Newsletter Volume 16, No.2, Fall/Winter 2017

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NEWSLETTER

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Volume 16 , No. 2

PERMIT NO. 30 FARMINGTON, ME

97 Main Street Belfast, Maine 04915

Fall/Winter 2017

phone: 207-338-6575 e-mail: info@mainefarmlandtrust.org website: mainefarmlandtrust.org

externalizing the real costs of growing

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food; ones that assure a fair price to farmers and others working in the food system; ones that are not extractive to rural economies; ones that don’t prop up a food system that perpetuates the exploitation of human rights; ones that ensure that healthy foods are the most affordable choices; and ones that make it possible for everyone to access that food.

These are choices we can make, but first, we need to raise our voices and let

Food matters: an exceprt from Amanda Beal’s talk at Maine Live

In This Issue:

Page 01: Food policy matters Page 02: Farmland Protection

all of our policy makers know that these unless we change how our food system operates. We need them to treat food production and food access like the critically important issues, which is central to all of our lives, that they are.

Page 03: Farmland Access

Amanda Beal was one of the featured

As it stands now, in the absence of a

Page 04: Farm Viability

speakers at Maine Live on Sept 21st.

groundswell of citizen voices influencing

Page 05: Gallery & Joseph A. Fiore Art Center

Below is an excerpt from her talk. To

policy making in this arena, the void is

Page 06: Outreach & Events

see the full video from the event, visit

filled by corporations and their lobbyists

our website. MFT is also in the process

to set food policy that we have to live

of ramping up its policy work. Visit our

by. What this has gotten us is a land-

website to stay in the loop!

scape of policies, from federal subsidies

Thank You to our featured Business Members!

to insurance schemes, which aim to Food – how we produce it and how it is

keep farmers afloat and food affordable,

accessed – is the most important issue

yet results in driving overproduction

facing us today, but as a state and as a

which can ultimately depress crop

nation, we don’t treat it that way, partic-

prices.

ularly not on the policy front.

What we really need is for our pol-

Well, here is some good news: Our

stand behind those who are willing and able to lead the charge.

Collectively, we built it this way, and collectively, we can change it.•

The Business of

Farming for Wholesale Applications & Registration opens Nov. 1 for : 101 Track - for farms interested in exploring wholesale 201 Track - for experienced wholesale farmers Buyer Training - for buyers intereseted in purchasing wholesale from local producers

current food system and the policies

icymakers to understand that we will

that support it was built by people. We

For a full list of our business members, and to find out how your

never be able to fully address issues

actually do have the power to insist

business can join, go to mainefarmlandtrust.org/business-members/

like health care, climate change, energy

that our policy makers make different

independence and national security

policy decisions, ones that don’t lead to

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

are the things we want, and be ready to

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Visit our website for details & to apply: mainefarmlandtrust.org/ workshops

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FARMLAND PROTECTION Farmland Protection Program protects X more farms

Who we are

The number of farms in Maine protected with agricultural conservation easements continues to grow.

Since MFT’s founding in 1999, we have helped to protect over 58,000 acres of farmland throughout the state.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A FEW OF OUR RECENT FARMLAND PROTECTION PROJECTS:

Reed Farm, Windsor Nate Clark and Katie Webb-Clark purchased the 237-acre Reed Farm in Windsor, where they will operate an organic dairy. MFT simultaneously purchased a conservation easement on the property, making the farm more affordable for the oncoming farmers, and ensuring that the land will be forever available for farming. The farm was previously owned by the late Dan Tibbets, a passionate farmer who was featured in MFT’s Meet

STAFF

Your Farmer film in 2010. Nate and Katie plan to milk about 40 cows, and have a con-

