Newsletter Volume 17, No. 1

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NEWSLETTER

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Volume 17, No. 1

PERMIT NO. 30 FARMINGTON, ME

97 Main Street Belfast, Maine 04915

Spring/Summer 2018

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

A comprehensive effort to protect coastal farmland

In This Issue:

Page 01: A Comprehensive Effort to Protect Coastal Farmland Page 02: Farmland Protection Page 03: Farmland Access Page 04: Farm Viability Page 05: Gallery & Joseph A. Fiore Art Center Page 06: Summer Events Page 07: Policy

Thank You to our featured Business Members!

the project, Conserving Farmland and

shores of Little Kennebec Bay in Wash-

Marsh Habitat in Maine.

ington County.

Project partners will seek to protect

“How and where farming is conducted

agricultural resources and habitat for

not only affects the long-term sus-

fish and wildlife through the purchase

tainability of a farm property, but also

blocks of undeveloped land in Maine’s

of conservation easements. Partners will

affects the harvest of fish and shellfish

coastal communities and frequently

work with farmers to identify resource

from nearby waterbodies,” said Betsy

contain significant wildlife habitat. But

concerns and the conservation practices

Ham, Land Protection director at Maine

development pressure in these areas is

to support the health of marsh habitat

Coast Heritage Trust. “It is critical to

the highest in the state, and farmland

on their farms through NRCS conserva-

proactively implement steps to assure

and marsh habitat are rapidly disap-

tion practices and planning.

that we are not scaling up one sector

pearing.

“The partnership piece of this project is particularly exciting,” said Erica

of the food system (farming) at the expense of another (fisheries).”

ners Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the

Buswell, VP of Programs at MFT. “As

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation

individual organizations, we sometimes

process of identifying owners of proper-

Service (NRCS), The Nature Conservan-

miss opportunities to achieve bigger

ties that meet the criteria for this pro-

cy, Downeast Salmon Federation and

resource conservation impacts that are

gram, and who are interested in protect-

Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, will pro-

possible with more intentional, coordi-

ing their farms. Through this initiative,

tect properties with high quality farm-

nated collaborations like this one.”

the partners plan to protect ten coastal

land and tidal marsh habitat in Maine’s

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Program award to protect farms on the

Farms are often the largest remaining

A new project led by MFT, with part-

For a full list of our business members, and to find out how your business can join, go to: mainefarmlandtrust.org/business-members

$1.4 million to MFT and partners for

MFT and Maine Coast Heritage Trust

coastal plain. NRCS’s Regional Conser-

also received a related $600,000

vation Partnership Program awarded

Regional Conservation Partnership

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Project partners will soon begin the

farms over the next five years.•

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FARMLAND PROTECTION

POLICY

Farmland Protection Program protects 15 more farms 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 60,000 acres of farmland throughout the state.

A FEW OF OUR RECENT FARMLAND PROTECTION PROJECTS:

Morning Dew Farm, Damariscotta Brady Hatch and Brendan McQuillen purchased a 68-acre property on Rt. One to expand their diversified vegetable operation. The property, now protected with a conservation easement, was once proposed as a site for a Super Wal-Mart. Thanks to partners Damariscotta River Association and USDA-NRCS, as well as community fundraising, the property will continue producing food and will be permanently available for farming.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS William Bell, Saco Jason Bolton, Orono Stacy Brenner, Scarborough Dave Colson, Durham Neil Crane, Exeter Meredith Eilers, Bowdoinham 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, Bremen Jon Olson, Mt. Vernon Henry Whittemore, Treasurer, Readfield

STAFF

Fiddlers Green Farm, Buxton John and Martha Charest donated an easement on their 69-acre farm. The couple spent years restoring overgrown pasture and raising Belted Galloway cattle. As they look to the future they want to be sure that the land they’ve worked hard to bring back into production will continue to be available for agriculture.

Bò Lait Farm, Washington Young dairy farmers Conor MacDonald and Alexis Gareau closed on a second easement to complete the purchase of their farm in Washington. Bò Lait Farm ships milk to Organic Valley.

Conor and Alexis have built their herd from 12 to 40 cows in three years.

Sunkhaze Blueberry Farm, Township 23 Steven and Shannon Lion closed on an easement to protect their 374-acre blueberry farm.

