Newsletter Volume 14, No. 2, Fall/Winter 2015

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

NEWSLETTER

PA I D

Volume 14 , No. 2

PERMIT NO. 30 FARMINGTON, ME

97 Main Street Belfast, Maine 04915 phone: 207-338-6575 e-mail: info@mainefarmlandtrust.org website: www.mainefarmlandtrust.org

Fall / Winter 2015

Finding Land, Finding Home

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

New American farmers seek to put down roots in Maine soil It’s not easy to build a successful farm business. It is even more difficult to build a successful farm business far away from your home country, in a place with a completely different climate, culture, and language.

And yet, that is just what six former refugees have accomplished,

In This Issue:

Page 01: New American farmers look for land Page 02: Disaster Relief Fund & USDA FINI grant award Page 03: New program has protected X more farms Page 04:

with help from Cultivating Commu-

New American farmers ready for their own farmland. L-R:

nity’s New American Sustainable

their farm businesses and become

facilitates farmland access, tenure

Agriculture Project (NASAP), based at

self-sustaining, these farmers are

and transfer, will help guide the lease

Packard-Littlefield Farm in Lisbon.

working with MFT and to find farm-

negotiation process. MFT is willing to

land to lease.

act as an intermediate leaseholder, if

The majority of NASAP farmers

Page 05: Call for Photos & Gallery News

hail from Africa, many from Somalia,

Page 06: Feeding Maine Exhibit & VFA lands 2 grants

Thank You to our featured Buisness Members!

this strategy could help a landown-

enough acreage to accommodate all

er and these farmers negotiate and

try before resettling in Lewiston-Au-

of their individual enterprises at a

maintain a successful farm lease

burn. Through NASAP’s farm training

single location. This will enable them

arrangement.

program, the farmers have been able

to share equipment and infrastruc-

to build businesses consistent with

ture. Collectively, they hope to find

know a farmland owner who might be

their culture, lifestyle, and individ-

45 acres of farmable land, with a

interested in making land available to

ual goals, and apply their farming

mix of land that can be cultivated for

these farmers, please contact Erica

knowledge in their new home. They’ve

vegetables, and pasture/hayland for

Buswell at ebuswell@mainefarm-

also learned how to grow and market

livestock. MFT is actively searching

landtrust.org.

their crops in a different climate and

for farmland owners in the greater

culture.

Lewiston-Auburn area who would like

Now, these six NASAP farmers are ready to move off the incubator farm and start farming independently.

As they take the next steps to grow 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

The farmers seek farmland with

and most farmed in their native coun-

If you have unused farmland, or

to learn more about the possibility of leasing land to these six farmers.

Once the farmers find land, Land For Good, a regional organization that

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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MFT creates new farm disaster relief fund First relief gift given to Misty Brook Farm

and destroyed crops valued at over

Board & Staff

$50,000.

Disasters like the storm that hit

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

William Bell, Saco Paul Birdsall, Penobscot Neil Crane, Exeter Julia Dodge, Rockport Walter Fletcher, Pittsfield Eleanor Kinney, Bremen James Lawrence, Rockport Frank Miles, Secretary, Cape Elizabeth Susan Morris, Vice Chair, Waldoboro Taylor Mudge, Chair, Camden Steve Page, Searsmont Cecily Pingree, North Haven Henry Whittemore, Treasurer, Readfield

Misty Brook can be devastating for small farmers, who are often operating on slim margins.

The community has rallied behind

Spurred by a freak storm that caused

the farm, offering volunteer labor and

over $60,000 in damage at an Albion

donations directly to the farmers.

farm, MFT has developed a new

But MFT wanted to do more, both for

Farm Disaster Relief Fund that will

Misty Brook and for other farms hit

help Maine farms when disaster

by disasters in the future.`

strikes.

“We’ve been thinking of this for a

The new relief fund fills a void, and leverages MFT’s ability to re-

while,” explained John Piotti, MFT’s

ceive tax deductible, philanthropic

The Holmes family of Misty Brook Farm in 2014.

