NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
NEWSLETTER
PAID
Volume 15 , No. 2
PERMIT NO. 30 FARMINGTON, ME
97 Main Street Belfast, Maine 04915
Fall/Winter 2016
phone: 207-338-6575 e-mail: info@mainefarmlandtrust.org website: mainefarmlandtrust.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Beal has been working for MFT since
Food Vision, a highly regarded and widely
early 2015, most recently as vice presi-
referenced study that identified how New
dent. She came to MFT having worked
England could grow far more of its own
previously on a wide variety of agricultural
food, and the important role Maine could
issues as a policy advocate, a researcher,
play in this effort.
and the manager of a retail food store
Beal holds a masters degree from
that supported numerous local farms. She
Tufts University, where she attended
has also been instrumental in securing
the Agriculture, Food and Environment
the future of her family’s dairy farm in
program, and is in the process of com-
Litchfield, by helping to design a process
pleting a dissertation for a PhD in Natural
to transition the farm from one generation
Resources from the University of New
to the next, enabling her youngest brother
Hampshire.
to acquire and run the farm.
Amanda Beal takes the helm at MFT
In This Issue:
Page 01: New president & Dostie Farm Page 02: Maine Harvest Bucks Success & New Vice President of Programs Page 03: Purchased Easement Program protects 16 more farms
Amanda Beal, who grew up on a Maine dairy farm to become a leader on agricul-
Page 04: New in the store & Farming for Wholesale
tural issues in Maine and beyond, is the
Page 05: Where art and agriculture intersect
new president and CEO of MFT.
Page 06: Recent events & happenings
Beal has chaired the board
skills and experience to serve as our next
MOFGA, the Eat Local Foods Coalition
president,” said Taylor Mudge, MFT’s
of Maine, and Cultivating Community—a
board chair. “She is a rare person who
Portland-based nonprofit that operates
combines practical experience in farming
community gardens and a pioneering pro-
with a deep knowledge of where farming
gram that supports immigrants who farm.
is headed, and what we need to do to
Among Beal’s many accomplishments
Skowhegan and Fairfield area since 1972. Now, with the help of recent purchased easements, the farm will transfer to the next generation and continue to grow.
The Dosties are currently transi-
tioning from beef cattle to organic dairy,
business can join, go to mainefarmlandtrust.org/business-members/ 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
Three generations of the Dostie family.
realize farming’s full potential.” •
is her role as co-author of A New England
The Dostie family has been farming in the
For a full list of our business members, and to find out how your
ed someone with Amanda’s exceptional
of several key organizations, including
Central Maine farm family working to protect a third property
Thank You to our featured Business Members!
“We are so pleased that we’ve attract-
maple syrup production.
Egide Dostie, a member of MFT,
decided to protect his two farm properties, totalling 604 acres, this past year. One of Egide’s sons is his business partner and his other son also works full-time on the farm. Egide hopes to retire soon, and the purchased easements will allow him to sell the property to his family, who will continue operating the farm.
The Dostie family recently pur-
chased additional acreage in Fairfield, and
under a contract with Stonyfield. They
they’re working with MFT to protect that
also tap over 4,000 trees every year for
property as well.•
97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
1
Maine Harvest Bucks in retail stores
food benefits. By using Maine Harvest
Portland is enthusiastic about their in-
Bucks, SNAP recipients can now receive
volvement in the program: “Maine Harvest
Board & Staff
$5 of bonus local fruits and vegetables for
Bucks gives us an opportunity to share our
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
every $10 spent on local items at partici-
showcase of Maine’s agricultural bounty
pating markets.
to more people across a greater cross-sec-
tion of lifestyles and backgrounds.”
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 Jon Olson Mt. Vernon Henry Whittemore, Treasurer, Readfield
“It’s a win-win-win: more food
insecure Mainers can eat healthy, local-
ly-produced foods; Maine farms make
the other co-ops and retail locations
more sales; and more food dollars stay in
across the state who are currently partic-
the local economy,” said Shannon Grimes,
ipating include: Belfast Co-op, Portland
who manages the project for MFT.
Food Co-op, Rising Tide Community
Market, Good Tern Co-op, Blue Hill Co-op,
The program is the first in the
In addition to The Farm Stand,
country to offer incentives in retail outlets
the Morris Farm Store, and Machias Mar-
on local products.
ketplace. Bud’s Shop n’ Save stores offers
a similar incentive program. Several food
“We’re thrilled to be working
with such a great group of markets,” said
hubs/farm aggregators are also part of the
Grimes. “Everyone has been so excited
project: Lakeside Family Farm, Unity Food
and supportive of experimenting with a
Hub, and The Pick Up.
new program (one that’s never really been
done before, anywhere), and are devoting
incentives (bonus fruits and vegetables for
Local food retail stores around the state
a lot of time and energy to figuring out
SNAP recipients) are also available at vari-
are working with MFT to pilot it’s new
how to make it work.”
ous farmers’ markets, and CSA programs
incentive program that helps SNAP recipi-
around the state—visit maineharvest-
ents purchase more local food with federal
co-owner of The Farm Stand in South
Pilot program sets a new model for the nation
New Vice President of Programs at MFT MFT welcomes Erica Buswell into a new position as Vice President of Programs. Buswell, who lives on a homestead in Searsport, has worked at MFT for over 6 years, most recently as the Farmland Access Program Manager. Buswell will be responsible for overseeing MFT’s three program areas: Farmland Protection, Farmland Access, and Farm Viability.