Anna Abaldo, Gallery Charlie Baldwin, Land Protection Amanda Beal, President and CEO Adam Bishop, Land Protection Erica Buswell, Land Protection Chris Cabot, Land Protection April Costa, Stewardship Andrea Denny, Database Denise Despirito, Gallery Catherine Durkin, Unity Food Hub Abby Farnham, Farm Viability Khris Flack,Veggies For All Alex Fouliard, Farm Viability Chris Franklin, Land Protection Caroline Ginsberg, Outreach Shannon Grimes, Farm Viability Ellen Griswold, Policy & Research Link Harjung, Unity Food Hub Martin Hayden, Development Caitlin Hopkins, Land Protection Sue Lanpher, FarmLink Susan Lasselle, Admin Assistant Lyndsey Marston, Land Protection Kathy Mills, Development Justin Nadeau, Unity Food Hub LouAnna Perkins, Senior Legal Counsel Lynn Pussic, Unity Food Hub 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 Kristin Varnum, Vice President and CFO Reeve Wood, Legal Counsel Nina Young, Land Protection

tract with Organic Valley.

Goat Hill, Acton MFT, Three Rivers Land Trust, and the Town of Acton collaborated to protect 243 acres of fields, apple orchards and forestland on Goat Hill in Acton. The orchards have produced apples for the wholesale market for 80 years, and the hilltop has long been a cherished destination for year-round and seasonal residents of the region. The majority of the fields and orchards have been divided between two new farm owners. One buyer from the local community will restore the former pick-your-own apple orchard that he worked in every summer as a teenager growing up in the area. The second buyer will expand the orchards to produce apples for a hard cider operation.

Thayben Farm, Jay & Wilton Thayden and Nora Farrington protected their 380-acre dairy farm with an agricultural easement through MFT. Thayben Farm sits on two parcels in Jay and Wilton, and the couple inherited the farm from Thayden’s father. The Farringtons made the decision to protect the farm from development as they prepare to pass the farm on to their granddaughter. Thayben Farm has always been a dairy farm and Thayden transitioned to organic production 12 years ago, now selling milk to Organic Valley Cooperative. The Farringtons grow hay and balage on the 100+ acres of tillable ground.

Waterhouse Farm, Pownal MFT and local land trust partner Royal River Conservation Trust protected a 427-acre farm on North Pownal Road in New Gloucester. Forrest Waterhouse, was born in the historic farmhouse on the property in 1920 and passed away 96 years later in the same home. By selling an easement, the current generation fulfilled the older generation’s desire for the property to always remain as a farm. Much of the beef from Waterhouse Farm is currently sold wholesale to the Boston area, and they intend to transition to selling more to local markets in the near future.

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William Bell, Saco Neil Crane, Exeter 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

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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

BECOME A MEMBER: Basic - $20 Individual - $30 Family - $50 Contributor - $100 Life - $1,000 Name __________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________ Town, State, Zip ________________________________________________ Phone _______________________Email_______________________________ Payment:

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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.

Some of our staff after cleaning up a farm party at Hardscrabble Farm in Arundel.

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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OUTREACH & EVENTS

FARMLAND ACCESS

Scenes from a few of our summer events:

Maine Fare Dinner, Bath. Photo by Russell French.

Join co-hosts Land For Good & Maine Farmland Trust, fellow farmers and colleagues from around New England for a day of discussion and practical information on the challanges of farmland access, transfer and succession, and the ways we can address those challenges together.

Register at mainefarmlandtrust.org

Agrarian Acts hayfield concert with The Mallet Brothers Band

Looking for a farm? Our top 7 tips for a successful land search 1.Dream big! But balance the dream with reality, and keep the hope alive. A land search is a big undertaking that will take a lot of time and energy. Keep the big dream alive, but translate that dream into a practical reality: is this farm really affordable for you? Does the infrastructure meet your actual needs?

Agrarian Acts set up at Eagle View Ranch, Sebec

Ready for a Forever Farm party at Hardscrabble Farm, Arundel

Are you prepared to invest in improving the soils if need be?