Photo by Greta Rybus.

president. “But the damage recently

gifts to help farms that don’t receive

hand to deal with whatever disasters

inflicted on Misty Brook Farm pushed

federal disaster relief or crop insur-

may arise in a timely manner.

us to act.”

ance. Farms that have utilized MFT’s

On July 28, Misty Brook Farm was hit by torrential rain, hail, and winds that topped 70 mph. The freak

In early September Misty Brook

services and are hit by disaster can

Farm requested $4,278 to rebuild

apply for funds.

livestock infrastructure. MFT awarded those funds week later, helping the

MFT will grow the Farm Disaster

storm tore roofs off two barns and

Relief Fund with charitable donations.

a vegetable shed, killed 79 chickens,

The goal is to have enough funds on

farm get back on its feet. •

Bank and seeks to document some of the many people working for change in communities across the state, with the hope that these efforts will continue to grow into a resilient food system that serves all Mainers.

“The show conveys both the seriousness of hunger in Maine, and a sense of hope,” said Julie Sexton of Good Shepherd. “By supporting the kind of work depicted in this exhibTim Libby harvests beets at one of the Veggies For All fields he manages. Photo by Brendan Bullock.

Feeding Maine exhibit debuts, ready to travel More than 200,000 Mainers are food insecure. The term encompasses hunger and scarcity, as well as a lack

of access to food that’s fresh and healthy.

Feeding Maine features photos

by Brendan Bullock. The series is a collaboration between Maine Farmland Trust and Good Shepherd Food

it, we can make strides toward food security for all Mainers, and support our farm economy.”

Feeding Maine is intended to be a tool for communities to talk about food access. If you are interested in bringing the exhibit to your area, con-

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Chris Hamilton, Whitefield James P. Hastings, Skowhegan Bambi Jones, Alna Jo D. Saffeir, Pownal Arthur Thompson, Presque Isle Adrian Wadsworth, North Turner

Our work depends on the generosity of individual members and donors. Please join us.

Membership Categories: Basic - $20

You may also make payments

Individual - $30

towards a life membership:

Family - $50

(4 Payments) $250

Contributor - $100

(2 Payments) $500

Life - $1,000

Please contact me about protection options for my farm property.

I want to get involved! Please contact me about volunteer opportunities.

Name __________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________

STAFF

Anna Abaldo, Gallery Amanda Beal, Policy and Research Adam Bishop, Land Protection Erica Buswell, Land Protection Andrea Denny, Database Alex Fouliard, Outreach Mike Gold, Farm Viability Shannon Grimes, Intern Martin Hayden, Development Holly Ingraham, Land Protection Sue Lanpher, FarmLink Tim Libby, Veggies For All Lyndsey Marston, Land Protection Marla O’Byrne, Senior Vice President LouAnna Perkins, Senior Legal Counsel John Piotti, President and CEO Tricia Rouleau, Land Protection Ellen Sabina, Outreach Kim Sanborn, Office Assistant Elizabeth Sprague, Farm Viability Bretty Sykes, Land Protection Rachel Taker, Executive Assistant Sara Trunzo, Veggies For All Kristin Varnum, Vice President and CFO Reeve Wood, Legal Counsel Nina Young, Land Protection

Town, State, Zip ________________________________________________ Telephone ______________________________________________________ E-mail _________________________________________________________ Payment:

Check Enclosed

Visa

Mastercard

Credit Card No. ________________________________________________ Expiration Date ______________ CVV Code____________ Signature ______________________________________________________

MAIL TO: Maine Farmland Trust, 97 Main St., Belfast, ME 04915 Maine Farmland Trust is a non-profit organization; membership dues and donations are tax-deductible.

tact ellen@mainefarmlandtrust.org. •

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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Recent events & happenings

At conferences to farm parties, MFT continues to engage communities across the state Maine Fare Held in late June, the 2015 food festival attracted over 3,000 attendees to the Belfast waterfront for two days full of good food, and food for thought. Fare-goers explored a marketplace offering prepared foods and products made exclusively with

Purchased Easement Program protects six more farms The number of farms utilizing MFT’s new purchased easement program continues to grow.

