The Florence Fields Recreation Area is uniquely situated on the floodplains of the Mill River and at the epicenter of Grow Food Northampton’s 121-acre organic community garden and farm. Organic food production, livestock grazing, beekeeping and habitat restoration immediately surround Florence Fields. Further, Florence Fields will be used by thousands of citizens yearly, including children. Chemical herbicides and pesticides deemed “safe” and legal in one era are too often discovered to be toxic with further study. We feel it is in the best interest of our public and environmental health, our water quality, and our farmers’ livelihood to minimize risk and true cost at this sensitive site by choosing organic methods of land management.