Sunkhaze Blueberry Farm sits at the headwaters of Sunkhaze Stream. The Lions currently sell primarily to Wyman’s and Bartlett Winery and also hand rake berries for additional fresh pack sales.

Reitze Farm, Caanan & Clinton Ray and Nancy Reitze, along with their daughters April (middle) and Lenore (not pictured), protected their 158-acre property. The Reitzes bought the farm in the 1970s and ran a dairy until the 1980s, when they sold the cows, the dairy barn, and the farmhouse to build a small off-the-grid log hogan on the property. Today the family produces hay and maple syrup and runs a pick-your-own blueberry operation.

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Who we are

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Anna Abaldo, Gallery Charlie Baldwin, Land Protection Amanda Beal, President and CEO Adam Bishop, Land Protection Erica Buswell, Land Protection Chris Cabot, Land Protection Erin Cavallaro, Development April Costa, Stewardship Andrea Denny, Database Catherine Durkin, Farm Viability Abby Farnham, Farm Viability Khris Hogg,Veggies For All Alex Fouliard, Farm Viability Chris Franklin, Land Protection Karen Giles, Gallery Caroline Ginsberg, Development Shannon Grimes, Farm Viability Ellen Griswold, Policy & Research Caitlin Hopkins, Land Protection Rachel Keidan, Outreach Victoria Kulwicki, Development Sue Lanpher, FarmLink Lyndsey Marston, Land Protection Meg McCormick, Development 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 Kristin Varnum, Vice President and CFO Reeve Wood, Legal Counsel Nina Young, Land Protection

Updated policy section live on our website

We keep our finger on the pulse of policies that affect Maine farms and engage in policy areas that directly affect our ability to protect farmland, support farmers, and advance the future of farming. MFT has created an updated webpage for our policy program, with information on the federal, state, and municipal-level policies, and programs that affect Maine farmers and MFT’s work. Check out the updated policy sections under the Public Outreach and Policy menu on our website, and sign up for special policy updates and action alerts there.Visit mainefarmlandtrust.org/public-policy/ RECENT POLICY UPDATES (FIND THE LATEST ONLINE):

MFT on the Hill In January, Amanda Beal and Ellen Griswold, MFT’s Policy and Research Director, attended the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)’s winter meeting in Washington, D.C. The highlight of the trip was meeting with Sen. Susan Collins and the staff of Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Bruce Poliquin, and Sen. Angus King, along with Heather Spalding of MOFGA, to discuss issues facing farmers and agriculture in Maine.

The meetings ultimately resulted in Sen. Collins co-sponsoring the Local FARMS Act, along with Rep. Pingree, which contains provisions to help grow local and regional food economies through the next farm bill.

Agricultural Policy Platform MFT has been working with other organizations and farmers in the state to create an Agriculture Policy Platform that outlines farm-friendly policy objectives that the next state administration should endorse. The Platform will be used to both discuss the importance of these objectives with gubernatorial candidates and to increase the attention devoted to food and agriculture issues during the next campaign cycle.

Farmer Advocacy Training This winter MFT co-hosted a farmer advocacy training in Unity. The training provided farmers with information about the process for enacting the farm bill (which is currently being drafted in Congress), the policies and programs contained in it and how farmers in Maine can advocate for those programs most important to them.

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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EVENTS

FARMLAND ACCESS

JUNE 2018 A month of tasting and learning about Maine’s diverse, abundant food system, past & present.

MAINE FARE

hands-on workshops and events in various locations in Maine’s western foothills region

info & tickets: mainefarmlandtrust.org

JUNE 3

JUNE 10

JUNE 17

JUNE 24

MAINE FARE

MAINE FARE: mushrooms

MAINE FARE: cheesemaking

MAINE FARE: lamb butchery

Norway

Turner

North Paris

JUN 16 (stillness) outdoor performance Fiore Art Center

Farmland protection tools create access in Windham Gaining access to good, affordable

JUNE 30

JUNE 30

MAINE FARE: finale feast

Fiore exhibit opening reception

North Paris

Fiore Art Center

JUL 18

JUL 21

JUL 26

maine farms journal celebration

bike maine farms at open farm day

forever farm party morning dew farm

Bowdoinham

Damariscotta

Biddeford

farmland is one of the hardest tasks for beginning farmers. MFT’s farmland protection programs, which include our Purchased Easement and Buy/Protect/ Sell (BPS) programs, can help increase accessibility and affordability for

