Join us for the April 2025 Berkshire Green Drinks event, where Rubén Parrilla, a soil scientist with the Massachusetts Chapter of Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass) will discuss the relationship between glyphosate use and soil health.

Glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide known for its ability to kill plants and is the main ingredient in Roundup, one of the most popular weed killers. In this talk, Rubén will dive into how glyphosate affects the health of our soil, the tiny organisms living in it, and even how it impacts water flow through the ground. He’ll highlight the important research of Dr. Don Huber, discussing the broader ecological impacts of glyphosate, and he will discuss the impact on soil microbes, nutrients, and how plants might become more prone to disease.

Rubén will also explore how glyphosate might affect both wildlife and human health, differences in how it’s applied, and alternative ways we can manage our land. This presentation aims to give you a clearer, more engaging understanding of how glyphosate shapes our soil and environment, especially in our local area.

DATE: Wednesday, April 9

TIME: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM — The in-person gathering begins around 5:15 PM.

LOCATION: Race Brook Lodge, 864 South Undermountain Road, Sheffield, MA & Online via Zoom

Click here to register for online participation. (Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.)

RSVP Here if you plan to join us for the in-person gathering (doing so helps the venue staff).

Thank you to Race Brook Lodge for co-sponsoring and hosting this month’s Berkshire Green Drinks event! Joining us in person? Consider making a dinner reservation at the Stagecoach Tavern in advance for after the Green Drinks event!

Race Brook Lodge is a magical rustic destination at the foot of the Taconic Range in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. We provide a nourishing place for guests to engage with nature, culture and community. We present a diverse curated selection of live music, performances and workshops. We have 29 unique guest rooms, a private Race Mountain Villa, the Stagecoach Tavern restaurant, a stunning exposed-beam barn, dynamic event spaces, a swimming pool, a sauna, and an organic farm. Enjoy hiking trails right here on the land with access to sublime forest spaces, waterfalls, mountain tops, and the Appalachian Trail. Each moment is rooted in a commitment to sustainability and accessibility, and visitors find inspiration in the wonder and wisdom of nature, with a sense of community and genuine hospitality in every interaction.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Rubén Parilla (he/him) is the Soil Technical Coordinator and Education Director for NOFA/Mass and 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. Rubén has 15 years’ experience working at different capacities in the environmental laboratory industry. He has been performing soil carbon proxy testing, soil health assessments, soil chemical analysis, and soil microbiological evaluations for NOFA/Mass over the past 3 years and has extensive experience farming and working with farmers, including beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers. Rubén performs soil health-related outreach and education events for NOFA/Mass by leading monthly farmer learning calls, providing hands-on workshops and instruction at soil health education events, and networking with farmers and individuals in the agricultural industry. He is a fluent and native Spanish speaker and fully English/Spanish bilingual.

What is Berkshire Green Drinks? Berkshire Green Drinks is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month that is free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. A guest speaker talks about an environmentally-related topic for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM; the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions!

What is Green Drinks? Green Drinks is an international forum where people who work in the environmental field and environmental enthusiasts meet for a drink and snacks at informal sessions. There will be a lively mix of people from non-profit organizations, academia, government, business, and the general public. Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and for making new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured. Come along, and you’ll be made welcome.