2. Take stock of your resources and consider all of your

Join us at our Annual Meeting

needs in the context of your farming dreams, including:

November 14

Family Needs: do you want to be located near family members?

5:30-8 PM United Farmers Market Building

Does a partner need to be close to a job? Social: what kind of

18 Spring St, Belfast, ME

social interactions do you desire, and what does that mean for

a presentation on

your land search? Financial: are you going to use credit to buy a

Maine’s Growing Grain Economy

farm? Do you have family and friends that could help with a land

with Amber Lambke, Maine Grains Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing

purchase? Will you support a mortgage with off-farm income?

3. Focus on building relationships: whether with a landown-

Sara Williams, Aurora Mills & Farm

er, community members, or service providers, building relation-

& taste beers made with Maine grains!

ships could be a big key to your success. Think about how many

RSVP to susan@mainefarmlandtrust.org

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Are you looking for land in close proximity to a good school?

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

more farm options might come your way when there are others

4. Research your tenure options: purchasing a piece of land is NOT the only way to establish access on a piece of land. There are lots of opportunities out there to lease land, and/or to work with a landowner to transition farm ownership over time. Do your homework and learn about alternatives to the standard sale; study lease agreement templates.

5. Know where to look: Maine FarmLink and New England Farmland Finder are two online land linking programs. Other resources could include real estate websites, a local land trust, community members in your target area, and the town office.

6. Know what you can afford: this advice applies to leasing as well as a farm purchase. Track your income and expenses and knowing where all those pennies are moving day to day (both business and personal). Make a budget and stick to it. Read up on financing options, loan eligibility requirements, and strategies for acquiring funding to support your farm plans.

7. Reach out for help. There are many willing people that can help you at any and every stage of your land search, including ag. service providers, real estate agents, and community members. Don’t be afraid to reach out and contact us! •

out there keeping their eyes open for opportunities for you.

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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FARM VIABILITY

GALLERY & FIORE ART CENTER bank farm project has rallied community

Food Hub, VFA and UBR have added an

volunteers, students, landowners, and

additional 25,000 pounds of food to the

other organizations from around the com-

central Maine hunger relief system over

munity to produce thousands of pounds of

the past two seasons. As we reach the

organically grown produce for food pantry

peak of harvest season, there’s plenty

clients. Since last year, VFA has also

more food in the field to be brought in! If

been working with Unity Barn Raisers to

you’d like to lend a hand or learn more

to expand its supply of food for pantries

about the project, contact Veggies For All

through gleaning.

Program Manager Khris Flack at kflack@

in the summer of 2017 as Historical Writing Resident at the Joseph A.

Fiore Art Center, researching the history of Rolling Acres Farm and writing the “farm’s story.” Loftus holds an M.A. in Archaeology from the University College Anthropology from Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

A. Fiore Art Center, a program of Maine Farmland Trust that actively connects the creative worlds of farming and art making.

The Center offers exhibitions and public educational events, supports research and development of ecologically sustainable artists on a working farm.

hundreds of years, and typically means

The historical writing residency was funded in part by a Maine Arts Commission Arts and Humanities Grant.

Cover art by Jude Valentine, artist in residence at the Fiore Art Center in 2017: Trees In Accord, from the Field of Consciousness Series. Monoprint. September 2017

gathering a portion of the harvest that is unmarketable or overlooked but still

BY SARAH LOFTUS

edible, nutritious food. By working with

Low-income shoppers purchase $100,000 more of local produce through retail nutrition incentive program

Johnny’s Selected Seeds and the Unity more fresh, local food but have limited

increased sales for all of the local farmers

financial capacity. For every $5 purchased

selling to those markets. The $100,000

on local products with SNAP/EBT, cus-

in incentive dollars that MFT’s program

tomers get another $5 to purchase local

has generated equates to $100,000

fruits and vegetables. “It’s like winning the

worth of local fruits and vegetables that

lottery every time I go to the store,” said

low-income Mainers were able to bring

one customer who uses the program.