Since launching the program in 2013, MFT has protected 35 farms totaling 4,469 acres.

A FEW OF OUR RECENT PURCHASED EASEMENTPROJECTS:

Maine ingredients, enjoyed cooking demos and hands-on DIY classes with some of Maine’s finest chefs and food artisans, and listened to a keynote by US Representative Chellie Pingree.

Photo by Lily Piel.

Springdale Farm Lois Whitcomb and her late husband Colby bought Springdale Farm in Waldo in 1951. Over 60 years later, Lois decided to honor the family’s farming legacy by protecting 488 acres with an easement. Today, Lois’s granddaughter Carrie

Farm Party at Dooryard Farm

manages the farm, and produces milk, rose veal, pork, beef, lamb, and high-

MFT threw a mid-summer party at Dooryard Farm in Camden

bush blueberries. Lois continues to be involved in the farm, raising the calves

to celebrate the revitalization of the farm. The farm, formerly

and nurturing award-winning replacement heifers.

known as Rokes Farm, was protected in 2013, thanks to a joint fundraising campaign with Maine Coast Heritage Trust. The easement made the farm more affordable for young farmers

Peaked Mountain Farm

Cooper Funk and Marina Sideris, who have given the farm new

Gail and Dan VanWart of Peaked Mountain Farm closed on a purchased ease-

life growing mixed vegetables for local markets. More than 125

ment in September that will protect their 172 acres of wild blueberry fields in

area residents came out to tour the farm, and enjoy live music,

Dedham. The farm has been in Gail’s family since the 1800s, and the VanWarts

Harvest Moon pizza, and a robust potluck.

currently produce MOFGA certified organic fresh-pack and frozen wild blueber-

Unity Food Hub Grand Opening

Plan, and the VanWarts are working to turn the farm into a demonstration farm

ries for local markets. The farm is a certified Pollinator Habitat Enhancement

Unity Food Hub held a Grand Opening in early October. Over

for pollinator enhancement practices.

100 local residents gathered to explore the renovated building, purchase local farm products in the retail space, and learn about the renovation and future functions of the Hub. Local Chef Frank Giglio christened the kitchen and prepared appetizers using ingredients sourced through the Hub. The Hub is open to customers every Thursday 4-6PM, and is available to rent for classes, meetings, and other community functions.

Ellis Farm Barbara Ellis was inspired to protect her farm after her neighbors, Steve and Judy Bennett, worked with MFT in 2014 to put an easement on their farm. But what convinced Barbara was the fact that the Bennett’s daughter Erin, and her young family, wanted to buy the Ellis Farm, ensuring that it would not only stay available for farmland, but also be actively farmed. Erin and her family plan to expand their sugaring operation, manage the woodlot for firewood, and are

Farmland Access Conference In October, MFT convened a conference focused on one of

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dreaming up other plans.

the biggest challenges facing farmers today: farmland access

Alvin Cross Farm

and transfer. The event was organized in partnership with

Dina-Lee Ford served in the military; Stephen Fleck worked as a contractor.

American Farmland Trust and Land For Good, and drew over

Now, they’re starting their second career as farmers. The couple recently

140 farmland seekers, transitioning farmers, landowners, and

purchased the 35-acre Alvin Cross Farm in Troy, and MFT purchase an ease-

service providers for a day of sharing and discussion. In-

ment on the property simultaneously. The funds from the sale of the easement

depth workshops covered complex topics, like farm transfer

helped Dina and Stephen come up with the financing package they needed to

planning, farmland leases, and innovative land access tools,

buy the farm. They plan the revive the farm, which has been fallow since 2013,

ad were led by regional professionals as well as farmers.

by growing mixed veggies and putting in a small orchard.