Buswell grew up in Montana and
has been working in local food systems for the past 13 years. Before joining MFT as a member of the farmland protection staff in 2011, Buswell worked in several posi7
Joe Fournier, manager and
Maine Harvest Bucks nutrition
bucks.org for a full list of locations. •
tions at the Belfast Food Co-op, including
Network of Maine. She holds professional
a stint as a member of the General Man-
certificates in Non-Profit Management,
agement Team.
Community Mediation, and Permaculture
Design, and is a Wabanaki REACH ally.
“Erica is a proven manager, and
a creative problem-solver who is deeply
Buswell keeps her hands in the dirt on her
steeped in farmland conservation and
off-the-grid homestead, where she and
the local food movement,” said Amanda
her husband Scott focus on cultivating
Beal, the Trust’s President & CEO. “We’re
fruit trees and berries.
so excited to have her step into this new
role.”
tunity to bring the full breadth of my skills
In addition to her work with
“I am excited to have the oppor-
and knowledge into the service of our
MFT, Buswell has served on boards of
organization,” said Buswell. Buswell will
various food and farm-related organiza-
spend the next month transitioning from
tions, including Waldo County Extension
her current work to her new role at MFT. •
Association, the Cooperative Development Institute, and the Eat Local Foods Coalition of Maine, as well as provided leader-
STAFF Anna Abaldo, Gallery Charlie Baldwin, Land Protection Amanda Beal, President and CEO Adam Bishop, Land Protection Erica Buswell, Land Protection Chris Cabot, Land Protection Sophie DeMaio, Farm Viability Andrea Denny, Database Denise Despirito, Gallery Sophie DeMaio, Farm Viability Abby Farnham, Farm Viability Khris Flack,Veggies For All Alex Fouliard, Farm Viability Caroline Ginsberg, Outreach Mike Gold, Farm Viability Shannon Grimes, Farm Viability Ellen Griswold, Wang Fellow Martin Hayden, Development Colleen Hanlon Smith, Unity Food Hub Sue Lanpher, FarmLink Susan Lasselle, Admin Assistant Tim Libby, Veggies For All Lyndsey Marston, Land Protection Justin Nadeau, Unity Food Hub LouAnna Perkins, Senior Legal Counsel Meghan Quinn, Outreach Tricia Rouleau, Land Protection Ellen Sabina, Outreach Kim Sanborn, Office Assistant Elizabeth Sprague, Farm Viability Brett 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
Our work depends on the generosity of individual members and donors. Please join us.
Membership Categories: Basic - $20 Individual - $30 Family - $50 Contributor - $100 Life - $1,000
You may also make payments towards a life membership:
(4 Payments) $250
(2 Payments) $500
Please contact me about protection options for my farm property.
I want to get involved! Please contact me about volunteer opportunities.
Name __________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________ 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.
ship for the Beginning Farmer Resource 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
7
Recent events & happenings
From conferences to farm parties, MFT continues to engage communities across the state . Forever Farm Party at Bumbleroot Organic Farm MFT threw a mid-summer party at Bumbleroot Organic Farm in Windham to celebrate farmland protection and revitalization. The farm, formerly known as the Weeks Farm, was protected last spring. The easement made the farm more affordable for its new owners, the
Purchased Easement Program protects 16 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 55 farms totaling 7,143 acres. A FEW OF OUR RECENT PURCHASED EASEMENT PROJECTS:
young farmers of Bumbleroot Farm. More than 200 neighbors and area residents came out to tour the farm, and enjoy live music, food and drinks.
East Forty Farm MFT closed on the purchase of an easement to protect East Forty Farm in Waldoboro in October. The farm is the new home of Lakin’s Gorges Cheese. The easement was purchased at the same time as the property was sold to Dirt Capital Partners. Dirt Capital
Agrarian Acts
will lease the property to Allison Lakin and Neal Foley, who plan to purchase it in three
MFT teamed up with farmer-musicians Adam Nordell and Johanna
years. Allison and Neal plan to have their creamery and cheesemaking facilities on the
Davis of Songbird Farm in Unity to present three consecutive nights
farm, a small herd of Jersey cows, and an on-farm cheese store.
of farm-inspired music and food. The show stopped at grange halls and country stages in Portland, Unity, and Blue Hill to promote the couple’s new record of songs about rural life, Walk These Fields.
