Berkshire Green Drinks to Discuss Glyphosate and Soil Health

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SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Green Drinks will host an event discussing the relationship between glyphosate and soil health on Wednesday, April 9.
 
The event will feature Rubén Parrilla, a soil scientist with the Massachusetts Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass).
 
The event will be a hybrid event, taking place online via Zoom and in person at Race Brook Lodge, located at 864 S Undermountain Rd, in Sheffield. The in-person social gathering will begin around 5:15 PM, with the presentation and Zoom meeting starting at 6:00 PM.
 
The presentation will explore the effects of glyphosate on soil health, microbial communities, water permeability, and ecological impacts, with a focus on the research of Dr. Don Huber. It will also discuss potential health implications for wildlife and humans, application method differences, and alternative land management approaches.
 
More information and RSVP details can be found at https://tinyurl.com/April2025-Berks-Green-Drinks.
 
Rubén Parilla is the Soil Technical Coordinator and Education Director for NOFA/Mass and is trained in microscopic soil microbial identification through the Soil Food Web School. He is a Certified Lab Tech and studied Environmental Design at the University of Puerto Rico. He has experience in the environmental laboratory industry and has been performing soil carbon proxy testing, soil health assessments, soil chemical analysis, and soil microbiological evaluations for NOFA/Mass. He leads monthly farmer learning calls, provides workshops, and networks with farmers and individuals in the agricultural industry. He is a fluent and native Spanish speaker and is fully English/Spanish bilingual.
 
The April Berkshire Green Drinks event is co-sponsored by Race Brook Lodge.
 
Berkshire Green Drinks is a monthly gathering that is free and open to the public. A guest speaker presents on an environmentally related topic for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 6:00 PM, followed by a discussion and Q&A. Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). This month's Berkshire Green Drinks event is co-sponsored by Hot Plate Brewing Co.

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Lt. Governor Driscoll Visits Great Barrington Businesses

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Housing Secretary Ed Augustus and state Rep. Leigh Davis are ready to chop wood out back of Pleasant and Main. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll did some holiday shopping on Main Street last week after announcing millions of federal Community Development Block Grant funds

She was glad to see an array of small-business owners thriving, and the eclectic items that Great Barrington has to offer. 

"We know that the vibrancy of communities can often be defined by what's happening on Main Street," she said. 

"It's great to be here in Great Barrington and see so many independent entrepreneurs who are running really, not only fun, but businesses that are doing well, and we want to try and find ways to uplift and support that work moving forward." 

State Rep. Leigh Davis coordinated a business tour with Pleasant and Main Cafe and General Store, Robbie's Community Market, and Butternut Ski Mountain. While downtown, Driscoll also stopped at Coco's Candy and Rob's Records and Audio. 

Earlier that day, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced $33.5 million in federal CDBG funds at the Housatonic Community Center. Great Barrington, in conjunction with Egremont and Stockbridge, has been allocated $ 1.25 million to rehabilitate approximately 14 housing units.  A new Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community designation for its Housing Choice Initiative was also launched. 

Davis emphasized the significance of the state announcing these dollars in the small village of Housatonic.  

Craig Bero, founder of Pleasant and Main, prepared desserts and hors d'oeuvres for the group at his cozy cafe across the street from the Housatonic Community Center. Bero opened more than a decade ago after migrating from New York City, and Pleasant and Main offers sustainable, organic meals for an affordable price while enjoying the museum of antiques that is the restaurant. 

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