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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and plan to sell their surplus hay to local markets. They also hope to sell vegetables, eggs and some added value products from the small farm

Faces of Farms: Animal portraits

In January and February 2016, the

Call for farm animal photos!

Farms,” a series of professional

Throughout 2015, Catherine trav-

“This is our dreams coming true,”

eled to Maine farms across the state,

said Corey. “We really are happy to be

visiting all manner of livestock, from

involved in this because we see land

Nubian goats to Norwegian Fjords.

getting bought up and quickly com-

To complement Catherine’s

mercialized for other purposes every

photos, Gallery Curator Anna Abal-

day. Farmland is heritage that needs

do envisions the downstairs gallery

to stay!”

New life for two farms in Corinna

land with an easement, and sold the farm to farmers Cristy and Corey Quinn in summer 2015.

Two of MFT’s latest projects in Penobscot County have ensured that 260 acres of farmland will remain working farmland.

1The Titus Martin Farm encompasses approximately 204 acres The Martin family operated a dairy farm there for a decade, and sold the farm

Veggies For All poised for new growth As another growing season comes to a close, Veggies For All is looking ahead to the next season, and new growth.

Veggies For All (VFA) is a food bank farm in Unity. Founded in 2007, VFA has grown and distributed over 108,000 pounds of vegetables and engaged hundreds of volunteers in thousands of hours of community-based hunger relief. The project currently serves nine food pantries and nearly 1,500 food insecure indi4

wallpapered with portraits of as many

Nearby, the 56-acre Libby Farm

to MFT in 2014. MFT protected the

The Quinns both grew up on family farms in Maine. They had been operating CnC Ranch in Charleston where they raised and sold pig breeding stock.

At their new home in Corinna, the Quinns plan to expand their livestock operation, increasing production of grass-fed beef, pigs and laying hens, viduals in Central Maine.

Since becoming a project of MFT in 2014, VFA has worked to perfect its farm model, and lay a firm foundation for future growth beyond Unity.

VFA recently received a $40,000 award from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and $25,000 from the John T. Gorman Foundation. Funding from both grants will be used to support VFA’s operations, strengthen pathways VFA uses to engage food insecure clients, increase the quantity and variety of local foods available to those utilizing food pantries, and integrate a food security orientation into MFT’s broader work.

animal portraits by photographer and marketing consultant Catherine Frost.

stand on the property.

The new Titus Martin Farm family. L-R : Corey, Taytum, Ella-Maye, Cristy.

MFT gallery will feature “Faces of

of Maine’s farm animals as possible.

was donated to MFT in 2014. The

Send your best close-ups of your

property was a subsistence farm for

favorite farm animals

many years, and the owners wanted

them all!

to see it continue as an active farm,

we want to see

High-resolution photos can be sent to anna@mainefarmlandtrust.org no

and support MFT’s work.

later than December 20, 2015. Please

1The farm was sold to a local farmer,with an easement in place, in

include farm name, town, and the

summer 2015.

animal’s name if you know it. •

The new farmer has plans to improve the existing fields for forage crops, and possibly reclaim some

Norwegian Fjord horses at Mandala Farm in Gouldsboro. Photo by Catherine Frost.

former fields that have grown into forest. •

“VFA will now have an increased capacity to serve our community in an ongoing, sustainable way,” said Veggies For All director Sara Trunzo. “Specifically, the purchase of key equipment will allow us to improve the efficiency and productivity of our agricultural operations, which translates to more hunger relief.”

As VFA continues to hone its successful food bank farm model with this grant funding, Trunzo is considering ways to expand VFA’s local food access work across the state, perhaps by replicating the model in other communities, or providing technical

Small Works Holiday Show NOV 20 - JAN 4

Looking for the perfect gift?

Find unique, artful gifts for all at our Gallery in downtown Belfast!

Art of all types Jewlery Books Films & 2015 Gallery Posters featuring artist Sheep Jones

assistance to similar projects. •

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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