’re flying into the area or simply need transportation during the event, we’ve got you covered! The conference airport shuttle will pick you up at Bradley Airport at the start of your visit and ensure a smooth return to the airport when it’s time to head home. On Monday, shuttle services will also connect you to the Farm Tours and Welcome Reception, as well as back to Hotel UMass for your convenience.
How it works:
Bradley Airport Conference Shuttle: Fill out this form by January 6th to reserve a roundtrip shuttle from and to the airport on Monday and Wednesday, connecting you directly to Prospect Meadow Farm for Monday’s Farm Tours. Please have your flight details ready. (And don’t worry! There will be space at the farm to safely store your luggage on Monday before checking in to your accommodations.)
- Bradley Airport to Prospect Meadow Farm:
Departures from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM on Monday, January 13th - UMass Hotel to Bradley Airport:
Departures from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM on Wednesday, January 15th - This shuttle service will also provide pickup and dropoff at the Framingham Logan Express Bus Stop
Hotel UMass Conference Shuttle: This shuttle will run in loops, connecting Prospect Meadow Farm to Hotel UMass for Monday’s Farm Tours + Reception on January 13th. No reservations are needed.
- 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Final afternoon shuttle leaves 3:30 PM from UMass to the Farm
- 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: First evening shuttle leaves 5:30 PM from Prospect Meadow Farm to the Hotel
Other Travel Options
Air
- The nearest airport is Bradley International Airport (Windsor Locks, CT). If you’re driving from Bradley, follow the Driving Directions. Bradley is approximately an hour from UMass.
- Logan Airport (Boston, MA) is two and a half hours from UMass. Other airports within approximately two or two and a half hours from Amherst are Green Airport (Providence, RI), Manchester Airport (Manchester, NH) and Albany International Airport (Albany, NY).
Bus
- UMass Transit operates PVTA buses (fare-free), Accessible Van Service vans. Use the Transit app or myStop for bus locations, alerts, departures, and directions.
- Peter Pan Bus Lines, in partnership with Greyhound, has regular service to Amherst. Call (800) 237-8747.
- Megabus has daily bus service from Amherst to New York City (through Hartford) and Burlington, Vt.
- The University of Massachusetts Transit System, in conjunction with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, offers a bus service between the Five Colleges and surrounding towns.
Train
- Amtrak now stops in Northampton, Massachusetts, and continues to provide extensive service to Springfield, Massachusetts, just 30 minutes from UMass. If arriving in Springfield, transportation to campus is available through Peter Pan Bus Lines, (800) 237-8747. If arriving in Northampton, the B43 Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus will take you to the UMass campus.
Private Shuttle Services
- Valley Transporter provides shuttle service between the campus and nearby airports and train stations. Call (413) 253-1350 for information on rates, schedules and reservations.
- Seemo Shuttle provides service in the Pioneer Valley and to Bradley, Logan and JFK airports. Call (413) 586-1120 or visit their Website to make reservations.
- Bluebird Airport Shuttle and Car Service is located in South Hadley. Call (413) 221-4512
Conference Parking
Parking is available at the UMass Campus Center Parking Garage at a rate of $6.50 per day.
Conference Program Agenda
Things to do in and around Amherst
Accessibility
UMass’s Campus Accessibility Map includes information on access levels, accessible restrooms, elevators, entrances/door types, and accessible parking spaces.
You can also use accessibleGO, the first full-service travel platform for people with disabilities, to book rental cars with hand controls, wheelchair vans, accessible rides, and mobility equipment. Create a free account using this link.
This conference aims to center individuals with lived experience who work and volunteer on care farms. We seek not only to make this conference accessible to individuals with disabilities, but also to amplify the voices, the perspectives, and expertise of care farm participants with IDDs. If you are a care farm participant with IDD and would like to explore speaking opportunities at the conference, we encourage you to reach out to us at conference@carefarmingnetwork.org. We’d love to discuss potential sessions and topics where you can share your insights and experiences.
Conference Community-Building Activities
The theme for our 2025 conference is “Pioneering a Movement, Growing a Community,” reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative gathering that deepens connections and strengthens the care farming community. Building community means cultivating trust, embracing vulnerability, nurturing creativity, and sharing our stories—both the triumphs and the challenges.
We warmly invite and encourage participation from all attendees, whether you’re part of an established care farm or just beginning your journey. Throughout the conference, we’ve planned a variety of activities to highlight care farms and showcase the incredible work being done across the network. We welcome you to engage in as many activities as you’d like!
Mapping Our Stories
We invite care farms to share a short story and a photo that captures what you are most proud of as a care farmer. Stories and photos will be displayed on a US map at the conference to highlight the work of our community across the nation. Upload your photo and story here!
Care Farm Showcase
Attendees are invited to bring visual displays that highlight their farm’s story, showcase their products or programs, and celebrate their achievements. This vibrant “gallery” will be set up in a common gathering space, offering participants an engaging way to explore and connect with the inspiring work of care farms from across the country. To participate, please fill out this form.
Lightning Sessions
Throughout the conference, we’ll host several rounds of Lightning Sessions—brief presentations lasting 5 to 10 minutes, strategically scheduled between main sessions. These sessions offer a unique platform for attendees to share insights, innovative projects or programming, or thought-provoking ideas that may not require a full-length presentation. They’re a great way to spark conversations and showcase your idea/program/farm in a short-form presentation. To participate, please fill out this form
Conference Terms and Conditions
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be requested in writing by sending an email to conference@carefarmingnetwork.
org There is a $55 cancellation fee if cancellation is requested by December 10th, 2024
There is a 50% cancellation fee if cancellation is requested between December 11th – 27th, 2024
After December 28th, 2024, we will provide a 100% refund for cancellations for health-related or other emergencies. Refunds are not otherwise available if cancellation is requested after December 28th, 2024