home, and $100,000 that goes back into

Participating stores have been able to integrate this program into their existing

proving successful at making healthy

systems, and are excited to be part of

more new customers to participating

local food more accessible to low-income

something that helps the broader commu-

markets. “Outreach to new customers is a

shoppers. Through the program, which

nity. As Shawn Menard, General Manager

challenge,” says Shannon Grimes, Nutri-

launched in 2016, low-income customers

at the Gardiner Food Co-op, notes, “The

tion Incentive Project Manager. “We’ve

have purchased $100,000 of bonus local

nutrition incentive program has enabled

been expanding and streamlining our

fruits and vegetables at 20 participating

us to successfully reach a larger per-

program over the past year—now we need

retail markets throughout the state.

centage of our community. By offering

more people to help us spread the word

incentives to SNAP users who purchase

that this is out there as a resource.”

bonus fruits and vegetables to low-income

local products, we have advanced in our

shoppers, and have been used in Maine

mission to be open to everyone.”

history of the farm and writing the “farm’s

so willing to share their stories with me,

story.”

even though I’m someone coming in from

Fiore Art Center resident writes history of Rolling Acres Farm Sarah Loftus spent six weeks in the summer of 2017 as the Historical Writing

participating market saw sales of fruits

successful concept to local food retailers,

and vegetables to SNAP/EBT customers

such as food co-ops and farm stores, with

double in the first year of running the

the goal of connecting the dots between

program, and other stores are experienc-

Maine farmers who sell their products

ing similar trends. This translates into

the outside.”

Rolling Acres Farm is home to the

London, UK, and a Ph.D. in Anthropology

Joseph A. Fiore Art Center, a program of

from Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

Maine Farmland Trust that actively con-

During her summer living at Rolling

nects the creative worlds of farming and

Acres Farm, Loftus frequented the Jeffer-

art making. The Center offers exhibitions

son Historical Society and the Wiscasset

and public educational events, supports

Court House; she interviewed past owners

research and development of ecologically

of the farm on Punk Point Road and met

sustainable farming practices, and hosts

with neighbors; she dug through count-

residencies for artists on a working farm.

less books on the region’s history and

The historical writing residency was

rummaged through the rusty tools under

funded in part by a Maine Arts Commis-

the barn looking for clues to the farming

sion Arts and Humanities Grant. •

activities of former inhabitants.

Loftus remarked at the close of her residency that it was interesting how one can see the story of America reflected back in the fields of Rolling Acres. What

Applications for 2018 residencies at the Fiore Art Center will open early December 2017.

FMI visit: mainefarmlandtrust/jaf-art-center

she found most striking, however, was

Coming Soon to our Belfast Gallery

LYNN KARLIN 2016

markets, visit maineharvestbucks.org. •

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

through November 10: CSA II – Community Supporting Arts November 20-January 5: Interval Between the Snowflakes

For information about participating

January 2018: Work by Fiore Art Center 2017 Artists in Residence

There’s economic benefit, too—one

markets. In 2016, MFT expanded the

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embraces their history. “Everyone was

Looking ahead, MFT hopes to attract

Nutrition incentive programs provide

wholesale and customers who want to buy

at Rolling Acres Farm, researching the

the local economy.

MFT’s nutrition incentive program is

for close to a decade, primarily at farmers

how the local community treasures and

gy from the University College London,

Rolling Acres Farm is home to the Joseph

mainefarmlandtrust.org. •

Resident at the Joseph A. Fiore Art Center

Loftus holds an M.A. in Archaeolo-

London, London, UK, and a Ph.D. in

food and farm business partners such as For 10 seasons, the Veggies For All food

Rolling Acres Farm

farming practices, and hosts residencies for

Gleaning is a practice that goes back

Veggies For All partners on new gleaning project

S

ARAH LOFTUS spent six weeks

A History of

97 Main Street, Belfast M-F 9 am - 4 pm

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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