AUG 26

JUL 29 open studio day Fiore Art Center

agrarian acts & open studio day Fiore Art Center

SEPT 12

tentative date forever farm party romac orchard Acton

SEPT 30 open studio day Fiore Art Center

farmers. In certain situations, MFT will

Find our table at fairs & festivals all over the state this season!

utilize an Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value (OPAV) in conjunction with a standard agricultural conservation easement. These can all be powerful tools for creating access and ensuring that farmers actively manage the land for generations to come.

+ Join us at our gallery in Belfast for Fourth Friday Art Talks & Walks:

For young farmers Laura Casserly

2018 Gallery Poster

May 25 July 27 September 28 Artist talks at 5pm, Art Walk & Reception 5:30-8pm 6

and Chris MacDonald, finding the right land was a long process. The couple operates Good Land Farm, a rabbit and

JOSE P H A . F I OR E

Now for sale online & in our Belfast gallery

1925–2008

sheep operation based on leased land in Waldo, Maine. They spent several years working at Villageside Farm in Freedom and renting farmland before working

2018

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

with MFT to purchase a 143-acre farm

property in Windham this spring.

MFT purchased the Windham property in October through the BPS program.

the property at its farmland value, and then resell it to a farmer.

Casserly and MacDonald hope to farm

BPS projects are intended to protect

and steward their new farm for years to

vulnerable land that would likely have

come. They plan to expand their herds,

otherwise been developed, and to

start raising pigs and begin growing

help farmers get on that land. After a

crops in the fields and future hoop

competitive application process, MFT

houses. “We are excited to farm this

resold the land to Casserly and Mac-

beautiful, protected land and are deeply

Donald in March. Because the land will

grateful to MFT for making it possible,”

be protected with an easement, the sale

said MacDonald.•

price was more reflective of the land’s agricultural value. By including an OPAV in the pending easement, MFT was able to sell the farm to Casserly and MacDonald at a price even more affordable than would have been possible with a standard agricultural easement.

An OPAV not only increases affordability for the current farmers, but also is intended to ensures the long-term affordability of the property and helps to increase the likelihood that the land will stay in the hands of working farmers.

This tool gives MFT, as the easement holder, the right to evaluate future buyers if the farm is changing hands. If a potential buyer does not qualify as a farmer, MFT has the option to purchase

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Chris MacDonald and Laura Casserly.

3

FARM VIABILITY

GALLERY & FIORE ART CENTER Dominic Pascarelli, of Two Farmers Farm,

painter who most recently made a living

will implement a new business plan to sell

as an organic vegetable farmer. His

more vegetables in mainstream markets

portraits often feature fellow farmers;

while maintaining a high level of product

however, he writes, “I have yet to fully

quality, and quality of life. Kathi Lange-

immerse my subjects in the natural

lier, of Herbal Revolution, created a plan

landscape. This seems to be where my in-

that scales production to meet national

terest lies and where my work is heading.”

The literary arts residency was award-

demand for her herbal line. She will

Two recipients: Kelsey Harrington, Two Farmers Farm (l) and Kathi Langelier, Herbal Revolution (r)

MFT awards four implementation grants to help farms scale-up This spring MFT awarded four farms grants to implement changes in order to scale-up their businesses. The farms participated in the 201 track of MFT’s Farming for Wholesale program. They spent two years working with business advisors to research and define business plans focused on scaling up for wholesale markets. These implementation grants are competitive; applications undergo an extensive review process by a committee comprised of MFT staff and industry

consultants.

ed to Maine writer, Jodi Paloni. Paloni

create new jobs in farm operations, sales,

is currently working on her second book,

marketing, and production management.

a novel-in-stories, which takes place

Farmers John Bliss and Stacy Brenner

A peek inside a 2017 resident’s studio at Fiore Art Center.

of Broadturn Farm are using the funds

New artist residents selected for Fiore Art Center 2018

The 2018 crop of grantees, all of who

to cultivate their brand and marketing

received approximately $50,000, include:

to create new opportunities within the

Tide Mill Creamery in Edmunds, Two

floral industry. This includes infrastructure

Farmers Farm in Scarborough, Herbal

that will help them pave the way for the

Revolution in Union, and Broadturn Farm

burgeoning local flower market.

grew from three years of interviews with people around the country. Travers asked each person: “What would you consider to be a social malady that could be easily cured by regular folk?”

