At Picadilly, we work hard and from the heart to support our vibrant local community. We partner with many outstanding organizations, events, and businesses to bring organic agriculture to all.
Grants, Awards, and Certifications
Cooperator of the Year, Monadnock Food Co-op, Award Recipient for 2023: This award is given out annually to recognize a member-owner, vendor, staff member, or co-op partner who exemplifies cooperative values, integral to cooperatives throughout the world. These values include self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, solidarity, honesty, social responsibility, openness, and caring for others.
New Hampshire Conservation Districts Climate Resilience Grant Recipient, 2022: The mission of this grant is to support and empower local farmers to build climate resilience throughout the Granite State. This is done by reducing the impact that local agriculture has on climate change (mitigation) through greenhouse gas emissions reduction and carbon sequestration, and through increasing the resiliency of New Hampshire Farms in a changing climate (adaptation), while meeting farm’s conservation goals and needs. Extreme weather events, frequent and prolonged droughts, and increased pest pressures are increasing challenges for NH farms. This grant program, through the NH County Conservation Districts, seeks to support farmers in meeting those challenges.
NH Farm Future Fund, Award Recipient for 2021: The mission of the NH Farm Future Fund is to provide funding for farm viability planning in concert with the conservation of important agricultural soils. The goal is to ensure that farmland is conserved, productive, and available for future generations. In 2021, the Monadnock Conservancy is working to permanently protect our farmland by purchasing a conservation easement. This grant helps to cover Conservancy costs related to the initial appraisal expense, the survey expense and a portion of the stewardship fund contribution. Additionally, the funds help to cover legal fees to review the conservation easement and other transaction related documents, and to provide business finance and marketing assistance. Grown out of collaborations fostered by the NH Food Alliance, the Farm Future Fund is privately funded by the You Have Our Trust Fund, with additional support from the NH Charitable Foundation. It is administered by the Cheshire County Conservation District on behalf of the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts.
USDA REAP grant, 2020: The Rural Energy for America Program of the US Department of Agriculture seeks to help increase American energy independence by providing guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Over time, these investments can also help lower the cost of energy for small businesses and agricultural producers. In 2020, Picadilly was awarded a grant to help fund the installation of our grid-connected solar panels, providing for 100% of the farm’s electricity needs.
Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund, Award Recipient (2022, 2020 and 2018): The Monadnock Food Co-op Farm Fund's mission is to support local farmers in increasing sustainable food production and wholesale sales to contribute to a thriving local farm economy. This local grant opportunity is a partnership between the Cheshire County Conservation District and the Monadnock Food Co-op. Receiving this award has allowed us to add a refrigerated 25-foot long storage space that accommodates 18,000 – 20,000 pounds of root crops for long-term storage, as well as to purchase a set of three precision vacuum seeders for field seedings of these root crops and of greens, of which we currently grow around 10 acres worth each season.
LCHIP, Award Recipient for 2019: The New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) is an independent state authority that makes matching grants to NH communities and non-profits to conserve and preserve New Hampshire's most important natural, cultural and historic resources. Picadilly was chosen to support a conservation easement on our 70+ acre, certified organic vegetable farm. The easement, which will include an innovative affordability clause (called Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value, or OPAV), will help keep the farm viable, as a sustainable business and local employer, for future generations.
New Hampshire Farms of Distinction, Award Recipient for 2013: N.H. Farms of Distinction is a program of the N.H. Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food that annually recognizes those New Hampshire Farms that go the extra mile to keep their busy farmsteads neat and attractive, thereby portraying a positive image for New Hampshire agriculture.
Cooperator of the Year, Cheshire County Conservation District, Award Recipient for 2011: Each year, the CCCD honors an individual, business, or organization with the “Cooperator of the Year” award. This is done to reward the recipient for cooperating with the Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to conserve the natural resources on their land and exhibiting strong stewardship values.
Real Organic Project Certified Farm: The Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement created to distinguish soil-grown and pasture-raised products under USDA organic. In response to the lack of enforcement of some vital USDA Organic standards to protect soil health and animal welfare, organic farmers rallied together to fight to protect the integrity of the organic label.
USDA Certified Organic: USDA certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.
Community Events
Picadilly’s own Annual Summer Concert: Every June, Picadilly welcomes in the community to celebrate summer, with the uplifting music of the Family Folk Chorale. Come relax and sing along on the farmhouse lawn, with free local ice cream for all, and a big sky view over the farm. Bring the whole family, a picnic, and something to sit on! This is a free event, open to the public.
Winchester Local Foods Festival: This free community event celebrates the Winchester region’s local food purveyors, farmers and artisan food producers, working to provide the best, freshest and healthiest food, accessible to all area residents. For one day each spring, the Winchester Farmers’ Market grows into a vibrant community party, all about food. Activities include raffles, hearty free samples of locally-grown and locally-prepared food, hands-on activities for all ages, live music, a cooking demonstration by a local chef, and much more!
NH Eats Local Month: Each August, over 100 partners throughout the state join together to highlight New Hampshire produced foods, celebrate the power of food to bring us together, and encourage others to purchase and eat local foods. NH Eats Local Month is a month-long celebration of local food in our state, and the hard working NH farmers, fishers, and food businesses that provide for us all year long. NH Eats Local is a collaborative project led by the NH Food Alliance and the UNH Sustainability Institute with support from many key partners.
Community Wholesale Buyers
Monadnock Food Co-op: Serving Keene and it’s surrounding communities. Find our produce here, nearly year-round!
Brattleboro Food Co-op: Serving Brattleboro and it’s surrounding communities. Find our produce here, nearly year-round!
Greenfield’s Coop Market: Serving Greenfield, MA, and surrounding communities. Find our produce here, nearly year-round!
Food Connects: Food Connects works to increase wholesale access to locally produced food and develop new markets for local food producers while contributing to a vibrant local economy. Our produce is moved through their channels to many local consumers and businesses, nearly year-round!
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital: BMH has a strong focus on using local veggies and other local goods in the nutritious food they produce for both their patients and visitors. We are glad to be a part of their menu!