High Hopes Farm
Adam and Johanna grow mixed vegetables and heirloom grains and
Meaghan and Ross Nichols bought their 120-acre farm in Bristol in May, thanks to
beans on protected farmland, and split their time between farming
the simultaneous purchase of an easment on the property, which made the farm more
and performing.
affordable for the beginning farmers. The farm is an iconic spot in the community where Meaghan and Ross both grew up, and they are excited to put down deep roots in the place they love. Meaghan and Ross raise lambs, pigs, goats, turkeys, chickens and
Schoolhouse Suppers The upstairs of the Unity Food Hub building was transformed into
ducks for meat, and have a farm stand at the end of their driveway with vegetables and other farm goods.
a lively dinner venue for a series of “Schoolhouse Suppers” over the course of the summer. Guest chefs Frank Giglio of Three Lily Farm, Andrew White and Katee LaFleur of High Ridge Farm, and Anders Tallberg of Roustabout prepared incredible food for three full house meals, ranging from casual tacos made with local ingredients (and handmade tortillas!) to a communal, family-style Italian feast. Look for educational programming at the Hub building in 2017.
Yellow Place Farm Maryann and Jack Reynolds placed an easement on their 82-acre farm in Solon in July. The Reynolds purchased their historic farm property in the early 1990s and moved their family to Solon from Connecticut. Maryann and Jack run a small scale bakery, Yellow Place Bakehouse, out of their home, producing scones, cakes, pies, and Italian baked goods.
Land & Sea: A Fresh Look at our Region’s Food Future In September, MFT and Penobscot East Resource Center convened a half-day colloquium at Bowdoin College to explore a whole system approach to increased food production in Maine and to examine the connections between economic growth potential in the food sector, good natural resource stewardship, and the overall health of our communities.
Waterhouse Farm The Waterhouse Farm has been in the same family since before the town of Scarborough incorporated in 1658. The purchase of an easement ensures that 100 acres of open farmland will remain farmland space in rapidly developing area of the state. The easement also protects a direct link to Scarborough’s deep history as one of Maine’s great agricultural areas. The farm has been an active, diversified farm for its entire history. Currently, Dick Waterhouse raises horses, beef cattle, hogs, sheep, turkeys and chickens, maintains pasture, and harvests hay.
6
97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
3
The walls of the Art Center are adorned
Just in time for the holidays! New in the MFT Store:
with at least two dozen works by the Center’s namesake, the late Joseph A. Fiore. The collection gives viewers a great sense of the breadth of his work, and many of the paintings on display were created at Fiore’s summer home in Jefferson.
The Art Center will offer an ex-
panded selection of residencies in 2017. There will be six, month-long residencies for visual artists; a new historic writing residency, focused on researching, and then writing the story of the farm; and a Artisits in residence paint en plein air at Rolling Acres Farm, on the shore of Damariscotta Lake.
Where art and agriculture intersect T-Shirts for kids & adults
2017 calendars by gallery artists
New hats
...Plus holiday cards, books for children & grown-ups, market totes, & ART! Shop online, or stop by our Gallery, M-F 8-4PM ,at 97 Main Street, Belfast, ME
Year one at Joseph A. Fiore Art Center at Rolling Acres Farm Historically, artists have celebrated the
new “agriculture and art” residency from May through September, which will be
the artists opened their studios and the
the first step in reviving farming activities
farm to the public for an Open Studio Day.
at Rolling Acres. This unique residency
combines gardening responsibilities with
The Open Studio days were “an
opportunity to view the works of art that
the opportunity to devote time to artistic
were produced at the Fiore Art Center; to
pursuits.
see the influence of the environment on
the artists’ work,” said co-director David
dency at Rolling Acres will open in early
Dewey. “We wanted to create a celebra-
December 2016. Information and applica-
tory atmosphere around the artists’ work...
tions online at mainefarmlandtrust.org •
beauty and richness of the American
the Open Studios were like a big environ-
landscape. The newly established Joseph
mental family picnic.”
Applications for the 2017 resi-
A. Fiore Art Center at Rolling Acres Farm in Jefferson aims to continue and evolve
Now accepting applications! Farming for Wholesale offers ongoing farm business planning assistance combined with day-long workshops for farmers. What farmers have to say about the program: “Having you vet and correct my spreadsheets while providing additional thoughts as to which area of my business I should be concerned with made all the difference to my bottom line this year. We made more income than ever, largely due to this workshop.” -Chris Cavendish, Fishbowl Farm
For Farming for Wholsale 101, register online by January 6, 2017; for Farming for Wholesale 201, apply online by December 1, 2016.
mainefarmlandtrust.org/workshops
the dialogue between human and environment within the context of our current culture and time through exhibitions and public educational events, and by hosting residencies for artists.
This summer, the Center host-
ed its first four artists-in-residence, all of whom were artists currently living and working in Maine: Robert Pollien, J. Thomas R. Higgins, Thérèse Provenzano, and Susan Smith. “It was exciting to see each artist delve deeply into their artistic practice; the stretch of uninterrupted time at such a peaceful, visually stunning location allowed them to be both prolific and contemplative,” said Anna Witholt Abaldo,
Buy local art, support local farms! This original work of art by renowned artist Sheep Jones was donated to MFT by a loyal gallery customer and MFT member. 100% of the proceeds go directly to MFT! For more information, please contact our gallery curator: anna@mainefarmlandtrust.org Art can be conveniently shipped anywhere in the US.
co-director of the Fiore Art Center. At the end of each month-long residency, 4
97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org
5