Early this April, a jury panel consisting

The resulting “cabinets” are all connect-

of Stuart Kestenbaum, Susan Larsen

implementation grants for farms that com-

ed to nature and show the malady, as

and Ariel Hall awarded eight recipients

scale-up infrastructure, equipment, and

pleted the 201 Farming For Wholesale

well as the imagined cure.

with a residency at Fiore Art Center at

expand marketing efforts. Rachel Bell

program. “Access to financing to imple-

Rolling Acres Farm in Jefferson.

and Nate Horton of Tide Mill Creamery

ment new changes and ideas continues

constructed new housing for their herd,

to be a challenge,” said Alex Fouliard,

applications. The categories included

made improvements to their pastures,

Farming for Wholesale Program Manager.

visual arts, literary arts and performing

and installed a 100-gallon vat pasteuriz-

“MFT is pleased to be able to fill that need

Douglas, who grew up on a farm, de-

arts.This year one residency placement

er, which will allow them to sell cheese

and keep momentum moving forward for

scribes herself as a plein-air landscape

was reserved for an indigenous artist

across state lines. Kelsey Herrington and

these farms.” •

painter whose primary interest lies in

and one for an international or out-of-

the relationship between humans and

state artist.

their environment. Droge, by contrast,

in Scarborough.

This is the second year MFT has offered

The farms will use the grant funds to

Farm Fresh Rewards: a new look for our nutrition incentive program

for the program, which started three years

In its third year, the Center received 66

Thu Vu, from Vietnam, was awarded

The remaining four visual arts residencies were awarded to Carol Douglas, Michel Droge, Estefani Mercedes and Maxwell Nolin.

is an abstract painter. Her work reflects

ago thanks to a federal grant from the

the international visual arts residency.

a poetic connection to the land, climate

USDA and additional funding from Har-

Vu first came to Maine from Hanoi Fine

change research and the philosophy of

vard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation.

Arts College in 1998 as an exchange

the sublime.

“We’re really seeing an impact.” said

student; she attended Maine College of

Shannon Grimes, Nutrition Incentive MFT launched a new brand for its innova-

Art in Portland. Vu creates light sculp-

Project Manager at MFT. “Customers are

connections to Maine. She is interested

tive nutrition incentive program under the

tures made out of paper and natural

buying more fruits and vegetables, trying

in local Brooksville archives that connect

name Farm Fresh Rewards. The program

new ones, and noticing health benefits—

materials.

to the Argentine dictatorship. Through

offers bonus local fruits and vegetables

and sales of local goods are going up too.

to low-income shoppers at participating

We’ve caught some momentum and we

retail stores. Farm Fresh Rewards is cur-

hope to continue to grow.”

rently offered at 16 stores in Maine.

The rebranding comes at a pivotal time 4

also invest in the business’ brand, and

For a list of stores that offer Farm Fresh Rewards, visit farmfreshrewards.org. •

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

Clif Travers was awarded the visual

similar to the Center’s Rolling Acres Farm, and tracks three Maine women from their girlhood to midlife.

The performing arts residency was allocated to Heather Lyon. Lyon was born on a farm in Maine. Her art practice is site responsive and she plans to create new performance work at the Fiore Art Center, “responding to this unique place where the connections between art and farming can be explored and lived.”

Each year, the Center hires a seasonal resident gardener. This year’s gardener will be Rachel Alexandrou from Alna. Her organic gardening experience spans a decade, and she is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in sustainable horticulture at UMaine Orono, with a minor in studio art. •

Mercedes is an activist artist with deep

radical justice, film photography and

arts residency for a Maine indigenous

copyright law, she hopes to restore miss-

artist. Travers grew up in the mountains

ing violent histories and silenced voices

near Sugarloaf. One of his current

by building publicly accessible archives.

bodies of work, The Medicine Cabinets,

in the sixties and seventies on a farm

Nolin is a young emerging portrait

97 Main Street, Belfast, ME 207.338.6575 mainefarmlandtrust.org

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